Sunday, May 20, 2007

Mystery Book Review: What's So Funny? by Donald E. Westlake

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of What's So Funny? by Donald E. Westlake. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.What's So Funny? by Donald E. Westlake

What's So Funny? by Donald E. Westlake
A John Dortmunder Mystery

Warner Books (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-446-58240-9 (0446582409)
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-58240-7 (9780446582407)
Publication Date: April 2007
List Price: $24.99

Synopsis (from the publisher): All it takes is a few underhanded moves by a tough ex-cop named Eppick to pull Dortmunder into a game he never wanted to play. With no choice, he musters his always-game gang and they set out on a perilous treasure hunt for a long-lost gold and jewel-studded chess set once intended as a birthday gift for the last Romanov czar, which unfortunately reached Russia after that party was over.

From the moment Dortmunder reaches for his first pawn, he faces insurmountable odds. The purloined past of this precious set is destined to confound any strategy he finds on the board. Success is not inevitable with John Dortmunder leading the attack, but he's nothing if not persistent, and some gambit or other might just stumble into a winning move.

Review: Donald E. Westlake brings Dortmunder back in What's So Funny?, the 13th mystery in this series featuring New York City's master criminal.

This is a “historical” account of the events following the theft of a long lost jeweled and gold chess set. This set was to be given to the Russian Czar at the close of World War I. The Russian Revolution following the war thwarted that plan. The men commissioned to deliver it, four American soldiers, not knowing what to do with it, decided to take it back to America. The plan was they would sell it and reap the profits, thought to be in the millions. Only one of the soldiers was responsible for the transaction. He kept the set and ran, using it as collateral to start a business and became a multimillionaire. Six decades later, only one of the soldiers is still alive and he wants to know just what happened to that chess set. With the help of his granddaughter, and ex-policeman, and an almost ex-thief, the search begins.

What a concept, four young men coming home from the war with an item that will make them all very wealthy! What dreams they must have had for their futures. For three of the men their dreams were just that: dreams. For one, it rolled into the building of an empire. Mr. Hemlow, an octogenarian, the only surviving soldier, hires private investigator Johnny Eppick, an ex-NYPD detective, to find this treasure. Eppick in turn hires John Dortmunder, once a big time burglar who is now trying to stop his thieving ways, to do his legwork. Dortmunder brings in his old crime gang and the search begins.

The title of the book just begs to ask the question, what’s so funny about What's so Funny? Quite a lot. The repartee between Mr. Hemlow and Eppick and between Eppick and Dortmunder for starters. Even the banter between Dortmunder and his bumbling gang of thieves is enough to make it funny. But Westlake brings in other capricious characters such as a young precocious couple, Mr. Hemlow’s granddaughter, attorneys with a prestigious law firm, some who involved with the search of the chess set, and others having no idea about it, all of whom add to the humor.

Elements of wit, banality, or well-known puns are on just about every page. These will bring a smile and maybe even laughter to the reader. Enjoy this latest Dortmunder: it’s a keeper!

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of for contributing her review of What's So Funny? and to Hachette Book Group for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

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

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News: Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone in Sea Change on CBS Tuesday

Mysteries on TVFor those of you who are not following American Idol this season, be sure to tune in to CBS this Tuesday for the made-for-television movie Sea Change, the fourth entry in this series featuring Tom Selleck as Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone. (At the very least, videotape or TiVo it!)

Jesse Stone: Death in ParadiseIn what is clearly inspired casting, Tom Selleck is brilliant as Jesse Stone. And, in contrast to other series characters that are brought to either the big or small screen, this series continues to improve with each release. In Sea Change, Stone pursues a cold case, re-opening the 12-year-old murder of a local bank teller. A parallel mystery involves the alleged rape aboard a yacht in the area for the annual regatta.

The second and third movies in this series, Jesse Stone: Night Passage and Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise will be released on DVD early next month.

Jesse Stone: Night PassageNight Passage was the first in this series of mysteries by Parker. It introduced Jesse Stone, a former LA homicide detective who left to become the police chief of the small New England town of Paradise. As the second movie filmed, it is considered a "pre-quel" to Stone Cold, the first movie in the series.

Death in Paradise has Stone investigating the death of a teenage girl found floating in a local lake. As he learns more about the girl's unhappy past, he finds himself being obsessed with the case and is determined to bring the girl's killer to justice.

Remember to tune into CBS this Tuesday, May 22nd, at 9 PM (ET/PT) for Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone in Sea Change.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more currently available on DVD.

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Friday, May 18, 2007

Mystery Bestsellers for May 18, 2007

Mystery BestsellersA list of the top ten for the week ending May 18, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

Invisible Prey by John SandfordNew this week: Invisible Prey, the 17th entry in the Lucas Davenport mystery series by John Sandford. In the richest neighborhood of Minneapolis, two elderly women lie murdered in their home, killed with a pipe, the rooms tossed, only small items stolen. It is clearly the random work of someone looking for money to buy drugs. But as Davenport looks more closely, he begins to wonder whether the items are actually so small and the victims so random-if there might not be some invisible agenda at work here. Gradually, a pattern begins to emerge, and it leads him to . . . certainly nothing he ever expected. Which is too bad, because the killers-and, yes, there is more than one of them-the killers are expecting him. Publishers Weekly calls Invisible Prey "an intriguing puzzle."

Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee ChildAlso new at the top of the charts this week: Bad Luck and Trouble, the 11th Jack Reacher thriller by Lee Child. From , a woman from his old military unit finds Reacher using a signal only the eight members of their elite team of army investigators would know. She tells him a terrifying story—about the brutal death of a man they both served with. Soon Reacher is reuniting with the survivors of his old team, scrambling to raise the living, bury the dead, and connect the dots in a mystery that is growing darker by the day. The deeper they dig, the more they don’t know: about two other comrades who have suddenly gone missing—and a trail that leads into the neon of and the darkness of international terrorism. Kirkus Reviews predicts that no one "... will turn in a tighter-plotted, richer-peopled, faster-paced page-turner this year."

We've upgraded our website to allow you to easily purchase any bestselling mystery book featured on our site over the past 8 months. Let us know what you think!

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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Mystery Book Review: The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood

The Green Mill Murder by
A Phyrne Fisher Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-240-3 (1590582403)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-240-4 (9781590582404)
Publication Date: April 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): Phryne Fisher is doing one of her favorite things --dancing at the Green Mill ('s premier dance hall) to the music of Tintagel Stone's Jazzmakers, the band who taught St Vitus how to dance. And she's wearing a sparkling lobelia-coloured georgette dress. Nothing can flap the unflappable Phryne--especially on a dance floor with so many delectable partners. Nothing except death, that is.

The dance competition is trailing into its last hours when suddenly, in the middle of "Bye Bye Blackbird" a figure slumps to the ground. No shot was heard. Phryne, conscious of how narrowly the missile missed her own bare shoulder, back, and dress, investigates.

This leads her into the dark smoky jazz clubs of Fitzroy, into the arms of eloquent strangers, and finally into the the sky, as she follows a complicated family tragedy of the great War and the damaged men who came back from ANZAC cove.

Phryne flies her Gypsy Moth Rigel into the Autralian Alps, where she meets a hermit with a dog called Lucky and a wombat living under his bunk....and risks her life on the love between brothers.

Review: The Green Mill Murder is, chronologically, the fifth mystery in the Phryne Fisher series by Australian author Kerry Greenwood, though the tenth published by Poisoned Pen Press.

It is the 1920s and the Great War is over. It is now the time for laughter, music, dancing, beer and wacky cocktails. Phryne Fisher, an anything goes lady, spends an evening at her favorite dance hall, The Green Mill. There is a continuing dance marathon going on as she and her escort dance to the music of Tintagel Stone’s Jazzmakers. In view of the band, the marathoners and the casual dancers, one of the dancers falls and is dead before hitting the floor. No one witnessed the man being stabbed in his heart. The police are called but no one can or will tell them anything. Phryne’s escort actually runs away from the scene and goes into hiding. Because Phryne is an investigator she is asked by the police to help solve this crime.

The mother of Charlie, Phryne’s escort, hires her to find Charlie before the police do, and bring him home. While she’s doing this, the mother tells her she has another son who ran away right after the war and she would appreciate it if she would she look for him. She doesn’t know where to look and she doesn’t even know if he’s still alive or if he is dead.

So, Phryne has three mysteries to solve: who murdered the dancer, where is Charlie, and where is his brother?

Kerry Greenwood makes Melbourne, Australia, come to life in the 1920s. Phryne Fisher is a wealthy woman living in comfort with servants, driving a very large car (actually she is chauffeured most of the time), and a two seated airplane that she loves to fly herself. She wears beautiful expensive dresses with shoes and hats to match. Her jewelry is exquisite.

She has investigated and helped to solve a number of cases with the police so the problem of the murder on the dance floor, plus the two missing brothers is not unusual for her.

Phryne leaps into these mysteries with courage, intelligence and humor. She is a funny, fun-loving lady, with just a tad of “blue” humor. On the ground and in the air, Phryne goes to any length to solve these cases.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of for contributing her review of The Green Mill Murder 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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Press Release: Mystery Author Don Bruns Wins National Book Award

Ipswich, MA (PRWEB) May 16, 2007 -- South Beach Shakedown by Don Bruns has been awarded top honors in the mystery/suspense/thriller category of the National Indie Excellence 2007 Book Awards. Sponsored by PubInsider magazine, the awards celebrate excellence in independent publishing.South Beach Shakedown by Don Bruns

Published by Oceanview Publishing (1-933515-02-3, $24.95), is the third release in Bruns' music murder mystery series featuring rock and roll journalist Mick Sever. Someone is about to make a killing in the music industry. Why would songwriting legend Gideon Pike mysteriously disappear when he is about to turn his 30-year career into a multi-million dollar profit? Back and looking for answers, Mick Sever lands in the middle of a Miami music murder mystery. Drawing on his insider's view of the music industry, Bruns skillfully and seamlessly weaves an intriguing tale of what's really behind the music.

is a musician, advertising executive and award-winning novelist who divides his time between Ohio and Florida. His next book, Stuff to Die For will be released by Oceanview on September 1, 2007.

For more information, read the entire press release here.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

News: ABC Picks Up Women's Murder Club

ABC Television made it official this week: the network is picking up the drama series Women's Murder Club for the Fall 2007 television season. The series is based on the James Patterson novels about four women who chase serial killers in .

The 6th Target by James PattersonCoincidentally, or not, The 6th Target, the 6th entry in the Woman's Murder Club series by James Patterson was published this month. As with all recent Patterson novels, it immediately hit the top of the bestseller lists.

Summary information for the new ABC series:

Women's Murder Club (20th Century Fox TV)
Exec Producers: Liz Craft, Sarah Fain, Brett Ratner, James Patterson, Joe Simpson
Cast: Laura Harris, Aubrey Dollar, Angie Harmon, Rob Benedict, Elizabeth Ho
Logline: Four girlfriends solve tough murder cases. Based on James Patterson's series of mystery books.

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Mysteries on TV: Banacek and The Rockford Files

Mysteries on TVTelevision series being released this week on DVD:

Banacek Season 1Banacek: Season 1 featured George Peppard as the insurance investigator who collected a finder's fee (10% of the insured value) for solving seemingly impossible thefts (or scams) of valuable objects. The series was one of the rotating NBC Mystery Movies that included , , and .

The series consisted of a pilot and 16 episodes aired over two seasons between September 1972 and March 1974.

This DVD set includes the 8 episodes comprising the first season, excluding the pilot, on 2 disks. TV Guide has acquired the rights to distribute the series and has made the aesthetically questionable (read "tacky") decision to use a TV Guide inspired illustration as a cover for the DVD.

The Rockford Files Season 4The Rockford Files: Season 4 featured James Garner as Jim Rockford, a Los Angeles private investigator who lived in a trailer on a Malibu beach parking lot.

The Rockford Files, generally regarded as one of the finest private eye series of the 1970s, aired on NBC for 6 seasons from 1974 through 1980.

This DVD set includes 21 episodes from the 4th season on 5 disks. Also included is a bonus episode starring Tom Selleck in a role that ultimately became the foundation for the series

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more currently available on DVD.

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Profile: Southern Vampire Mysteries Author Charlaine Harris

Kerry Lengel, writing for The Arizona Republic, recently published an interview with author , whose 7th mystery in the Southern Vampire series with Sookie Stackhouse was published this month. Harris is also the author of several other mystery series including one featuring Georgia realtor Aurora Teagarden, the "Shakespeare" series with housecleaner Lily Bard, and the "Grave" series with Harper Connelly.

In , Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit in where Sookie must make a decision that may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

Harris sold the television rights to her character for an HBO series under development. Mystery Books News reported in February that Anna Paquin has been signed to play Sookie Stackhouse in the series, True Blood.

Lengel: One of the secrets to a successful series is a good name for your main character. Where did "Sookie Stackhouse" come from?

Harris: Sookie was my grandmother's best friend's nickname. It's a very Southern nickname. People use it as short for Susan or Sister. It just sounded like an old-fashioned Southern girl for me. Stackhouse is not an uncommon name in our area, and it just seemed to be euphonious with Sookie. It's all about the sound.

Lengel: What about your vampire myth is unique?

Harris: The more unique feature is that mine are funny. In fact, my agent was very skeptical when I first pitched the series to him. He said, "Oh, yes, everyone knows vampires are such a hoot." But I think what makes mine different is that it's a blend of that humor and a lot of gore and action - and a little sex.

Lengel: Do you have a taxonomy that spells out how many species of shape-shifter or bloodsucker are in your universe?

Harris: Every now and then I throw in something new because it's just a lot of fun writing these. I've got the werewolves and even a werebat, pure shape-shifters, fairies, a demon or two and a goblin.

Read the rest of the interview with Charlaine Harris on AZCentral.com here.

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

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Monday, May 14, 2007

Mystery Godoku: Weekly Puzzle for May 14, 2007

Mystery GodokuMystery Godoku Puzzle for May 14, 2007A new 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 C E H I J N O S. features this homicide detective in his crime novel Broken Shore (9 letters).

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!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Mystery Bestsellers for May 11, 2007

Mystery BestsellersA list of the top ten for the week ending May 11, 2007 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

The 6th Target by James PattersonNew this week: The 6th Target, the 6th entry in the Woman's Murder Club series by James Patterson. When a horrifying attack leaves one of the four members of the Women's Murder Club struggling for her life, the others fight to keep a madman behind bars before anyone else is hurt. And Lindsay Boxer and her new partner in the police department run flat-out to stop a series of kidnappings that has electrified the city: children are being plucked off the streets together with their nannies-- but the kidnappers aren't demanding ransom. Just when everything appears momentarily under control, the case takes a terrifying turn, putting an entire city in lethal danger.

Also new this week: the 7th mystery in the Joe Pickett series, Free Fire by , and a debut historical mystery, Ghostwalk by .

We've upgraded our website to allow you to easily purchase any bestselling mystery book featured on our site over the past 8 months. Let us know what you think!

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

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Thursday, May 10, 2007

Mystery Book Review: Glitter of Diamonds by N. J. Lindquist

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Glitter of Diamonds by N. J. Lindquist. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.Glitter of Diamonds by N. J. Lindquist

Glitter of Diamonds by
A Manzuik and Ryan Mystery

Murder Will Out Mysteries (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-9685495-9-4 (0968549594)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9685495-9-9 (9780968549599)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): After Stasey Simon, an outspoken sports talk-show host, asks on-air for a volunteer to knock some sense into the home team’s temperamental new pitcher, Manziuk and Ryan hustle to catch a murderer swinging a lethal bat before the case escalates into an international incident.

Review: Glitter of Diamonds, the second mystery in the Manziuk and Ryan series by N. J. Lindquist, concerns the hopes and dreams, plus the disappointments and heartaches, of a major league baseball team. We learn about the women and men of the sports news media who follow the members of the team, even into the locker rooms to try to get a story. Some write columns in the daily newspaper. Others have sports station talk shows. These people can be brutal.

For those readers who don’t know too much about major league baseball except that it’s a little boy’s game played by men who make an awful lot of money doing it, the author tells us much about these players and their game. There’s an unwritten code: players should be nice guys who are role models and play fair. There are, however, players who are not nice, and who are lousy role models, and who do not play fair. This is a story about one of those players.

The general management of the Toronto Matrix bought and brought from Cuba a player who they thought was a fantastic pitcher – Rico Velasquez. Because of him the team had a good chance to make it all the way to the World Series. But, a murderer has other ideas. He lurks in the Matrix bullpen waiting for Rico and hits him in the back of the head with a baseball bat. This sets the story into action.

Although this reviewer very seldom watches a baseball game, listens to a talk show sportscaster, or ever read anything on the sports page of the newspaper, this book was written in such a way that it's possible for someone like myself to enjoy the story. Ontario police detectives Paul Manziuk and Jacqueline Ryan—he’s the white, seasoned police veteran, while she’s a recently promoted, young, inexperienced black woman— are pushed to the limit to solve this case, plus another murder similar to Rico’s, and two attempted murders. There are stories within stories about the families of some, the romance of others, the jealousy of still others.

Glitter of Diamonds is a book worth reading. N. J. Lindquist is fantastic in telling this story with humor, compassion, and commitment.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Glitter of Diamonds and to Breakthrough Promotions for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

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

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Wednesday, May 09, 2007

News: Mystery Author Philip R. Craig Dies

Philip R. Craig, author of the Martha's Vineyard mystery series, died this week after a short illness according to William G. Tapply, his friend and co-author on another series. Tapply first reported the news on the popular DorothyL news group. A touching remembrance page has been posted to Tapply's website.

Craig is survived by his wife, Shirley, and his children Jamie and Kim. He was 74.

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

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Tuesday, May 08, 2007

News: Three More Seasons for Lost

Mysteries on TVIn an unusual move, ABC has announced that it has renewed its television series Lost for three more seasons after which it will end. Each of the next three seasons will consist of 16 episodes, run consecutively from February through May. The series is scheduled to resume in February 2008 and end in May, 2010.

"Due to the unique nature of Lost, we knew it would require an end date to keep the integrity and strength of the show consistent throughout and to give the audience the payoff they deserve," ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said. "It's got brilliant storytelling, incredible character work, and takes chances beyond anything that's on the air now," he added.

In January, the producers of Lost said that they envisioned the endpoint to be around episode 100. The agreement with ABC will bring the total number of episodes to 120.

This season's final episode will air May 23rd on ABC.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more currently available on DVD.

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Mystery Book Review: Final Undertaking by Mark de Castrique

Mysterious ReviewsMysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Final Undertaking by Mark de Castrique. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.Final Undertaking by Mark de Castrique

Final Undertaking by
A Barry Clayton Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-229-2 (1590582292)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-229-9 (9781590582299)
Publication Date: April 2007
List Price: $24.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): When Barry Clayton’s father developed Alzheimer’s, Barry gave up his career in law enforcement to return to the mountain town of Gainesboro and run the family’s funeral home. But even a small town in the Appalachians is not immune to crime.

At a summer street dance, Barry’s friend Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins is gunned down by an old man distraught at the death of his wife. To the dismay of Deputy Reece Hutchins, hospitalized Tommy Lee appoints Barry as the deputy in charge of the investigation. Who was the old man stalking? Why was a young woman who was wounded at the scene traveling with the intended victim?

What at first appears to be a case of a mentally unstable summer tourist quickly develops into a tangled web of deceit stretching from western North Carolina to the Florida coast. Someone is preying upon senior citizens.

Barry realizes Deputy Hutchins is undercutting his investigation, but as potential witnesses and informants begin to die under mysterious circumstances, Barry confronts a conspiracy that runs so deep he no longer knows who to trust. One false step, one betrayal, will make this case Buryin’ Barry’s final undertaking.

Review: Final Undertaking, the fourth mystery in this highly recommended series by Mark de Castrique, has funeral home owner Barry Clayton wearing a deputy's badge to investigate the senseless shooting death of a young woman during an evening summer festival in his home town. The sheriff, Tommy Lee Wadkins, wounded while trying to subdue the killer who dies in the process, provides guidance from his hospital room.

Barry quickly discovers the dead man's wife had recently died at their home in Florida of an overdose of a powerful prescription pain reliever. What isn't clear is why he was blaming someone attending a festival 600 miles away for his wife's death.

de Castrique writes in a clear and uncomplicated manner that keeps the plot focused and the reader interested. The plot itself is topical and (from a taxpayer perspective) all too believable though Barry, like almost anyone living in small town America, is slow to accept that a local resident could be involved.

In an effort to keep the series fresh, a new character is introduced in Final Undertaking, Fletcher Shaw, an intern assigned to Barry's funeral home, Clayton and Clayton. In addition to studying mortuary science, Fletcher has special skills in computer graphics and other forms of high technology that are useful in forensic analysis. Assuming that Fletcher will be a recurring character (and from the ending, this seems to be a fair assumption), he will be a winning addition to the existing cast in this series.

Finally, in keeping with Barry's profession, de Castrique handles a death in the community with grace and sensitivity. It's a special moment and it's very well done.

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of Final Undertaking for this review.

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

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

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Monday, May 07, 2007

Mysteries on TV: Cagney & Lacey Season 1

Mysteries on TVTelevision series being released this week on DVD:

Cagney and Lacey Season 1Cagney & Lacey: Season 1 featured two strong and intelligent female detectives, with real lives and real problems--ordinary women doing extraordinary jobs. Sharon Gless starred as NYPD Detective Chris Cagney and Tyne Daly as her partner, Detective Mary Beth Lacey.

Sharon Gless was actually the third actress to play Chris Cagney. The pilot, a made-for-television movie, starred Loretta Swit as Cagney, but she could not continue with the series as she was contractually obligated to the producers of M*A*S*H. Meg Foster was hired to play Cagney for the series and did so for the first 6 episodes in 1982 when the series aired as a mid-season replacement. Gless replaced Foster when the series returned in the fall.

This DVD set includes the 22 episodes that aired on CBS from the 1982/1983 television season on 4 disks. It does not include either the pilot or the first 6 episodes and as a result it's rather difficult to understand why MGM chose to subtitle this release "Season 1" when it clearly isn't.

CBS cancelled Cagney & Lacey at the end of this season, but a strong letter writing campaign by viewers caused CBS to reverse its decision. The series continued to air through 1988 and was followed by 4 made-for-television movies based on the series. Cagney & Lacey was honored during its run with many Emmy Awards including 2 for best drama, 2 for Sharon Gless as best actress, and 4 for Tyne Daly as best actress.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover more currently available on DVD.

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