COYOTE HILLS

JONATHAN & JESSE KELLERMAN

By father and son, Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman, Coyote Hills reads like two outstanding authors wrote it. Both Kellermans are outstanding at weaving an involving, twisting, and entertaining novel that keeps the reader's attention until the very last page.

At the outset of this outstanding novel, Clay Edison, a former coroner investigator and now private detective, has accepted a case from a wealthy resident in the Bay Area. Their son was found deceased in an area called Coyote Hills. Who is responsible for the death that is not yet determined. The reader meets the deceased, an all-American girlfriend, and soon the case grinds to a halt. As the book continues, the reader suspects that the girlfriend may or may not be telling the truth. The beauty of Coyote Hills is that the reader is compelled to speed through the book to get to the denouement.

The Kellermans are experts at their craft and weave a tale of mistrust, realistic investigative procedures, and protocols that smack of authenticity. Coyote Canyon is a wild ride through twisted motivations, unusual sexual proclivities, and insight into the criminal mind.

Readers unfamiliar with either of the Kellermans will have a field day reading all of the books written by these multitalented writers. Coyote Hills is a near-perfect example of what makes the mystery genre sparkle like a diamond.

RUMOURED

KELLY & KRISTINA MANCARUSO

Rumoured by Kelly and Christina Mancaruso is right on the nose. This is the book for readers interested in today's intense celebrity environment, consisting of social media posts, news articles, and other instantaneous communication. The author lays out a rapidly moving narrative that gives the reader different points of view, twists, and unpredictability. Rumored feels like a runaway freight train, leaving the reader excited, never knowing what is accurate or purposefully misleading. Rumored is a high-stakes crime drama, combined with continual exposure of privacy, thoughts, and emotions.

THE HAWK IS DEAD

PETER JAMES

With The Hawk Is Dead by Peter James, the reader goes on a long and satisfying journey into the workings of the royal family. The writer describes the royal palace’s staff, traditions, and what it’s like to observe the Royals. The author has done a superb job researching, and the reader realizes that from the very first page. The procedural aspect of the book is also well done, leaving the reader to imagine what it’s like to be a police officer in the UK. The story hops right along, and the intensity is palpable. Peter James is a perfectionist at what he does, and this reviewer would recommend that readers check out his comprehensive backlist.

WILD ANIMAL

JOEL DICKER

Joel Dicker is one of my favorite mystery and thriller writers. To make this statement even more remarkable, Mr. Dicker is Swiss and has to rely on a translator to convey his stories.

Wild Animal is a mystery that grabs you and never lets you go. The book is outstanding and takes place in Geneva and other cities in France. The characters are multidimensional, with family, emotional, and financial problems and motivations that propel the book from page to page until it ends. Wild Animal is perfectly named as it is unpredictable and dangerous yet compelling, as if the reader is facing a lion on the Savannah. You will remember this book for weeks after you read it. It is a great mystery that contains procedural elements, and as a bonus, takes place in Europe, which gives the characters glamour similar to Formula One. Wild Animal is simply a great book. I recommend that the reader make every effort to purchase Mr. Dicker's backlist and be prepared for outstanding entertainment.

Tokyo Express

Seicho Matsumoto

Tokyo Express by seasoned Japanese mystery writer Seicho Matsumoto is a brilliant reminder that mysteries and thrillers are not unique to the Western world. Initially published in 1958, Tokyo Express is a well-thought-out procedural featuring a double homicide. The local cops find the bodies, and when they find out that the two were romantically involved, they write it off as a suicide/homicide.

The detective assigned to the case doesn’t buy the scenario that would lead one to think that he is investigating a suicide; he ends up being partnered with a detective from the Tokyo police, and together they start building a murder book that reveals much more than an argument gone bad. Japanese crime fiction fans will especially like Tokyo Express. Nonetheless, this book is perfect for all dedicated to crime investigations and the entire gamut of personnel found once a crime has been committed.

WHAT A WAY TO GO

BELLA MACKIE

Bella Mackie's twisting yet satisfying novel, What a Way To Go, proves that money can’t buy love, or can it? The story uses the view of the deceased husband and the sanguine wife. The details and circumstances around Anthony’s death are also revealed in painful detail in a crystal clear focus. Anthony was a wealthy gentleman, but a financial risk taker; he had all of the accouterments that one would expect, including a beautiful home in the country. However, he’s also unfaithful to his wife and believes, like many rich and powerful, that he can do whatever he wants without consequences. This proves the case until his last financial adventure. What’s interesting about the book is that most, if not all, of the characters are not pleasant and people that you might not want to be friends with; however, What A Way To Go has outstanding comedic elements which make the book well worth reading and will keep the reader staring at each page laughing with a healthy dose of sympathy and fervor. 

KEEP THIS FOR ME

Jennifer Fawcett

Once again, creative writer Jennifer Fawcett has written a frightening and unpredictable mystery. Keep This For Me centers around a convicted serial killer and the victim's daughter, whose life understandably has been irreparably damaged. To make matters worse, when the victim's daughter hears that the perpetrator is dying, for whatever reason, she returns to the town where the homicide occurred. One would suppose she wanted to obtain closure by meeting and talking to the killer. Unfortunately, she faces an unbelievable situation.  For whatever reason, she returns to the town where the homicide occurred; one would suppose she wanted to obtain closure by meeting and talking to the killer. Unfortunately, she faces an unbelievable surprise that the reader must discover for themself. Needless to say, this discovery exacerbates the daughter's mental instability. As the story unfolds, the daughter contacts people she thought she could trust. Keep This For Me is a brilliant and satisfying tale of a serial killer and the ramifications that lie beneath, not only the heinous crime but how the crime affects the many people around it like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples that seemingly go on forever. 

A MURDER IN PARIS

MATTHEW BLAKE

A Murder in Paris, by upcoming and exciting writer Matthew Blake, has everything mystery readers desire. The story involves a woman named Olivia living in the UK. She finds out that her grandmother is living in Paris, which is generally lovely. Here, however, the grandmother confesses to committing a homicide during World War II. The grandmother, named Josephine, is elderly and somewhat confused, but she is sure that this happened. Needless to say, the granddaughter, Olivia, can’t believe it, and to make matters worse, the homicide occurred in the same room where her grandmother is now living. The writer takes us to the present day, and other homicides start to happen in the same room. A Murder In Paris is unpredictable, twisting, and has all the components a mystery reader looks for.

Killer Tracks: A Misty Pines Mystery

Mary Keliikoa

Accomplished mystery author Mary Keliikoa has written another entry in her Misty Pines series. Jax Turner is the sheriff and wants to reconnect with his wife, an F.B.I. agent. They head to the mountains, hoping for peace, quiet, and time to reconcile. Strangely enough, a random woman shows up at their campsite while camping, and things start to unwind. Another deputy is in charge of a homicide when her cadaver dog discovers a dead body. Is it possible that this homicide has something to do with a homicide years ago?

Killer Tracks is a book that can be read independently or as part of the series. The book has twists and turns and leaves the reader with a stomach full of tension. The reader looking for a series with well-defined characters and investigative protocol will find that Killer Tracks and the writer's previous entries are just the ticket.

THE KILLER QUESTION

JANICE HALLETT

The Killer Question by veteran mystery writer Janice Hallett appeals on multiple levels. Her unique style of using emails, phone messages, and other correspondence makes for an engaging style that moves the book along rapidly.

The author uses a divided timeline, and she does it well. At present, we find out that an unknown man is trying to launch an idea for a true crime documentary about his missing relatives. Then we go back to 2019 to a pub or bar, as it's known in the UK. And last, the reader lands in 2014 amid an ambitious police investigation. What makes the book a steamroller is that all of the timelines come together nicely, and each timeline presents questions that the reader will be unable to solve until the end of the book. The law enforcement investigation that interweaves all of the events and presents unknowns that the reader will be compelled to explore while turning the pages rapidly. The author has presented crime and its victims and imbued the characters with a sense of humor, which is refreshing. The investigation interweaves all the events and presents unknowns that the reader will be compelled to explore while rapidly turning the pages. The author has presented crime and its victims and imbued the characters with a sense of humor, which is refreshing.

The book moves along rapidly as the reader gets used to the writer's use of emails, text messages, and WhatsApp messages, which is a lovely reflection of where we are in society. Hallett has written numerous books, and I advise the reader to check out all of them, especially The Appeal, The Examiner, and The Alperton Angels.

KAPLAN’S PLOT

JASON DIAMOND

Veteran novelist Jason Diamond has written a book with multiple timelines. A concept that many authors do not do well. In this instance. Kaplan's Plot exceeds the reader's expectations. The writer takes us through multiple decades, starting from pre-World War I, all through modern times, in Chicago, Illinois. This part of the story is interesting and helps the reader get involved in what turns out to be a most captivating historical criminal procedure novel. The reader is brought back to Chicago, the current day, and Elijah, the protagonist, has returned to help his mother, but his business has gone bankrupt. The two don't get along; however, like most families, they pull together to tolerate each other while Elijah takes care of his mom. He goes through some of his mother's keepsakes and finds old correspondence about secrets in a Family cemetery. As we swing back to 1909, the reader is introduced to Eve's father, Yitz, a Jewish immigrant from Europe who has recently arrived in the United States. As was common during that time, he became involved in Jewish organized crime, which set a precedent for Jewish organized crime during the 50s and 60s, predominantly in Miami and Los Angeles. Kaplan's Plot is a historical novel that the reader cannot put down. I highly recommend it and suggest the reader check out Jason Diamond's backlist.

RULE ONE

MICHAEL LUCKER

By first-time novelist Michael Lucker, Rule One reads like a story by a veteran mystery and suspense author. The story moves along like an ambulance with lights and sirens. The terrific tale focuses on an atypical F.B.I. agent, Dent McCreary. Dent is a unique F.B.I. agent because he is street smart and makes felony arrests. And, the crimes he solves deal with serial killers. We follow him and his partner, who adds all the opposite characteristics that Dent lacks: charm, subtlety, and the willingness to follow F.B.I. protocol on their search for a serial killer. The killer has no pattern, leaves no forensics, and kills for no reason, at least at first blush. Rule One is a tremendously entertaining novel that readers will not be able to put down.

PALM BEACH SHOOTER

TOM TURNER

If you’re looking for a diverting, entertaining, and engrossing police procedural, pick up Palm Beach Shooter by veteran author Tom Turner. All of Turner’s characters are again on the stage: Charlie Crawford, a detective by way of Manhattan, Mort Ott, his partner, and the rest of the solid cast, including Charlie’s girlfriend and his one-time girlfriend, a well-known and prosperous realtor.

A mass shooting has occurred in Palm Beach, the home of the wealthy and the wannabes. A man walks into a country club and proceeds to gun down three victims and injure more. Crawford and Ott are faced with dozens of questions; number one, who is the guy, and why did he commit such an egregious crime? Unlike traditional crime scenes, there are no leads, no forensic evidence, and very little help supplied by the few eyewitnesses that Crawford and Ott interview. Palm Beach Shooter is about good old-fashioned police work, which means wearing out shoe leather, talking to people on the phone and in person, and trying to put together a reasonable timeframe and chain of events. Palm Beach Shooter is for anybody who enjoys their police procedurals straightforward and right on the nose. Turner is more than adept at writing a great procedural; he does it with mastery and flair. I highly recommend Palm Beach Shooter, which can be read as a standalone. I suggest that the reader familiarize him or herself with Turner‘s long list of well-written, entertaining, and movie-like backlist. Turner is an excellent writer, as Palm Beach Shooter proves once again. Do yourself a favor and go to your nearest bookstore, library, or other platform to pick up all Palm Beach titles. I promise you will not regret it, and you will have added a professional writer who never fails to tell a fantastic story.

THE PSYCHOTIC SON

DEBORAH DOBBS

The Psychotic Son, by author Deborah Dobbs, takes the reader to a place we all want to go but are scared when we arrive. Imagine the kid next door who was proud to show you what he would do with a magnifying glass and ants, then a few years later that same kid would find a stray cat or kitten and stomp it to death without a thought, no remorse, no empathy, in fact with a smile on their face. This is what The Psychotic Son is about, only 10 times worse. The mother of her son knows that something is not right with her son, and from an early age, countless counselors, psychologists, and even law enforcement offer no help as the son's crimes become increasingly heinous. Until rape and murder become the fare of the day. This book reads like a screenplay, a movie that draws you in because the actions of the sick child, soon to be an adult, are so serious, and yet nobody offers help to his victims, which include small children, random people, and even his own so-called friends. I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to get an insight into how law enforcement and a heroic victims advocate, who does all that is in her power to prevent further crimes. The reader gets an accurate look at what a victim advocate does, how it is done, and why every law enforcement agency should have a victims' advocate department, somebody trained to deal with the aftermath of crime. Not only do we get a great story about crime and its victims, but we also get an education about a heroic young woman/a victim's advocate, and how vital a victim's advocate is in mitigating the damage done by criminals of all stripes. This book should be read by anybody fascinated by procedurals and a new look at how law enforcement agencies can use a victims' advocate department to lessen crime—five stars to Deborah Dobbs and The Psychotic Son.

GONE IN THE NIGHT

JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN

Gone In The Night by talented author Joanna Schaffhausen leaves it all on the table. And the reader's job is to pick it up and enjoy every word in the fifth detective Anna Elisa Vega outing. Anna, a Private Investigator, receives a surprise phone call from her brother, who is in prison for murder. He wants Anna to look into an old case, a fellow inmate Anna's brother believes was wrongly convicted. The Anna Alicia Vega series is perfect for anybody who wants their procedurals with life lessons and the usual and exciting investigatory procedures. Readers need not worry about not having read the four previous entries, as Gone In The Night can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend that readers pick up all of the Anna Alicia Vega novels to solidify their enjoyment of Gone In the Night. This is a definite winner, and readers will be pleasantly surprised as they delve into this world of private investigation, police procedural, and family relations.

KISS HER GOODBYE

LISA GARDNER

Kiss Her Goodbye by outstanding mystery writer Lisa Gardner delivers everything and more in the fourth installment of the popular Frankie Elkin series. As the book begins, readers find Frankie, finder of lost people in Tucson, Arizona. Frankie is charged with finding a missing woman who has vanished. When a key piece of video evidence emerges showing Sabra, the missing woman at the scene of a double murder, the intensity heats up. Like the previous three in the series, Kiss Her Goodbye is a fast read that grabs readers and will not let go. The protagonist, Frankie, battles her problems. She is a recovering alcoholic, and readers will see that her career helps her to keep on track. For those unfamiliar with this series, no worries. This can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend that the reader discover this tremendous series's first three excellent entries.

PETER MILES HAS TO DIE

KATIE COLLOM

First-time writer Katie Collom has written a book that will make readers hope that this is the beginning of a long and excellent career. Peter Miles Has To Die is everything a reader could want and more in a mystery. Three friends get together to administer retribution to the person who killed their friend, and Peter Miles is their target. The question is, can the friends plan and execute the scheme without failing under the pressure? The book is well written, and the pages fly. The conclusion was not what I thought it would be, but readers will be more than satisfied. Peter Miles Has To Die is one of those books you tend to overlook, but if you’re lucky, you find it and then read it like there is no tomorrow.

THE WRONG SISTER

CLAIRE DOUGLAS

The Wrong Sister by prolific and talented writer Claire Douglas is a must-read for anybody who is into mysteries, especially mysteries that revolve around family and its implied problems. Tasha and her husband live an ordinary life, sometimes struggling to pay the monthly bills. Alice is the lucky sister married to wealthy husband Kyle, and they own a vacation home together in the dreamlike city of Venice. Soon after Tasha arrives in Venice, they notice a man following them. And then they receive a phone call and find that their house back home has been broken into, Kyle is dead, and Alice is in the hospital. Tasha returns home to be reunited with their daughters. The Wrong Sister is a book that will grab you and not let you go. It is full of family drama and components of a superior mystery, it zigzags like a footballer at midfield, and eventually the reader finishes saying Wow, what a great book.

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

STEVE CAVANAGH

The Devil's Advocate, by highly talented and veteran writer Steve Cavanagh, again shows why he is at the top of the legal thriller game. This time out, lawyer Eddie Flynn heads south to defend the stereotypical, but actual, young black person accused of killing a white woman. Although the racist trope is played to its fullest, it cannot be ignored, and Cavanagh does a superb job of making readers think back to the classic book and now play To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is unpredictable, and the reader is pulled along at a fast clip. I recommend grabbing The Devil's Advocate by the throat until finishing the last page while hoping for more from writer Cavanagh.

THE MAID

MIKE FARICY

The Maid by veteran mystery writer Mike Farsi picks up with Yucky Yates, the author's newly created private investigator. Unlike the author's Dev Haskell long-running series, the Yucky Yates series is more straightforward and resembles a procedural. In this day and age, technology plays a big part in everyday life, including the Maid. A plot to take over a successful computer gaming company called Madman Monsters is being hatched by the owners' prospective mother-in-law, her son, and others. Yucky and his team have been hired to determine precisely what is happening. And when they do, it is a morass of plots, counterplots, and good old-fashioned greed. Distrust abounds on all sides as Yucky continues his investigation, trying to comprehend why he has been hired. The plot moves along rapidly as the reader discovers more and more about Yucky and his partners. The reader is guided through enough clues until sufficient pieces are presented to complete the puzzle.

The Maid is an entertaining private investigation novel written by a veteran writer who knows how to entertain. I recommend picking up the Maid and the first in the series, although the Maid can be digested as a standalone. Faricy is an outstanding veteran writer with many entertaining, comedic, and enjoyable titles. Make yourself at home over a long weekend and dig in. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.