REVIEWS FROM HARRIET KLAUSNER

MURDER SEASON         
ROBERT ELLIS         
Minotaur Books  December, 2011

At the latest Hollywood in-crowd spot, Club 3 AM, someone shoots and kills two people. Police Detective Lena Gamble arrives at the murder scene to lead the official investigation. She knows the media will follow her with a frenzied microscope and the brass will gladly let her take the media's hits while claiming the accolades.

At least that was her feeling before she learns the identities of the victims. Those victims were Club 3 AM owner Johnny Bosco, who had high level political connections, and twenty-five-year-old Jacob Gant, recently acquitted of raping and murdering sixteen-year-old Lily Hight because of police missteps. Gamble knows this case is a nightmare as the prime suspect is Lily's father, who has the court of public opinion turning him into a hero. The detective looks more closely into the Gant investigation, led by seemingly unbalanced Dan Cobb, and finds discrepancies in the case put together by Deputy DA Steven Bennett. Meanwhile District Attorney Jimmy J. Higgins sees the latest homicides as a springboard to a state office, while Gamble turns for help to another Deputy DA, Greg Vaughan.

The latest Lena Gamble police procedural is an exciting thriller that focuses on the judicial system when it fails to protect the innocent because the measure of success is their conviction statistics. Filled with plenty of suspense and taut twists, fans will relish MURDER SEASON as Gamble works a convoluted case under the scrutinizing public spotlight.

A PLAY OF HERESY         
MARGARET FRAZER         
Berkley Prime Crime Trade PBO 12/11

In 1438, Joliffe has completed his espionage mission for Cardinal Bishop Beaufort of Winchester. He travels from Warwickshire to Coventry to join his troupe of six, led by Basset, who are in Coventry to perform at the Festival of Corpus Christi.

Just outside of Coventry, Joliffe meets his mentor, undercover agent Sebastian. The latter tells Joliffe that he is searching for missing mercer merchant Master Robyn Kydwa of Coventry, who was to meet him in Bristol with information on the evil Lollards, but failed to show up. Sebastian asks Joliffe to help him locate Kydwa. Since Basset has no role for him, Joliffe performs with former troupe member Sendell presenting "The Harrowing of Hell"; while in his quest to find the vanished mercer, he uncovers a dangerous heretic cult who plans to destroy the Church.

The latest Joliffe is a great fifteenth century thriller in which the suspense comes late. The story brings Coventry during a religious festive period vividly to life through the cast of players. Joliffe holds the entertaining story together as he escorts readers on a tour of medieval England while performing in a play and unraveling an ugly conspiracy.

HIDE FROM EVIL         
JAMI ALDEN         
Forever / Hatchette Publishing PBO 11/11

King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater feels guilty over her successful prosecution of Sean Flynn in the murder of Evangeline Gordon (see BEG FOR MERCY). Flynn spent two years on death row, but recently was exonerated, freed, and compensated. Whereas everyone else involved, including her boss, wants to forget the embarrassment, Krista feels a need to learn the truth. She has spent her own money hiring private investigator Stew Kowalski to look into the case. Stew arranges for her to meet with Jimmy Caparulo, whose testimony helped convict his pal Flynn. When she arrives for the meeting, Krista finds him dead; an alleged suicide she believes is a homicide. A second hit shakes Krista up as she wonders if someone is watching her.

Sean has escaped from everyone: the friends who betrayed him, the jurisprudence system and the fickle media, who originally hung him two years ago but now call him a victim worthy of pity. However, Krista decides to visit him to ask for his help -- though she expects his refusal. To her surprise, instead of loathing her he is attracted to her. As they team up, danger threatens their every step in seeking the truth.

This is an exciting romantic thriller that starts off with the strong premise of an ADA seeking the truth, but slows down when the romance comes into play. Readers will enjoy Jami Alden's entertaining tale of Krista and Sean, who learn you can run from evil, but can't really HIDE FROM EVIL.

THE BARBARY DOGS         
CYNTHIA ROBINSON         
Minotaur Books   November, 2011

Wannabe writer Frank Kelly leaps off the Golden Gate Bridge. In a suicide note, Frank directs his friend, opera singer Max Bravo, to dispose of his estate. Max knows he should feel guilty for thinking of his late friend as a pest, but he and Dixie the pug begin dealing with what Frank left behind.

Max is taken aback when he finds a journal, allegedly written by Frank, that contains two distinctively different handwritings as well as enigmatic secrets he does not understand. He vows to interpret the journal, unaware that he is a puppet on a string pulled by the ghost of Barbary Coast thug Duffield Waverly Fallon. With the ghost of his Roma grandmother and with Dixie having his back, Max investigates the death of Frank.

This is an entertaining paranormal amateur sleuth story with Max as a man who finds himself manipulated by a ghost and a dog as he works the case. The serpentine story has more wonderful curves than Lombard Street as Max provides an intriguing tour of San Francisco.

FLY BY NIGHT         
WARD LARSON         
Oceanview Publishing   November, 2011
ISBN: 9781608090297

The CIA's top-secret Blackstar drone vanishes in the Horn of Africa. Agents report that wreckage has been found, delivered and concealed in the FBN (Fly by Night) Aviation hangar at Khartoum's airport. In Fredericksburg, Virginia, the Feds are concerned with what has been recovered and hidden by the notorious FBN.

Using the crash of a DC 3 in the Sudan as a cover, the CIA dispatches National Transportation Safety Board Investigator Jammer Davis to look into the drone. A single dad whose wife recently died, Jammer flies to Africa while his daughter is safely in Norway with family. He is greeted in Khartoum with an attempt on his life, which sets the stage for his African adventure.

Jammer Davis's latest "Fly" investigation is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that takes off from the moment he debarks in Africa and never slows down as he searches for the drone and tries to find out what FBN intends to do with it. Readers will enjoy Davis's taut battles and trysts (with an Italian doctor) as Ward Larson provides a soaring aviation thriller.

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE MISTLETOE MIX-UP         
EMILY BRIGHTWELL         
Berkley Prime Crime   November, 2011

The holidays are coming, but neither Elaine nor Daniel McCourt are feeling very festive. She never loved the husband her father bought with a large dowry settlement, but now she controls her money since her last living relative died. Daniel wants free access to her funds to cover bad investments, including a fortune in Far Eastern antiquities. He is broke. Their evening is interrupted by the arrival of guests to whom he plans to show off his latest acquisition.

A fire breaks out in the servant's quarters. The blaze is put out quickly, but everyone evacuates the house due to the smell. When they return they find Daniel bleeding to death in his office, his throat cut. Inspector Witherspoon leads the homicide investigation, which proves difficult because everyone present at the gathering had motive and opportunity. Of course, Witherspoon has a top secret weapon so clandestine even he is ignorant of its presence. That help comes from his brilliant housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and the rest of his loyal, intelligent staff who conduct a parallel investigation. However, this murder may remain unsolved as the suspects are numerous.

The latest Mrs. Jeffries Victorian mystery is a delightful puzzler as Mrs. Jeffries and her "under the stairs" crew work a difficult case through their employer. The basic theme of this wonderful long running series remains the same, yet once again the whodunit is fresh as Emily Brightwell provides another entertaining historical investigation.

THE IONIA SANCTION         
GARY CORBY         
Minotaur Books   November, 2011

In 460 BC, Pericles commissions Nicolaos to look into why Thorion died by hanging after sending the Athenian leader a note claiming there is a great threat to the city. Thorion was representing the city of Ephesus in Athens. After a fumbled incident involving Araxes the bandit, who fled to Ephesus, Pericles assigns Nico to clean up the mess. Nico buys Asia, the slave girl who was with Araxes. She informs him her father is Themistocles, the hero who saved Greece before defecting to the enemy. Nico plans to return the daughter to her father in Magnesia as a means to safely obtain information.

Thus Nico sails across the Aegean to Ephesus to learn why Thorion died. However, he quickly gets into trouble with Persian laws; only Artemis Priestess Diotima enables him to keep his head. His efforts are hindered by Persian officials, brigands wanting the right price for his head and Diotima.

The second Nicolaos and Diotima ancient Greek mystery is a jocular whodunit that uses real persona like Socrates, Pericles and Themistocles to anchor time and place. The lead detecting couple is a wonderful pairing as she rips pounds of flesh from her arrogant partner. Readers will enjoy touring the Aegean with Gary Corby as their guide.

SCOTCHED         
KAITLYN DUNNETT         
Kensington Books November, 2011

In Moosetookalook, Maine, the Spruces Hotel hosts the First Annual Maine-ly Cozy Con for mystery fans, who prefer limited violence and no graphic sex in their mystery books. The headliner at the May gala is actress turned mystery writer Yvonne Quinlan. Also attending is odious blogger J. Nedlinger, who described the actress's book as trash to be tossed out. The town's storekeepers look forward to the gala as they expect plenty of cozy aficionados will buy items from shops such as at Liss MacCrimmon's Everything Plaid Scottish Emporium.

However, the Con turns ugly when Nedlinger falls off Lover's Leap. While no one liked the vicious, unscrupulous blogger, everyone assumes it was a horrible accident. However, Liss reconsiders that premise when she realizes how many people celebrate the death of J. Nedlinger. When another victim surfaces, Liss and her town cohorts investigate who is murdering attendees at the Con.

SCOTCHED is an engaging MacCrimmon amateur sleuth story as the heroine and her friends look into the homicides. The background of a cozy Con makes for a fun retinue, as does springtime in Maine. Cozy fans will enjoy attending the First Annual Maine-ly Cozy Con.

D. C. DEAD            
STUART WOODS         
G. P. Putnam's Sons  December, 2011

Lawyer Stone Barrington believes his son Peter does not need him, although his best friend, NYPD Lieutenant Dino Bacchetti, insists otherwise. Their 'daddy' discussion ends when CIA Assistant Deputy Director Holly Barker joins them. She reminds them they are consultants on call who need to go to DC, though she cannot reveal why; she explains they will need credentials to visit the White House.

In Washington, CIA Director and First Lady Katharine Rule Lee greets them while they wait for her husband to arrive from the West Coast. President Will Lee wants them to investigate the murder-suicide of the First Lady's social secretary, Mimi Kendrick, by her husband Brixton Kendrick, the White House manager, which was investigated last year by the FBI and Secret Service.

This is an engaging Barrington-Bacchetti investigative thriller, though the reason for the inquiry makes a strong case that the First Lady should not be the CIA director when she states that "FBI agents are not awfully good at investigating homicides." Fans of the Barrington series will enjoy D.C. DEAD.

THE COCOA CONSPIRACY         
ANDREA PENROSE          
Obsidian PBO 12/11

Lady Arianna Hadley stops at Messrs. Harvey & Watkins Rare Book Emporium to buy an expensive book on chocolate as a birthday present for her husband Charles. However, a man accosts her in the bookstore insisting the book is his. Instead of swooning at his threats, Lady Saybrook kicks his butt. He flees and she purchases the book.

Before she gives Saybrook his birthday gift, she finds classified documents concealed inside the seam. Meanwhile, someone shoots at Saybrook when he is out hunting, wounding the former military Intel officer. The Saybrook pair has quite a mystery to unravel as each incident is dangerous and personal.

The latest Lady Arianna Regency Mystery is a terrific tale due to the unique heroine who is not afraid to brawl against tough rogues. Although starting each chapter with a cocoa recipe seems out of place with the non-stop action (better to have fewer recipes, and those included in domestic scenes), the story is fast-paced from the moment Arianna beats up a foreign thief in the book shop and never slows down as she works the case of the Cocoa Conspiracy.

A COOKIE BEFORE DYING         
VIRGINIA LOWELL         
Berkley Prime Crime PBO 12/11

In the Baltimore suburb of Chatterley Heights, co-owners of the Gingerbread House and best friends since childhood, Olivia Greyson and Maddie Briggs work late into the night on themed cookie cutter events for their business. The next morning, Olivia looks out her window to see a sea of white on her lawn, in spite of the high eighties temperature. Someone has dumped scrunched up paper on the lawn of the Gingerbread House. A note says "Sugar Kills" and invites people to attend The Vegetable Plate every Tuesday to battle against "demon sugar".

Livie goes to confront Charlene Critch, owner of The Vegetable Plate, only to see someone racing out of the establishment. She enters the open door, sees the trashed establishment and calls Sheriff Del Jenkins, who orders her to stay in her shop. With Maddie she finds Charlene, who accuses Olivia of causing trouble and trashing her store while she denys papering her lawn. Not long afterward, Livie and her Yorkie Spunky hear a dog howling louder than the noise of the storm hitting the town. When they look outside they see The Vegetable Plate intruder dead on their lawn.

The latest Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery is an entertaining investigative mystery. The early story is lighthearted fun as Olivia argues with stereotypical fanatic Charlene that sugar does not kill; people kill. The tale turns deadly when Livie and Maddie start investigating. Fans of cozies will enjoy this Maryland small-town whodunit.

THE LAST WORD          
ELLERY ADAMS         
Berkley Prime Crime PBO 12/11

In Oyster Bay, North Carolina, Olivia Limoges and the rest of the Bayside Book Writers are ecstatic that bestselling novelist Nick Plumley has come to town to work on his next book. That euphoria goes stratospheric when the Booker Prize winning author comes to the Bayside Book Writers meeting, hosted by Harris Williams in his recently purchased bungalow.

Olivia and her canine, Captain Havilland, visit the newcomer at his rental, but instead of a gracious welcome she finds him dead; apparently strangled. She calls Chief Rawlings, but believes Plumley's library research into the town's past led to his murder, so Olivia conducts her own investigation.

The latest Books by the Bay Mystery is a delightful amateur sleuth mystery with a strong independent lead character. The murder occurs about a third of the way into the entertaining story, as motives and suspects are established before the homicide happens. Readers will enjoy this regional whodunit to see if Olivia or the killer will get in THE LAST WORD.

ENDANGERED         
PAMELA BEASON         
Berkley Prime Crime PBO 12/11

In Utah, wildlife biologist Sam Westin is at the park for the Save the Wilderness Fund. This park is where she arranged for the release of cougars into the wild. Sam finds a wandering toddler whom she returns to his father at a camp site. Not long afterward two-year-old Zachary Fischer is reported missing again.

The media, including her friend Adam Steele, go into frenzy mode blaming cougars, though there are no clues that the animals are involved with the vanished toddler. Sam blames herself as she thought she sent the boy to his dad, but believes now that that might not be the case. She and FBI Agent Chase Perez go into the backcountry searching for the infant to save his life and prove her cats are innocent before they become the targets of vigilantes.

The first Summer Westin Mystery is a terrific wildlife investigation in which the biologist and the Fed know time is running out for the toddler and perhaps the cougars. Their inquiry is filled with stunning twists while readers will believe they are trekking the wild high country alongside the lead duo. Readers with enjoy going outdoors with Sam as their guide.

FOUL PLAY AT FOUR         
ANN PURSER         
Berkley Prime Crime December, 2011

Recent serial robberies have shaken the villagers of Long Farnden, England. Grocery store owner Josie March is the latest robbery victim; someone took one hundred pounds from her establishment. Josie's fiancé, Police Sergeant Matthew Vickers, and her mom, New Brooms cleaning service owner Lois, are as irate as the victim; a hundred pounds could bankrupt Josie.

However, mother and daughter becomes angrier when family patriarch Derek, an electrician, is hit over the head during a theft at the home of local magistrate Mrs. Tollervey-Jones. Lois and Detective Chief Inspector Hunter Cowgill investigate the robberies that are turning increasingly violent.

The latest Lois Meade amateur sleuth whodunit is an intriguing English village mystery with a fresh twist where readers know the identity of the thieves, brothers Gerald and Clive Mowlem, long before the cleaner or the cops do. Thus, in spite of being an entertaining story it lacks the taut suspense of previous entries in the series. Still, fans will enjoy Lois's latest case as the global economic meltdown hammers Long Farnden, Tresham and the other nearby villages.

THREADBARE         
MONICA FERRIS         
Berkley Prime Crime  December, 2011

Two teens find the body of an apparently homeless elderly woman near a movie theater in Excelsior, Minnesota. The female is identified as fifty-three-year-old Carolyn Marie Carlson, who had a long rap sheet. The assumption is she froze to death while intoxicated; but a week later the autopsy proves she had no alcohol in her blood. Thus Sergeant Malloy revises his assumption and he now believes Carolyn was murdered and suspects her family.

Carolyn's cousin, Margaret Smith, a frequent patron of the Crewel World knitting shop, begs owner Betsy Devonshire to investigate Carrie's death. Meanwhile, North Dakota investigator Irvin Morcambe visits Emily Hame in Excelsior to ask if she knows where homeless Janet Turnquist is as she has inherited a fortune. Emily says no, though she is worried about her troubled Aunt Janet. A teen finds Janet's corpse and on her blouse is embroidered her last will and testament in which her kind loving niece Emily inherits her estate -- if it proves legal. Wanting to know who killed her Aunt Janet, Emily asks Betsy to investigate. Betsy knows there is a link between the two homicides other than that both were homeless women, but struggles to knit the clues together.

The latest Crew World needlecraft mystery is an engaging whodunit as Malloy and Devonshire find the evidence does not come together in either murder case. The entertaining story is fun to follow as Betsy works two seemingly related homicides, but how they tie together never seems to surface. Series fans will appreciate what the "tie" is once Monica Ferris reveals it to the reader.

BEHIND THE SEAMS           
BETTY HECHTMAN         
Berkley Prime Crime  November, 2011

The Tarzana Hookers crochet group is excited as one of their members, actress CeeCee Collins, has made a comeback with insiders talking Oscar. CeeCee is excited with appearing on the popular Barbara Olive Overton Show where her niece Nell works as a production assistant. Although the movie star is wary that she has to cook a dish, Molly Pink and other Hookers mentor CeeCee.

While the Tarzana Hookers sit in the audience, Barbara interviews CeeCee until one of the hookers, Adele, starts shouting that crocheters deserve equal time with knitters. Adele and Molly, who tried to get the outspoken Hooker to sit down, are removed from the auditorium by segment producer Robyn Freed. Nell brings a latte to Robyn who lectures her for not bringing her sweetener. Nell gets it and Robyn sips her cold coffee only to fall down dead. Detective Heather Gilmore leads the homicide investigation in which the only suspect is Nell. As Nell is placed on leave, CeeCee asks Molly, who has had some experience solving mysteries, to investigate. Molly begins her inquiry fascinated by a photo on the victim's desk from which a person has been cut out.

The latest Tarzana Hookers story is an entertaining amateur sleuth tale although the whodunit for much of the story plays second fiddle to the Behind the Seams look at the group. Nell is a delightful protagonist who is in denial about the trouble she is facing. Cozy fans will enjoy this lighthearted whodunit as CeeCee trusts Molly to keep Nell from going to prison while Adele keeps screaming for Crocheters to unite.

A DEADLY PENANCE         
MAUREEN ASH         
Berkley Prime Crime Trade PBO 11/11

It's a freezing February in 1203, when one of the guards of the Castle Garrison, Ernulf, is walking the ramparts. He discovers the corpse of a visitor, Aubrey Tercel, part of the retinue of Peternille de la Haye, sister of the hereditary castellan Nicolaa de la Haye. The victim was obviously shot by a specially made longbow that Nicolaa's late father gave her. Since the Sheriff, Gerald Camville, is away, Ernulf informs Richard Camville, the son of Gerald. Richard and Ernulf conduct a preliminary investigation before telling Richard's mother, aunt and cousin, Alinor de Humez. They send for Pinchbeck, the coroner, who arrives to collect a fee for the death, but also claims that he is busy so Richard should investigate.

Nicolaa asks the Templar Preceptor d'Arderon if Knight Bascot de Marins can help with a homicide inquiry as he has solved murder mysteries before. Thus he comes to Lincoln Castle to team up with Richard and Alinor and assisted by Gianni, who he brought with him from the Italian streets. The obvious culprit is Simon Adgate the furrier whose much younger wife Clarice acts like her lover died. However, the case proves much more complicated with roots born in 1177.

For the first quarter of the latest Templar Knight mystery, Bascot does not appear and Richard and Ernulf start the investigation. The four detectives make a wonderful team as their discussions are intelligent and relevant. Fans of medieval cozies, set in a vividly described background, will enjoy A DEADLY PENANCE.

HOT WATER             
ERIN BROCKOVICH with C.J. LYONS         
Vanguard Books   November, 2011
ISBN: 9781593156848

Following the death of her lover Cole, the father of her nine-year-old son David, who suffers from cerebral palsy, A.J. Palladino returns to her hometown of Scotia, West Virginia. The environmental activist partners with attorney Elizabeth Hardy on environmental investigations. Owen Grandel wants to hire the famous A.J. to persuade protestors that his nuclear power plant is safe. The million dollar fee will help care for her disabled child.

Ignoring her values, A.J. accompanies Owen to his plant in South Carolina. Her actions upset David, who detests his mother selling out because of his condition. The tweener also overhears his grandfather plotting to gain custody of him. David turns to a family friend, Sheriff Ty, to counter the scheme of his grandfather. In South Carolina, as a hurricane bears down on the state, a fanatic wants to use the nuclear reactor to trigger Armageddon.

With the recent nuclear mess in Japan, HOT WATER is a relevant environmental thriller that grips the reader once A.J. and Owen meet. The heroine is caught between her values and her son's economic needs, which add realism to the mix. The nuclear energy issue makes for a fabulous A.J. environmental thriller.