Compendium of Mystery News 070714

Today's compendium of recently published mystery news articles:

• Dick Lochte reviews James Lee Burke's two most recently published books, the Dave Robicheaux mystery The Tin Roof Blowdown and a collection of short stories Jesus Out to Sea.

• New York Magazine has an interview with first time author Nick Santora. (MBN Note: Read our review of his book Slip & Fall on Mysterious Reviews.)

• Lighthouse Interactive has released the second playable demo to their upcoming investigative/horror adventure game Delaware St. John Volume 3: The Seacliff Tragedy.

• Otto Penzler writes about the second annual Thriller-Fest in his column in the New York Sun.

• Mystery! on PBS airs a new Miss Marple movie this weekend, Towards Zero, starring Geraldine McEwan as the senior sleuth. As originally written by Agatha Christie, this book did not feature Miss Marple but rather Superintendent Battle.

• Kathy Blumenstock writes about the USA Network series Psych which began its second season on Friday. Psych features a young sleuth who uses his powers of observation to solve crimes. (MBN Note: The first season of Psych is now available on DVD.)

• Michael Riedel in the New York Post reports that Columbo Takes the Rap, a screenplay first shown at the International Mystery Writers Festival last month, is heading for Broadway.

• Fans of the American Girl mysteries will be pleased to learn that a movie based on one of the characters, Kit Kittredge, is in production. Visit their website for a video preview. (MBN Note: Visit First Clue Mysteries, mystery books for children and young adults, to see all of the mysteries in the American Girl series.)

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Book Review: Slip & Fall by Nick Santora

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Slip & Fall by Nick Santora. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Slip & Fall by Nick Santora
Non-Series

State Street Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-681-12749-X (068112749X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-681-12749-4 (9780681127494)
Publication Date: June 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): Robert Principe’s law school graduation was supposed to be the moment that transitioned his family from its honorable, but often difficult, blue-collar roots to the supposedly easier white-collar world.

However, when faced with a struggling practice, a pregnant wife, and a sister in trouble, Rob realizes the white-collar world isn’t as easy as he thought. He needs money … and fast.

Desperate, he approaches his wiseguy cousin Jackie with an insurance scheme—a way for the Mob to collect from guys who owe but can’t pay and a chance for Robert to use his law degree to make a few quick bucks when he needs it most.

Rob thinks it will be a one-time thing. It isn’t. The scheme works well—too well. The money flows, the violence escalates, and Robert soon learns that getting out of a deal with the Mafia isn’t exactly easy … especially when the FBI is onto you.

Review: Slip & Fall, the debut novel by Nick Santora, a successful writer and producer of several television series, is the story of an honest attorney who, in trying to the do right thing for his family, makes a disastrous choice that threatens everyone he loves and everything he values.

Robert Principe could have followed his cousin Jackie into the Mafia but instead attends law school and makes his wife and family proud by opening a practice in the old neighborhood. His clients are friends who need to make a will, union men who are hurt on their job but don't know how to go about getting compensation for their injuries, and the like. But after only a few years his business starts slipping. His wife is pregnant, he's behind on his mortgage, and he has other financial obligations to his family. In an effort to make some fast money, he contacts his cousin Jackie and they come up with an insurance scam. Jackie knows a man who owes the Mafia boss a $50,000 gambling debt who would be willing to take a fall if it meant clearing his debt. Jackie also knows a chiropractor that would testify to the man’s injuries. The scheme nets them less than they were hoping before, but enough for Robert to pay some bills. Though Robert doesn't want to do it again, the Mafia insists he continue working for them. After trying to quit, he is threatened with his life, plus that of his wife, unborn child, his parents and his sister. When he is finally caught, the FBI offers him an opportunity to make things right. How Robert is able to extricate himself from the mob, protect his family and satisfy the FBI, is both powerful and bold.

At its core, Slip & Fall is a story about families and the love and bonds that bring and keep them together. It is easy for the reader to identify with Robert's need to take care of his family, and though it is regrettable that he chooses an illegal path to do so, it's completely credible that he chooses a path that's available to him, even if it conflicts with his morals.

Santora is a terrific storyteller and has created a very believable character in Robert Principe. His experience in writing for television comes through in a book that is well paced, descriptive, and keeps the plot moving forward. It's all very well done. (Note: the violence in Slip & Fall is very graphic and may not be suitable for all readers.)

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Slip & Fall and to Authors on the Web for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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Mystery Bestsellers for July 13, 2007

A list of the top ten mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending July 13, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

New on the list this week: New England White, Stephen L. Carter's second novel in which he returns to the New England university town of Elm Harbor where a murder begins to crack the veneer that has hidden the racial complications of the town’s past, the secrets of a prominent family, and the most hidden bastions of black political influence. Publishers Weekly states calls New England White "... a compelling, literate page-turner that effortlessly blends a gripping whodunit with complex discussions of politics and race in contemporary America."

Also new this week:

Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson, a heart-stopping story in which Sun Valley (ID) sheriff Walt Fleming struggles to protect a controversial politician from the elegant plan of a hired assassin. This is the first in a new series by this bestselling author.

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney, her debut novel in which she deftly weaves adventure, suspense, revelation, and humor into an exhilarating thriller, a panoramic historical romance, and a gripping murder mystery.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Book Review: Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato
A Pauline Sokol Mystery

Avon Books (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-06-083708-X (006083708X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-083708-2 (9780060837082)
Publication Date: July 2007
List Price: $6.99

Synopsis (from the publisher): Normally, insurance fraud investigator Pauline Sokol likes to keep her feet firmly on the ground. But her latest undercover assignment has the aero-phobic ex-nurse flying high—as she takes off to ground a land-and-air ambulance company that's been doing some rather flighty billing. Even having ER Dano, the company's best (and hottest!) paramedic, in the copter seat next to her isn't enough to soothe her queasy tummy.

But her insides really start doing loop-de-loops when one of the company's owners is brutally murdered—and Pauline starts receiving creepy phone calls . . . from the killer! Suddenly the air looks a lot safer than the ground. And if Pauline doesn't crack this case soon, even mouth-to-mouth from her favorite paramedic won't be enough to revive her.

Review: Insurance investigator Pauline Sokol again dons her nurse's uniform to look into some billing irregularities in her sixth case, Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato.

The Scarpello and Tonelli Insurance Agency, for which Pauline works as an investigator, suspects that a local ambulance service, TLC Air and Land, has been falsely billing for services never rendered. Working undercover as a nurse for the company, she quickly finds evidence to confirm her agency's suspicions. But things get complicated when Payne Sterling, who owns TLC with his twin sister Pansy, is murdered, and the killer is all too willing to make Pauline his next victim.

The primary appeal of this series is accompanying Pauline as she gets herself into and out of trouble during her investigation, following her evolving relationship with the mysterious Jagger, and seeing how she deals with the ruggedly handsome men with whom she finds herself working. Plots have never been that important, and that is particularly evident in this case. With Pauline discovering the incriminating billing records and the murder of Payne taking place very early in the book, one would think that her mission was accomplished, job well done, time for the police to step in to solve the murder.

That wouldn't make for much of a story, however, so Pauline continues to pry into the affairs of TLC. But there's an underlying sense that everyone is simply biding their time until the killer is conveniently identified and their motive revealed.

Fans of the series will likely enjoy the familiarity of Dead on Arrival. New readers may not be as enthusiastic.

Special thanks to Book Trends for providing an ARC of Dead on Arrival for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Compendium of Mystery News 070711

Today's compendium of recently published mystery news articles:

• The South Florida Sun-Sentinel talks to Nick Stone, author of the 2006 Ian Fleming Silver Dagger Award winning Mr. Clarinet, describing him as your average Scots-Haitian-Jewish-Catholic crime writer who lives in London and sets his novels in Miami and the Caribbean.

• Speaking of Mr. Clarinet, Oline H. Cogdill has a review of the book in her column in the Sun-Sentinel.

• And there's more: Ellen Kanner interviews Nick Stone on MiamiHerald.com.

• Mystery author Mark Arsenault, a reporter who also writes for the The Providence Journal, gives his rules to write by. Try low standards, lots of caffeine, and a little goofing off.

• Two more reviews of the latest PC game, Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek. One from the Associated Press (and published on SFGate.com) and the other from Anne Reeks and published on the Houston Chronicle.

• Reuters interviews Ridley Pearson who has just published his first book in a new crime series, Killer Weekend.

• Sharyn McCrumb talks about the upcoming film adaption of her mystery, The Rosewood Casket.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Book Review: And Murder for Dessert by Kathleen Delaney

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of And Murder for Dessert by Kathleen Delaney. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

And Murder for Dessert by Kathleen Delaney
An Ellen McKenzie Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-423-6 (1590584236)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-423-1 (9781590584231)
Publication Date: July 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): Ellen McKenzie and her fiancé, Chief of Police Dan Dunham, are on their way to the very upscale Harvest Festival Dinner, hosted by Ellen’s niece, Sabrina, and her husband, Mark Tortelli. They are seasoned winery professionals. What could go wrong?

New to Silver Springs Winery, the Tortellis have been worried for weeks that their jobs depend on the success of this event, and the reputation of the guest chef hasn’t helped calm their nerves.

Otto Messinger is noted for his temper tantrums. Ellen is hoping he’ll keep himself in check. Dan is hoping the Tortellis, who have been staying with Ellen for a month, will triumph and soon find their own place to live. Tonight’s guest list seems to include everyone who has ever had a feud with Otto, a fact the little chef is thoroughly enjoying. The dinner progresses, a little shaky but without disaster. Then it’s time for dessert. But where is Otto?

It is Sabrina who finds him, quite dead, in a wine fermenting tank. Who helped him into it? Dan seems to think it was Sabrina. Ellen would prefer Dan find another suspect—and there are plenty …

Review: Kathleen Delaney’s third entry in the Ellen McKenzie series, And Murder for Dessert, is a delightful mystery featuring some jealous and distrustful chefs, those who enjoy the fruits of their labors, and those who invest in their talents.

The quiet lives of real estate agent Ellen McKenzie and her husband, Chief of Police Dan Dunham, are turned upside down when Ellen’s niece, Sabrina, and her husband, Mark Torelli, move in with them temporarily until they could find a home of their own. The two quickly accept jobs at the local Silver Spring Winery on a trial basis. Their first assignment: plan a festive formal dinner and wine tasting event. For the dinner, Mark hires a famous chef, Otto Messinger. Mark not only wants to impress his guests with his own talent regarding wines, he also wants Otto to impress them with his fine cuisine. The wine is exquisite and the food divine. All of the invited guests are overwhelmed by the event. All but a murderer, that is, who sets out to kill Otto that very night. Soon thereafter another murder takes place. Ellen’s curiosity and her unsolicited help are all that are needed for Dan to be able to identify the culprit.

Every character written in the story felt real. The residents of the city seemed like neighbors. Even Otto, who could easily have been portrayed as a caricature of an arrogent out-of-control chef, seemed no worse than the typical culinary expert on television. No doubt every reader has experienced a situation where a meal had to be sent back to the kitchen for some reason or another. But would you kill the chef because of it? No need to answer that! To be drawn into a book and feel a part of it (dead chef notwithstanding) is a wonderful reading experience.

What's not to like about a gourmet meal, fine wine, and a little murder thrown in for dessert? Not much! And Murder for Dessert is a treat and is highly recommended.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of And Murder for Dessert and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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Mystery Godoku: Weekly Puzzle for July 09, 2007

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is available on our website.

Godoku is similar to Sudoku, but uses letters instead of numbers. To give you a headstart, we provide you a mystery clue to fill in a complete row or column (if you choose to use it!).

This week's letters and mystery clue: A D E G N O R S U. _____ Games is the title of the 17th Inspector Woodend mystery by Sally Spencer (9 letters).

New! We now have our puzzles in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

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Compendium of Mystery News 070708

Today's compendium of recently published mystery news articles:

• Newsweek has an excerpt from Elmore Leonard's Up in Honey's Room as well as a list of his five most important books.

• Kit Ehrman's Triple Cross is a finalist in the fiction category for the Best Books of Indiana. (MBN note: a review is available at Mysterious Reviews.)

• Jabari Asim of the Washington Post reviews Stephen L. Carter's second mystery set in the world of upper-class black Americans in New England White.

• The Globe and Mail's Margaret Cannon reviews several new mysteries in her latest column, including Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Book Review: Cut to the Bone by Shane Gericke

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Cut to the Bone by Shane Gericke. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Cut to the Bone by Shane Gericke
A Emily Thompson Mystery

Pinnacle (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7860-1814-3 (0786018143)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-1814-7 (9780786018147)
Publication Date: June 2007
List Price: $6.99

Synopsis (from the publisher): No judge. No jury. No mercy.

The victims bear a madman's grisly marks. Each one is cut with chilling precision and then savagely mutilated ...

Martin Benedetti, detective commander for the Chicago suburb of Naperville, Illinois, sheriff's office, is no stranger to ruthless killers. Two years ago Marty and local police detective Emily Thompson solved a particularly brutal case of serial murder. But this time it's different. This time, the carnage that has been wrought is only the horrific prelude to another more shocking act of evil—an act that will strike at the heart of everything Marty cherishes most.

Review: Shane Gericke's second Emily Thompson mystery, Cut to the Bone, again features a serial killer who is targeting the western Chicago suburb of Naperville.

Emily and her professional and romantic partner Marty Benedetti are having a spa day when the receptionist is quickly and efficiently murdered, the killer escaping virtually unnoticed. After Emily enters the details of the crime into a national database, including the fact that the victim's nose was inexplicably broken and two barely burned wooden matches were found at the crime scene, she is contacted by other agencies around the country that have had similar crimes in their jurisdictions. They surmise that a serial killer is at work around the country, but don't know how the victims are connected. Meanwhile, Illinois prepares to execute the killer of a pregnant woman and her unborn child in a newly constructed facility built around the electric chair used several decaded earlier by the state. Emily concludes the serial killer and the pending execution are somehow related and as a result finds herself a target.

As with Gericke's previous mystery in this series, he is at his best in profiling and documenting the actions of the serial killer. The identity of the killer isn't revealed until the final pages and comes as something of a surprise; Gericke convincingly proffers several red herring candidates during the course of the book, any of which would seem to have motive and opportunity. From this perspective, Cut to the Bone works well as a suspense thriller.

But there are numerous problems with the book that are hard to overlook. Emily Thompson plays at best a minor role here. She's present at the spa murder and is presumably the lead detective in the case but spends most of her time wondering about her relationship with Marty Benedetti. The spa murder is 8th or 9th on the serial killer's list, so it is inexplicable that the connection with the broken noses and two burnt matches wasn't discovered earlier. On the same subject, there is never a credible explanation why the victim's noses were broken in the first place, and the relationship between the matches and the electric chair is truly far-fetched. The inclusion of a conversation between Supreme Court Justices Potter Stewart and William Rehnquist that takes place in 1972 where they discuss a pending case on the death penalty before the court, and share a chuckle over executions in Texas, is particularly odd. And probably most puzzling, in the end how did the serial killer expect to achieve his stated objective?

There are too many problems with Cut to the Bone to recommend it, but those looking for a quick read with an intriguing serial killer will likely enjoy it.

Special thanks to Breakthrough Promotions for providing an ARC of Cut to the Bone for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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First Clues: More Mysteries for Children and Young Adults

The First Clue Mysteries website was updated this weekend with seven additional series for the junior sleuths in your family.

The characters featured in the Boxcar Children mysteries by Gertrude Chandler Warner are also in a series written for beginning readers. The Benny and Watch mysteries feature Benny Alden (the youngest of the Boxcar children) and his dog Watch and will delight readers aged 4 to 6 with simple stories and colorful illustrations. There are currently 15 books in the series. (Note: Gertrude Chandler Warner died in 1979 but her publisher continues to produce mysteries for children in her name.)

The Character mysteries feature twins Charlie and Hailey and are written by Elizabeth L. Hamilton. These entertaining stories also illustrate character building traits that will resonate with the reader. Of the three books available, the first teaches the basic meaning of character. The second calls for courage of conviction. In the third the twins learn responsibility. This series is recommended for pre-teens.

Like the Benny and Watch mysteries, the Fletcher mysteries by Elizabeth Levy feature a character from another series though are written for a younger audience. Fletcher is a dog that belongs to Gwen and Jill (from the Something Queer mystery series, also by the same author). He and his flea Jasper help solve crimes in their neighborhood. The five books in this series are recommended for readers aged 6 to 9.

The Johnny Dixon mysteries combine suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. The first eight books in the series were written by John Bellairs, the author of several novels and two other series for young adults, who died in 1991. The ninth book, The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie, was completed by Brad Strickland who also has written the three most recently published mysteries in the series. These books are recommended for readers aged 9 to 12.

Written by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry, the Red Rock mysteries feature 13-year-old twins Bryce and Ashley Timberline. Whether at home, in school or out chasing down evidence, both Bryce and Ashley bring their excitement and enthusiasm for seeking out justice and defending the needy to every task they undertake. Their investigative cases take on a fuller dimension as they learn to live out their faith in every area of life. The 15 books in this series are written for readers aged 8 to 12.

A series for young readers, the Sly the Sleuth mysteries by Donna Jo Napoli and her son Robert Furrow feature Sylvia "Sly" and her cat Taxi. They operate the Sleuth for Hire agency and use their wits and reasoning to solve problems for their friends and neighbors. Each of the three books in the series contains three mystery stores in the form of early reader chapter books. The Sly the Sleuth mysteries are recommended for new readers aged 4 to 6.

The first book in the Zeke Armstrong mysteries by Daniel Hale and his teenage nephew Matthew Labrot, Red Card, was the 2002 winner of the Agatha Award for Best Children's/Young Adult Mystery. Zeke Armstrong is a 13-year-old sports fanatic and amateur sleuth. There are currently two books in this series which is recommended for readers 10 and older.

First Clue Mysteries is pleased to provide information on over 50 mystery series for children and young adults. Each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older). If you have a favorite mystery series you'd like to see added to our site, please contact us.

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Compendium of Mystery News 070707

Today's compendium of recently published mystery news articles:

• Adventure Gamers reviews the latest Nancy Drew PC mystery game, The White Wolf of Icicle Creek, saying "its strong storyline and cast of characters are enough to create a solid addition to the series." (MBN Note: Visit Games of Mystery to find all PC games in the Nancy Drew series.)

• Robert K. Elder writes in the Chicago Tribune about a group of Chicago mystery authors who have formed The Outfit, an online literary salon for crime fiction readers and writers.

• Filmstew.com reports on the ten years it took actor Blair Underwood to write Casanegra, his debut mystery introducing gigolo-turned-actor Tennyson Hardwick.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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News: 2007 CWA Dagger Award Winners Announced

The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) has announced the winners of the 2007 Daggers, among the most pretigious awards recognizing excellence in mystery writing. The awards ceremony was held on July 5th at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane in London.

The top prize, the Duncan Lawrie Dagger for best crime novel of the year, was awarded to Peter Temple for The Broken Shore. He also received £20,000.

Other prizes include:

Duncan Lawrie International Dagger for best crime novel translated into English: Wash this Blood Clean from My Hand by Fred Vargas.

The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for best adventure/thriller in the style of James Bond: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

The CWA New Blood Dagger for first books by previously unpublished authors: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

The CWA Dagger in the Library which recognizes the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to readers: Stuart MacBride.

Congratulations from Mystery Book News to all the winners!

Please visit the Mystery Book Awards website where lists of winners from 19 different organizations that recognize excellence in mysteries, including the CWA Daggers, are presented.

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Mystery Book Review: Fear of Landing by David Waltner-Toews

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Fear of Landing by David Waltner-Toews. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Fear of Landing by David Waltner-Toews
A Abner Dueck Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-349-3 (1590583493)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-349-4 (9781590583494)
Publication Date: June 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): On the islands of Java and Bali in the early 1980s, Western governments are pouring millions of dollars into development schemes even as Indonesian strongman President Suharto violently stifles dissent.

For Canadian veterinarian Abner Dueck, the "spice islands" are an exotic locale for the seemingly mundane work of examining dead cows and working with old friends. Dueck's life changes abruptly when some of the cows die under mysterious circumstances, and he meets a mysterious young Chinese woman; soon after, two of his friends-one Canadian and one Indonesian-are murdered.

Mennonite Dueck, marshalls the energy to battle Indonesian politics and the attempts of local businessmen, military rulers, and international "advisors" to manipulate development projects to their own ends.

And to unravel the mysterious deaths of both cattle and people, Dueck must first understand the long shadow that the 1966 massacres cast on Indonesian life, as well as the complexities of their music, and the demands and intrigues of love and conspiracy, death and mystery, and of course, cultural heritage and personal identity.

Review: Fear of Landing, by David Waltner-Toews, introduces Abner Dueck, a 35-year-old Canadian large-animal veterinarian, who volunteers to go to Indonesia as a disease investigator for farm animals. What he finds on the beautiful “Spice Islands” are American cows mysteriously dropping dead at odd times and seemingly for no reason. There is a total breakdown of the Indonesian politics, he is told, since the 1966 massacres. The country's rulers, or lack thereof, play an important part in the cattle mystery, plus in the death of two of his friends, one Canadian and one Indonesian.

Abner, unlike the multitudes of the people in Indonesia, lives in splendor. He has a car, and his own home with living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath. He makes friends very quickly and trusts everyone. When he does an autopsy on a recently deceased cow, his life becomes endangered. He is not permitted to do that again for fear he would know what and possibly who are killing the cows. He must challenge the attempts of the local merchants to manipulate the diseased cows for their own benefits. He meets and falls in love with a mysterious Chinese girl. The Chinese are not welcome in Indonesia because they are perceived to have too much money and power. When his friend from Canada is killed, he rushes to a fellow veterinarian for help and advice, only to find that he too has been killed also. He goes to the police who say nothing except that his visa has expired and he must be out of the country in five days. In those five days, Abner searches and finds the answers he needs.

Fear of Landing is a book with might and magnetism. The narrative up to and including the solution to the deaths of both the men and the cows is dynamic. Abner Dueck is a wonderful, complex character and, with the combination of exotic locales where he can practice his profession, this promises to be a very intriguing mystery series.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Fear of Landing and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Bestsellers for July 06, 2007

A list of the top ten mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending July 06, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website. Beginning this week we're combining data from multiple sources to produce a single mystery bestseller list that we believe better represents the entire market.

New on the list this week: James Patterson's latest stand-alone thriller, The Quickie. When NYPD cop Lauren Stillwell discovers her husband leaving a hotel with another woman, she decides to beat him at his own game. But her revenge goes dangerously awry, and she finds her world spiraling into a hell that becomes more terrifying by the hour.

Also new is Silence by Thomas Perry. Six years ago, Jack Till helped Wendy Harper disappear. But now her ex-boyfriend and former business partner, Eric Fuller, is being framed for her presumed murder in an effort to smoke her out, and Till must find her before tango-dancing assassins Paul and Sylvie Turner do. Mysterious Reviews states, "Certainly one of the best mysteries to be published this summer, Silence will keep the reader enthralled to the very end."

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Compendium of Mystery News 070705

Today's compendium of recently published mystery news articles:

• Janet Evanovich speaks with Sheryl Ubelacker during a recent stop in Toronto on writing and promoting her books.

• Fox Searchlight announced that principal photography has begun on The Night Watchman from a screenplay based on an original script by James Ellroy.

• Timothy Rutten of the LA Times reviews The Night Ferry by Australian mystery writer Michael Robotham, calling it a superior thriller.

• Reuters interviews Scott Turow who says imagination, not experience, is key to writing.

• John Preston of the Telegraph reviews the Aurelio Zen mystery End Games by Michael Dibin who died this past March at age 60.

• Claudia La Rocco of The New York Times reviews the third mystery in the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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