OVER MY DEAD BODY

4 stars out of 5

When I read any book that I'm planning to review, I jot on a 3 x 5 lined pad notes of important characters and events to refresh my memory when I've finished. Well, for this book I ended up with nine pages - far exceeding my usual three or four. That should tell you that if you read this one, you'll need to pay close attention because there are a ton of characters and subplots that switch at the drop of a paragraph. That said, I found it to be quite enjoyable, and it stands alone well despite being the fourth in a series (coming from one who didn't read the first three).

The London Metro Police's Unsolved Murders Unit includes several top-notch investigators such as Detective William Warwick - basically the star of the series - and the more offbeat Ross Hogan, who recently was pulled in to help after some years as an undercover agent. They've got no shortage of cases, though at the top of the list is tracking down Miles Faulkner, a millionaire art collected who's gone afoul of the law. Problem is, he turned up dead a couple of months earlier, as attested to by officers who attended his funeral. Warwick, though, is convinced the death was faked - aided and abetted by his long-time and super-loyal attorney, Booth Watson. To help, Warwick turns to his museum-employed wife, Beth, who's an air-kissing friend of Faulkner's greedy ex-wife, Christina.

While the Warwicks are on a vacation cruise, the detective meets the grandson of a family business dynasty. The young kid hopes to emulate William and go into law enforcement, so they do a bit of bonding - especially after the iron-fisted grandfather turns up dead. Back in the office, other members of the team are trying to bring down a loan shark who doesn't take it lightly when borrowers can't pay up and a husband who may be trying to add his new wife to the list of former wives the team think he also murdered.

Each of these scenarios brings its own set of characters and locales and transition among them all isn't always clear (thus underscoring the caution I made earlier about the need to pay close attention). But the tension - and the team's moving their investigations along to a successful end - kept me reading and, I must say, warming up to Warwick and Hogan (emphasis on the latter) to the point of looking forward to their next adventure. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to this series by way of a pre-release review copy. Well done!

Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer (HarperCollins, October 2021); 354 pp.

IT'S A WONDERFUL WOOF

5 stars out of 5

Any tale narrated by a pooch - even one who flunked out of K-9 training on the final day - is just too good to pass up, IMHO. And for sure I haven't; several entries in this series (this one makes a dozen) have kept me entertained for years now. Kept in check - well, for the most part - by Bernie Little, owner of the Little Detective Agency, the intensely loyal and intelligent-beyond-his-species four-legged Chet goes about his business of helping his owner solve crimes.

This one immerses the dynamic duo in the world of art - admittedly not a familiar subject for either of them. On top of trying to keep the business afloat, Bernie is hoping that his relationship with beautiful police sergeant Weatherly Wavneka will pick up steam (on this issue, Bernie has Chet's unwavering support even if it means he has to deal with her dog Trixie). The whole mess begins when Bernie turns down a job from what would be a new client and refers the guy to an old friend, Victor Klovsky. Not long thereafter, Victor's mother calls Bernie to say her son has gone missing - and adds that Victor had just started working on the case Bernie sent his way.

The obvious place to start is to find Victor's new client - the one who originally wanted Bernie to take his case. Problem is, that guy has turned up missing as well. With some digging - pun intended - Bernie and Chet find themselves at the ruins of an old Spanish mission, now just a crumbling building and the site of informal archeological digs. That, in turn, leads Bernie into the unfamiliar world of art history (not to mention some serious danger and a dead body or two). 

Throughout it all, there's Chet's ongoing "take" on what's happening, providing doggie insights and a few chuckles. Chalk up another fun adventure well done. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

It's a Wonderful Woof by Spencer Quinn (Forge Books, October 2021); 272 pp.

MASTERMIND

 4.5 stars out of 5

Despite a Twilight Zone-worthy plot that normally falls a little outside my reading matter wheelhouse, I must say I enjoyed this book overall. Another plus is that it's the first of a series, so I can look forward to the next installment.

The stars of the show are FBI Special Agent Jessica Blackwood and Dr. Theo Cray, a mental genius and scientist with a shady background that makes him, shall we say, unpopular with the FBI, CIA, leaders of other countries and no doubt the families of people he admits he's killed. The equally intelligent Jessica, too, has plenty of enemies and isn't likely to make the FBI's most wanted employee list.

As this story begins, a huge portion of Manhattan suddenly goes completely dark with a foggy substance; no electricity, no Internet, no phone service and, for the FBI, no clue as to what happened or why and raising the question of whether it might happen again somewhere. When Jessica gets called in to check out the situation - and narrowly escapes death - she becomes certain that the blackout is the work of Michael Heywood, a.k.a. Warlock., who managed to escape prison not long ago. She was responsible for putting him in jail to begin with, so not only is he more than capable of concocting some kind of nefarious plan, he's got his sights trained on bringing Jessica down as well.

In fairly short order, it's determined that some kind of electromagnetic pulse short-circuited all the electronic systems, prompting the investigative teams to conclude that the blackout was an act of terrorism. Switch then to Dr. Cray, who's in Myanmar working on vaccinations and is injured. Jessica saves him, thus providing the two with a history (never mind for the present that neither totally trusts the other). But as other blackouts hit other major cities and other oddities like a large number of missing animals add mystery and danger, it's clear that Jessica needs Theo - and vice versa - to get to the bottom of things and save the free world.

Needless to say, there's plenty of intrigue and full-on action, with chapters shifting perspectives from Jessica to Theo. As the series first, it stands alone fairly well - although several references to things that happened in the past aren't fully explained and were a little confusing to me. Then I learned that there have been several books featuring Blackwood alone; no doubt that's where the references originated (but which doesn't excuse not clarifying them here).

It all comes down to an exciting conclusion that brings the possibility (as expected) for more collaboration between Jessica and Theo. As I said earlier, I'm definitely interested in reading more - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Good job (and BTW, this would make a great movie or TV series)!

Mastermind by Andrew Mayne (Thomas & Mercer, September 2021); 317 pp.

VORTEX

4 stars out of 5

FBI agents and married couple Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are at it again in this, their 25th appearance. But this time out, they don't spend much time working together. In fact, there were so many other characters that the FBI couple almost didn't seem like the stars of the show.

But even if they don't work together, make no mistake; it's still a really good show. Seven years after now-journalist Mia Briscoe's good friend went missing in the midst of a fraternity rave never to be seen again, Mia sees an old photo from that night and her investigative senses kick in. Problem is, the main suspect is rich, powerful and a political heavyweight who has the money and friends who can shut her down fast - or worse.

Meantime, CIA operative Mia Hildebrandt returns from a mission in Iran that failed miserably; the man she and her team were trying to get out of harm's way doesn't make it - and Olivia herself is hospitalized. Her agent-friend Mike, who tried his best to save the guy, has gone missing, and the CIA powers-that-be insist he stole some critical information and has gone rogue.

It is at this point - 11% into the book if you're reading on a Kindle - that Savich and Sherlock make an appearance. For Savich, that means visiting with Olivia, who's still recuperating from her injuries. Despite working for a rival agency, he promises her he will find Mike, get to the bottom of why he's been hiding and, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, ferret out the CIA "mole" everyone believes led to the disastrous mission. Back home, Savich is unofficially trying to help a friend with solving a triple murder; the suspect is known, but proof is elusive (at least until Savich enters the scene).

These three plots - the Iran crisis, the missing girl and the whodunit - weave their way in and out of chapters (no, it's not difficult to follow along, although of course the scene changes just as one chapter reaches some sort of cliffhanger, which while understandable from a suspense perspective, can be a little annoying at times). While I'm on the subject of annoyances, I'll mention for readers who don't enjoy reading about such things that the story involves drugs and sexual molestation. That doesn't bother me, although seeing the words "roofied and raped" in what had to be dozens of places did get a bit tiring.

Eventually, all the cases work their way toward resolution, accompanied by some nail-biters and surprises. The big reveal, for better or worse, I'd guessed early on - but I have to say it's always satisfying when that happens and I'm right. Bottom line? Definitely another enjoyable reading experience.

Vortex by Catherine Coulter (William Morrow, August 2021); 395 pp.

THE TRAPPED WIFE

4 stars out of 5

When I read my first book by this author back in 2018 - The Reunion- I called it one of the best books of the year. No surprise, then, that I jumped at the chance to read and review a pre-release copy of this one, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley. It also was no surprise, at least to me, that I enjoyed this one very much as well, although a titch less than the other one.

The plot is complex enough to be totally confusing, but - thanks to the author's writing skills - it's relatively easy to follow even before all the loose ends start coming together. Readers get a glimpse of a years-ago "friendship" between two school kids that turns evil; then one of Jenn, a recent widow with fuzzy memories of something awful that happened in her past. Then suddenly, we're in her present, as she learns she's unexpectedly pregnant and gets an unwanted visitor named Scott, who makes her skin crawl but won't leave. Chapters shift perspective from one of the youngsters to Jenn to that of her good friend, Rhonda. Tossed into the mix are Jenn's teenage son, Kierin, and Rhonda's teenage daughter, Caitlin.

Questions loom large: Who were those two young schoolyard friends, and are they related to what's going on now? What happened to Jenn (and maybe more important, what really happened to her husband)? Who is the house-crasher and why can't Jenn - a physician, for crying out loud - make him go away? That last part is the only thing I had a bit of trouble with; I'm never been a fan of women who try to rationalize behavior that's outside of what my idea of a "normal" woman would (or, IMHO, should) do - kind of like those idiots in horror movies who run toward a dark alley instead of a well-lit store when a monster is chasing them. By the end, the real reason for Jenn's lack of backbone becomes evident, though, thus changing the opinion I had of her throughout most of the book (whether for better or worse I'll never tell).

All the parts herein are intricately and expertly woven and come together in the end - complete with a couple of knock-out surprises. In short, it was well worth the time I spent reading it. Recommended!

The Trapped Wife by Samantha Hayes (Bookouture, September 2021); 268 pp.

FOUL PLAY

5 stars out of 5

Gotta be honest: I've read a big bunch of books in the Stone Barrington series (this is the 59th, so make that a BIG bunch). But a couple of years ago, I simply got a little tired of reading about the high-powered attorney and ex-cop and his bed-hopping ways - a guy who at the wink of a pinky can drop $10 million on a house or in a politician's war chest (one of those beds - and chairs, and shower stalls - he occasionally shares is with the first female President of the United States, for gosh sake). But then, I had a chance to get a pre-release copy of the newest one from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you very much - and from the minute I opened it, I felt as if I'd reconnected with an old friend. The only downside was that by the time of day I started it, I just couldn't keep my eyes open late enough to finish in one sitting.

Make no mistake - Stone and his well-heeled friends, including the aforementioned Prez and the New York City Police Commissioner, haven't changed in the slightest; if anything, the money flows more freely (although in fairness, much of it comes from a wealthy-beyond-belief client). And the bed hopping, if I counted correctly, is limited to only two also wealthy-beyond-belief ladies this time out. The adventure begins as Stone is on his way to his office in his posh New York City mansion to meet a new client; seeing a man being mobbed by a couple of no-gooders, Stone jumps in to save the day - and learns the man he protected is his new client. And of course, said client is wealthy beyond belief.

It seems the client recently came into an enormous inheritance from his late father - and as he stays at a luxurious apartment in the Carlyle Hotel, Stone offers advice on negotiating a deal to purchase it. But then, the client is attacked once again, and, as they say, the plot thickens. Suddenly, both the client and Stone find themselves in danger, and Stone must call in all his friends to help (most are characters familiar to me from previous books, and I was happy to "see" them again). Getting to the bottom of things takes Stone and the gang all over the country, culminating in, shall I say, a rather exciting and financially rewarding end. Spread throughout is the standard "ho-hum" attitude toward every situation, whether it's between the sheets or facing a near-death experience (just after the bullet misses passing through your brain by inches, for instance, you turn to your guests to ask which kind of wine they prefer with dinner). 

All in good fun - and the best one I've read for a while. That means this reader is back in the saddle and itching to trot - so bring on the next!

Foul Play by Stuart Woods (G. P. Putnam's Sons, October 2021); 352 pp.

THE HERON'S CRY

4 stars out of 5

After reading the first book in this series, "The Long Call," a couple of years ago, I've been eager for more about the star of the show, North Devon Detective Matthew Venn. He has an intriguing background, leaving the cult-like religious life of his parents and getting married to the love of his life, Jonathan (no doubt distancing himself even farther from his already disapproving parents). Out on his own, he's become an exceptionally competent investigator, and he's back with a new adventure that has his entire department scratching their heads and puts his relationship with Jonathan to the test.

One of his most trusted underlings, Jenn Rafferty, gets a call from Venn way too early the morning after she drank way too much at a local party - one at which a local physician and patient advocate, Dr. Nigel Yeo, had indicated he had something to discuss with her. Apparently, he gave up trying and left; so when Venn tells her the good doctor has been murdered - by a shard of glass from one of his daughter's works of art - she's both disturbed and mortified that her inebriation got in the way. The body was found within a community of artists at which his daughter has a studio that's owned and run by a very wealthy man - and where Jonathan manages a group that caters to people with disabilities (in fact, Jonathan is a good friend of Eve, the dead man's daughter)

Needless to say, several in the artistic commune are suspects, including the rich guy - and the story weaves its way through the possible connections that hopefully will lead to identifying the killer. But then, another body turns up - a man who was murdered in a similar fashion with a similar weapon. With this one, the possible motive is even more elusive than the first. But slowly and methodically, Venn and his team unearth clues that lead in an unexpected direction - leading up to an exciting end (and a couple of causes for optimism in Venn's personal life). All told, it's another entertaining adventure, for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Bring on the next!

The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur Books, September 2021); 400 pp.

THE NEW HOME

4 stars out of 5

If there's any character in any book who personifies the old maxim, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you," it's Freya Northcott, the main character in this book. But honestly, knowing that didn't decrease my urge to throttle her most of the way through the story. In fact, when other characters urged her to take anxiety-relieving drugs, I kept hoping they'd ignore her refusals, tie her down and get 'em in her one way or another.

But paranoia also can make for a don't-want-to put-down adventure, and this tale qualifies. Freya and her fiance Jack have moved to a fixer-upper home in the London suburb of Waybridge, which is closer to the hospital where he works as a cardiology consultant. Freya is a developer/producer of video documentaries, but she has no projects in the works at present, in part because the pandemic has put the brakes on most parts of the economy. She also has a vivid imagination, which can be helpful in her professional endeavors. In her private life? Maybe yes, maybe no.

When she and Jack first meet Emily and Michael, the couple next door, for instance, Freya gleans a hint that Jack and Emily aren't strangers. When they meet the elderly Cathy, the neighbor on the other side of the house, Freya intuits that life isn't all roses for Emily and Michael. When Emily and her young daughter Thea go missing, then, it's an easy leap for Freya's ever-suspicious mind to conclude that Michael is the culprit.

Something else that happens to Freya sends her paranoid genes into overdrive; after that, she vows not to stop until she's found Emily and Thea even though logic tells her they're dead. From that point on, she pretty much goes bonkers - going places and doing things that "normal" people - including the police and her fiance - consider both illogical and downright illegal. All the while, she rationalizes that she's doing it in the best interests of her close friend Emily (whom she's known for all of a few days total).

Needless to say, at least some of Freya's illusions may be real; as readers learn along the way, several characters aren't exactly who they claim to be (i.e., they have secrets they'd rather not be revealed). So how does Freya sort out truth from fiction (maybe more to the point, how can readers know who's who and what's what)? By the somewhat surprising end - in fact, even after it - I'm not totally sure any of us has a good answer. But getting there certainly was an engaging adventure - as expected from this talented author - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The New Home by Chris Merritt (Bookouture, September 2021); 302 pp.

THE NECKLACE

4 stars out of 5

Despite the plot being a little bit predictable and characters who tend to err on the side of overwrought, I really enjoyed this book. Had the Tokyo Olympic games on TV not interfered, in fact (I'm a die-hard fan), there's no doubt I'd have polished the whole thing off in two sittings or less. In part, I suppose, that's because it taps into the nightmares of any mother.

It was that kind of heartbreak that happened to Susan Lentigo and her husband Danny 20 years ago, when their young daughter Amy went missing one day in Glens Falls, New York. Soon thereafter, their worst fears were confirmed: Amy's body turns up. The killer is nowhere to be found, nor is the beaded necklace Susan and Amy made that Amy wore around her neck every single day. Later, though, a suspect is identified; he confesses, and despite a subsequent recant, he's convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Fast-forward to the present as Susan - who's long been divorced from Danny - makes her way to North Dakota to witness the murderer's execution. Most of the story focuses on the tribulations of her journey (which, trust me, are plentiful) with chapters flipping back to the time of the murder to add background and insert Susan's recollections of what was going on at that time. During her in-the-here-and-now trek to the prison, though, she unearths evidence that rouses her suspicion that the wrong person may have been found guilty. Now, instead of deriving satisfaction at watching the life of a man she's hated all these years come to a welcome end, she's intent on finding out who really killed Amy and, ultimately, preventing a wrongful death.

Needless to say, there are some twists and turns along the way, and the whole thing comes down to a nail-biting end as I expected. It was a thoroughly engaging adventure, but I'd be remiss if I didn't note one potentially serious glitch: at one point, a person in law enforcement hands a half-empty bottle of liquor to a character who is about to get into a car and drive. I know the laws in my home state, but just in case I checked New York's as well. And yes, there, too, drivers and passengers in cars are prohibited from possessing a container of alcohol that's been opened. So readers, please do not try this at home (and on the off-chance that you run into a clueless officer like the one in this story who tries to give you one, Just Say No).

All in all, well done - and many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. If you read it, see if you agree with me that this one has the makings for a terrific motion picture (or perhaps a TV series).

The Necklace by Matt Witten (Oceanview Publishing, September 2021); 304 pp.

THE FAMILY PLOT

4 stars out of 5

Wow - what a twisted plot! It's also a little implausible, but so what? It's such an intriguing, engaging story that I just went with it - and happily stayed with it to the end.

The Lighthouse family, you see, isn't just your run-of-the-mill mom, dad and four kids. For starters, they live on a rather isolated island; beyond that, they're obsessed with murder. All four children, for instance, are named after people connected to prominent killings; for the main character, Dahlia, it was the Black Dahlia (she has a twin brother, Andy, and much older brother and sister Charlie and Tate, respectively). The names in and of themselves would give most people pause, but these parents took it seriously by home-schooling their kids and holding ceremonies to "honor" the deaths of much-publicized murdered namesakes.

As the story begins, the children have long since left the nest (Dahlia lives on the nearby mainland). Their father's recent death has brought three of them back home to visit their mother; only Andy is missing. Dahlia has been trying for years to locate him with no success. She's almost in shock, then, when Andy's body turns up in the burial spot intended for her late father - killed by a blow to his head with an axe he used as a kid on trees to take out his frustrations.

The family probably couldn't have chosen a more appropriate place to live; island itself is no stranger to death. Over two decades, seven women have been murdered, presumably by a serial killer who was never caught. For the most part, the rest of the islanders shun the family because of their strange behavior; only an aging caretaker shows up each day to help maintain the property.

Each of the family members tries to deal with the loss of their husband and father and Andy in different ways; for Tate, that means making bizarre drawings of murder scenes. For Charlie, it's trying to convert their childhood home into a museum that will be open to the public. For their mother, it means burying her head in the sand; for Dahlia, it's trying even harder to find out who killed her twin brother - and why.

Needless to say, there are revelations throughout until the end (some rather predictable, others not), when the truth finally emerges. Then comes the decision of which family secrets will be revealed and which will (hopefully) remain a closely guarded secret. Well done - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Family Plot by Megan Collins (Atria Books, August 2021); 320 pp.