THE BODY AND THE BLOOD - Michael Lister

First line: "'How much does prison change a man?'"

John Jordan is the prison chaplain in Florida's Potter Correctional Institution and he's recently discovered that his ex-wife isn't actually his ex-wife. The papers for their divorce years ago were never finalized and they are in fact still married. A situation that has caused the couple to give their marriage another try. They're older, wiser and maybe they can get it right this time. The Jordans' reconciliation makes John's life a bit easier when he finds himself investigating a puzzling inmate murder with his father-in-law, Tom Daniels. While they are standing in the Protective Management wing observing the Catholic Mass, a man locked in his cell in that wing is murdered. There is no evidence of anyone entering or leaving. Neither John nor Tom saw anything, yet the man is dead in his cell and most definitely murdered. The suspects begin to mount as John tries to navigate the investigation, his faith, and the reconciliation with his wife.

THE BODY AND THE BLOOD is Michael Lister's fourth book in the John Jordan Mystery series. His protagonist puts a unique spin on the investigator role and Lister adds the dimension of Jordan's faith to the dynamics. His faith, however, shouldn't be confused with religion. Jordan's faith has to do with his overreaching belief in himself, what is right and good, his relationship with others and his spiritual balance. The Jordan novels have never been preachy and THE BODY AND THE BLOOD follows suit. Instead, they focus on the human-ness of the protagonist and the complexity of the plots.

Lister's own experience as a prison chaplain lends to the authenticity of the setting as well as the characters. THE BODY AND THE BLOOD is narrated by Jordan so the reader sees the inmates as Jordan sees them. Jordan's best friend, Merrill Monroe also features prominently in THE BODY AND THE BLOOD. A correctional officer in the same prison, Merrill assists Jordan's investigation. Merrill is a black man who puts stereotypes through the wringer by using them to his advantage or just as easily shattering all notions of them. He mocks the very ignorance that feeds the stereotype. That's Lister's style of character development: examining the man from inside out.

Merrill also provides a good deal of the humor in this series. The dialogue is clean and Merrill's is peppered with sarcasm and wit.

The plot of THE BODY AND THE BLOOD is probably among Lister's strongest. There are suspects galore. Lister doles out clues and the reader will recognize that they are clues but he's equally as generous with his red herrings. And the clues often lead the reader in a direction other than the solution. Reading this book is akin to looking at an Escher piece. It works, but how?

The BODY AND THE BLOOD is another great effort from Micheal Lister in the John Jordan Mystery series. This is a series I look forward to and Lister continues to deliver.

THE BODY AND THE BLOOD is available in hardcover from Five Star Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-59414-893-4). 

Technorati Tags: Michael Lister, crime fiction, book review

ONE MAN'S PARADISE - Douglas Corleone

First Line: "They pawed at each other against the black backdrop of night, the restless Pacific waters purring at their feet."

New York attorney Kevin Corvelli made a mess of a high profile murder case that landed his client in jail. Amidst the humiliation of the loss, Kevin receives a phone call informing him the client was killed. And if things couldn't get any worse, his innocence is unveiled after he is killed. Kevin cared more about how he looked on camera than whether or not his client had actually been guilty, but the trauma of the case and the negative publicity send Kevin reeling all the way to Hawaii. He's looking to escape and start new, but he vows no more felony cases, no more high-profile cases. And he's certain he's found just the place he can keep his head down and make enough money to get by: sharing an office with Jake Harper. It was the perfect place, that is, until Jake Harper snowballed Kevin into the high-profile murder case, defending law student Joseph Gianforte. And that's only the beginning of the surprises for Kevin Corvelli. Welcome to Hawaii, Kevin.

ONE MAN'S PARADISE is Douglas Corleone's debut novel and he has a winner out of the gate. ONE MAN'S PARADISE is filled with eclectic characters, witty dialogue, and unexpected events in the Hawaiian Islands. Corleone sprinkles Hawaiian terms throughout the novel to augment the setting. But that also works to reinforce the protagonist's acclimation to his new home.

Corleone does an exceptional job of creating a cocky young man deeply scarred by his previous experience. Kevin doesn't become a cowering chicken, afraid of his own shadow. He retains a lot of his aggressive nature and attitude, but now he's a bit more gun shy, a little less sure of himself, and completely believable.

The supporting characters in this novel are superb. I enjoyed Jake but absolutely loved Flan, Kevin's unlicensed investigator. Flan is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of character. His rough edges make him an endearing sort. Also adding richness to the plot are Kevin's other clients, the gang members.

Corleone opted to narrate ONE MAN'S PARADISE in first person present. While some are critical of this point of view, Corleone uses it well and to his advantage with the suspense.

Corleone's humor is the final layer of fun in ONE MAN'S PARADISE. Since the narrative is told in Kevin's voice he's expressing disbelief at a new culture, he's mocking himself, he's noticing the absurd in everyday life. A scene I found especially entertaining was Kevin's efforts to kayak for the first time. It wasn't quite what he expected:

"In the midst of my great struggle, I am passed by a giant native sea turtle, half the size of my kayak, gliding effortlessly toward the Mokulua isles. I remember seeing a sign somewhere prohibiting riding these animals, and only now can I see how the temptation can arise."

ONE MAN'S PARADISE won the MWA/Minotaur Books First Crime Novel Award and it was certainly deserving. This is an entertaining debut to what I hope will be a great new series in crime fiction.

ONE MAN'S PARADISE is available from St. Martin's Minotaur in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-312-61158-3).

Technorati Tags: Douglas Corleone, legal crime fiction, book review

Dead or Alive

Bouchercon 2010 is quickly approaching and this year I will be moderating a panel. OH. MY. GOD! The title of the panel is "Dead or Alive" and it will be held at 11:30 on Thursday morning. So, I hope if you are attending the Bouchercon by the Bay this year, you'll come lend some moral support. I'm equal parts excited and nervous.  I'm also going to need a volunteer to sit front and center and get the pictures to prove this event actually happens!

I have quite a bit to be excited about since my panel of authors is simply magnificent. I'm supposed to sit up there with them and act professional when what I'll really want to do is go all fan girl. But, I have been practicing my professional behavior and I think I can do this. ;-) I thought I'd share a little about them with you today.

People keep telling me that as the moderator I'm in charge. Can someone make sure they tell Brad Parks this? I'm just kidding. I'm thrilled to pieces to have the author of FACES OF THE GONE as part of the panel. A former journalist, Brad released his debut novel in 2009 and the sequel is due on bookshelves in early 2011. Brad is smart and funny. He's an exceptionally talented writer AND singer. I don't think we'll be doing any stage shows during this panel, but you never can tell. FACES OF THE GONE is also a Shamus Award nominee this year. We'll learn the outcome of those awards Friday night.

It's hard to read this blog and not know I think Hilary Davidson is amazingly talented. So, to say I'm over the moon that she is also on the "Dead or Alive" panel is no exaggeration at all. Hilary's fiction debut, THE DAMAGE DONE, is on bookstore shelves tomorrow! But of course she's been writing freelance, travel writing, short fiction, and gluten-free information for some time. Hilary will shed some light on the female writer/female protagonist vantage point for the panel.

Douglas Corleone is also a debut author this year. His novel, ONE MAN'S PARADISE, won the MWA/Minotaur First Crime Novel Award this year. You'll be hearing more about that book here when I catch up on my reviews! In the mean time, though, Doug is a former lawyer from New York, now living in Hawaii writing about a lawyer. If Doug is as humorous in person as he is in his writing, we're going to have to put he and Brad at separate ends of the table. They will most definitely find trouble if they're together.

And my final panelist is R.J. (Roger) Ellory. If you caught last week's audio book review of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, you know how amazing I think Roger's writing is. You'll be hearing a lot more about his books here in the future. I picked up a couple of his books as soon as I knew he would be on my panel and I will be forever grateful that he was included in the "Dead or Alive" panel. I am now addicted to Ellory's work. Roger is our veteran crime fiction author. The people in the U.K. may be a tad bit more aware of how wonderful he is, but we're going to work on fixing that on this side of the pond, o.k? His books are standalones and most definitely blow genre definition to smithereens. They don't fit neatly into any one package. There's crime going on, so he qualifies to be on our panel and that's all that's important.

This is such an eclectic group and I'm so excited about that. I think it is going to make for great discussion. So, as I said, I hope you'll join the fun if you're attending Bouchercon. The more the merrier. Come help me celebrate four wonderfully talented writers.  

Audiobook Thursday: A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS

First line: "Sound of gunshots, like bones snapping."

Joseph Vaughan is a young boy growing up in rural Georgia. Joseph is smart and articulate and sets his sights on writing at a young age. There are rumblings of war in Europe as the continent heads toward World War II. But in Augusta Falls, Georgia, a different evil is brewing. Someone is murdering and mutilating young girls. Young Joseph and his small group of friends decide they are going to protect the girls of Augusta Falls and they form "The Guardians." Despite their well-intentioned efforts, the murders continue and by the time Joseph reaches adulthood, ten girls have been murdered. The mystery haunts Joseph and follows him like a black cloud raining down on his life. Joseph will never be free until he finds the monster who is responsible for all the destruction.

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS is a stunning novel. The language is pure poetry, bringing characters and setting to life and plopping the reader right down in the middle of it all. R.J. Ellory creates a tone that mimics the slow country life of 1940s rural Georgia. Joseph Vaughan narrates his story, allowing the reader to feel every fear, every disappointment, every struggle, every joy. There is humor in the growing pains and awkwardness of a young boy. There is heartbreak from loss, rage at bias. A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS is simply not a book that can be passively experienced.

Aside from Joseph Vaughan, the rich array of characters add color and depth to the novel, each integral to the plot and to Joseph's life. Ellory breathes life into the characters through sharp dialogue, complex relationships, and through the use of a young, passionate boy's perspective.

The plot is an amazing sequence of events that for the most part, take place chronologically. But peppered in along the way are flashes to the future, foreshadowing the darkness still to come. I was certain I had outsmarted Ellory and figured out the puzzle before the conclusion. But it was Ellory who outsmarted me in the end. He even made me laugh in the midst of tragedy.

I love the characters and the plot of this novel. I love the eerie atmosphere and the slow pacing. But above all, I love the language:

"Rumor, hearsay, folklore. Whichever way it laid down to rest or came up for air, rumor had it that a white feather indicated the visitation of an angel.

Morning of Wednesday, July twelfth, 1939, I saw one; long and slender it was, unlike any kind of feather I'd seen before. It skirted the edge of the door as I opened it, almost as if it had waited patiently to enter, and the draft from the hallway carried it into my room. I picked it up, held it carefully, and then showed it to my mother. She said it was from a pillow. I thought about that for quite some time. Made sense that pillows were stuffed with angels' feathers. That's where dreams came from - the memories of angels seeping into your head while you slept."

When you combine all of these elements from the writing and partner them with Mark Bramhall narrating, you will think you are among angels. His interpretation of this work is spot on. His grizzly sound seems as though it was made specifically for this role. He doesn't miss a beat with the subtle humor, the array of dialects or the range of emotion. He doesn't try to adjust his voice to fit female roles, instead he identifies with the characters and their qualities. That creates a more life-like effect than a false, high pitch. Listening to this audiobook, I simply felt the story wrap itself around me, insulating me from the outside world. I was transported to Augusta Falls, to Joseph Vaughan's life and time. And the experience was one of the best audiobook experiences I've had. I can't recommend it highly enough.

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS was recorded on audio by Blackstone Audio (ISBN: 978-1441722423), in hardcover from Overlook (ISBN: 978-1590202500) and in trade paper also from Overlook (ISBN: 978-1590203385).

Technorati Tags: R.J. Ellory, audiobook, crime fiction, review

I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE - Laura Lippman

First sentence: "'Iso, time for - ' Eliza Benedict paused at the foot of the stairs."

Eliza Benedict is living a normal, middle-class life with her husband and two daughters. The Benedicts have returned to the United States after living in England, and out of the blue a letter arrives for Eliza jolting her from her happy, normal life. As a teenager, Eliza - Elizabeth - was kidnapped by a man who raped and murdered numerous other girls. But the rapist didn't kill Eliza and eventually she was rescued. The letter that arrives is from the rapist who is in prison awaiting the death penalty. Through his communications, he weasels his way back into Eliza's life and the memories of that time resurface for Eliza, making her face them all over again.

The plot of I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is absolutely fascinating. The characters are as integral to making this plot work as the events are. Eliza has a submissive personality. Even as an adult she exhibits very submissive behaviors. She tries at times to exert a bit of independence, but that doesn't come naturally for her. Had she been a more dominant personality, the whole chemistry of the "relationship" between captor and captive would have been obliterated. And while there are times you want to scream at her to run away, to tell someone she's a victim, to leave a message, that wouldn't at all fit with her character. Had she fought back even in the slightest, Walter, her kidnapper, would have killed her. It's the chemistry between these two characters that feeds the events of the plot. And that symbiotic relationship between plot and characters makes the overall effect of the novel so much more disturbing.

Walter, as the antagonist in this story, creates an even greater level of complexity. He's desperately searching for love and affection, which is a bit contrary to the typical views of rape. While he is trying to control his environment, his ultimate goal is to convince these kidnapped girls, who he views as "his type," to love him. While there is a definite and obvious sickness to this mentality, there's also a sympathetic element to it. 

Lippman accents the book with section titles corresponding to song titles from the 80s. The titles emphasize not only the time period and the culture, but also the idea of dysfunctional love.

An element of the novel that takes more of a back seat to the main plot is the idea of capital punishment. Walter is awaiting his execution; Barbara is a passionate advocate for Walter, trying to get the death penalty removed from his sentence. On the other side of the coin is Trudy, the mother of one of Walter's victims. Trudy feels that her daughter will not have justice until Walter is executed, and she will do anything she needs to in order to make sure the sentence is carried out, including threaten Eliza's family when she thinks Eliza is plotting to help Walter. Lippman presents this explosive issue in all of its dimension, not as a flat right or wrong situation.

I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is a dark, hauntingly thought-provoking novel. It challenged me as a reader to see through the eyes of characters I wouldn't normally identify with; forcing me to look beyond how I would act and feel. That's an uncomfortable experience, but one I believe helps a reader to grow. I highly recommend Laura Lippman's I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE.

My review is part of the TLC Book Blog Tour for I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE. You can find a listing of other reviews of the novel at their site here. I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is available from William Morrow in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-06-170655-4) and also as an unabridged audiobook (ISBN: 978-0-06-198848-6).

Technorati Tags: Laura Lippman; book review; crime fiction

A Noir Education - Hilary Davidson

I am absolutely thrilled to have Hilary Davidson guest blogging today and talking about her debut novel THE DAMAGE DONE. If you missed it, I reviewed THE DAMAGE DONE last week and it will be available next Tuesday. Hilary has written in many different formats throughout her career. She's worked as a copy editor, a freelance writer; she's been a restaurant reviewer and a travel writer. Hilary is also responsible for the Gluten-Free Guidebook, a website dedicated to helping people find gluten-free places to eat all over the world.

In 2006 she decided to try something she'd always wanted to do...write fiction. And boy did she prove she could do it. Ever since, Hilary has been writing amazing short stories, forcing folks to take notice. Now she is set to release her first novel.

My friend, Pop Culture Nerd, talks about people deserving of being shoved down the stairs. These are people who are blessed in too many ways to be real. Well Hilary is talented, funny, beautiful and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Plus, she's been able to travel all over the world! I think she qualifies for that category! But I know that Hilary's real - next week I'll get to meet her and prove it - and I couldn't be happier for her success.

I am very honored to host her today. She's written a beautiful piece to share here about her grandmother and her grandmother's influence on THE DAMAGE DONE. Please help me in welcoming Hilary Davidson to Jen's Book Thoughts. And everyone mark this day because I know in my heart of hearts we're all going to be looking back in a few years saying, "I knew Hilary when she first started out. And now she's taking over the book world."

Here's Hilary with A NOIR EDUCATION

It’s 8 days until my first novel, THE DAMAGE DONE, comes out, and I’m thrilled to kick off my blog tour at Jen’s Book Thoughts. It’s a bit like a homecoming, since Jen started telling people about me early on. Just after Forge bought my book last year, Jen e-mailed, asking if I would take part in her famous Six-Word Memoir series. After I recovered from my shock, this is how I summed myself up:

Thought small sins pointless. Dreamed big.

I wondered whether Jen might decide I was too crazy to be mentioned on her blog, but she ran my mini-memoir with a lovely intro about my short stories and travel guidebooks. I’d intended to explain my six rather provocative words at some point: they are rooted in a saying of my grandmother’s. Recently, people have been asking where my interest in crime writing comes from, and that has its origins with my grandmother, too. In fact, I think she’s the reason I’m writing crime.

(Hilary's mother and grandmother)

My grandmother was quite the dame. Her name was Maude and when I was growing up, I took for granted her red lipstick and varnished nails, her sharp suits and high heels. Her hair was dyed black and always perfectly set, and she never lost the Northern Irish accent she brought with her when she immigrated to Canada.

She made my friends’ grandmothers seem odd. Other grandmothers baked cookies; mine liked to knit, but she did so while watching pro wrestling. Other grandmothers didn’t tell stories about the time they punched out a guy on a street corner for making an obnoxious remark, and how the guy had gone to the cops, and the cops had laughed at him for getting beaten up by a woman. My grandmother was a voracious reader who bought me armloads of books, including a complete set of Nancy Drews from the 1930s, with blue cloth covers and pen-and-ink drawings inside. She also passed along issues of The National Enquirer, and introduced me to film noir.

She had very firm opinions on movies, just as she had with everything else in life. As far as she was concerned, Barbara Stanwyck was the greatest actress who ever lived. Her favorite actor was Tyrone Power, whom she had a crush on for decades. The classic movies we both loved were shown on television late in the evening. Sometimes we would snap them up on videotape. We would often debate the merits of a movie’s ending. The classic Double Indemnity was a favorite, though we both took issue with the femme fatale suddenly going soft at the very end. (My grandmother’s cynical explanation is still the best: “That’s what you get with men making movies. They always think the woman goes swooning for the man in the end. Good luck to them.”)

My grandmother passed away almost 12 years ago, but there’s not a day that I don’t think about her. That was especially true when I was writing THE DAMAGE DONE. For reasons that are hard to explain, my grandmother’s love of film noir found a home in the heart of Lily Moore, the book’s main character. When Lily was growing up, movies were her primary form of escape from a troubled family life, and in the book, they serve as an important point of reference. (Just like my grandmother, Lily has a crush on Tyrone Power, and it’s no coincidence that her former fiancé looks like him.) Lily is drawn to vintage clothes and mid-century music (Ella, Billie, Sarah), and she has my grandmother’s black hair, fair skin, red lips, and sense of style. Even the shiny black rotary-dial phone in her old New York apartment was borrowed from my grandmother’s place in Toronto.

There was something else of my grandmother’s I gave to Lily, too. My grandmother had a saying, If you’re going to sin, sin big. She believed that you had to put your heart and soul into whatever you did, because once you went off on your own path—in a big way or a small way—you were going to face the consequences for it. That motto could be Lily’s, because she’s willing to plunge headfirst into an adventure (moving to Spain, like her hero, Ava Gardner) or into a mission such as finding her missing sister. It is my motto, and it’s what I based my Six-Word Memoir on. The noir education I got from my grandmother has been passed on, in turn, to Lily.

You can read more about Hilary at her website. She also has a blog for her crime fiction writing called Dark Voyage. And you can check out The Gluten-Free Guidebook here. THE DAMAGE DONE will be released next Tuesday. Hilary has a slew of signing events scheduled; you can check them out here. If you can't make one in person, you can pre-order a signed copy from Mystery Lovers Bookshop, The Mystery Bookstore, The Poison Pen or Murder by the Book.

Technorati Tags: Hilary Davidson

BBAW - Future Treasures

I can't believe that the third Book Blogger Appreciation Week has come to its final day. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I've been blogging long enough to have been involved in three Book Blogger Appreciation Weeks. More and more we see the definite role that the Book Blogger is playing in our society. We are a group of people who value and love reading, but more than that we appreciate sharing that love with others.

The Internet has afforded us the opportunity to meet and know many people we would never have had the chance to meet otherwise. And you can ask most any person who talks with me face to face on a regular basis, I've most definitely discussed books with them. The Internet just gives me more people to tell about wonderful books. It gives me a community of people who will discuss the finer points of books when I want to hash out thoughts and ideas.

Sometimes the blog can feel overwhelming. More requests and books come in than one person could ever deal with on a hobby basis. But the reality is that I love reading; I love talking about books; blogging has become my passion and it's opened doors for me I wouldn't have otherwise had access to. Blogging has introduced me to like-minded people far and wide. I don't intend to give it up any time soon.

What does the future hold for Jen's Book Thoughts? I'm not sure at this point. I want to keep things as fresh as I can, so I'm always scouting for new ideas to use on the blog. Don't hesitate to offer up suggestions if you have them. Can't make any guarantees, but I'd love to hear ideas. Next month I will moderate my first ever Bouchercon panel. And I have a panel full of amazing authors, so if you're going to Bouchercon I'd love for you to attend our panel - 11:30 on Thursday. It's called "Dead or Alive." Then I believe I will also be moderating a panel at Murder and Mayhem in Muskego for the first time, and that will be in November. I really want to work on developing more video for the blog. But what will always stay consistent is that books and their authors will be remain the focus, and as long as folks will talk with me about books, I'll be here!

Thank you for your constant support and to all the book bloggers, HAPPY BOOK BLOGGER APPRECIATION WEEK!!

BBAW - Forgotten Treasures

I was so excited to see this topic for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. One of the "unexpected treasures" I discovered when I started blogging was finding books that weren't on bestseller lists but were amazing stories. And then when I started telling other people about them and they loved them, there was this warm feeling inside me. I found this magical reward of connecting people with great books. And that's really become the mission of this blog - connecting people with great books.

Thursday is normally the day I write about audiobooks, so what I decided to do was to highlight a few books that are phenomenal stories and equally amazing audiobooks. Whether you are a print reader, an audiophile, or both, these are some unsung books that I highly recommend:

Craig Johnson is becoming more and more familiar to readers, which makes me very happy, but it still surprises me how many people haven't heard of him or read his work. He has a series of books featuring Wyoming sheriff, Walt Longmire, that begins with THE COLD DISH. Johnson has created a fictional town full of the most amazingly real characters. His development of the setting is along the lines of James Lee Burke. His plots focus on social issues and are richly complex. Emotions run the gambit in this series. You'll cry from laughing so hard, and you'll cry from heart ache. This isn't a series that allows the reader to be passive. All of the books in this series are narrated by George Guidall and while I have other audiobook narrators that I enjoy and consider among my favorites, no one brings a book to life the way Guidall has brought the Walt Longmire series to life. Guidall picks up on all of the subtle nuances, the sarcasm, he even sings when Johnson writes it into the book. This is a stellar series that has garnered fans well beyond the boundaries of the crime fiction genre and I don't hesitate to give it my highest recommendation.

Louise Penny has a series set in the fictional Canadian town of Three Pines. Her protagonist is Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, but the diverse citizens of Three Pines are as vital to the series as Gamache. The series begins with STILL LIFE. While I have adored each book in this series, it is also a series that has gotten better with each subsequent installment. Penny also has a gift with weaving humor into her works, but they would never be classified as comedies. Instead they are studies in humanity. This series is beautifully narrated on audio by Ralph Cosham. Not only does he handle the French in the novel expertly, he brings out the relationships between characters. The importance of those relationships is essential to this series. This is another series that is gaining fans and attention. It's through efforts like this that the word is spread and the greatness becomes more apparent. I highly recommend this series as well in both print and on audio.

And finally, I'll share with you two books written by different authors, but recorded by the same narrator. Brad Parks' FACES OF THE GONE and Steve Hamilton's THE LOCK ARTIST are both available on audio, narrated by MacLeod Andrews. FACES OF THE GONE is Brad Parks' debut novel featuring investigative reporter Carter Ross. This is the first of a series. Steve Hamilton's THE LOCK ARTIST is a stand alone featuring a teenage thief. Make no mistake, however, THE LOCK ARTIST is not a YA novel. It's a dark, gritty, moving crime novel.

I could go on for days about books I think are hidden gems in the crime fiction genre, so if you're ever looking for some such book, please feel to drop me an email. I'll be happy to recommend. And of course I'm always excited to hear about hidden gems myself. Discovering them for the first time is exciting. And if you're looking for more gems you can also head over to the main Book Blogger Appreciation site today and see what books the other bloggers are sharing today.

Technorati Tags: BBAW 2010, Steve Hamilton, Craig Johnson, Brad Parks, Louise Penny

Good Bye My Friend

Today my heart aches. I have spent the better part of the day trying to figure out just what I wanted to say in this post, what could come the slightest bit close to expressing the sorrow that I feel at losing my friend, David Thompson. There are not words to do it justice.

I "met" David a little over a year ago through social media and the crime fiction community. Then last October I was able to meet him in person. I will forever remember the very first time I saw him in person. He was speaking to someone and I was just going to wait until he was finished so I could say "hi." He looked up and caught my eye and asked whoever he was speaking to to excuse him a minute; then he walked over and wrapped me in a big hug. No, "do I know you?" No, "Are you Jen?" He just knew immediately and treated me as though we had known each other all our lives. That's the kind of person David was. He could make you feel as though your presence was the most important, your thoughts the most valued.

I so enjoyed chatting with David through Twitter or Facebook, IMs or e-mails. It made the thousands of miles between Cleveland and Houston almost vanish. We talked about books and authors and events. He introduced me to so many new books, and he'd let me run on and on about a book I was reading and it was never weird to him. He always had time. His enthusiasm fueled my enthusiasm; it was contagious. He so loved this community and the people in it. He loved connecting people with books, and he touched so many lives through his work both at Murder by the Book and his Busted Flush Press.

Just slightly older than me, David should have had many more years to connect people with books; he should have had many more years to share with his wife and all those who love him. But unfortunately, "should" doesn't always make it so.

In just a little more than a year, David left a big impression on my life. I'm a different and better person for having known him. As I continue to blog and be a part of the crime fiction community, it's my hope that I can honor him and what he stood for by singing the praises of the hidden gems, by connecting people with books, and by being the best friend I can be.

As I attempted to work out my anger at life today in the gym, I listened to R.J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS. I listened as the narrator read in the most hauntingly beautiful tone:

"I wonder if somewhere there is a place that holds all these unfinished lives. Another plane, another world running parallel to our own, and there we will find the dead, picking up their incomplete lives and living them out."

Where ever my friend is now, he's talking up Reed Farrel Coleman, Daniel Woodrell, A.E. Maxwell, Don Winslow...Thank you, David. Thank you for your friendship. It is and always will be a priceless treasure.

THE DAMAGE DONE - Hilary Davidson

FIRST LINE: "It was the bright yellow tape that finally convinced me my sister was dead."

Lily Moore took a job in Spain that allowed her to escape the escalating troubles with her sister, Claudia. While Lily loved her sister and wanted to help her, it was clear Claudia didn't want to help herself and thus, there was little Lily could do. Lily had also broken off her engagement with Martin Sklar, a rich businessman. The move to Spain allowed Lily distance from both of these dysfunctional parts of her life. But, when Lily receives the call that her sister is dead, she committed suicide on the anniversary of their mother's suicide, Lily rushes home in a overwhelming cloud of guilt. She should have tried harder, done more for Claudia. And then Lily discovers that it isn't her sister that was found dead in the apartment. Who is this impostor on the medical examiner's table and where is Claudia?

THE DAMAGE DONE is Hilary Davidson's debut crime novel and I'm thrilled to discover her at the onset of what I'm sure will be a long and prosperous career in crime fiction. This debut is exciting, engaging and all around exceptional.

Davidson brings all of her characters to life, even the ones we never meet and the ones who spend the entire novel dead. The layers to each character accentuate the brilliant plotting by helping to build the suspense. Each character comes complete with quirks and flaws and endearing qualities. One of my favorite characters is Lily's friend Jesse with his protective nature, his witty charm and his beloved car Ginger. He'll puff up with testosterone-laden courage, ready to go nine rounds with the offending party or make tea and offer a soft shoulder to cry on. The good, the bad and the ugly can all come through in a single characteristic and Davidson expertly balances all three to create her multifaceted characters.

Davidson's judicious plotting covers every angle of the story, weaving multitudinous outcome possibilities into the fibers of the plot. Questions build upon questions and everyone's a suspect. This keeps the reader turning pages; just how do all the pieces and characters fit into this puzzle? Davidson expertly sneaks the story and its cast into the reader's thoughts, not leaving room for much else.

Sense of place is strong in THE DAMAGE DONE, and while Davidson's career as a travel writer may have contributed to this strength in the novel, her understanding of the population contributes equally to the overall effect. New York is highly defined by the diversity of those who inhabit it. Davidson brings that through as distinctly as the landscape:

"We finally screeched to a halt in front of a turquoise brick building at East Thirtieth Street. The color bled out into a dull gray on the upper stories, which were pockmarked with air conditioners hanging out of the windows."

THE DAMAGE DONE exudes beauty from every angle. Defined characters playing their parts in a strong plot. The relationships between the characters are complex and realistic. But, I believe the novel's greatest strength, the truest beauty lies in the writing itself. Davidson opted to write in first person from the perspective of Lily. This enhances the suspense since the reader can only know what Lily knows as she knows it. But that perspective also enhances the emotional aspects of the plot. Lily, who is not completely over her ex-fiance:

"'Martin,' I said, my heart dropping to my feet. It would probably tumble out of a hole in my stockings."

Lily, who is conflicted by her inability to help her sister, her sole remaining family member:

"It was one thing for me to criticize Claudia, but I hated to hear anyone else do it, even Jesse. It was holdover from childhood, when my sister wouldn't go to sleep at night unless I got rid of the monsters under her bed. She was convinced that I was the only person who could do it. I'd always been flattered by her belief in me and willing to banish monsters wherever she saw them. But now, the job had gotten too big for me."

The imagery grabs readers because it is something we can easily relate to and bring our own experiences to. And suddenly, we're a part of the story, we're invested in it. And that investment is the recipe for a remarkable novel, debut or not.

THE DAMAGE DONE will be released in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-7653-2697-3) from Forge on September 28, 2010.

The super nice folks over at Forge have afforded me the opportunity to give away a signed copy of THE DAMAGE DONE to a lucky reader. So here's your chance to win one of 2010's greatest debuts. Complete the form below to be entered. Entrants need to have a U.S. mailing address - no P.O. Boxes, please. And entries need to be completed by midnight (Eastern) on Friday, September 17, 2010. If you have any questions, please drop me an email.



Technorati Tags: Hilary Davidson, book review, crime fiction

RUNNING DARK - Jamie Freveletti

FIRST LINE: "Emma Caldridge passed mile thirty-six of the fifty-five-mile Comrades ultramarathon in South Africa when a roadside car bomb exploded."

During the Comrades ultramarathon chemist Emma Caldridge is knocked out and injected. Following the injection, she experiences an explosion of energy enabling her to finish the race in a form more like that of beginning the race. Trying to figure out what entered her blood stream, Emma tests her blood following the race only to find it clean. Meanwhile security consultant Edward Banner is dealing with pirates attacking a cruise ship in the Gulf of Aden. Cameron Sumner is the loan Darkview agent aboard the ship, but the cargo seems to be what the pirates are after. Suspecting the desired cargo is a chemical weapon, Edward calls on Emma to join a dangerous mission to the cruise ship. As long as Sumner is aboard the ship, Emma can't refuse.

RUNNING DARK is Jamie Freveletti's follow-up to her award-winning RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL. The novel combines several of today's greatest threats: terrorists, pirates, and chemical warfare. Freveletti's carefully researched knowledge of the science included in the novel creates a chilling scenario in a world fearful of what may come next.

While they play more minor roles in this novel, I especially enjoyed the characters of Alicia Compton and Carol Stromeyer. Alicia's quirkiness and Stromeyers' strength add depth and color to the novel.

There is a noticeable change in the pace about two thirds of the way into the novel. The last third of the novel is densely packed with the largest portion of the action.

Freveletti continues to build a sexual tension between Caldridge and Sumner even though they are separated for the better part of the novel. There were a few characters who could have possibly been left out to tighten up the plot and the time line may have been a little difficult to pull off realistically. But, those factors won't prevent a thriller fan from enjoying the intensity of RUNNING DARK.

RUNNING DARK was released this summer and is available from William Morrow in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-06-168424-1).

Technorati Tags: Jamie Freveletti, book review, thriller

Some Labor Day Fun

I hope you're all enjoying your Labor Day weekend. I thought I'd share some fun stuff I found around the web with you today as well as some items I'm looking forward to before I get back to laboring. Oh, right, I'm not supposed to be laboring today. Oh well. So it goes.

Naomi is asking you to share five of your favorite authors who you feel are "an unfairly guarded secret." You could win a free book of your choice just by sharing. So don't miss that opportunity! You have until Wednesday to get in on the fun. Speaking of Naomi, if you missed it, there's this fun interview with her here. The interviewer? No, not me...she's interviewing herself.

CRIMESPREE has a great offer going, especially if you've been wanting to give them a try. They have some new t-shirts. One of which I'm modeling below. "Short" is kind of cut off on the side there - it says "Life is too short to read bad books." I love it! There are four more styles so check them out here. They are $20 or 2 for $30. But if you purchase a shirt, you can get a free back issue of the magazine. But you have to hurry on that one. It's good through tomorrow.

I don't think I mentioned Mulholland Book's website yet. Most of you probably already know about it, but if you don't, you'll want to hop over and check them out. They've been having a slew of great guest bloggers. Lots of fun stuff to read. They're also on my blog role if you ever need a quick link over.

And since Labor Day is our "end of summer" marker, I thought I'd mention a few books that are on my read list that I'm looking forward to for this fall.

• The end of the month, brings us Hilary Davidson's debut THE DAMAGE DONE. I'll be talking about that next week.
• The beginning of October brings us INNOCENT MONSTER, the next book in Reed Farrel Coleman's Moe Prager series. I'll definitely be talking about that one as well.
• Michael Connelly's THE REVERSAL will also be out at the beginning of October.
• The much anticipated Patrick and Angie book, MOONLIGHT MILE from Dennis Lehane makes its appearance in November.
• EVERY BITTER THING is Leighton Gage's next Chief Inspector Mario Silva novel, and that's due out at the beginning of December.

I'll also be working on catching up with books that I've gotten behind on. How did the summer get away so quickly? So, your turn, share with us what you're looking forward to this fall. I hope you have a great Labor Day and have the chance to enjoy some great reading!

Audiobook Thursday - CAST OF SHADOWS

FIRST LINE: "This wasn't grief Davis felt, staring at her so-still feet pointing at impossible angles to the tight synthetic weave of charcoal carpet."

Davis Moore is a fertility doctor with a thriving practice and a happy family. At work he helps infertile couples bear children through a cloning process. DNA from deceased individuals is used in the process and the children are closely monitored as they mature. When Moore's teenage daughter is brutally raped and murdered, her case is never solved. Her personal effects are returned to Moore and his wife, but the police accidentally left a vial in with her belongings. The vial contains the semen collected from the rape scene. In a fit of desperation, Moore decides to use the DNA from the semen with one of his patients, thereby creating a clone of his daughter's murderer.

CAST OF SHADOWS is the 2005 debut from Kevin Guilfoile and WOW did he give himself a challenge to follow-up and attempt to surpass. CAST OF SHADOWS is everything a great book should be: layered, complex, controversial, challenging, exciting. Guilfoile throws in the controversy of the cloning issue as well as touching on nature versus nurture. Ethics are a strong theme. Where do we draw the line with science? At whose expense is it acceptable to pursue justice? Even faith receives some face time in CAST OF SHADOWS. Guilfoile isn't trying to hand out answers in this thriller but rather pose some hypotheticals about the possible waves of effect. Or maybe a web of effect is a better analogy. The different forces all act independent of one another but still touch the others. It's almost like artwork by Escher; the actual cause is not clear. If any of the factors are removed will the outcome be different?

The characters are well drawn in this novel. The desperation of a grieving father, the determination of a religious fanatic, the conflict of an innocent child caught in the midst of everything. And woven into the complexity is a violent murderer running loose and creating chaos.

Another layer of CAST OF SHADOWS is the virtual world in which the characters have avatars, Shadow World. Shadow World functions as a parallel universe of the actual characters and the avatars, but it also functions as a complex analogy of the clones.

This is a heavy novel daring to explore controversial issues and themes. If you're looking for a warm and fuzzy tale, this would not be the book. If you're looking for one to challenge you as a reader, as a member of society, as a human being. CAST OF SHADOWS is right up your alley.

I listened to CAST OF SHADOWS on audio and it wasn't one of my favorites on audio. However, I'm quite certain I'm in a very small minority on this one, so I don't want to discourage people from trying this audio. CAST OF SHADOWS is narrated by Scott Brick who has a tendency to interpret far more dramatically than what I ever hear in my head. That dramatic, almost breathy, sound is distracting for me. If you are one of Brick's many, many fans, then I'm sure you will enjoy CAST OF SHADOWS on audio. Me, on the other hand, I'm going to read Guilfoile's next in print.

CAST OF SHADOWS is available from Alfred A. Knopf in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-400-0430-88), from Vintage in trade paper (ISBN 978-1-400-0782-64), from Books on Tape in audio (ISBN 978-1-415-9163-46).

Technorati Tags: Audiobook Thursday, audiobook review, Kevin Guilfoile

You've the Right to Six Words: The Grand Finale!

*Sniff* Here we are once again at the final post of the six-word memoirs. It's sad to see the fun come to a close again, but I've just been so honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to share all these great memoir statements with you guys. I hope you've enjoyed meeting some new authors, hearing from favorites, and just generally getting a little glimpse inside the minds of some extremely talented folks. But before we wrap up completely I have three amazing folks to end this project right. Three people who have made incredible contributions to the crime fiction genre and fiction as a whole. Ladies and gentlemen, let the fireworks begin!

In our final week of memoirs we lead off with a woman who has impacted not only the crime fiction genre, but society as well. Kansas native and New York Times bestseller Sara Paretsky worked as a community organizer in Chicago during the 1966 race riots; she served on the board of Thresholds, serving Chicago’s mentally ill homeless population; and she’s mentored teens from some of the most troubled schools in Chicago. Sara continues to work closely with literacy and reproductive rights groups.

The social issues that Sara passionately embraces find their ways into her crime novels, which have also paved the way for change. Her V.I. Warshawski series introduced a smart, tough female P.I. into a genre that had traditionally been male-dominated. V.I. Warshawski doesn’t play the role of victim; instead she waltzed into the role of hero when Sara published 1982’s INDEMNITY ONLY.

After opening doors for her fictional protagonist, Sara moved on to opening doors for real women with the creation of Sisters in Crime in 1986. She’s earned a Ph.D. in history and been awarded honorary Doctorate of Letters degrees from several universities. The British Crime Writers have bestowed both the Gold Dagger for best novel and the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement on the crime-writing maven.

In addition to her V.I. Warshawski series, Sara has published two stand alone novels, short stories and a memoir. This week she releases the 14th V.I. Warshawski novel, BODY WORK. While Sara says she’s

Caught in the Web of Words

I can’t help but wonder if she’s actually the one weaving that web. It’s an honor to have Sara join us today.

Next up is another author helping to define the crime fiction genre of the 21st century, Gar Anthony Haywood. Since I'm sometimes a little slow arriving at the party, I only discovered this great talent this year. However, I consider it one of, if not THE, highpoint of my reading for 2010. Gar is a two-time Shamus winner and an Anthony Award winner. He's graced the Los Angeles Times bestseller list and been praised from coast to coast for his writing, both as Gar Anthony Haywood and as his alter-ego, Ray Shannon.

Gar broke into crime fiction with his private investigator Aaron Gunner in FEAR OF THE DARK. And what a way to break onto the scene. FEAR OF THE DARK was the second ever winner of the St. Martin's Press/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Contest and it took home the Shamus award for Best First P.I. Novel in 1989. Gar followed up FEAR OF THE DARK with five additional Aaron Gunner novels and two humorous crime novels featuring Dottie and Joe Loudermilk, retiree crime solvers. As Ray Shannon, Gar published two standalone thrillers, MAN EATER and FIRECRACKER. Most recently, he's returned to publishing under his own name with another amazing standalone, CEMETERY ROAD.

Gar's accomplishments are not limited to his novels, however. He's also an award-winning short story writer, has written for both the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, AND finds his name in the credits of such television dramas as NEW YORK UNDERCOVER and THE DISTRICT.

When he's not leaving his genius in written form, he's expressing it through graphic arts. Apparently Gar comes by his art talent through genetics; his father was an architect. But Gar credits Dad with more than just his affinity for art:

Dad's paperbacks
best writing school ever.

Sometimes six words can sure say a lot! Gar, it is such a pleasure! Thank you for that little window into a great man.

And to wrap up our grand finale, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Val McDermid. As a child in Scotland, Val knew she wanted to be a writer. She wanted to be one of the people who made the books that filled the library shelves. But, like many other writers, she was told she wouldn't be able to make a living and she needed a "real" job. So when the first student from a state school in Scotland was accepted and graduated from St. Hilda's College, Oxford, she became a journalist. And she was still determined to write a book.

Her first attempt at a book turned out to be a better play than novel. She had a short run as a dramatist before she decided to try her hand at a crime novel. The result of that effort turned into REPORT FOR MURDER, which was published in 1987. A mere four years later Val was doing what everyone told her she couldn't do, she was making her living as a writer. And she continues to do that to this day. Val also reviews for various national newspapers, writes the occasional journalistic piece and broadcasts on the radio.

Her writing credits now include three series: the Lindsey Gordon series, which included her debut REPORT FOR MURDER, the Kate Brannigan series, and the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, which is the basis for the WIRE IN THE BLOOD television series. FEVER OF THE BONE was the sixth book in the Hill/Jordan series, released last year. In addition to her three series, Val has two short story collections, a non-fiction work and five additional stand alone novels, with the sixth to be published later this week in the UK as TRICK OF THE DARK.

There aren't too many awards Val hasn't at least been short listed for. Her works have earned her multiple Barry Awards, an Anthony, a Macavity, a Dilys, a Los Angeles Book Prize, numerous Edgar nominations, the CWA Gold Dagger and the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger among others. So to the agent who fired her, the doubting Thomases who told her she had to get a "real" job, and the others with so little faith, Val McDermid

Did everything they said I couldn't.

Hallelujah! That is one of the reasons she'll be honored as a guest of honor at the 2011 Bouchercon in St. Louis, as will Sara Paretsky. And if you'll pardon me a little PSA before we wrap this up today, I'll let you in on a secret - well, o.k., it isn't really a secret, but it's good info. If you register for Bouchercon 2011 before November 1st, you can save yourself a little money. Registration is $150 until November 1st. Then it goes up to $175. You've all heard me rave about this convention, and I'd love the chance to meet you in St. Louis! If nothing else, put this on your radar. It really is a must for any crime fiction fan. O.k., PSA over.

So many, many thanks to Sara, Gar and Val. And all the authors who participated in "You've the Right to Six Words" this year. I am humbled that you made time to play along with us. I'm humbled that folks come by each week to read and have fun with us. I have so enjoyed the whole experience. I hope you all have as well. And I hope you've found a few new authors and books to keep you busy.

Happy Reading everyone!

**FUN UPDATE!! The generous folks at Putnam have offered to give one commenter a copy of Sara Paretsky's new V.I. Warshawski novel, BODY WORK. So in your comment, make sure you leave an e-mail where we can contact you in case you're the lucky random commenter chosen. As long as you have a U.S. mailing address, you're eligible!! Thanks to Putnam and good luck to everyone!

Technorati Tags: You've the Right to Six Words, Val McDermid, Gar Anthony Haywood, Sara Paretsky