DREAM TOWN

5 stars out of 5

Reading a new book in a series you've been following for at least three or four installments is sort of like getting glimpses into the life of old friends. And that's exactly what it should be, IMHO; you want the continuity of familiarity tinged with a few surprises - none of them, in the case of the mystery/thriller genre, life threatening to the characters you've come to know and love (or even, in some cases, dislike intensely).

Such is the case with Los Angeles Sheriff's Department detective Eve Ronin and her near-retirement partner, Duncan Pavone (this is the fifth book in the series; for those who missed the earlier editions, it stands alone fairly well, but as always, I suggest starting to read any series from the beginning, or as close to that as possible). The setting here is mostly in the uber-rich area of Hidden Hills in Los Angeles County - no doubt gorgeous, although nothing much about the place has much appeal to a Midwestern-through-and-through gal like me. 

Eve's life has remained pretty much a mess, although she does have a fairly steady man in her life and is at least on speaking terms with her mother and father (both of which, though, could change at any given moment). Her much-publicized detective skills are being documented in a reality TV show, much to her chagrin (though in fairness, she agreed to let it happen). Her mostly estranged father is producing it, with her mother in a prominent role. But for her part, Eve tries to keep her distance.

Crime, though, still gets her attention; this time, the star of another popular reality show filmed in Hidden Hills becomes a murder victim in the family complex. Exterior cameras catch sight of masked mauraders leaving the scene - suspected to be members of a local Chilean gang. Meanwhile, Eve's main squeeze, forensic anthropologist Daniel Brooks, is engaged in finding and identifying bodies buried on a preserve not far from Hidden Hills. These, too, may be gang members - or not and may be related to the reality star's demise - or not.

Surprise - all these scenarios get visited and revisited as the connections among them become evident; it isn't till near the end that the truth - which, oddly also is interconnected - sort of smacks Eve right between the camera angles. All in all, another totally enjoyable read - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to learn that by way of a pre-release copy. Good job as always!

Dream Town by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, January 2024); 300 pp.

THE HEIRESS

5 stars out of 5

Well wow! I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this book, but it wasn't that I'd be blown away. That was especially true at the beginning, when I learned that chapters shift all over the place - from time frames to characters to scenarios - which usually annoys the heck out of me. But for whatever reason - I'll chalk it up to the author's adept writing - it's the perfect format for telling this story. 

It begins with Camden McTavish and his wife of 10 years, Jules, both of whom come from less-than-ideal backgrounds and no longer claim families to go home to. Camden's, though, left a bit more when he left North Carolina: his adopted mother, Ruby, left her mind-blowing fortune, including the mansion in which she and assorted other family members lived, to him and him alone. But largely because of the way she and the others treated "outsider" Camden, he couldn't wait to get away - leaving that fortune behind.

But then, an uncle dies; and against his better judgment, Camden agrees to a plea to return home - which he expects is just a ploy to get him to divvy up the family fortune. His plan? Go, play nice (or not) and get himself and Jules back to their life in Colorado, where he teaches English. Jules has a different goal; she's hoping to convince him to at least take the money before he runs. But after she sees the mansion, she wants him to take the money and stay.

They both learn early on, however, that some things never change; Cam's family is even more disgusting than Jules thought and Cam remembered. Ruby herself had a rather colorful background, starting with her kidnapping at the tender age of three. Her grown-up life fell under suspicion as well; married four times to husbands who died under somewhat suspicious circumstances, she lived her life amid people (both townspeople and relatives) who were sure she had a hand in their demises. Even Cam, who enjoyed Ruby's protection from the rest of the family, isn't convinced of her innocence.

Even with all that, the plot gets thicker the longer Cam and Jules stay in the mansion. And those aforementioned shifting chapters shed even more light - especially the series of letters from Ruby - on what happened and what may happen next, all laced with surprises right up to the bitter[sweet] end that I almost didn't want to happen because I wasn't ready to put down the book. But put it down I must, and now I'll have to be content to thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. The word I started with says it all: Wow!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins (St. Martin's Press, January 2024); 281 pp.

DEATH WRITES

4 stars out of 5

I've missed only a couple of books in this series - this is the sixth - and more's the pity. Those I did read, this one included, I've thoroughly enjoyed. Mind you, to my mind they're far closer to fitting into the "cozy" category than "thriller," but that's fine with me; sometimes, I'd rather not be overwhelmed with blood, guts and concern that the main character won't make it to the end of the book.

Benedicta O'Keeffe, affectionately called Ben, is a level-headed solicitor in Glendara, Ireland, who sometimes gets caught up in illicit activities. And it's a little refreshing to see that her boyfriend Tom Molloy, a police sergeant, doesn't poo-poo her input nor threaten to hog tie her if she finds herself in the middle of an investigation yet again.

And of course, such is the case here, when things begin with her concern that her parents may have fallen victim to a scammer; Molloy, concerned as well, offers to do what he can to help, bless his heart - and the immediate result is that they agreed to come stay with Ben while things get sorted out. Meanwhile, the townspeople are gearing up for Glenfest, a literary event, and everyone's excited that the notoriously recluse author Gavin Featherstone will be the star of the show. Things roll along swimmingly until his presentation - insights into his soon-to-be-published memoir - a presentation that ends up falling flat. Soon thereafter, Ben learns that her office is the keeper of Featherstone's Last Will and Testament, a document drawn up by her predecessor.

Mostly estranged from his wife and children, Featherstone lived with a young male assistant. All well and good, perhaps, but the inheritance issue takes on more significance when it's learned that the author's death was not an accident. Until the killer is identified, everything is on hold; after all, a murderer is prohibited from receiving money or valuables from the person he or she willingly caused to die. And for sure, several of the potential beneficiaries are on the suspect list.

For the most part, the murder investigation and happenings with Ben's parents' situation move along slowly (though not nearly as slowly as Ben and Tom's relationship); clues are revealed here and there right up to the end, when both situations are resolved after some surprising information comes to light. Also of interest is a twist in that aforementioned relationship - one that, I'm sure, will play out in the next installment. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it - and thanking the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to catch a pre-release copy of this one to read and review.

Death Writes by Andrea Carter (Oceanview Publishing, December 2023); 336 pp.

BROADCAST BLUES

5 stars out of 5

Having read four other books in this series - this is the sixth - I almost feel like New York's Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson is an old friend. It helps, I suppose, that many of my working years were in journalism also, albeit print and not broadcast. Despite her sometimes (make that frequent) abrasive manner, I've worked with a few who probably could eat her for lunch.

When private eye Wendy Kyle gets blown up along with her car, Clare smells a big story. Wendy, it seems, specialized in nailing cheating husbands and made a comfortable living plying her trade. Clare needs that big story because she's always at odds with her boss, the station is about to get new owners, her daughter Emily is in the midst of a personal crisis and - horror of horrors - she's about to turn 50 years old. Could the situation be any more dire?

The dead woman once was an NYPD officer, but run-ins with the powers-that-be forced her to quit. After a little digging, Clare finds a connection to a mega-wealthy billionaire who has a woman in every port, so to speak - and then to an up-and-coming politician who has ties to the NYPD but an up-to-now squeaky clean image. Clare's investigation brings her in contact with former husbands - she's had three so far - and sends her down some paths that twist and turn and lead nowhere but are intriguing to explore and others that are a clear and present danger.

The ending - which seemed a little out of character (and of which I'm not a huge fan, BTW) - could lead to an interesting next installment - and for sure, I'm looking forward to it. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done once again!

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky (Oceanview Publishing, January 2024); 340 pp.

THE MYSTERY GUEST

5 stars out of 5

When I first met hotel maid Molly Gray in the first book of the series (appropriately titled "The Maid"), her quirks drove me right up a wall. Still, I loved the book - and inexplicably, Molly; so much so that I was eager to get my hands on the next installment. Molly's quirkiness didn't seem quite as over the top as before (or maybe I've just become accustomed to her idiosyncracies), and I enjoyed this one thoroughly as well.

Molly, it seems, is perfectly suited for work as a maid; thanks in part to coaching by her late grandmother, who also worked as a maid, she never settles for anything less than perfection to please guests at the Regency Grand Hotel where she works. In fact, she's now Head Maid; and it was she who wrote the job handbook for all the other maids to follow (to the letter, if Molly has any say in the matter; she brings OCD to a whole new level).

After a harrowing involvement in a murder in the first book, Molly got a promotion and is, inasmuch as she's capable of, happy with the way her life is going. She's got a live-in significant other, and although she misses her Gran terribly, she's learning to cope on her own by, in part, relying on memories of happier days. As this one begins, the hotel - under Molly's watchful eye - is preparing for a visit by renowned mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe. Just as he takes the podium to make a big announcement, though, he topples over - never to write another word. Needless to say, it's almost a given that a butler did it - or in this case, a maid. This time, the maid under scrutiny isn't Molly, but Lily, her shy maid-in-training. And once again, Molly must deal with NYPD's Detective Stark, with whom she had a serious run-in in the first book. 

Little by little, surprising clues turn up - some by way of chapters that revert to Molly's younger years - until, of course, the culprit is revealed. There's even a surprise at the end that brings to light new possibilities for Molly in the next installment. I'll be waiting - and while I do I'll say thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for letting me read and review a pre-release copy of this one. A fun series!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose (Ballantine Books, November 2023); 277 pp.

MANNER OF DEATH

4 stars out of 5

Medical thrillers top the interest list for me, even ahead of the legal thrillers that are perhaps more common. So to be sure, this author's work is not unfamiliar to me. In fact, I've read one other in this series, but I was nonetheless surprised to learn that this is the 14th. It stands alone well, but of course I always advise starting any series at the beginning when possible. The featured characters are Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton, married physicians at the New York Medical Examiner's Office (Laurie, in fact, is the chief ME), though her first love is doing the actual hands-on tasks rather than administrative chores.

Pathology residents routinely pass through the office, required to spend a month or so observing, and helping to perform, autopsies on the many bodies that pass through each day. One of the new residents, Ryan Sullivan, presents a bit of a dilemma; he absolutely loathes even being in the autopsy room - it upsets him so much that he'll try just about anything to get out of being there. In the process of trying to skirt the issue, he learns of a couple of instances in which the declarations of suicide - made both by the medical legal investigators, who make the initial prognoses, and the MEs was questionable, even though all were based on solid evidence. As it turns out, a previous resident also started to follow up on those cases but was murdered before she shared any conclusions from her investigations.

Ryan, though, is so hot to trot out of the autopsy room that he manages to get approval from his direct supervisor to take a few days for research - and no surprise, he finds another handful of cases in which the suicide/homicide decision could have gone either way with both the MLIs and MEs having niggling doubts but, for lack of conclusive evidence, went with suicide. Were any of those cases "staged" by a killer who was successful in covering up a murder? If so, how was it done? Why and by whom?

Those are questions that Ryan must deal with as his own investigation picks up steam; readers follow along while learning early on the answers to at least two of those questions. Sandwiched in between is quite a bit of "filler" into the private lives of the main characters (even if it was interesting, which it was, it was a little too much for my liking). Interesting to me was the frequent praise for the role of the medical legal investigators - a profession I must admit I'd never even heard of before. The ending brought a little surprise, but one I think will please most followers of the series. That includes me, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Meanwhile, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Manner of Death by Robin Cook (G.P. Putnam's Sons, December 2023); 346 pp.

MURDER CHECKS OUT

4 stars

Many times, I've gone on record as not being a wholehearted fan of cozy mysteries - mostly because the heroines therein tend to be airheads, stubbornly pushing their way into murder investigations even after they've been told by authorities to butt out. Still, cozies do play a role in my life by offering much-needed relief after reading a string of knock-down, drag-out, shoot-'em-up (and worse) thrillers. And I don't recall the last time I read an actual book instead of on one of my e-readers, I'm a huge supporter of libraries and all the wonderful things that happen in them. So when I saw that this book has a bookish focus - and I'd read and enjoyed an earlier book in a different series by the author - well, reading it was kind of a no-brainer. It's the eighth in this series and my first, so I hoped that late start wouldn't put me at a disadvantage; for the record, it did not.

The star of this show is Amy Muir, co-director of the Taylorsford Pubic Library with her friend Sunny. Job-sharing allows Amy to better care for twins Nicky and Ella, whom she shares with her professional dancer/choreographer husband Richard. As the story begins, Richard and his professional partner are in charge of the upcoming community theater production of "The Nutcracker," in which the 5-year-old twins have roles. The couple also awaits a visit from Richard's mother, who isn't, shall we say, the most lovable person on earth (but she adores the twins and they her).

The chairwoman of the overall holiday festival in town also is not much beloved, since she heads up a company that's running roughshod over property owners with the intent of building upscale development projects. But when she's found dead by the hand of someone else, one of the suspects turns out to be Amy's brother, Ethan, who lives with his husband Scott and oversees the town's volunteer fire department. When Ethan suddenly goes missing, he suddenly becomes law enforcement's primary target.

Amy, understandably, is certain her brother is innocent - and in between shuffling the twins to rehearsals and from babysitters to babysitter, working and prepping for what is expected to be a stressful MIL visit, she sets out to prove it. Accomplishing that, she says, will require her to put to put all her "research skills" to the test - though honestly, based on what I read, said skills seemed to be limited to Google searches that most seventh-graders could do. Overall, though, Amy is a likeable, competent person; and while there's very little dangerous action going on - the bulk of the story is about the daily comings and goings of her and her family interspersed with a few hints as to who the culprit might be - I really enjoyed the reading experience. No blood, no guts here - the most "rugged" parts were the times Amy got annoyed enough to swear (well, just in her head a couple of times till she finally let one actually get past her lips). There's a titch of danger near the finish line, when everything comes together to usher in an "all's right with the world" ending.  

All told, it's a perfect book to read, especially over the holiday season (a gift, perhaps, for someone one your list? I'm sure they'd love it too). As for me, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to sample a series I'm now looking forward to reading more of. Well done!

Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert (Crooked Lane Books, November 2023); 262 pp.

TOM CLANCY COMMAND AND CONTROL

5 stars out of 5

Every single time I start one of these books, I say the same thing to myself: Self, you'll never be able to keep all the characters and storylines straight. And you know what? A few chapters into it, and I'm really into it - you know what I mean? The same thing happened here, with an added thought that I'm in awe of any writer who is able to even conceive of such complex concepts, much less weave them together so well. I'm sorry to learn that this is the last in the series he'll be penning.

Central to the plot this time out is Panama, where President Rafael Botero has asked his old friend, U.S. President Jack Ryan, to make an unscheduled visit to boost his image during a time of growing unrest. On the other sides of the equation are Botero's enemies (who at best want him deposed and at worst dead) and the Russians, who would love to swoop in and save the day.

In the midst of that, though, is another angle; a mission by members of the Campus, a secretive elite group that includes President Ryan's son, Jack Jr., took out a formidable murderer who, it turns out, has a sister who is even more lethal. Not happy with losing her brother, she sets out to get rid of the person who ordered his killing - none other than Ryan's Director of National Intelligence, Mary Pat Foley (and just for good measure, her elderly husband). 

Both situations heat up fast with a coup d'etat in Panama that quickly threatens President Ryan and his small protective entourage. It extends to Mary Pat, who entered the country with her President but took off in another direction, and to Jack Jr.'s group, which seems to have garnered attention from some very nasty people all on their own. Of course, I can't offer more details except to say that they're all juicy. All told, another one well done, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

Tom Clancy Command and Control by Marc Cameron (G.P. Putnam's Sons, November 2023); 462 pp.

THE WATCHMAKER'S HAND

4.5 stars out of 5

One of the most daunting aspects of writing books in a series, it seems to me, is that the characters tend to become like old friends to readers - which is great, of course - but also readers who come to expect that each new installment will be at least as good - perhaps even better - than the last. To be sure, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this, the 16th featuring consulting forensic scientist Lincoln Rhymes and his now wife, NYPD detective Amelia Sachs. And make no mistake: it is very good - I stayed up 45 minutes past my bedtime to finish it, for gosh sake. But the abundance of technical "stuff" was a bit overwhelming, and for whatever reason, I didn't feel as much of a "connection" between Lincoln and Amelia this time out.

That technical part centers around construction cranes and the horrifying repercussions when they go beserk. Now I'm very familiar (or so I thought) with cranes, but it became clear early on that I had no idea what a "tower crane" is (I finally opted for a search engine to see what they look like, and yes, I've seen them). Neither Lincoln nor Amelia seemed to have their hearts into their relationship (even Thom Reston, caregiver of Lincoln, a paraplegic, lacked his usually spicy banter with Lincoln). On the other hand, the story did bring back a couple of unsavory nemeses from past books as well as actions/interactions of much-liked colleagues like Lincoln's former partner Lon Sellitto and colleague Ron Pulaski.

This one begins as a tower crane at a project in downtown Manhattan inexplicably becomes unstable, dropping 36,000 pounds of 6 foot by 4 foot flange beams and counterweights that, thanks to quick actions by the operator, kill just one human and injure only a handful. Shortly thereafter comes a demand from the perpetrator that promises a drop of even bigger proportions if that demand is not met within 24 hours. At that point, of course, the clock starts ticking (heads up, longtime fans) and Lincoln and Amelia switch to action mode.

From that point on, the action is pretty much nonstop; needless to say, the goings-on put just about everyone in danger and few events are what they seem to be. It puts all of Lincoln's vast knowledge to the test, tests the resilience of everyone on the team showed me that I'm able to sit on the edge of my seat a lot longer than I'd have predicted. All told, another good one - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

The Watchmaker's Hand by Jeffery Deaver (G.P. Putnam's Sons, November 2023); 427 pp.

INHERITANCE

4 stars out of 5

Reading any book by one of my favorite authors is always a treat - and both can be said of this one. Still, I have a few reservations - most notably to become aware of an inevitable event and then having to wait till the end - and wading through pages and pages and pages of "stuff" that was interesting and fun and well-written but not all that relevant to said event - for it to actually happen. On the plus side, though, it did boost my anticipation for the next book in this, the first in the author's "Lost Bride" trilogy.

After she's barely recovered from a gobsmacking personal setback, Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer, is visited by an attorney who gobsmacks her once again with news that she's got an uncle she never knew she had. Actually, that's because her father never knew it, either - he was a twin, no less. Now deceased, that twin has left Sonya much of his personal estate, which includes a huge Victorian house in Poole's Bay overlooking a Maine coast. If she claims it as her own, though, she must agree to inhabit the premises for a minimum of three years. In large part curious as to why her father and his twin were separated at birth - a factoid Sonya's mother would like to know as well - she decides to have a looksee. After all, the house itself is a bit of a curiosity, known to the locals as Lost Bride Manor because of a history of just-wed grooms whose new wives never made it much beyond their "I dos" (starting with one named Astrid).

Oh, and did I mention the house is haunted? As things start to go bump in the night and day, Sonya becomes a believer - attested to by the hunky, marriage-eligible young attorney who's familiar with the house and shows her around. I was a little more skeptical; it was a little hard for me to believe the "spontaneous" eruptions of perfect-for-the-occasion musical numbers blasted from Sonya's computer and harder still to accept the mysterious whole-meal clean-ups that happened during the 15 minutes everyone was gone from the kitchen.

Meantime, Sonya and her best friend Cleo Fabares, who plans to move into the multi-room manor, spend a lot of time inspecting all the rooms, nooks and crannies - finding reminders of those who once lived there (and with them, clues to days gone by) and figuring out how all those weighty objects can be relocated to lived-in parts of the house. In the process, Sonya, at least, manages to land graphic design clients hand over fist - everything she touches, it seems, turns to gold - and she gradually begins to trust most of the "ghosts" and wants to find out why they haven't yet left the building. As might be expected, though, not all the ghosts are the friendly variety; at least one initiates all sorts of bad vibes and experiences that test Sonya's will to continue living there.

Meantime, interspersed chapters give readers a look at the fates of those foregone brides, adding important background. But by the end, both Sonya and Cleo have decided to stick it out - in no small measure because love tends to conquer fear (or at least cancel it out for a time). The actual end, which came as no surprise to me, is a big cliffhanger that no doubt will be the opening chapters in the next installment, which I'm hoping comes soon. Before that happens, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get in at the beginning of this intriguing series by way of a pre-release copy.

Inheritance by Nora Roberts (St. Martin's Press, November 2023); 448 pp.