Three Shot Burst by Phillip DePoy

First Sentence:  David Waters ordered a gin martini, no olives, at Mary's Shallow Grave, just after six in the evening.

       

Foggy Moskowitz is Child Protective Services in Fry's Bay, Florida.  Lena is a highly intelligent 14-year-old girl with no known parents or address.  Having shot David Waters, son of a wealthy Seminole Ironstone Waters, three times at point-blank range, Foggy is called to help.  Besides the girl's age, something seems very off about the situation to Foggy.  Can he, with the help of John Horse, keep her safe from the police, Ironstone's men, and the Columbian drug cartel until Foggy has all the answers?

      

There's nothing better than a book which captures one's attention from the very start.  DePoy certainly does that, not just the opening events, but with his voice—"We doubtless made something of an odd pair in Fry's Bay, Florida, home of the slowest moving cultural evolution in the Western Hemisphere."—and his dialogue—"'He was drunk out of his mind, and I was scared.'  'You don't look scared to me,' I assessed.  She glanced over at the dead body. 'I'm not now.'  ''Yeah, well – right.  Now he's dead.'

      

DePoy really has created the most wonderful characters.  Lena truly is a 14-year-old going on 30.  She can definitely handle herself.  For Alan Bradley fans, Lena reminds on a bit of Flavia de Luce but on steroids, and with guns.  Foggy is a Brooklyn Jew who once ran numbers and boosted cars, but now is a CPS officer who keeps kosher.  John Horse is a Seminole shaman with power in his voice. There is a bit of O'Henry about these characters.

      

This is an example of a plot starting off in one direction, then veering off in another.  There are a lot of well-done twists and turns along the way accompanied by a fair amount of shooting.  One certainly never gets bored.  When things really start, they happen fast but never so much that one can't keep up.

      

"Three Shot Burst" is a really good read.  The final solution is wonderful with seeming nods along the way to Robert Frost and Hemmingway.  It's hard to beat that.

THREE SHOT BURST (CPS-Foggy Moskowitz-Florida-Contemp) – G+

      DePoy, Phillip – 2^nd in series

      Severn House – March 2018

Splinter in the Blood by Ashley Dyer

First Sentence:  A woman stands in the middle of Detective Chief Inspector Greg Carver's sitting room.

      

Detective Greg Carter has been shot and critically wounded in his own home leaving him hospitalized and with amnesia.  Fearing it may have been a suicide attempt, his friend and colleague, rearranges the scene and wipes it of fingerprints.  But was it? Or was Carver shot by the target of months of investigation; the Thorn Killer, who kidnaps and tattoos women with a poisonous ink causing them to die slowly and in great pain.  While Carver is fighting to recover, Ruth violates every rule while searching for the killer.

      

What an interesting approach.  One may believe the shooter is obvious, but are they right?  Then there is the aspect of our knowing the thoughts of the Thorn Killer.  Dyer, the pen name for the writing team of Margaret Murphy and Helen Pepper, provides an excellent way of presenting a lot of questions and compels one to continue reading in order to know the answers.

      

There are wonderful lines which can make one smile. It's hard not to enjoy the reference to "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" and Ruth's remembering "Singularity is almost invariably a clue."  Dyer leaves one wondering when she takes one down a new path.  The introduction of a third internal voice is neatly done.

      

The author covers the forensic information well.  She explains it in terms that are easily understood but not patronizing.  The consideration given to the toxicologist is a very nice touch.  It is also a good reminder as to which garden plants are best avoided.

      

In a way, one can't help but be relieved when a truth is revealed.  Still, it adds a new set of questions. Dyer is very good at keeping the reader off balance.  However, that she has given each of the protagonists a special ability is a bit contrived, but both abilities do exist and are real.

      

Dyer addresses the issue faced by women today—”Maybe she should have been more conciliatory, but sleepless nights and the daily graft involved in presenting an armor-plated front to the alpha males who would have her job given the chance wearied her beyond exhaustion."  At the same time, Dyer doesn't dwell on it or beat the issue of sexism to death.

      

As an American, it is very interesting reading the details of the 1997 UK amendment to the Firearms Act which banned all automatic weapons as well as handguns smaller than 60 centimeters.  Dyer also goes into detail about cognitive interviewing.  The information provides reference and insight fascinating and is done in such a way that it doesn't bog down the plot.

      

When the suspense kicks in, it comes on fast.  It is gripping and moves one to the edge of one's seat.  There is not stopping now, and it all builds to a very well-done climax. 

      

"Splinter in the Blood" is an extremely good debut with well-done details and a cracking ending.

      

SPLINTER IN THE BLOOD (Pol Proc-DS Ruth Lake/Det. Greg Carver-England-Contemp) – G+

      Dyer, Ashley – 1^st book

      Wm. Morrow – July 2018

The Case of the Running Bag by Gene Poschmann

First Sentence:  I was just waking up.

      

Jonas Watcher's day isn't starting off well.  He's coming off the DTs, decides to give up drinking, wakes up on a dock in San Francisco, is immediately attacked and ends up in the water.  Tangled in a net along with him is a large bag whose contents include a business card, keys, money…and an old Navy Colt forty-four.  In a story of kidnapping, extortion, and murder, Watcher is reminiscent of the 1930's noir PIs of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.  

      

The opening is a bit awkward and contains redundancies, but the story picks up very quickly from there. 

      

Although Poschmann does not provide much initial backstory, Watcher and his history are developed as the story progresses and it soon becomes very clear as to why he is perfectly suited to the role into which he has stepped.  Although set in the 1930's, Watcher refreshingly has more of a contemporary sensibility in that the character has laid off liquor, prefers capability to looks in his receptionist, and develops a good relationship with the police lieutenant. 

      

It is interesting seeing how Watcher builds his team of informers.  Coining the term "the invisibles" is sadly true as it is the perfect description of how most people never really notice the cab driver, the hotel maid, or the many providing shoeshines. 

      

The San Francisco setting creates a strong sense of place and time.  However, one does tire of the various references to the "sisters of fate."   It would have been nice to have and Afterword or Author's Notes at the end providing a bit more information on some of the historical details such as the ability to do ballistic testing during this time, and the existence of military MPs in the 1930s.  

Despite there being a lot of coincidences; understandable in a book of fewer than 200 pages, the plot is well done, and the story holds one's attention.

      
"The Case of the Running Bag" is a quick read and an enjoyable first effort.  One may even consider reading more of the series.

THE CASE OF THE RUNNING BAG (Hist/PI-James Watcher-San Francisco-1930s) - Good

      Poschman, Gene – 1^st of series

      Gene Poschman – 2016

Dancing on the Grave by Zoë Sharp

First Sentence:  It was a bad day to die…a perfect one to kill.

      

Newly-qualified crime scene investigator Grace McColl is trying to prove herself after making a disastrous mistake on a previous case.  Detective Constable Nick Weston has just been transferred to the Lake District after nearly dying during an investigation in London.  Neither of them can understand why they've been called out on a dog having been shot, except for the presence of the wife of a local MEP (Member of the European Parliment).  Upon examining the dog, it's clear the shooter wasn't the local farmer.  But why is there a trained sniper in the area, and who was the real target?

      

It is difficult to say much about this book without giving away spoilers.  My best recommendation is to read it cold without having looked at any information about the plot, impossible as that may be.  And so…
      

An excellent opening is one which compels one to continue reading.  Zoe Sharp has accomplished that goal in spades with her new standalone which is a remarkable combination of police procedural and psychological thriller. 

      

The initial crime is unexpected, but through it we meet a number of important characters.  The introductions to CSI Grace McColl, DC Nick Weston, Special Constable Jim Airey and his daughter Edith are very well done. 

      

The dialogue is realistic.  One can hear the characters voices—"'Do you honestly think I have so little to occupy my time that I would have called for a second opinion if I didn't think it was necessary?"  'What do you need me for.'  'Well, not for your sparkling wit and winning personality,' she murmured…".  The imagery is equally good—"He nodded to the young bullocks occupying the neighboring field. Large chestnut-coloured animals who had gathered about fifteen yards away to watch the interlopers, blowing out noisy breaths as they shuffled their feet and nudged each other like big stupid kids on a dare." 

      

Having one mystery solved early in the story is unusual, but really well done.  The"who" is clear, but not the "why."  Learning the "why" is what takes the plot down many a twisted road with more deaths and characters different from those one has previously seen.  Getting to know Grace by seeing her through Nick's eyes is nicely done.  At the same time, one also learns about Nick and his situation. Sharp's characters are very real in that they all, some more than others, have baggage.  Many are characters which will make one very uncomfortable, yet they make one continually curious as to how events will all fit together.  

      

The detailed description of what literally happens when one fires a weapon becomes almost visual.  It is certainly not something thought about by most people, and it's fascinating.  Sharp not only places her characters in dicey situations but takes one along with them—"So here he was, trudging up a rough field in the dark, dressed head to foot in black from his watch-cap to his boots.  Tucked inside his jacket were a slim jemmy and a lock-pick set, either of which would have earned him a trip to the cells if he was caught with them.  Hell, he would have arrested himself."

      

This is the type of book where, if one must put it down, it stays in one's mind until it can be picked up again.  However, it's really a book one wants to read uninterrupted.  There are several different themes at play, beyond the murders, which are extremely well done.  Sharp does a wonderful job of escalating the tension and suspense.  Moreover, she creates within the reader emotions of both outrage and sympathy toward a single character and has created an ending filled with possibilities.  Although written as a standalone, one really does want to know where these characters go next.

      
"Dancing on the Grave" is an excellent read which deals with the psychology of the characters as well as the forensics of the crimes.  It is both suspenseful and disquieting, clearly demonstrating Sharp's true skill as a writer.

DANCING ON THE GRAVE (Pol Proc-CSI Grace McColl/DC Nick Weston-England-Contemp) - Ex

      Sharp, Zoë – Standalone

      ZACE, Ltd. – June 2018

The King's Justice by E.M. Powell

First Sentence:  Pit or Punishment: Hugo Stanton couldn't tell which excited the folk of these hot, crammed streets more.

      

With traveling courts established by Henry II having more than enough to handle, the justices send court clerk Aelred Barling, and his young assistant Hugo Stanton, to a village outside York.  Although there were no witnesses, Nicholas Lindley has been imprisoned for the murder of the village smith.  The case seems certain, yet Stanton has his doubts.  The prisoner escapes, more deaths occur, and the two men are tasked with quelling the villagers, dealing with the lord of the manor, and finding the killer.

      

To Powell's credit, no attempt to pretty-up the period has been made.  Justice is anything but just and the streets are beyond foul.  However, it is interesting to see the early stages of the justice system. 

      

All the characters have dimension and distinct personalities, pleasant and unpleasant.  Barling is the type of character one likes more as the story progresses.  He is pragmatic—"To dwell on an error is never of benefit."—focused on the details and dedicated to his role and responsibility.  Stanton is observant and deductive.  There is very nice, subtle humor—"And well done, Stanton:  a good evening's work.' But he could believe the next. 'Good,' continued Barling, 'for one who is so new to learning how to exercise their wits.' The clerk carried on to his solar. Stanton mouthed a favourite word at Barling's retreating back.  And for one who was supposedly limited in his wits, it was a fine, fine choice."  Powell does a good job of building the respect and the relationship which develops between the two men.  It's nice to know there will be more books in this series as watching the partnership grow will be interesting.       

      

There is a very good twist and the introduction of danger to the protagonists, as well as a sad event.  The story has something of "Midsomer Murders" feel about it, except the number of murders surpasses that series usual three.  One does start to wonder whether anyone will be left alive in the village, although it does raise the stakes as to who the murderer could be.  Although revelation by exposition may not be a preferred style, it works in this instance and the killer is unexpected.

      

One criticism is that the Cast of Characters is at the end of the book rather than the beginning where it would have been more useful.  However, the Historical Note is fascinating and well worth taking the time to read.

      
"The King's Justice" is much more than it appears when one first starts.  Besides being a very good mystery, this is definitely a book for those who enjoy historicals.

THE KING'S JUSTICE (Hist Mys-Stanton/Barling-England-1176) - VG

      Powell, E.M. – 1^st in series

      Thomas & Mercer – June 2018 

Rescued by David Rosenfelt

First Sentence:  It wasn't the presence of the tractor trailer that caused John Paxos to take notice.

      

Attorney Andy Carpenter keeps trying to retire but when his wife's ex-boyfriend, ex-cop and ex-private investigator Dave Kramer, is accused of murder, he has no choice but to agree to defend him.  It won't be easy since Kramer admits to having killed the victim.  But with no witnesses, other than a truck trailer full of dogs, and no second weapon, how you do prove it was self-defense.

      

Don't be fooled by the puppies on the cover.  Although the book may appear "light," the bad guys are truly nasty, which is accentuated by not knowing who they are, other than their names, or how they fit into the story until things begin to fall into place.  And if one is looking for a scene which is incredibly chilling, Rosenfelt delivers.  The fact that it is only one page long makes it even more so.

      

The story is set up very well.  One certainly knows who, what and when.  He then goes on and introduces most of the characters, who are fully-developed and interesting each in their own right, in a very straight-forward, uncomplicated way which immediately draws one in.  It is very nice having a protagonist who is not super-macho—"Laurie believes I would have trouble defending myself in a contentious Girl Scout gather, and while I pretend otherwise, he happens to be right."  The author has a very readable voice and uses humor well—"I hate visiting clients in jail.  Maybe I should have thought of that before I became a criminal attorney, because jail is where most of my clients hang out."

      

The plot links that are made are clever.  It's a twisty road down which we are led.  Although one hopes elements of the plot are improbable, the author creates well-crafted puzzle pieces, joining them together, one-by-one, so they make sense while still hiding the complete picture from the reader.  His explanation related to the stock market is nicely done and simplifies that which some may not understand.

      

There are coincidences and connections to conveniently-talented people.  Sometimes the plot does stretch credulity a bit but, it is fiction and it's enjoyable.  And there are dogs.

      
"Rescued" includes courtroom scenes which are as exciting as are scenes of physical danger.  Although the outcomes of the story's threads were slightly anticlimactic, they were still very satisfactory.

RESCUED (Legal Thriller-Andy Carpenter-New Jersey-Contemp) – Good

      Rosenfelt, David – 17^th in series

      Minotaur Books – July 2018

Trial on Mount Koya by Susan Spann

First Sentence:  "I question your judgment, Hiro."

Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo and his protector, and friend, master ninja Hiro Hattori travel to a Buddhist temple at the summit of Mount Koya.  Hiro is carrying a secret message for an Iga spy who is at the temple posing as a priest.  A blizzard moves in preventing anyone from leaving, including a killer who is murdering the priests and posing their bodies.  It is up to the two men to identify the killer and quickly as they come to realize that Father Mateo is slated to be a victim.

      

Although this book begins immediately where "Betrayal at Iga" ended, it stands on its own with new readers being brought quickly up to date.  And besides, there's a cat. 

      

Spann's ability to create a mental picture provides a clear sense of place—"Stone lamps positioned around the yard illuminated the space, their flickering light unusually pale and weak beneath the sickly sky."  The simple explanation of the "Manifestations of Buddha" is interesting, as are the explanations of the jusanbutsu and the bodhisattvas.  One of the great gifts of reading is learning about other cultures and beliefs.  Spann does a fine job of both, as well as providing translations for the Japanese used in the story.  

      

There are wonderful characters including Ana, Hero's housekeeper. She is a beam of light who pushes back the dark—"Ana looked down her nose at Hiro—a significant feat, given her diminutive size."  It's hard to resist a protagonist who has his priorities in order—"…the story was wasting time he could use to find his cat and stop the killer."  There are also basic truths to be found—"I did not choose this life, but I could choose the way I live it."  Hiro and Father Mateo balance one another.  It is a relationship which has developed over time and into one of trust and respect.  Hatsuko, the female samurai, is a very interesting character.  She is someone of whom one would like to see more.

      

Spann creates a very good sense of urgency and danger which builds to an unexpected revelation. She shows the idiocy of hatred brought about by policies—"If it makes you feel better, I promise to hate you again as soon as safety grants me the luxury of unfounded prejudices."

      

One very small criticism, which may be more on the publisher than the author.  The book includes a cast of characters and a glossary.  Unfortunately, these have been placed at the end of the book, rather than the beginning where they would have been much more useful.  However, the plot is very well done and gives a nod back to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None."

      
"Trial on Mount Koya" is atmospheric and suspenseful with a highly dramatic ending and an important self-realization for Hiro.

TRIAL ON MOUNT KOYA (Hist Mys-Hiro Hattori/Father Mateo-Japan-1565) – Good

      Spann, Susan – 6^th in series

      Seventh Street Books – July 2018

Matchup by Lee Child and Sandra Brown (Editors)

      Twenty-two of the best contemporary mystery/thriller writers teamed up to write eleven amazing short stories.  Each story is written by a pair consisting of one woman and one man, and each pair brought together one of the protagonists for which they are famous. 

The pairings are:

-Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett in “Honor & …” by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box
-Tony Hill and Roy Grace in “Footloose” by Val McDermid and Peter James
-Temperance Brennan and Jack Reacher in “Faking a Murderer” by Kathy Reichs and Lee Child
-Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone in “Past Prologue” by Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry
-Liz Sansborough and Rambo in “Rambo on Their Minds” by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell
-Jeffrey Tolliver and Joe Pritchard in “Short Story” by Karin Slaughter and Michael Koryta
-Harper Connelly and Ty Hauck in “Dig Here” by Charlaine Harris and Andrew Gross
-Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers in “Deserves to be Dead” by Lisa Jackson and John Sandford
-Lucan Thorne and Lilliane in “Midnight Flame” by Lara Adrian and Christopher Rice
-Bennie Rosato and John Corey in “Getaway” by Lisa Scottoline and Nelson DeMille
-Ali Reynolds and Bravo Shaw in “Taking the Veil” by J.A. Jance and Eric Van Lustbader

      

There is so much good to say about this book.  The introduction to each story is almost as fascinating as the story itself as it provides a look into how each team worked. Some of the authors were accustomed to writing short stories; some had never written them before.  It is ever easy to see how much fun they all had writing the stories and putting this book together.

      

Through this collection, one is provided an opportunity to read something different from authors one may already love, while also being introduced to authors of which one has never read.  Each of the stories is wonderfully done, even the one which may make some rather uncomfortable, but that is a matter of personal taste rather than the authors' skills.

      
"Matchup" is a delightful break from the ordinary and a perfect book to read when one only has a few minutes here and there.  

MATCHUP (Anthology-Various-Various-Contemp) – VG+

      Child, Lee and Sandra Brown (eds)

      Simon & Schuster – June 2017

The Mechanical Devil by Kate Ellis

First Sentence:  The car was red, the colour of fresh blood. 

      

Archeologist Neil Watson uncovers a long-buried mechanical figure in Dartmoor field.  Who made this figure and what was its purpose?  Is there more than one figure?  Neil's friend, DI Wesley Peterson has more important things on his mind.  Town resident Brenda Crillow claims someone is threatening her and wants Wesley to investigate it.  Two people have been killed by rifle shot in Manor Field.  The killings appear to be execution style, yet the bodies are in different locations and no apparent connection between the two individuals can be made.  When the daughter of a local MP has gone missing, a link is made between her and one of the victims.  Are these each separate issues, or is there a thread which ties them all together?

      

One can't complain of the story getting off to a slow start or of having to wait a long time for the murder to occur.  Ellis gets your attention from the very start, having created multiple threads.

      

Ellis is very good at summarizing all the characters.  One knows the members of the police, how they fit together, and a bit about their lives.  She includes members of their families, and the victims as well and brings each to life. 

      

The way in which Wesley and DCI Gerry Heffernan conjecture on the connections of the victims and the missing girl is an interesting and realistic process.  However, Wesley's callousness toward Brenda is disturbing, especially as his attitude changes when the threats extend to his wife—"Pam's had a threatening phone call.  Number withheld.  Whoever it was said they're watching her and they're coming to get her." In contrast, Gerry's low-key response is rather refreshing—"No points for originality." 

      

Although it may be tempting to some, one should not skip over the medieval letters which serve to demark chapters.  They may not seem relevant, but one can be assured that they are. 

      

For those who enjoy archeology, this is a fascinating book, as are all of those by Ellis.  Who'd have thought about archeological graffiti on a church roof, yet it makes sense when one remembers that everything, including the roof tiles, would have been handwrought.  As always, the author notes are fascinating and shouldn't be overlooked.

      

The way in which Ellis slowly makes the connection between the distant past, the recent past, and the present is nicely done, and her ability to creating links between the characters is deft and admirable.  Ellis takes a character who seems initially incidental only later to find they serve as a lynch-pin to the story. 

      

One storyline is predictable.  However, the identity of the killer was a complete surprise and related to both the past, the present, greed, and jealousy. 

      

"The Mechanical Devil" is a very good, multi-thread mystery.  Ellis excels at combining archeology and a murder in a police procedural.  

THE MECHANICAL DEVIL (Pol Proc/Arch-DI Peterson/DCI Heffernan/Neil Watson-England-Contemp) – VG
     Ellis, Kate – 22^nd in series

      Piatkus - April 2018

Look for Me by Lisa Gardner

First Sentence:  A year later, what Sarah remembered most was waking up to the sound of giggling.

      

Flora Dane is a survivor.  Now she finds other survivors and helps them regain control of their own lives.  A family of four has been brutally murdered in their home.  But where is Roxanne, the 16-year-old daughter?  Is she the killer?  Or did she escape?  Det. Sgt. D.D. Warren is out for answers either way.

      

Here's an opening which captures one's attention.  Horrible and grim, it nonetheless compels one to continue reading; something Gardner does very well.  Gardner also raises an excellent point about survivors of trauma—"Being a survivor didn't just mean being strong.  It meant being lonely.  Honestly, truly lonely." 

      

There are truths here—"If there is one thing I've learned these past few years, it's that there's not one right way to deal with trauma.  Each of you will have to find your tricks, just like I did.  And some days will be so impossible, you'll wonder how you can go on.  … we are all just trying to find the light."

      

Gardner has created such strong characters.  These are not people one would necessarily want in one's life, but they are characters one will remember long after the final page.  Flora Dane returns from the previous book "Find Me" yet those who did not read that book won't feel the miss of it.  Flora is a dynamic character—"It takes a villain to make a hero.  And it took a monster to make me."—with an anything but normal past.  D.D. is a wonderful balance to her; a wife, a mother, a cop who is dedicated to her job but able to keep an open mind rather than take things at face value.  The inclusion of the missing Roxanne's "Personal Narrative; What is the Perfect Family" provides her background, one intriguing bit at a time.

      

Initially, the switch of POVs can be confusing trying to keep track of who is who.  Fortunately, that does become clearer as one reads on.  The other point is that the sense of place isn't very strong.  Other than the occasional mention, the story could have been set almost anywhere.  The references are there, but one needs to pay attention.

      

The story does bog down a bit in the middle, but everything is important, and the pace does pick back up.  Gardner's description of the impact the opioid epidemic has had on the demand for foster care is depressing and frightening when one thinks of the impact on the children. 

      

"Look for Me" has an excellent plot filled with twists and surprises.  There are some books you sit down and read straight through.  This is one such book.

LOOK FOR ME (Susp/Pol Proc-Det. Sgt. D.D. Warren -Boston-Contemp) – G+

      Gardner, Lisa – 9^th in series

      Dutton – February 2018