DEWEY DECIMATED

4 stars out of 5

I've read books in other series that are set in and around libraries, but this one has something the others don't: A resident ghost. And quite honestly, when near the end one of the characters agrees to not say a word to anyone else about the ghosts (actually, there are two of them), he adds, "Besides, who would believe me?" my response was something like "For sure not me." But credibility aside, it's a creative and entertaining way to add some spice to the usual cozy mystery formula.

This one, the sixth, begins as construction does likewise on an addition to the Clover Ridge, Connecticut, public library at which Carrie Singleton is in charge of programs and events. Rumor has it that the to-be-refurbished building that will house the addition is "cursed," and when a well-hidden dead body turns up that's deemed a murder, suspicions move closer to reality. Evelyn, the resident ghost, doesn't seem too surprised - at least not until another ghost, a man, turns up. Like Evelyn, Carrie can see and speak with him, but he has no memory of who he is or from whence he came.

Being the heroine of a series, Carrie has plenty of experience, albeit unofficial, solving local crimes; she makes a half-hearted effort to keep her nose out of this one (which no doubt readers of previous books know ain't gonna happen). Carrie's finance, private investigator Dylan, knows it as well and seems accepting, while her friend, police Lt. John Mathers, is a little less tolerant. 

Concurrently, Carrie is appointed to the town council  (a detail a bit hard for me to swallow given her age and lack of political experience), and one of her first orders of business involves collectively deciding on the fate of a nature preserve that's now legally available for repurposing. As might be expected, which future direction the project will take creates quite a furor among the council members, all of whom seem to have their own agendas.

Amid all this, the dead man is identified as Dylan's uncle Alec - and surprise (well, not really) - that's his ghost wandering around in the library. As the investigation starts to get serious, a local TV newscaster starts force-feeding her presence into the action (apparently, she's the requisite cozy "friend" who pesters the heroine and leads her into places she probably shouldn't go). Little by little, clues reveal why Uncle Alec was murdered - but it's also clear he won't leave this world until every piece of the puzzle is in place. Little by little, the chapters proceed to put them there.

All told, it's a clever and fun story that cozy lovers should love (for the record, it stands alone well; I've not read any of the others and had no problem following along). I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy (and for learning a new word - "gawp." At first, I thought it was a typo that should have been "gawk"; looking it up proved that by golly, I can be wrong.

Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook (Crooked Lane Books, September 2022); 328 pp.

MYSTIC WIND

4 stars out of 5

Given the chance to read a mystery or thriller that involves courtroom drama to me, saying yes is a no-brainer; it's more a matter of how fast I can get it in my hands. When it's the start of a new series, it's even more intriguing. When I'm done, will I be bellying up to the bar to read the next?

Happily, I breezed through this one with enthusiasm that lasted from the first page to the last. While I the trial parts seemed a little heavy-handed at times and the main character, former prosecuting attorney Jack Marino, was a little too pitiful, I cheered him on. And yes, I look forward to reading about him in action again soon.

As a hot-shot prosecutor, Jack has a stellar track record against some pretty nasty defendants - until one fights back, literally. The perpetrators make such a mess of Jack that he refuses to take on any more gangbangers and druggies, which doesn't sit well with his District Attorney bosses who think putting bad guys in jail is a sure-fire path to greener pastures. Since he won't play ball, Jack is fired, but he lands on his feet at his wealthy wife's father's hoity toity firm representing hoity toity clients. He hates it, of course; so when he gets a chance to defend an accused murderer - a man who comes from the streets where Jack himself grew up - he jumps in with both feet. And once again, he angers his bosses (including the aforementioned wealthy wife).

He's also going up against his former employer, a DA who's intent on getting a win he thinks will play well politically and doesn't care what corners he cuts as long as the verdict is in his favor. Throw in a judge who isn't exactly Jack's fan, a reluctant defendant and corruption that comes from unexpected places, and Jack clearly is at a disadvantage. He turns to his on-parole, ex-military brother, Matt, for help, but that may be too little, too late.

Is Jack's client really innocent, and if he is, will justice prevail? Of course, I'll never tell, except to say that the whole thing ended pretty much as I figured it would. All in all, it sets the series off on a solid start. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a prerelease copy. 

Mystic Wind by James Baretto (Oceanview Publishing, September 2022); 402 pp.

THE RISING TIDE

5 stars out of 5

Vera Stanhope isn't the most glamorous of police detectives anywhere, let alone in Northumberland, England, but she's a woman after my own heart. More than a little overweight and far from a fashion icon, her investigative skills are more than sufficient to lead a competent team of detectives as she deals with the toughest of cases. For the record, this is the 10th book in the series; I've read only one other as well as a couple of other books by this prolific, and very talented, author - and as the happy recipient of a pre-release copy of this one, I was looking forward to starting it.

As well I should have been; it certainly didn't disappoint. Holy Island has been the setting for every-five-year reunions of a tightly knit group of school friends who bonded some 50 years earlier on a sort of Outward Bound experience here organized by a former teacher. They come from varied backgrounds and professions - Annie, Daniel, Lou, Ken, Rich and Philip - and a couple have been married, divorced and married to another in the original group. They commune with nature, each other and try to avoid discussing the death that happened on their very first five-year-reunion many years earlier. One member, it seems, drove off in a huff and was caught in the incoming tide that makes the causeway to the island impassible during specified times. 

This year's meeting is much like all the others, with blustery Rick - who just lost his TV journalist job amid allegations of inappropriate behavior (how timely is that??) but is touting the book he plans to write. Annie's husband Ken is in the throes of dementia, and Annie - part owner of a deli on the mainland - oversees the food. All is well, in fact, until it isn't; Annie finds Rick in his room - the most pretentious and well-appointed one in the place, of course - quite dead.

Enter Vera and her team of investigators, Joe Ashworth and Holly Clarke, who conclude early on that the murderer - and yes, Rick's death was murder - most likely is a member of the reunion group. But who? And why? The rest of the book focuses on the deliciously involved backgrounds of and interactions among the characters and their significant others (both former and current). There's plenty of description of the island and its background as well, plus detailed outlines of the progress of Vera's investigation. The ending? Well, I wasn't terribly surprised at the identity of the murderer, but something else that happened blew my mind (and not in a good way).

If this is a series you're following, I think you'll like this entry; if not, it stands well on its own (but I always advise starting at the beginning if possible - these books really are worth it). As for me, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur Books, September 2022); 384 pp.

ROBERT B. PARKER'S FALLOUT

5 stars out of 5

Two deaths too close to home have Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief and recovering alcoholic Jesse Stone ready to fall off the wagon in this, the 21st book in this series. The first, a high school baseball star and nephew of Jesse's right-hand man, "Suitcase" Simpson, started Jesse's downhill spiral; the next to go, retired police chief and Jesse's close friend Charlie Farrell, put a glass in one hand and a bottle of Scotch in the other.

Such unexpected deaths are never easy on those left behind, but in both of these cases, they were unexplainable, at least on the surface. The teenager, for whom everyone had high hopes for a stellar career in baseball, is a possible suicide. But with such a wonderful future such a near certainty, why on earth would he kill himself? Clearly, Charlie was murdered; but what is the motive? The only thing the man was doing right before his death was looking into a string of phone calls to some of the town's elderly residents trying to separate them from their money. Even if he'd found out who was making the calls, would it have upset the perpetrator enough to commit murder?

Most of the action follows Jesse and his team, which includes series regulars Molly, Healy, Crow and Jesse's therapist Dix, as they try to find loose ends and tie them up. It also touches on Jesse's struggle with his own inner demons as well as his relationships, former, current and ongoing, with on-again, off-again main squeeze Sunny Randell and a few well-known mobsters. It even puts Jesse square in the middle of current events, trying to learn the ins and outs of cryptocurrency (good luck with that - I certainly haven't figured it out yet).

It is, all told, another stellar entry in a favorite series. I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Keep 'em coming!

Robert B. Parker's Fallout by Mike Lupica (G.P. Putnam's Sons, September 2022); 365 pp.

FOX CREEK

4.5 stars out of 5.

Unless I know a series is at an end, I never worry too much about whether or not the main character will survive. Oh sure, he or she can get pretty mangled up, but dead? Nope. Not gonna happen. The same can't be said for their loved ones, though - and in this case, worrying about that outcome is one of the main things that kept me flipping the pages of my Kindle.

The other key attractions are the colorful, detailed descriptions of the territory and Native American ways. Former cop Cork O'Connor, now a private investigator who mostly runs a burger joint on Iron Lake in Minnesota, not far from the Canadian border, shares that ancestry; his wife, Rainy, is a Native American who maintains close ties to the local reservation. That includes to her great uncle, Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux, who by most counts is at least 100 years old and still going strong.

For how much longer remains to be seen; in fact, both Henry and Cork's grown son have experienced dreams in which Henry is dead. For now, though, he's not only alive, but he and Rainy are performing healing rituals for a woman named Delores Morriseau, who came to them looking for help with her marriage. Problem is, some not-so-nice people are looking for Delores - but helping her is the farthest thing from their minds.

Henry, though, is at least one step ahead; foreseeing trouble, he leads Delores and Rainy deep into the Boundary Waters to escape. Needless to say, he's an expert guide; but so, apparently, is at least one of their trackers, and they have no intention of leaving the wilderness without their quarry. For the rest of the book, the chase is on - as is the quest by Cork and his friends to find out why the chasers are so intent on capturing Delores and finding her missing husband (hint: It's a timely topic). The ending was to me a bit unexciting, but the ride in between is well worth the time it took to read (which wasn't much, since it was hard to put down). Overall, it's another winning installment in this outstanding and highly recommended series. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books, August 2022); 397 pp.

WHAT SHE FOUND

4 stars out of 5

Each time I open a book in this terrific series, I'm sure I'll be in for a treat. This one - the ninth - kept that streak going. Now the sole detective in the Seattle Police Department's Cold Case Unit, Detective Tracy Crosswhite is married to prosecuting attorney Dan O'Leary, and they share still-in-diapers daughter Daniella. She's still not popular with quite a few of her fellow officers in blue including her current boss; but overall, she's enjoying the relative solitude and independence of working alone and staying loyal to the few officers she's long respected and trusted.

That gets put to the test here, as she agrees to look into the 25-year-old disappearance and presumed murder of Lisa Childress, a hot-shot newspaper reporter who left behind a young daughter (and a husband who remains the prime suspect). Now grown, the daughter just wants closure - and, hopefully, restoring her father's once good name. Early in her investigation, she reasons that one of the stories Lisa was working on at the time she went missing might have triggered retaliation from someone who didn't want to be outed. The most likely possibility, it seems, was a suspected police drug task force scandal that could have brought down the entire department. If that's the case, there's a potential problem; some of her trusted friends were around back then. Is it possible they knew something, or worse, were in on it?

Still, Tracy perseveres, searching for and meeting up with some of the players mentioned in the meager police records of the task force's activities. Here and there, clues pop up to make her investigative nose start twitching, but there's nothing substantive that could lead to solving the case. Until there is; one big clue turns up in a California city - one that changes the intensity and course of the investigation as well as angers Tracy's boss and threatens a couple of long-standing friendships.

There's plenty of action throughout, although I did find the epilogue a bit abrupt as it brought an otherwise exciting story to a sort of "blah" end. Still, I'm already looking forward to the next installment - and I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Great series (start at the beginning and you won't be sorry), highly recommended!

What She Found by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, August 2022); 343 pp.

A DARK AND STORMY TEA

3 stars out of 5

This is a new-to-me series, although I'm not sure how I've managed to miss it since this is the 24th installment. But with a tea shop, a bookstore and murder involved, I couldn't pass up a chance to try a sample. The Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina, is owned by Theodosia Browning, capably assisted by tea sommelier Drayton and young chef Haley. Judging from the extensive food and drink selections at various times of day, it appears that the shop does a thriving business (and made me wonder how on earth Haley could produce such delicacies in such quantity and timeliness when she's basically all alone in the kitchen). But on the fateful stormy night when the story begins, Theodosia walks past a cemetery and, through no fault of her own, sees what she believes is a woman being murdered right before her fog-clouded eyes.

And she's right; turns out the victim is the daughter of the aforesaid bookstore owner just down the street. As the police - including Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley - begin their investigation, similarities to the work of a known serial killer who was active in the area some seven years earlier. An amateur sleuth, Theodosia is eager to do some investigating on her own, but she's cautioned against doing so by Pete and his police cohorts (as is customary in every cozy mystery I've ever read). And just as customarily, Theodosia ignores their warnings and sets out on her own. After all, you see, the victim, an intern at a local TV station, was the daughter of a friend, who asks for Theodosia's help.

To be sure, there's no shortage of suspects - ranging from a former boyfriend to a neighbor who's writing a true crime book to a big real estate developer who's intent on making his mostly unwelcome mark on the historic neighborhood. Theodosia convinces herself each one is the killer, searching for clues to bolster her suspicions at least till the real police find real evidence of their innocence. The requisite ditzy cozy heroine sidekick - the one who's usually obnoxious and headstrong - makes herself known a couple of times, but she doesn't have much of a role in this story. Neither does Theodosia's boyfriend Pete, actually; in fact, they don't seem to have much of a relationship (I'm new to this series, so I'll assume he is as well).

Of course, Theodosia's unauthorized poking around doesn't sit well with the killer, who would very much prefer to be left unidentified. And that, also of course, spells big trouble for Theodosia, "forcing" her to resort to all kinds of devious activities - and one that's downright illegal, which certainly doesn't sit well with me - to get what she's after. The trouble that ensues and how it all ends I can't reveal, but I can say that when it does end, foodies whose mouths watered over some of the scones and tea sandwiches mentioned liberally throughout the book will be delighted to find recipes and other tea-related resources. All in all, it's a fun story that's not too scary to read sitting alone in a big old house in front of a cozy (pun intended) fire. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy to read and review.

A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs (Berkley, August 2022); 316 pp.

STAY AWAKE

4 stars out of 5

It's "Groundhog Day" with a twist: Each time Liv Reese wakes up after falling asleep, she doesn't relive yesterday; instead, she totally forgets it - as well as the roughly 730 days that came before. The last thing she remembers, in fact, is being in her office at a big-time lifestyle magazine in New York City, planning to spend the night at home as usual with her doctor roommate, Amy. Anything she did, or anyone she interacted with over the past two years is gone.

When she wakes up in a taxi with no idea how or when she got in, she finds herself at the door of their brownstone. Problem is, Amy doesn't live here anymore - and according to the current resident, she hasn't for a couple of years. Totally confused, Liv searches her pocket for her cell phone, only to find a bloody knife. Then she sees that her hands are covered with ominous graffiti-like words and phrases like "Stay Awake."

There is, of course, a reason why the knife has blood on it. There's a reason why Amy no longer lives at the brownstone. There's even a reason for all those admonitions inked on Liv's hands. In fact, the only reason I can't figure out is why Liv is referred to by her full name just about every time she's mentioned throughout the book - that doesn't happen with the other characters. She's the only character named Liv, so surely readers will recognize her by her first name.

The constant switches in time frame and location is a little confusing as well, but the date-and-time subheads on each chapter makes that pretty easy (I admit to being guilty of not doing that, at least till I realize it's in my best interests to pay attention). Slowly, Liv realizes that it's her mind that's keeping her from seeing the big picture, but it's a medical issue she's virtually helpless to do anything about. Meantime, there are clues that she may be in danger - even if she can't avoid dozing off and forgets what they were when she wakes up.

One of her realizations is that she may be involved in a murder in a way she'd rather not admit - but a bloody message on the victim's window is, to her great dismay, the same as one of the messages on her hand. That she's a suspect is a thought shared by a couple of police officers assigned to investigate the murder. Maybe Liv is a murderer and maybe she's not, but a big question is how does she prove her innocence when she can't remember anything that would provide her with an alibi?

The whole thing is quite a thrill ride despite a bit of repetition (every time she wakes up, she has to relearn that her mind can't recall anything; readers, however, don't need quite so many reminders). The ending brought a couple of slight surprises that wrapped things up, and overall I'll give extra points for creativity and attention-holding writing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin (St. Martin's Press, August 2022); 345 pp.

PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN

5 stars out of 5

Sometimes, you just have to throw caution to the wind and go your own way, even if you have to override good judgment in the process. Such was the case with this book; the main character, art restorer and former Israeli intelligence chief Gabriel Allon sits at the top of my all-time favorite "hero" list. So when I got my hands on a copy of this latest book - No. 22 - I set aside my stack of for-review books despite their too-fast-approaching deadlines and went for it. And although Gabriel's journey isn't quite as nail-bitingly dangerous as many of the past installments with respect to his survival and that of his beautiful wife Ciara or any of the other characters I've come to know and love from previous books, the story was deliciously detailed as usual and solidified Gabriel's top-of-the-list standing.

As Gabriel and Ciara ready their home in Venice, where Gabriel will begin restoration work for his wife's company, his longtime friend and art dealer Julian Isherwood tells him a woman who sent him a letter asking to meet regarding an important painting never showed - with good reason; she's dead. More investigation suggests Julian may have bought and sold a fake painting; if true, it would discredit him and bring down his entire operation. Just for that reason alone, Gabriel wants to help; and he puts his monumental talents as a spy, art restorer and painter to work as he gathers those familiar friends to get down to business.

And for sure, the business that's going down isn't pretty; but it's quite lucrative for those who ply the forgery trade. In fact, the financial ramifications, particularly with regard to the provenance of a 17th-century masterpiece, runs into the millions. Getting to the truth means Gabriel and friends will need to insert themselves square in the middle of the action, weaving a net that's sure to snare the "bad guys" and save Julian's reputation. To be sure, it's a complex one, filled with knotholes and twists plus the usual rich and enticing descriptions of people, places and things that make this author's books a real treat to read. Of course, I can't reveal any of the fine points of the action (and fine points they are) without giving too much away, so I'll just say it's another one well done and I'm glad I made the time to read it. Kudos!

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2022); 446 pp.

LONG GONE

5 stars out of 5

Impressive is a word I'd use to describe this author after reading two of her books including the first in this series. This is the second, and my opinion hasn't changed a whit.

The star of the show is Chicago detective Annalisa Vega, who is great at detective work but in her personal life, not so much. When she learned that a couple of family members were involved in a murder - one of them her father, a former cop - she turned them in. No surprise, then, that most of her family members would just as soon not see her at Sunday dinner, and her fellow police officers think she's a snitch who should resign. On the plus side, he's still got support from her station chief and her ex-husband Nick Carelli, who has remained her work partner and friend.

As this story begins, Annalisa and Nick are called to a crime scene, where they find a very dead police officer and a very scared, but still very much alive, trophy wife. After a little digging, they determine that a rich guy who is suspected of murdering someone else but never charged did the deed this time as well. One potential problem? He's dating Annalisa's best friend, who refuses to believe he could possibly commit such a crime.

The ongoing investigation, much of which Annalisa (with a little help from Nick) is conducting on an unauthorized basis in part because of her connection to the suspect, heads for uncharted waters with the suggestion of a masked scuba diver, a bag full of money from an unknown source and what appears to be a systematic wipeout of a group known as the "Fantastic Four." Her reluctance to stand down not only angers her boss and threatens her job, but puts her square in the sights of someone, or several someones, who will do just about anything to get her to go away - alive or dead.

In short, it's another winner, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment of this entertaining series. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

Long Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen (Minotaur Books, August 2022); 296 pp.

BARK TO THE FUTURE

4 stars out of 5

There's something about a dog narrating a story that brings a smile to my face all by itself. When said doggie has a sense of humor and a really cool human private eye for an owner, well, it makes for a don't-miss series. I won't say this one is my favorite of the bunch - it's the 13th, FYI - but as always, it made for a very entertaining few hours of reading.

It begins in an unlikely place: a highway exit ramp, where Little Detective Agency owner Bernie Little and his "partner" Chet, the lovable aforementioned canine narrator, are stopped by a scraggly looking man. As it turns out, Bernie went to high school and played on the baseball team with the guy. Bernie's efforts to provide some financial help are rebuffed, but Bernie vows to find out what happened to the guy over the years. He doesn't turn up much helpful information, and worse, his old buddy suddenly does a disappearing act.

The only real "clue" is an item the missing man had that dates back to their high school days and a particular teacher. Problem is, it may not be a clue at all; so Bernie tracks down some people from his past and starts asking questions - much to the dismay of the people being questioned. Finding out what happened to his old friend, it turns out, is much harder than hitting one over the fence. And the more he swings and misses, the greater the chance he'll be yanked out of the game - permanently.

Good job all around, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Now I'm in the batter's box waiting for the next pitch!

Bark to the Future by Spencer Quinn (Forge Books, August 2022); 311 pp.

THE NEW NEIGHBOR

3.5 stars out of 5

My first thought when I finished this book? Thank goodness the story doesn't take place on a bigger cul-de-sac. If there'd been more neighbors to accuse, I don't think I could have made it to the end.

You see, CIA counterintelligence agent Beth Bradford has long been on the trail of a spy nicknamed "The Neighbor" - a person who has been recruited by an Iranian uber-spy solely for the purpose of recruiting others in and around the D.C. area (reminiscent of the popular TV show, "The Americans" starring Kerry Russell and Matthew Rhys). On a day-to-day basis, Beth lives a relatively normal life with her husband Mike; the last of their three children just took off for college and the empty-nesters are packing up to leave their beautiful but too-big home on a cul-de-sac near the Langley military facility where she works. Like Beth, at least one person in her half-dozen or so neighbors' families has ties to Langley operations, and they've all formed a close friendship over the years.

Until, that is, Beth's house is purchased by a youngish couple sight unseen, and clues turn up that suggest The Neighbor has ties to a cul-de-sac. Other clues lead Beth to suspect the wife may be the person she's been looking for - but out of the blue, she's unceremoniously yanked off the case and reassigned to another facility teaching new CIA recruits.

To say that doesn't sit well with Beth would be an understatement; instead of letting others take over "her" investigation, she begins a relentless obsession with proving herself right - even if she has to tromp on legal and ethical boundaries to do it (over and over again). Each time she finds a new target - the one who she's certain must be The Neighbor - her cycle of angst begins all over again, and her efforts to confirm her suspicions threatened to cross the line into silly. Very soon, I grew weary - especially since fairly early on I'd pretty much figured out one "twist" and had a pretty strong feeling about another (I was right on both counts).

Those issues, though, didn't keep me from being just as eager as Beth to unearth the truth - keeping me glued to the pages all the way to an end that's far more complex than either of us could have imagined. Overall, it's a fast-paced story that was fun to read - one I think many readers will very much enjoy. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy.

The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland (Ballantine Books, July 2022); 295 pp.