MISSING

4 stars out of 5

For sure, there's no shortage of twists and turns in this one. On the other hand, the only reason most of them happen is that at least one major character can't get her head on straight and ignores even the most conventional wisdom - which I must say didn't exactly endear her to me. Overall, though, it's a nonstop adventure that makes for a perfect read on a sandy beach or next to a roaring fireplace.

A little over a quarter of a century ago, Josie Bennett's little brother Jimmy was murdered - locked in an empty airtight freezer until he suffocated. A 19-year-old neighbor boy who had a history of hurting people, Samuel Barlow, was convicted for the murder - thanks in part to testimony by his mother Maggie. Now, he's unexpectedly getting out of prison a little early.

That news puts Josie on red alert; after all, her daughter with ex-husband Terry is Jimmy's age when he died and Samuel once had a "thing" for Josie. If that weren't enough, his mother Maggie seems to be stalking her. But balancing her need to be extra-watchful of Ivy and keep an eagle eye on her fledgling business, Delicious Desserts, proves almost impossible, even with friend Fiona there to be Ivy's caregiver when needed - which these days, is a good bit of the time. By the time the inevitable happens - Ivy does indeed go missing - just about every character is a suspect. Josie, though, has no doubt whatsoever: the culprit is the same man who murdered her little brother.

When the police aren't much help - they've got all those procedures and rules that must be followed, don't you know - so of course Josie basically sets out to prove she's right about Samuel. His mother, who Josie detests, tries to convince Josie that she can help - but only if Josie doesn't tell anybody else including the cops. So when Josie agreed, while I of course hoped Ivy would be found safe and sound, from that point on I really didn't care what happened to Josie.

Also of course, I won't reveal any of the details (and certainly not the twists). Chapters flip back in time to detail earlier happenings that provide insights - not a technique of which I'm fond, but the author does an exemplary job of keeping things straight so it's all very easy to follow. Now that I've finished and know the whole story, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.

Missing by K.L. Slater (Bookouture, May 2022); 256 pp.

THE KINGDOMS OF SAVANNAH

4 stars out of 5

Ever since I read John Berendt's wonderful book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, I've had a bit of a fascination for the city of Savannah, Georgia (the heat, humidity and rumors of creepy-crawly things in the Spanish Moss trees notwithstanding). Couple that with a love of the mystery/thriller genre, and I was delighted to get my hands on a copy of this book (that it arrived in paperback format instead of Kindle notwithstanding).

It turned out to be an intriguing, engrossing story, although I must say the sheer number of characters - no matter how interesting they were - was a chore for my aging brain to keep straight. At the center is Morgana Musgrove, one of Savannah's prominent ladies, who has four adult children who also play significant roles. Inexplicably, the elderly Morgana oversees a detective agency and is hired to do some sleuthing on behalf of a wealthy developer who's been arrested for the murder of a local man.

At the same time, a well-known local woman has turned up missing - a woman who often is called in to do archeological digs to make sure properties under development don't contain remains of the past (mostly meaning dead bodies). One person who's especially concerned is Jaq, Morgana's granddaughter; she hears tales that the missing woman has found some kind of "treasure" on a nearby island - one rumored to have been inhabited by a long-ago generation. Whether the woman has been kidnapped or is in hiding because of it remains a mystery - one Jaq is determined to solve as she probes the city's historic past that includes an extensive maze of sewer tunnels that for the most part are known only to the homeless. Along the way, Jaq looks to others for help getting to the truth; problem is, it's nearly impossible to know who to trust - and all the evidence suggests the answer is no one.

All in all, well worth reading and a revealing look inside the city's dark history. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green (Celadon Books, July 2022); 304 pp.

HATCHET ISLAND

4 stars out of 5

This is a favorite series of mine, but I must say this latest entry - the 13th - isn't my favorite of the bunch. Still, Maine game warden Mike Bowditch retains his perch near the top of my favorite heroes list, even if the rest of the cast are for the most part rather unlikable characters.

This one begins as Mike and his significant other, Stacey Stevens, are kayaking to an island that's a sanctuary for endangered seabirds and the site of a research project in which Stacey was once involved as an intern. The project, the Maine Seabird Initiative, is headed by Dr. Maeve McLeary; Stacey's good friend, an intern there, tells Stacey that strange things are happening. Most curious of all, Maeve seems to be missing - and her unexplained disappearance follows on the heels of the death by suicide of a young male intern.

As they camp for the following night, Mike and Stacey are awakened by a gunshot; when they pull up stakes to get to the island, they find a total disaster. Of the three researchers on the island, two have been brutally murdered. The third - now a person of interest - either escaped being a victim or himself was the perpetrator. Several other law enforcement entities are called in to help, including the Marine Patrol and an officer who's got a violent streak. On a nearby island is a community that's dominated by a powerful but secretive photographer and a wife who will do anything to protect her husband. A third island, the rather inhospitable Hatchet Island, is the site of said photographer's "studio," which may hold a few secrets of its own.

The action starts at the beginning and doesn't let up till the end, with Mike and Stacey in the middle and, on occasion, threatened with extinction just like some of the seabirds (the details of which, of course, I won't reveal). In the overall scheme of things, the "big reveal" left me a little underwhelmed, but I will say getting there was a whole bunch of fun. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it - already looking forward to the next.

Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron (Minotaur Books, June 2022); 320 pp.

NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE

5 stars out of 5

By some of my standard measures, this could have been a book that just didn't "grab" me (that the heroine is a meddling old lady living on an island off the coast of Naples, Italy, rang more of a warning bell than a come-and-get-it). On the other hand, I've read and absolutely loved several books by this wonderful author, so I forged ahead. And guess what? I didn't stop until I'd polished it off in a single day (well, I stayed up an extra half-hour at bedtime, but hey...)

When it came to summing it all up, though, I was at first at a loss for words. So I started by doing something I never do - reading comments by other authors (mostly because I always suspect they're nothing more than reciprocal "fluff" than real observations made after actually reading the book). That is, until I read an assessment by another favorite author - Tess Gerritsen - and the lightbulb went on. "Utterly delightful," she said. "One of the most charming amateur sleuths ever created," she continued.

"I couldn't have said it better, so I'm stealing her words," I said.

Now, on to the story in my words: The title character (and she truly is a character) is Nonna Maria, a 25-year widow in her 70s whose love of cooking for anyone who walks through her door is exceeded only by her love of helping her family, friends and neighbors when something goes wrong. She's got all the inside scoops, gossip-wise, so nothing gets past her; everyone on the island of Ischia knows where to go first when they have a problem. At the very least, they'll leave with full stomachs - everything washed down by Nonna Maria's special coffee (she personally won't drink anyone else's) or, more likely, a few glasses of wine.

As the story begins, she gets a visit by Anna, a young woman who claims to have been somehow coerced into agreeing to marry a man she really doesn't love; she suspects he may have ulterior motives. Recalling legends of similar incidents in years past, Nonna Maria has suspicions of her own - and agrees to help. First, though, she contacts her carabinieri friend Captain Murino, who has long "put up with" Nonna Maria's interferences simply because her heart is in the right place (and the fact that she's almost always right). 

Another case rears a possible ugly head when an elderly tour boat captain appears to have drunk himself into a stupor, fallen overboard and drowned. Murino is investigating and on the verge of declaring it an accident, but Nonna Maria is certain it was no accident; no matter how inebriated he was, she insists, he never, ever would have drowned. And as she shares with him her opinions as well as details of Anna's situation, it appears the good Captain just have have a good reason to investigate her fiance as well.

Their interaction is professional, but the charisma between the two is downright charming - prompting me to turn the pages as fast as I could just to get to what happens next. In between the action are enticing, intricate descriptions of the island, its rich history and not-so-wealthy people. Everything works out in the end, of course, but you'll just have to read the book to get the details. Please do - I don't think you'll be sorry. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review another book by a favorite author. Grazie di cuore!

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride by Lorenzo Carcaterra (Bantam, May 2022); 263 pp.

MY WIFE IS MISSING

4 stars out of 5

I've read three of this author's books and enjoyed them all. This one keeps the record intact, although I must admit it's not my favorite of the four. It's longer than it needs to be (repetition was an issue for me), and the main characters spend way, way too much time inside their own heads trying to figure out who's out to get them and why. All that aside, though, it's an entertaining story that I'm quite sure many other readers will enjoy thoroughly.

The initial focus is on Natalie Hart, who is on the run from her husband, Michael - taking with her their two children, Addison and Bryce. Their marriage has been on the rocks of sorts for some time now, and she suffers from debilitating insomnia that certainly hasn't helped ease the situation. But she's not only certain that Michael has been carrying on an affair right under their noses, but that he's been keeping an even darker secret from his younger days that at the very least could kill any chances for a reconciliation if the details come to light.

Michael, though, seems gobsmacked by his family's disappearance - even though he admits (to readers) some of the truth and hints that there's more to come. Needless to say, he's fiercely intent on finding his on-the-run loved ones - if not to repair his marriage, but to get the children away from a mother he believes is seriously disturbed.

Chapters shift from perspectives of Natalie and Michael both in their present and past, thus weaving backstory threads that readers presume (rightly) will make a coherent tapestry at the end. Adding texture is Natalie's workplace experience and friendships as well as a meddlesome but seemingly well-meaning police detective who insists on tagging along with Michael as he tries to learn Natalie's whereabouts. As the end closes in, the action heats up to the point of meltdown - leading to what I'm sure is supposed to be a bigger surprise than it was to me. All in all, it was worth reading - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it. 

My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer (St. Martin's Press, May 2022); 384 pp.

OVERBOARD

4 stars out of 5

I've been reading about detective V.I. Warshawski for so long that she feels like an old friend I don't see often enough. This is the 21st book in the series, and yes, I was very happy to bump into her again.

This one takes place during the Covid pandemic, and I'll give kudos up front for the author's handling of the masking issue (i.e., making the importance thereof up close and personal throughout the book). Victoria not only wears one herself on just about every out-of-home venture, but she insists that others around her do the same.

Following an all-night job for a client, Vic's two boisterous dogs go nuts on the banks of Lake Michigan - leading her to a crevice where a seriously injured young girl is (presumably) hiding out. The girl manages to utter a single word - something with no meaning to Vic or later the police - before she's taken to a hospital. She's treated and put in a room, but before anyone can talk to her or determine her identity, she disappears. One of the investigating police officers in particular seems unusually upset that she's gone missing - a long-time officer who has a history of unchecked violent behavior that's been overlooked by his higher-ups. Thwarted, he turns his full wrath toward Vic - to the point of trying to make her life miserable (often with more than a modicum of success).

As this is happening, a very old local synagogue is defaced, upsetting the elderly congregation, several of whom are Vic's friends. At this point, the corruption for which Chicago's political elite are known rears its ugly head; someone seems to be intent on getting ownership of the synagogue for unknown reasons. More investigation turns up more political corruption (a revolting development, so to speak), but not before hitting close to home with a nod and wink to some of Vic's family members that she's almost forgotten she had and almost certainly can do without. Along the way, she got support when she needed it most from old friends Lottie Herschel and her helpful elderly neighbor Mr. Contreras. Notably missing - off on assignment - is her significant other, archaeologist Peter Sansen, who is thousands of miles away. 

By this time, the sheer number of characters grew far beyond the number of my brain cells; I finally gave up trying to keep them all straight and decided it all would work out in the end. It does, of course, but not without more than one nail-biting chapter in which Vic's own life is put on the line. All in all, very satisfying - and a big thank you goes to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to meet up one of my fictional BFFs once again. Can't wait till she comes for a visit again (soon, please)?

Overboard by Sara Paretsky (William Morrow, May 2022); 400 pp.

LISTEN TO ME

5 stars out of 5

Well golly gee - has it really been five years since I last Kindle-thumbed my way through the adventures of detective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles? Big wonderful surprise: I received an advance copy of this one, the 13th (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). An even bigger one: I loved it.

Admittedly, Jane and Maura are the stars of the show - the characters I just can't get enough of; close behind is Jane's husband, Special Agent Gabriel Dean (who, I'm sorry to say, makes not much more than a cameo appearance here). If you're a fan of Jane's mother Angela, though, run out and get a copy immediately; this is her time in the spotlight. Even Maura takes a noticeable back seat to the very Italian mom. 

There are also enough subplots to make three other books, I'm guessing - keeping readers on their toes and provided with insights as chapters shift mostly from the perspectives of Angela and Jane. There's a young woman who appears to have a stalker, a nurse who was slaughtered in her own home with no apparent motive and a couple of just-moved in secretive neighbors Angela is certain are up to no good (plus a couple of others who may not be quite the folks Angela always thought they were).

Eventually, Jane - with help from Maura and her capable partner Barry Frost - starts unraveling the tapestry of clues, revealing some long-ago connections that will prove instrumental to solving the stalking and murder cases. Meanwhile, Maura is proving instrumental in a different context, and Angela ignores advice that she should go back in the house and bake zucchini bread. But staying in the background is just not in her genetic make-up so - especially when no one will listen to her - what's a mother to do?

Nothing else to say except this: Welcome back, and pretty please listen to me and make it less time between this one and the 14th!

Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen (Ballantine Books, July 2022); 320 pp.

DARK CIRCLES

4 stars out of 5

This book pulls from hot topics of the day - an actor's coattail-riding father, a controlling manager, podcasts and conspiracy theories - to weave an engaging story that kept my page-turning Kindle finger busy.

The overbearing but highly efficient manager, Jessica, imposes her "guidance" over Olivia Reed, who's trying to salvage her reputation and renew her previously successful acting career after a tabloid-worthy disaster. Jessica comes up with the perfect solution: Send Liv to the House of Light in upstate New York, a spiritual center that touts personal growth and renewal. Liv isn't happy, but she trusts that Jessica has her best interests at heart and reluctantly agrees to give it a go.

Almost from the time she passes through the front door, though, Liv begins to question what's really going on. Those questions intensify when she meets Ava, a local woman who pops in and out of the HOL when she feels the need for rejuvenation - and who tells Liv about the mysterious deaths of a handful of women who've been associated with the facility. Although the deaths have been ruled either accidents or suicides, Ava - and now Liv - aren't believes in coincidences.

As it turns out, Ava is a podcast fan, and she convinces the eager-for-public-attention Liv to start one related to the disappearances. Using some of her old connections, Liv hooks up with a capable production team, starts nosing around and recording her findings. When the first podcast drops, it goes viral - and in that regard, the rest is history. So, too, is her stay at the HOL, from which she's unceremoniously thrown out, as well as her love-hate relationship with Jessica. Turns out the former manager is "Liv"id that her protegee would even consider a podcast without her long-time manager's approval and involvement - and she's even more distraught when Liv refuses to stop.

As Liv's investigation grows legs - with help from a retired cop who unearths a possible personal connection - action heats up all the way to the end, which brings a twist I admit I didn't see coming. All told, while I can't say I ever truly warmed up to any of the characters, it's an entertaining story - for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing. It's got "beach-read" all over it and at least in my neck of the woods, the season's almost here - go for it!

Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (Ballantine Books, May 2022); 384 pp.

THE BOOK OF COLD CASES

4 stars out of 5

Stories that go bump in the paranormal night (or even touch upon it) aren't my usual fare, but this one sounded intriguing so I went for it. Now that I'm done, I don't hesitate to recommend it to fans of the genre as well as those like me who normally prefer their thrillers a little less spirited.

In Claire Lake, Oregon, by-day medical receptionist Shea Collins is an after-hours operator of the Book of Cold Cases, a true crime website. Her interest in the topic was prompted by a horrific childhood experience - escaping an attempted abduction that could have proved deadly. When a patient named Elizabeth (Beth) Greer comes into the medical office one day, Shea recognizes her from a much-publicized and never forgotten incident in 1977, when Beth, the beautiful and eccentric daughter of wealthy parents, was charged and subsequently tried for the savage murder of two men. No motive was found - the murders were thought to be random - and ultimately, jurors found her not guilty. Since then, she's led a secluded life in the garish mansion in which she grew up with unloving, always fighting parents - a father who was murdered in cold blood and mother who later died in an accident.

Intrigued but not hopeful for success, Shea contacts Beth to ask for an interview. To her surprise, Beth agrees - allowing Shea to visit her in the family mansion. And therein lies a problem; every time Shea visits, strange things happen; faucets turn on, cupboard doors open and objects move around - kinda cool, I suppose, except that no one but Beth and Shea are in the house at the time. For her part, Beth seems to accept what's going on around her; Shea, though, isn't quite so comfortable.

Still, she refuses to stop investigating, connecting with several people involved in the years-ago case and even Beth's longtime family attorney - most of whom agreed to provide insights and information at Beth's surprising request. Chapters shift from what's happening in the here and now to Beth's and Shea's childhood experiences, all shedding light on what really happened that formed the women they've both become. For the record, neither Shea nor Beth was particularly likable despite their youthful circumstances; only two characters, a police officer and Shea's private investigator, came across as "normal" (for wont of a better word). And while the supernatural elements weren't overly obtrusive, I kept waiting for a plausible explanation that (understandably) never came.

So here's the skinny from my perspective: If you like your thrillers sprinkled with Twilight Zone dust, this one should be right up your alley (hey, if a nonbeliever like me can enjoy it...) And also for the record, I think this would make a great movie or TV series. Whether or not that happens, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. That I failed to finish it by the release date is on me - and for that I apologize profusely.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (Berkley, March 2022); 350 pp.