LITTLE BONES

4 stars out of 5

Of the 10 books featuring small-town Ireland Detective Inspector Lottie Parker, I've read the five most recent (including this one). By now, Lottie is almost like an old friend - albeit one I can't help feeling sorry for because her personal life - and often her professional one as well - always seem to be so gloomy.

It's no different in this one; she and significant other, co-worker and Detective Sergeant Mark Boyd, are at least thinking about getting married. He shuffles between his own place and the fixer-upper home Lottie occupies with her school-age son Sean, daughter Katie and Katie's young daughter. It's a situation far from ideal - in fact, Lottie hates the place - but she's agreed to stay while her half-brother figures out what to do with it.

While work doesn't always provide the personal-life getaway she'd like - there are issues there as well - Lottie doesn't mind digging in, usually with gusto. This time, a woman walks in her daughter Isabel's house to babysit and gets a gut-wrenching surprise: her daughter's bloody body. The only saving grace is that the murderer spared the infant. Not long after Lottie and Mark are called in, another young mother, Joyce Breslin, goes missing; her four-year-old son follows suit, apparently abducted from his daycare center. Then, Joyce's body turns up as well - If that weren't enough, a female hiker unearths a tiny bone on a remote hillside - a bone, she's certain, is human.

All this leads the investigative team to consider numerous suspects, but mostly to dead ends. The discovery of a bloody razor blade solidifies Lottie's belief that the murders and abduction are related. Somehow, Lottie must connect all the dots before someone else, like Joyce's young son, becomes a victim as well. 

All in all, this is another engrossing entry in the series that ends, as most of them do, with a cliffhanger that I expect will be resolved in the next installment. I look forward to that, and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!

Little Bones by Patricia Gibney (Bookouture, Septembeer 2021); 2290 KB)

THE CELLIST

5 stars out of 5

Every time I finish a book in this series - this is the 21st, and I don't think I've missed a single one - I'm in awe of the writing. How in the world can an author concoct such an intricate plot to begin with, let alone flesh it out in such a way that readers hang on every word? I've got no answer, so all I can say is that he's done it again.

The story begins with the death of exiled Russian Viktor Orlov, who's been hanging out in luxury in London while he rags against the current powers-that-be in his home country. The death catches the eye of Gabriel Allon, top-notch Israeli spy (now director general of the agency), who's also an art restoration expert. The Russian, you see, once saved the life of Gabriel and his wife, Chiara - so he's understandably interested in bringing the killer to justice (one way or another). When it's learned that one of Viktor's employees, a woman also known to Gabriel, is the one who delivered papers covered with a deadly nerve agent to Viktor and has since disappeared, the assumption all around is that she's responsible. Not, so, Gabriel argues - and he sets out to prove it.

What follows is carrying out a complicated plan to bring down an international "dirty" bank that's known for laundering Russian money, specifically that of the all-powerful Russian president and his also all-powerful childhood friend who's actually in control of an obscene amount of the president's personal stash. It brings together most of Gabriel's team - characters familiar to readers of the series - who must rise to what appears to be a nearly impossible challenge. While I won't provide details, I will say it also involves a woman who's quite an accomplished cellist (hence, I assume, the reason for the book's title) and another who used to be, shall I say, rather close to Gabriel.

I will caution, though, that while names aren't named, readers who are among those who continue to insist that the previous U.S. Presidential election was rigged and the wrong guy "won" may want to take a pass on this book. Also, Chiara and twins Irene and Raphael really aren't players in this scenario (more's the pity), but indications are that this might change in the next installment for a variety of reasons. Loved this one (no surprise here since I've loved them all), so I'll be waiting!

The Cellist by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2021); 477 pp.

HER DEADLY TOUCH

5 stars out of 5

Denton Police Department Detective Josie Quinn has a trauma-filled background that's left her with nightmares and regular meetings with a psychologist, but ready or not, she's back on the job after a four-month suspension. Thoughts of tiptoeing in are stomped by the discovery of a dead woman in the local cemetery; she was found next to the headstone of her daughter, who was one of five children killed in a school bus crash two years earlier. A suicide? Doubtful, since the woman's lips are sealed with some kind of wax and the body appears to have been carefully positioned there.

Although clues are few and far between, Josie and her team, including her husband, police Lt. Noah Fraley, suspect the murder is somehow related to that bus crash; the driver, who's in jail, will go on trial shortly. As they follow leads - some going absolutely nowhere - they begin to realize that most of the parents of the dead children have secrets that could be related to the crash. Then, the worst happens; the body of another mother is discovered near the crash site - her mouth also sealed with wax.

Throughout the story, Josie continues to grapple with her emotions following the death of her beloved grandmother - a death  for which Josie feels responsibility. Noah, and her department friend Gretchen, remain supportive, helping her deal with her loss while staying focused on solving the horrific crimes (and, hopefully, preventing even more from happening).

I've read some of the more recent books in this series (this is the 12th) - all good, but IMHO, this is one of the best. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Recommended!

Her Deadly Touch by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, August 2021); 1686 KB.

STARSTRUCK

4 stars out of 5

Especially if you're a fan of old movies, no doubt you're familiar with the author, a long-time and well-respected Hollywood historian and film reviewer. At our house, one of his movie guides is always near the TV remote and opened frequently to check his rating of a movie we're watching or, more often, identify one of the actors whose face is familiar but the name just won't come.

This book, subtitled "My Unlikely Road to Hollywood," brings to light how Maltin came to be what and who he is, starting with his childhood - and clearly, while he certainly was the recipient of some good fortune along the way, he also took full advantage of every opportunity. For the most part, this memoir presents his experiences and impressions of the "stars" he's come to know and love as well as those he met only briefly. For someone my age (for the record, Maltin is seven years younger than I), that is, in and of itself, a treat; for instance, I relished reading about my cowboy hero Roy Rogers and his also-a-star wife, Dale Evans.

There's a lot of reminiscing about Walt Disney, and while I'm really not a fan of the Disney empire itself, I'll never forget coming home from school to watch my favorite Mickey Mouse Club episodes on our little black-and-white TV (a show that gets mentioned herein). The section on the Playboy Manson and its owner, Hugh Hefner, is a bit eye-opening as well. Still others he's met and interviewed who stood out in his mind (and mine) include Lena Horne, John Wayne, James Stewart and Jerry Lewis. 

Overall, the book is very much an exercise in name-dropping; but again, if you love Hollywood old-time style, it's a real trip down memory lane (though I'll caution readers who may be looking for "dirt" on celebrities to look elsewhere). I also enjoyed learning about Maltin himself, his supportive wife Alice and their daughter Jessie. It was an enjoyable excursion for me as well, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Starstruck by Leonard Maltin (GoodKnight Books, October 2021); 400 pp.

ONE FOR THE HOOKS

4 stars out of 5

Fifty-ish widow Molly Pink returns home to find the back door wide open and her precious pets outside - clearly, someone's been inside. She's got a phone. Does she call the police? Does she go pound on her neighbor's door for help? Nope. She picks up a makeshift "weapon" and charges inside all alone. Right off the bat, nonsense typical of the heroine in a cozy novel - and the biggest reason I don't exactly cozy up to the genre. With a heavy sigh, I thought to myself this was the start of a pattern for disaster. 

But I love to crochet, which is what attracted me to the book in the first place - so I kept going. And I'm happy to say that in very short order, Molly, and an entertaining and clever plot, had me hooked. Not only is she the organizer of the Tarzana Hookers crochet group, she's developed a bit of a reputation for sleuthing (honed, no doubt, in the 13 previous books in this series). When a friend tells her that a local homeowner wants to get rid of an enormous amount of yarn, she consults with the owners of the California bookstore at which she works (in part managing the yarn shop inside), and off she goes for a looksee. The owner, who inherited the property, wants to turn part of the house into rental units - and the first thing Molly learns is that the neighbors are in a snit about it. 

But then, the woman who is helping the owner get the rooms ready to let gets bombarded by a drone - first by hitting her on the head and, as she falls, dropping a huge pile of smelly garbage on her. To the rescue comes Molly's former BFF, homicide detective Barry Greenberg. Since their breakup, he's been keeping his distance, but there are hints that the old flame could rise from the ashes at any given minute even though Molly has a new main squeeze named Mason, lawyer to the stars. He's hot to trot toward marriage, but so far she's holding steady at a canter.

Meantime, the older of Molly's two sons has unexpectedly returned home to quite literally take over her house, complete with a pregnant significant other and an attitude that would guarantee I'd kick him to the curb (if Molly has a fault, it's that she can't seem to say no to anybody). But since she spends a lot of time at work, sharing stories with her crocheting buddies and out following clues on behalf of her once-loved detective, she seems content to let her son have the run of her place. 

I was bothered a bit by some repetition - descriptions and utterings by characters in one chapter that had appeared in earlier chapters. But all's well that ends well, bringing a few gasps and a twist that most likely will get the attention of series readers (as for me, I was just happy that she finally said yes to something). The end also brought a couple of nice surprises, one in the form of a tasty-sounding recipe and the other the pattern for the "Serendipity scarf" that was featured in the story. Overall, I'm very happy to have read it - and yes, I'll be watching for No. 16. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Good job!

One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman (Crooked Lane Books, August 2021); 320 pp.

THE BURNING

4 stars out of 5

Deputy Coroner Clay Edison has led a complicated life, but now that he's married to psychologist Amy and has a young daughter Charlotte, it seems more settled. Then, a nearby California wildfire kicks in, casting a literal cloud on his life and knocking out electric power. Charlotte and Amy have retreated to a still-lit, less smoky part of the state until everything blows over, but she and Clay stay in touch by phone.

His relationship with his ex-felon brother, Luke, remains unstable; once close buddies, they've become for the most part estranged as Luke exited jail and tries to get his life back together. Still, Clay cares about him; and when he's called to a murder scene in an affluent neighborhood and discovers more than a dead body - clues that Luke may somehow have been involved - he tries to track him down. That's not easy, though, because Luke seems to have gone missing; even his hippy dippy wife, with whom he lives off the grid, has no idea why he left or where he's been for several days.

Clay's off-the-record investigation leads to even more suspicions that Luke may have been involved, forcing him - to his way of thinking - to do some cover-up work that threatens his own future. While I concede that blood can be thicker than water, I admit to losing a fair amount of respect for Clay - whom I've come to like as a leading man over the first three books in the series - because of his actions here. That's especially because - to MY way of thinking - everything that came to light in the end would have been discovered by the police had they been allowed unfettered access to all the evidence from the git-go.

But the chase is exciting and dangerous, and it held my attention so well that I polished it off in a single day by pushing back my bedtime by half an hour or so. And while in the end everything isn't coming up roses and a few ends are left untied, all that means to me is that there's plenty of fodder for the next book. I'm already up for it (or these days, should I say I'm down?) As for this one, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Burning by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman (Ballantine Books, September 2021); 304 pp.

FOR YOUR OWN GOOD

5 stars out of 5

When I reviewed another of this author's wonderful books last year, I said I wish I had a mind half as creative as hers. Well, folks, she just left me in the dust with this one. The official book description calls it a "sneaky thriller," and, with the possible addition of "wicked," I honestly can't come up with anything more appropriate and accurate. What an absolute delight from start to finish!

The story centers on Theodore (Teddy) Crutcher, an English teacher at a hoity-toity private high school - an "academy," don't you know. He loves teaching, with the goal of turning the self-centered, pampered kids who feel the world owes them a living because their parents have a ton of money into "better people" - all, of course, for their own good. Among his primary targets is Zach, whose father pitches a hissy fit when Teddy gives a B- to one of his son's reports.

Despite being disliked by most of his students and not being a graduate of the academy himself as many other beloved teachers are, Teddy has just won Teacher of the Year. He's elated (if disappointed that he's not getting more attention as a result) and looking forward to his presentation ceremony. But first, another teacher, Sonia, is being honored for 10 years of teaching. Teddy is resentful; he'd turn to his nurse-wife Allison for solace, but she's not around anymore. So, he takes matters into his own extremely capable but devious hands, with an unfortunate result: at Sonia's party, one of the school's staff members becomes ill and later dies.

In fact, it's not the first school-related death; the first headmaster committed suicide, and a memorial is held each year in remembrance (yet another thorn that threatens to prick the air out of Teddy's super-sized ego). As for the newest victim, the police identify a suspect - a student - who is subsequently arrested for the murder.

Teddy knows better. But now Sonia and other school personnel will be asked to testify against the young murderer; no one is happy about that, but it all becomes moot when yet another victim is murdered. And then another. After that, one of Teddy's former students is brought in to replace one of them - a woman who hates Teddy because he effectively killed her college and career plans years earlier. If anything, the intervening years have worsened the already strained relationship between the two, but now they must work together. Oh my, whatever will Teddy do now?

There's no shortage of other characters in play here, and the unbelievably complex and intricate balance among them is what makes this story so entertaining. Who will get accused of what, and who really did it? Who will go to jail, who will go free, and who will go dead? Readers will find out, all in good time.

The bottom line? Don't miss this one. I cannot thank the publisher, via NetGalley, enough for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Cue my thunderous applause!

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing (Berkley, July 2021); 379 pp.

GONE FOR GOOD

5 stars out of 5

As a lover of mysteries, thrillers and police procedurals, finding a new series in any of those genres is an absolute delight (even though I probably need another one like another hole in my head). So it is that I'm excited to say I loved this book and, from even before I finished it, started looking forward to the next.

The star of this show is Chicago Detective Annalisa Vega, the daughter of a retired cop father and a mother who (reminiscent of my own sweet mom) laid out a dinner spread fit for a king 365 days a year even if no one was there to eat it. Annalisa's ex-husband of not many years (both the marriage and how long they've been apart) has returned to the department and is stoked at the prospect of working with her again.

Early on, Annalisa gets a call that a dead body has been found at the perfect time - while she's trying to figure out how to ditch a boring blind date. The deceased turns out to be Grace Harper, a member of a group called the Grave Diggers - civilians who try to solve cold cases. Most recently, Grace has focused on a serial killer known as the "Lovelorn Killer," who murdered seven women, the last known having happened two decades earlier. Whether the killer had a change of heart, is in jail for something else or is dead is a matter of conjecture. 

Now, that's changed. Grace, it seems, was murdered in an MO identical to that of the Lovelorn Killer - trussed up in intricate ropes that led to a slow strangulation. For Annalisa and her father, who worked that case back then, conjures up sad memories of a beloved neighbor who was the last known victim of the serial killer. As the investigation into Grace's murder begins, it becomes clear that her relentless research may have unearthed a few too many clues - some that just might lead to the killer's identity. Finding him (or her) is a good thing, of course, but this time it threatens to turn Annalisa's world upside down (not to mention put her in the killer's crosshairs).

All told, this is an exciting, well-thought-out story with plenty of twists and turns and a terrific start for the series. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal look at an intriguing character. More, please? And soon?

Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen (Minotaur Books, August 2021); 304 pp.

A SCONE OF CONTENTION

3.5 stars out of 5

Newly married to Nathan Bransford, a detective with the Key West, Florida, Police Department, Hayley Snow writes food-related articles for the island's Key Zest publication. When the couple gets a chance for a real honeymoon in Scotland to visit Nathan's sister Vera and her husband, William, she sees an opportunity to bring stories of Scottish fare back to tempt Key Westians. Then, because of their elderly but spunky houseboat neighbor Miss Gloria's family ties to the country - and that it might be her only chance to see it - they offer to take her along. Just before they leave, one of their local friends ends up in hot water with the police, making Hayley a little reluctant to leave.

Although Scotland is welcoming, Nathan's sister is far less so; to make matters worse, Hayley's brother-in-law insists on entering a golf tournament with Nathan as his partner - taking him away from her most of the days of their visit, sadly for her (and for readers, who see way too little of him as well). Vera, who's immersed in pulling together a soon-to-be-published book about the "thin places" of Scotland ("where the veil between heaven and earth is lifted"), spends a good bit of her time disagreeing with the production team about the direction the book is taking - a turn for the worse, in her opinion. When Nathan's rather standoffish mother, who has gained tentative acceptance by Hayley but isn't on the best of terms with Vera, shows up as well, she brings the potential for uncomfortable encounters. If I'm honest, I'll say that potential quickly turned into an unpleasant reality; the disagreements and sniping at each other - especially among the book production team - started to get annoying fairly early on. 

At an early-on dinner party for all of the above, one of the guests experiences severe stomach distress - a suspected poisoning. Later, as the group hops on the Falkirk Wheel on their way to their destination of the day, tragedy strikes: A man falls overboard and is killed. When he's identified by police, no one in Hayley's group acknowledges knowing him, but their furtive denials make her think there's more to that story - and the possibility that it was no accident rears its ugly head. Much of the book from this point on centers on descriptions of the group's destinations, detailed bickering among group members and, more pleasantly, Hayley's encounters with the traditional foods of Scotland (recipes for such treats as Shepherd's Pie and several varieties of scones are included at the end of the book).

The only near-edge-of-seat drama happens near the end, when one of member of the group faces a life-threatening situation; that's followed by the tying up of loose ends surrounding the death at Falkirk and publication of the book. Once Hayley and Nathan are back home, her friend's pre-trip tussle with police is sorted as well - but that situation had so little relevance to the rest of the plot that I had to wonder why it was included at all. Oh wait: Maybe it will be fodder for the next book in the series (for the record, this is the eleventh). While I wait for that one, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

A Scone of Contention by Lucy Burdette (Crooked Lane Books, August 2021); 336 pp.

LITTLE GIRL TAKEN

4 stars out of 5

This is the third book in this series featuring Colorado Detective Madison Harper and her friend Nate Monroe. Both were imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit (she for six years, he for 17); she's just returned to her former job while Nate, a former priest in training, is trying to find his way back by doing private investigation work. On a rainy day, Madison discovers a wrecked car; as she leans in, she spots a baby girl. Doing a quick look-around for a grown-up, she finds a sneaker streaked with blood - definitely not a good sign, Madison thinks as she heads in to the station.

Before too long, both the baby and shoe are connected to Kacie Larson, a young server at the local diner who didn't show up for her most recent shift. It's hard for Madison, who just reconnected with her now-17 year-old son Owen, to believe Kacie (or any mother) simply abandoned her baby. There's much more to that story, and Madison wants to get to the bottom of it. For extra help, she calls on her old friend Nate, who has a cool former K9 companion named Brody. She also gets some help from Vince, the diner owner who took a chance on hiring Kacie and seems to have taken her under his wing. But clearly, Vince has issues of his own - he's a suspect in the years-ago disappearance of his wife and grandson - so just how far can he be trusted, if at all? Meanwhile, a convicted child rapist somehow gets an early parole and returns home, so he gets added to the growing suspect list. That's only a couple of the story subplots, all of which make twists and turns to get to resolution.

I really connected with both primary characters from a likability perspective, and this book stands alone well. That said, I have no doubt that reading it would have been far more satisfying had I been aware of the content of those first two - I'm sure a few of the characters who popped up almost out of nowhere had made appearances in earlier books. I also was rather amused at terms that struck me as more British than American such as using "fell pregnant" to describe a mother-to-be. One major scene involving a vehicle totally confused me until I realized the steering wheel must have been on the right. When I learned the author lives in the United Kingdom, though, all that made sense. I also took issue when a TV reporter was "forced" by her boss to "report both sides of a story." Over here, any reporter worth his or her salt who didn't do that from the git-go would be kicked to the curb faster than you can say journalistic integrity. 

In the end, most of the twists get straightened out, although plenty of fodder is left for the next installment. Having very much enjoyed getting to know these characters, I'll be watching for it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Little Girl Taken by Wendy Dranfield (Bookouture, July 2021); 313 pp.

ROBERT B. PARKER'S STONE'S THROW

5 stars out of 5

There's big trouble in Paradise - Paradise, Massachusetts, that is - when Police Chief Jesse Stone learns that his good friend and boss, town Mayor Neil O'Hara, turns up dead. At first blush, it appears to be a suicide; but closer inspection raises Jesse's suspicion that somebody did him wrong.

At the heart of the matter is that the land on which the body was found is for sale to the highest bidder - and two hotshot (and filthy rich) potential buyers are in winner-takes-all contention, determined to build a casino on the property. Complicating matters is that Jesse's right-hand policewoman, Molly Crane, thinks she saw an old "friend" near the crime scene - and she's not happy about it.

Then, a young woman - a member of the so-called tree-hugger protesters who want to quash the sale - reports her boyfriend missing. That sends Jesse out to contact some of his gangster acquaintances in the hope that they can provide some clues about the two powerful men who would, in all likelihood, do just about anything to make sure his bid is accepted by the town council at an upcoming meeting.

The investigation brings Jesse into contact with some gangster-like characters who will be familiar to readers not only of the Jesse Stone series, but of Spenser and Sunny Randall. One of my faves, Jesse's trusty officer Suitcase Simpson, doesn't show up here quite as much as I'd like - he's a pretty cool guy - but the somewhat slippery (but surprisingly likable) Wilson Cromartie, or "Crow," gets plenty of page space.

The details of the investigation are neatly tied up by the end, complete with a sort of surprise that I must say didn't please me much. Very entertaining, as expected - and another one down (the 20th in the series) in fine fettle. Good job!

Robert B. Parker's Stone's Throw by Mike Lupica (G.P. Putnam's Sons, September 2021); 336 pp.