The Bride Collector-Ted Dekker

The Bride Collector

Ted Dekker

Center Street, Apr 2010, $24.99

ISBN 9781599951966

In Denver, Quinton Guild believes young beautiful women need to be the Brides of Christ.  To insure they accept their destiny to be with God, he murders them.  However, he glues his chosen ones to a wall and slowly drains them of their blood.

FBI Agent Brad Raines is assigned the investigation into ending the killing spree of this Brides of Christ psychopath.  He is getting nowhere in his efforts to find the serial killer until he decides to discuss the case with unique consultants.  Brad visits the Center for Wellbeing and Intelligence, an institution filled with gifted but insane people such as schizophrenic Paradise who can see the final moments of life of a dead person.  Now The Bride Collector wants to marry forensic psychologist Nikki Holden to Christ.

This is an exciting serial killer thriller that is fast-paced when the psychopath is front and center especially performing the macabre marriage rituals and when Brad meets the institutionalized insane.  The story line slows down when Brad introspectively overly philosophizes whether it is better to love or not to love as loved ones die; yet ironically his discourse on who is mentally healthy vs insane is brilliant; albeit also slowing down the pace.  Still Ted Dekker provides his audience with a terrific thought provoking whodunit as readers will wonder who is locked away and why.

Harriet Klausner

Glazed Murder-Jessica Beck

Glazed Murder

Jessica Beck

Minotaur, Mar 30 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780312946104

In April Springs, North Carolina, population 5001, Suzanne Hart is the one who bought a coffee shop with her divorce settlement.  She calls her café the Donut Heart, which requires her to prepare pastries at 2:00 AM to open four hours later.  To reduce expenses, Suzanne moved back in with her mom while also eluding her former spouse Max who makes it clear he wants her back with him.

One night with all the businesses shut, Suzanne notices a car parked in front of her store dumping the body of Patrick Blaine before speeding away.  She is stunned as she and Patrick became friends with him being a steady customer of her shop.  Though she knows better, Suzanne feels obligated to investigate partly because she distrusts State Police Inspector Jake Bishop who leads the official inquiry.  Sparks fly between the cop and the donut maker, but in the shadows watching both of them is the culprit ready to kill either if they get too close to the truth.

Everyone warns Suzanne not to pursue a killer; but she insists justice must be served.  Although why she obsesses as she does will be asked by even the amateur sleuth audience used to feisty females investigations by those with no business doing so made even stronger by Jake being a good honest cop. Readers will admire Suzanne’s fortitude.

And she makes the tale with her small town relationships with her mom, her employee, her cop and her ex “The Great Impersonator”.  Glazed Murder is an enjoyable Tarheel whodunit that stars an obstinate innately good person albeit misguided by charming.

Harriet Klausner

Broken-Shiloh Walker

Broken

Shiloh Walker

Berkley, Mar 2010, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425232415

In St. Louis Sara Davis is attracted to her new neighbor, Quinn Rafferty.  Alas she knows nothing can come of it as she is on the lam from someone who wants her dead.  However, Quinn reciprocates and refuses to stay distantly friendly as he has a nasty past too.

As Sara and Quinn become closer, she still conceals her dark secrets from him as he does with her.  However, as they fall in love, fate twists them to the wind when his next skip as a bounty hunter is Sara.

This is a terrific romantic suspense thriller that grips the audience from the onset as Sara knows she could easily fall in love with Quinn, but must instead avoid him.  The story line is fast-paced yet filled with angst as he has issues having initially been raised by an abusive addict until his father and twin brother (see Fragile for Luke’s tale) rescued him two decades ago.  If Sara was to pick the perfect man to love her, he is it because as an adult he never forgot the abuse so he personally prefers beating up abusers.  Readers will enjoy this terrific thriller as fans will wonder if Quinn has finally found happiness only will he give away the Elusive Butterfly Of Love (Bob Lind).

Harriet Klausner

Blood Hima-Naomi Hirahara

Blood Hima

Naomi Hirahara

Minotaur, Mar 2 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312545550

In Los Angeles septuagenarian Japanese-American gardener Mas Arai is unhappy that his friend fellow Hiroshima survivor Haruo Mukai drafts him as his best man in his marriage to Sumako Hayakawa.  The wedding rehearsal is obvious a forerunner of things to occur as that proves a disaster.  Soon afterward her family accuses Haruo of stealing two ancient Japanese Girls’ Days hina dolls from them.  Besides the theft the purification rite the dolls represent is tainted so Sumako ends the engagement.

Although he hopes otherwise Mas fears Haruo stole the family heirlooms to pay off his latest gambling debt as his friend is a betting addict.  Mas investigates the theft by tracing the dolls’ trail, which takes him to drug dealers making him fear his friend is guilty and homicides; several of which occurred decades ago, making him believe his friend is not.

The latest Mas mystery (see Snakeskin Shamisen) is once again a wonderful amateur who-done-it that enables the reader to see deeply into the Japanese-American lifestyle.  The story line is fast-paced as fans will enjoy accompanying Mas as he follows the clues of the dolls past and present through the Great Los Angeles area.

Harriet Klausner

Mint Juleps, Mayhem and Murder-Sara Rosett

Mint Juleps, Mayhem and Murder

Sara Rosett

Kensington, Apr 2010, $22.00

ISBN: 9780758226839

At Taylor Air Force Base in North Dawkins, Georgia, everyone is stunned by the strangulation murder of popular Squadron Commander Colonel Lewis Pershall who was at an off base golf course at the time he was killed.  His stunned wife Denise realizes the Sheriff’s department investigating her spouse’ s homicide believe her to be the prime suspect.  She asks Ellie Avery, wife of a member of her late husband’s squadron, to investigate because she knows Ellie has a reputation as a successful amateur sleuth (see Magnolias, Moonlight, and Murder).

Ellie makes inquires that lead her to learn someone is threatening her husband Mitch and their cousin although Mitch hid it from her; that culprit  sent them strange squadron coins.  Also an air force widow sent hostile menacing letters to the victim.  As accidents seem to follow Mitch, Ellie looks closely at other officers who envied and loathed Pershall.

The fifth Ellie Avery military homeland amateur sleuth tale is a great whodunit that deftly balances an intelligent strong investigation, increasingly dangerous incidents targeting Mitch, and life on the CONUS air force base.  The cast is superb as the Avery family reunion showcases dependents and other civilians on a base while the inquiry is top rate as Avery uncovers three suspects with two having easy access.  Fans will appreciate drinking mint juleps alongside of Ellie while seeking who is causing mayhem and murder.

Harriet Klausner

Cat of the Century-Rita Mae Brown

Cat of the Century

Rita Mae Brown

Bantam, Apr 6 2010, $26.00

ISBN: 9780553807073

Ever since Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen remarried her ex husband successful veterinarian Fair, she has been happier than she has been a in a long time; dating back to when he cheated on her during their first marriage. They live in Crozet, Virginia; a town where all the animals regardless of species can talk to each other except humans.  Harry’s cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and her corgi Tee Tucker wish they could so they can warn her of danger and tell her where bodies are.

Several residents travel to William Woods University in Fuller, Missouri to celebrate Harry’s beloved sassy Aunt Tally on her hundredth birthday.  There is a lot of tension between the alumnae attending; especially between Mariah D’Angelo who owns a ritzy jewelry store and stockbroker Flo Langston.  Their overt animosity divides the attendees into three groups, supporters of each and those who wish they would leave.

Things turn strange when Mariah abruptly leaves. It is learned that Flo was going to accse Mariah of selling fakes in her store. When they return to Crozet, Mariah sends threatening emails to Liz Fillmore who sided with Flo and Terri Kincaid who sells high end ceramics at her shop.  When Flo is killed by a sniper and Mariah is found murdered at the University, Harry and her sleuthing menagerie investigates who the killer is and why that person did it.

Any Mrs. Murphy Anthropomorphic mystery is a special treat as affirmed by Cat of the Century.  The love between Harry and Fair shines throughout especalliy as he gives her space she needs to be herself even when she investigates.  There are plenty of suspects with motives in a well constructed cozy that readers will enjoy in this one sitting read.

Harriet Klausner

Naked Moon-Dominic Stansberry

Naked Moon

Dominic Stansberry

Minotaur, Mar 2 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312364540

No one walked away from the top secretive Company until Dante Mancuso did.  To do so he had to take with him secrets that would expose the Company of illegal activity if something happened to him.  Dante settled in his hometown of San Francisco becoming a private investigator who tried to avoid anything remotely tied to his previous employment.

Meanwhile SFPD Special Investigations Officer Leanora Chin investigates Dante’s cousin Gary who operates a crooked warehouse.  Gary knows if he cooperates with the cop, the Wu Benevolent Association will sever that tie by killing him.  Feeling caught between the Rock and the bay, he contacts his cousin’s former employee who promises to assist him if Dante performs a Company task.  Feeling triangulated, Dante seeks a way out without harming his loved ones as he knows the firm will demand more favors of him or else his cousin and others will go down.

With a nod to John Grisham’s The Firm although Dante is much better prepared than Mitch McDeere, Dominic Stansberry provides a great San Francisco treat.  The North Beach thriller is fast-paced from the moment the impassive Dante calmly realizes his options and never slows down as he works the mission with subtle plans of what he must do if he is too ever be free of his insidious former employers whose grip is tighter than a stay at the Hotel California.

Harriet Klausner

Kindred Spirits-Marilyn Meredith

Kindred Spirits

Marilyn Meredith

Mundania Press, 2008, $12.95

ISBN: 9781594267352

The wildfire is spreading rapidly down the Sierras threatening communities like Bear Creek.  Resident Deputy Tempe Crabtree tries to insure everyone has been evacuated from the nearby foothills to the shelter run by her spouse Pastor Hutch Hutchison.  However, firefighters prevent her from continuing near the home of half Tolowa Native American artist Vanessa Ainsworth.

Soon afterward, Tempe learns that a woman and dog died in the inferno near Vanessa’s home.  However, bullets killed both of them.  Detectives Richards and Morrison lead the investigation that is going nowhere as Vanessa’s former husband has an air tight alibi so the victim’s ex boyfriend remains the top suspect.  The cops scornfully send Tempe to Vanessa’s hometown of Crescent City where her cousin lives because they assume an Indian to Indian chat will get them information as Tempe is part Yanduchi.  Though on a personal level the trip proves fruitful; on an investigative level it goes nowhere though she picks up two stalkers along the way.  However, ever since CALLING THE DEAD awakened her skills, Vanessa’s spirit visits her.  Tempe accompanied by Hutch continues to help the lead detectives, but her second trip is not well received as this the killer stalks her.

This is an exciting police procedural enhanced by a profound look at the historical atrocities towards Native Americans and the current bias of the lead detectives whose overt attitude makes it lucid that they need consideration of others training.  The story line is fast-paced as Tempe works the case encouraged by the spirit of Vanessa, learns more about her heritage, and struggles with her relationship with Hutch.

Harriet Klausner

Witch in Time-Madelyn Alt

Witch in Time

Madelyn Alt

Berkley, Apr 2010, $23.95

ISBN: 9780425232613

Over the last nine months in Stony Mill, Indiana, the sensitives feel a chaotic energy surge sweeping the town and leading to murder and mayhem.  The witches and the sensitives are friends so arrange a coalition led by Liss the witch who has deliberately developed her powers and encourages her co-worker Maggie O’Neill to do so too as she is a strong empath.

Maggie gets involved in the chaotic energy when she goes to the hospital with her boyfriend Marcus Quinn to see her sister Mel giving birth.  The spirits follow Maggie into an elevator where she overhears a conversation that implies someone’s death.  A few days earlier student Jordan Everett died from an enlarged heart caused by steroid use.  Not understanding what the spirits are telling her, Maggie remains with Mel overnight.  She overhears an argument between a woman who just gave birth and a man who is not her husband.  Her sister’s husband vanishes while Maggie believes Jordan’s death is linked to another death a few days after her sister gave birth to twins. Now she has to  prove her assertion with evidence beyond witchery and intuition.

Madelyn Alt’s paranormal amateur sleuth mysteries are always fantastic fun.  With a good deal of sensual feelings exchanged between the heroine and her significant other, A Witch In Time has cross genre appeal to romance readers too.  Maggie works the case with the spirits trying to tell her the solution, but they are too cryptic, which both frustrates and motivates her.  Readers will enjoy this refreshing tale in an original series as learning who the culprit is from those beyond will not hold up in court.

Harriet Klausner

The Bad Kitty Lounge-Michael Wiley

The Bad Kitty Lounge

Michael Wiley

Minotaur, Mar 2 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312593001

In Chicago Greg Samuelson goes ballistic when he learns his wife Amy is having an affair with Eric Stone.  Fuming, he burns Stone’s car.  Soon afterward, at the Holy Trinity Church someone shoots Greg in the face and kills his boss, Sister Judy Terrano, the Virginity Nun; under her tattoo of a cat was written with a marker “Bad Kitty”.

Greg, who previously hired private investigator Joe Kozmarski to catch his wife in the act, rehires the sleuth to make inquiries into who shot him.  As Joe digs and finds more corpses, long time civil rights activist William DuBuclet demands he drops the case or else.  Stone tries to hire Joe to conduct surveillance on DuBuclet as the case ties back to the 1960s Bad Kitty Lounge where teens met to hear music, smoke weed and use dope, and have sex.

This a superb Chicago Noir (see The Last Striptease) as Joe deals with a client he dropped after the BMW arson incident at a time he considers leaving the Windy City with his two dependents, his mom and his young cousin.  Joe tells the tale from the opening inferno over egg fu young until the final wrap up though at times his escapades seem over the top of the Sears Tower.  The audience will enjoy this fabulous investigative thriller as the spins and twists keep Joe and the reader off kilter throughout.

Harriet Klausner