A Heartfelt Farewell to The Mystery Bookstore

Today is the final day of business for The Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles. If you are in that area, be sure to stop in to their farewell party tonight.

Since I can't be there, I wanted to send my own farewell wishes and sincere thanks to the staff. I had a slew of friends who agreed to help me and this is what we put together. I hope you'll take a few minutes to enjoy it and then leave your own farewell in the comments. This post is a tribute to a wonderful store, a wonderful staff and the end of an era in crime fiction.

Thank you Mystery Bookstore! We Love You!

A Sunday with Robert Crais

As many of you already know, I had the great fortune to see Robert Crais last Sunday. Jon and Ruth Jordan are my wonderful, generous friends who let me invade their home for the weekend and hang out with them. What a wonderful treat to begin with, but then I tagged along to RC's event as well. And believe me, this was a tremendous sacrifice for them. The addition of me in the truck made our drive very cozy. :-)

I have to do a little side bar here, but I promise I'll get to RC's event details in a minute. Have you ever gone to an event with a friend who shares your love of the author and completely understands your fangirl/fanboy silliness? It just seems to intensify the wonderfulness of the event. So it was special for me to go see Robert Crais last Sunday; it was magical because I was able to share it with my dear friends. I encourage you all to make an extra effort to experience that same thing with a friend if you haven't ever before.

O.k., thanks for humoring me a bit of gushiness. On to the event. This event was held at Mystery One in Milwaukee. I know the store and have patronized them in the past. They are one of the sponsors of Murder and Mayhem in Muskego. But this was my first experience visiting the actual store itself. It is a smaller store and the layout doesn't allow for seating during the events, but the store was still packed. Which was kind of a good thing because it was cold on Sunday in Milwaukee and the crowd helped keep the store nice and toasty warm.

The other significant thing about the event being so packed. The Green Bay Packers were playing their rival, the Chicago Bears, in a playoff game. The event was moved up in the day to allow folks time to attend and still be home for the game, but this also meant missing out on parties and whatnot that were already in progress. RC pulls 'em in despite weather AND football games!

Since RC showed up before 11 and he was very conscientious of people's time and the playoff game, he started signing some books before his talk to help expedite things. RC is one of a very small group of authors who fascinate me at their signings because they make the experiences personal for each individual attendee while not making everyone stand around for hours on end. He expresses his genuine gratitude to each person and talks directly to each person. That's a connection that is rare and special. It's why people want to come back, and like me, drive to other states to see him.

RC opened his talk to the group by explaining how his Facebook page came to exist. His publisher, Putnam, offered to maintain it for him which he agreed to, but still wanted to be looking over their shoulder so they weren't doing anything he would disapprove of. Well, while he started out disdaining Facebook, he's now addicted. He checks his Facebook page all the time.


Then he went on to share how Facebook has also impacted this book tour. On one of his early stops, they encountered a massive power outage. So the event had to end early, but RC still wanted to sign the books of those who had already purchased theirs. So the bookstore set him up with a table, and a couple of employees held up flashlights for him. Simultaneously the people waiting to get their books signed held up their cell phones. RC thinks they're providing light for him to sign by, but they're actually taking pictures to post to Facebook. And those pictures were up by the time he returned to the hotel from the event.

RC went on to share some fun posts from his Facebook page and some emails. He said he classifies his readers into three categories: "My readers on Joe Pike," "my readers on me," and "general questions." What was great was RC pointing out that the people posting these silly comments are having fun. And Facebook has given him an avenue to share that with his fans and see how his readers invest themselves in the characters he creates.

RC read a couple of short scenes from the book that he felt emphasized the characters of Joe and Elvis and their relationship to each other. To him, that's what his books are all about. The crime, the action, the L.A. setting is all second fiddle to the characters and the dynamics of their relationships. THE SENTRY, thematically, is a book about loneliness.

RC wrapped up with a Q&A session, which thankfully did not include any questions related to movies or TV with Elvis and Joe. He cheerfully finished signing books for everyone and then headed out into a cold, snowy Milwaukee. RC seemed as happy to be at the event as anyone else there - and that included me. You have to love an author that enjoys meeting his readers and doesn't leave the impression that it's a burden or an inconvenience.

You've heard me say this before and you'll hear me say it again, I'm sure, if you have the chance to meet Robert Crais, don't pass it up. You won't regret it. Speaking of which, here is a picture of the man himself, holding a statue of the St Louis Arch because of course he will be a guest of honor at this year's Bouchercon. It's a perfect opportunity for you to meet him!

And I'll end on a few final pictures from the event.


Here RC is sharing his i-Gun ap with Bruce Brown and his dad, "The Colonel." Those of you who know my friend Linda Brown from The Mystery Bookstore in L.A., this is her brother and father. Was so very wonderful to meet and talk with the both of them.

Ruth, RC and I. Jon is taking this picture and over his head is a television; the Packers game is on. That's what Ruth is looking at.


And yes, this is already on its way to be enlarged to roughly poster size. You can't make out my button in this picture, but I mentioned to Jon that we should create buttons like the old Eisenhower campaign slogan, but instead of "I like Ike," have "I like Pike." Well, Jon made 'em and we wore 'em. Very cool. It was a wonderful day all around - especially when Jon and Ruth topped it off for me with a trip to another bookstore in town. I don't think I stopped smiling my entire drive home on Monday. I'm so very very blessed to have my wonderful friends, and that includes all of you reading. Thank you for sharing this event with me.

Audiobook Thursday - BLUE GENES

First Line (dictated from audio): The day Richard’s death announcement appeared in the Manchester Evening Chronicle, I knew I couldn’t postpone clearing up the mess any longer.

Private investigator, Kate Brannigan, finds herself in a whirlwind of activity in Val McDermid's fifth book of the series. Brannigan is simultaneously investigating a pair of con artists trying to swindle newly bereaved individuals by selling them bogus funeral arrangements and an unknown group sabotaging the careers of a pair of Glaswegian musicians. As if those two cases weren't enough, Brannigan's best friend Alexis comes to her with a whopper of a problem. Her partner, Christine, is pregnant with their baby and the doctor who helped them conceive has been murdered. While Kate juggles these issues, her business partner informs her that he's found his soul mate and is moving to Australia.

BLUE GENES has literally everything a great crime fiction novel should: a complex plot with plenty of action, a colorful cast of characters, smart humor, challenging themes and subject matter, conflict and suspense. The plot summary may sound like a lot going on in one book, but McDermid weaves them together in a way that makes the story flow easily, even for listening on audiobook.

The title of the book originates in the element of the plot dealing with Kate's best friend Alexis and her partner, Christine. It isn't overly complex in regards to the science, but the concept leads to issues dealing with ethics, politics maybe even religion. As McDermid pokes and prods at possibilities, she challenges her readers to do more than solve a mystery in this book.

Kate Brannigan is a fantastic female protagonist. She experiences emotions, is witty and smart, but isn't leaping tall buildings in a single bound. She grows exasperated and frustrated, worries about the future, and doesn't let any of it prevent her from working toward her goals.

BLUE GENES, while not the first book in the series, is my first experience with Kate Brannigan. I didn't feel lost at any point in the book, as though I was missing necessary background information, so one can easily pick this book up without having read any others. But I am officially hooked on Kate and will be going back to read the previous books.

BLUE GENES is narrated by Laura Brattan who seems to grasp McDermid's humor as well as her characters and style. I felt Brattan did a superb job of bringing Kate's internal conflicts to the reader's attention as well as the external conflicts. Kate's multitude of emotional experiences shine through in Brattan's performance. This was a strong pairing of reader and book.

BLUE GENES is available in the United States on audiobook from Isis Audio (ISBN: 978-0-75310-899-4) and in trade paper print from Bloody Brits Press (ISBN: 978-1-93285-923-2).

THE DEATH INSTINCT - Jed Rubenfeld

First line: "Death is only the beginning: afterward comes the hard part."

Dr. Stratham Younger, Police Captain James Littlemore, Colette Rousseau and her young brother Luc are on Wall Street September 16, 1920, when a bomb explodes outside the U.S. Treasury and J.P. Morgan buildings. The bomb sets in motion an investigation of conspiracy for Littlemore and a bizarre escape effort for Colette Rousseau. Between the two characters THE DEATH INSTINCT takes readers on a world tour, meeting Sigmund Freud in Vienna, Marie Curie in Paris, the presidential-elect in Mexico and the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington D.C.

I'm consistently fascinated by books that weave history into the plot. And I'm astounded by authors that manage to do it as flawlessly as Rubenfeld has done in THE DEATH INSTINCT. Rubenfeld doesn't stop at history. He adds science and politics to the mix for an even richer look at the world his characters are navigating. If that makes you wrinkle your nose, give me just a minute (or two) to illustrate why I loved this book.

The setting and characters of THE DEATH INSTINCT are symbiotic in their effects on bringing the other to life in the book. For example, Colette Rouseau is a French woman, trained in radio-chemistry by Marie Curie. She is one of Curie's volunteers operating a mobile unit in World War I. Through the eyes of this woman we can see not only the devastation of the war but also the advances of science and how a woman's discoveries in this field differ from men's. Colette is a strong female but strong within the bounds of her culture and time period. She's also essential in illustrating the riches of the United States as compared to Europe.

Captain James Littlemore plays a bit of a Holmes-type character, being very observant and contemplative. Stratham Younger is not, however, the Watson type. He does bring in the scientific element of the duo, though. They both at times have a propensity for hysterical, dry humor that seems to come out of nowhere:

"Littlemore had no reply for a moment. Then he said, 'Don't put that in one of your stories, sir.'

'Don't put what?' said Enright.

'That the Police Commissioner of New York City is going to write detective stories for the fat-headed Chief of the federal Bureau of Investigation, who's starting a literary magazine and naming it after himself after botching the biggest investigation the country's ever seen. Nobody would believe it.'"

The plot involves a multitude of twists, some maybe predictable, others unseen. But Rubenfeld weaves the "death instinct" theme through them all adding layer and dimension to the plot. As Freud explains to Colette:

"'In science, my dear, there is no such thing as good or evil. The death instinct is part of our biology. You're familiar with chromatolysis - the natural process by which cells die? Every one of our cells brings about its own destruction at its allotted time. That's the death instinct in operation. Now if a cell fails to die, what happens? It keeps dividing, reproducing, endlessly, unnaturally. It becomes a cancer. That's what cancer is, after all - cells afflicted with the loss of their will to die. The death instinct is not evil, Miss Rousseau. In its proper place it's every bit as essential to our well-being as its opposite.'"

From beginning to end I devoured this book: its characters, the events and settings and well-placed historical trivia. I appreciated the challenges Rubenfeld threw at me and the imagery he created. THE DEATH INSTINCT is a truly fulfilling reading experience.

THE DEATH INSTINCT is available from Riverhead Books in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-59448-782-8). This post is part of THE DEATH INSTINCT blog tour with TLC Book Tours. You can find links to additional reviews of this book at their site.

EYES OF THE INNOCENT - Brad Parks

First line: "The electrician patted his breast pocket for the tenth time and, once again, exhaled noisily: the envelope - Primo's envelope - was still there."

A deadly house fire introduces the timely issue of variable mortgage rates, the housing industry and what it has all done to unsuspecting families. Carter Ross is assigned to investigate the house fire, and when he discovers a case of arson, he unknowingly steps into a world of evil greed that knows no boundaries.

Brad Parks returns with the second novel in his Carter Ross series. While some authors are known to fall into a bit of a sophomore slump on their second books, Parks has gained momentum. EYES OF THE INNOCENT ignites the suspense on page one that grips the reader to the last page, to the final brilliant sentence.

FACES OF THE GONE introduced a cast of colorful, dynamic characters. Most of them return for EYES OF THE INNOCENT and Parks introduces a new intern and a straight-laced cop. Parks’ character development is stellar, topped only by the complexity of the relationships between those characters. One of the elements of Parks’ writing that consistently wallops me in his books is his respect of people, and thus his characters. He can juggle stereotype with singularity and come up with a community the reader wants to be a part of.

EYES OF THE INNOCENT is steeped in Parks’ signature humor, while still expertly balancing it with the seriousness of the issues around which the plot revolves. His experience in journalism radiates off the page. Carter Ross says,

“Reporting can be a bit like exploratory surgery, except you perform it wearing oven mitts and a blindfold. Sometimes you’re not even sure which part of the body to cut open. As a general rule, you never know where you’re going until you’ve already been there.”

That pretty well sums up the effect of EYES OF THE INNOCENT. The reader has to keep turning pages to see just where this plot is going. And when you think you have the mystery figured out, you discover that wasn’t the actual mystery after all. Where the heck is Parks going with this? I predict he’s going straight to another award-winning novel.

EYES OF THE INNOCENT is available from Minotaur on February 1 in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-312-57478-9).

If you haven't had a chance to check out FACES OF THE GONE, Parks' Shamus and Nero-award winning debut novel, it is now available in trade paper (ISBN: 978-0-312-67280-5) from Minotaur as well as on audio from Audible.

Top Suspense Group Giveaway

On Wednesday I told you about the Top Suspense Group website where nine established authors have joined together to provide readers a place to find quality e-books on the Internet. They have generously offered up free books to three of my readers. Each winner will have their choice of books from the following options:

THE JULIUS KATZ MYSTERIES by Dave Zeltserman (e-book)
ROAD TO PURGATORY by Max Allan Collins (signed hardcover)
VOLUNTARY MADNESS by Vicki Hendricks (e-book)
BLOOD MOON by Ed Gorman (e-book)
THE WALK by Lee Goldberg (e-book)
NO WAY OUT by Joel Goldman (signed paperback)

For the e-books, the contest is open to anyone, but due to shipping expenses, only U.S. residents can win the print books. So, you just need to complete the form below with your contact information, as well as two book choices in the event we are unable to provide all winners with their first choice. Entries will be accepted through next Friday (January 28th) and I'll announce the three winners on the 29th. If you have any questions, drop me an email or leave them in the comments. Good luck!

Audiobook Thursday - BURY YOUR DEAD

First line: "Up the stairs they raced, taking them two at a time, trying to be as quiet as possible."

As Armand Gamache and Jean Guy Beauvoir recover from a devastating mishap, they each find themselves in an unplanned investigation. Gamache is pulled into a murder investigation in Quebec City while Beauvoir returns to Three Pines to retrace the steps of the hermit's murder and Olivier Brule's subsequent arrest. As these two story lines move forward, flashbacks slowly reveal the mishap that injured both inspectors, physically and psychologically.

Louise Penny continues to raise the stakes with each installment of the Three Pines/Chief Inspector Gamache series. In BURY YOUR DEAD she takes a closer look at the souls of her characters than she has in the previous novels. Series devotees know that Armand Gamache is a good man, a smart man, but in BURY YOUR DEAD he becomes a little more like the average reader. He suffers and makes mistakes and experiences regret. While this is a very important part of the book and it definitely enriches the plot, what truly hooked me in BURY YOUR DEAD, was Penny's development of Beauvoir.

Beauvoir has long intrigued me, but he mostly plays a sideline role in the previous novels. In BURY YOUR DEAD readers get to experience more of Beauvoir's thoughts, instincts and reactions. He is a rich, fascinating character. An outcast in his profession until Gamache recognized a spark of potential and recruited him for his team, Beauvoir is often abrasive and unlikeable. However, he is also smart and devoted to Gamache. Just when you're prepared to dislike him, he does something to win your heart. I enjoyed this extra time with Beauvoir and hope he plays a more substantial role in future books as well.

BURY YOUR DEAD is, like its predecessors, steeped in Penny's unique blend of humor and heartbreak. The characters are all unique, colorful and realistic. The reader can practically feel the heat from the bistro fireplace as he/she is transported to rural Quebec. And in BURY YOUR DEAD Penny shows a little more of the Anglophone versus Francophone conflict and communication barriers present in Quebec:

"'In the entire interview she spoke French and I spoke English. It was like something out of a cartoon. She must think I'm a moron. So far all I've done is grinned and nodded and I think I may have asked whether she's descended from the lower orders.'

'Why did you ask that?'

'I didn't mean to. I wanted to ask if she had access to the basement, but something went wrong,' he smiled ruefully. 'I think clarity might be important in a murder case.'

'I think you may be right. What did she say to your question?'

'She got quite upset and said that the night is a strawberry.'"

BURY YOUR DEAD is another splendid effort from Penny. I will, however, caution readers not to pick up BURY YOUR DEAD before having read THE BRUTAL TELLING. Knowing the plot of THE BRUTAL TELLING is important to understanding Beauvoir's plotline in BURY YOUR DEAD.

As with all of the Three Pines novels before it, BURY YOUR DEAD is narrated beautifully by Ralph Cosham. Cosham deftly maneuvers between the French-Canadian characters and the Anglo-Canadian characters. He is conscientious of Penny's humor and enriches it in his reading. He knows the characters and aids readers in entering not only their worlds, but their minds. And BURY YOUR DEAD is his greatest challenge to date as far as the mental and emotional elements are concerned. Cosham makes it sound so easy. In my opinion, this audiobook series truly rates as one of the greatest pairings of narrator and works.

BURY YOUR DEAD is available on unabridged audio from Macmillan Audio (ISBN: 978-1-427-21071-5) and in hardcover from Minotaur (ISBN: 978-0-312-37704-5).

Stuff to Check Out

I have a couple fun items to share today. The first is a chance for you to win a book. We always like those around this place! During the holidays, Stephen Coonts was a guest blogger for me. Well now you can enter to win a print copy of his newest book, DEEP BLACK: DEATH WAVE, which is due out February 1, 2011. The folks over at Command Posts are giving away five copies, so head on over and stick your name in that drawing.

The next item is a site called Top Suspense Group. I just learned about this group of nine established authors who are making it easier to find quality e-books on the web. While at first that may not seem like a big thing, wait until you pay for your first unedited book. I own an e-reader, but I'm very apprehensive about buying e-books for it. Not because I don't like to read on it, but I feel like if I take a risk and it turns out to be a dud, then I really have nothing to show for it. I can't sell the book or give it away or use it to prop up my wobbly table. But if it's an author I already know or books that have already proven themselves in print, I'm taking less of a risk. And while I won't have a book to sell or giveaway or prop up my table, I won't feel as though I've wasted my time and I'll have the experience of enjoying the read. I guess that's why I think this group is a great idea.

The site includes noir, crime, mystery, thriller, horror and Westerns from Max Allan Collins, Bill Crider, Lee Goldberg, Joel Goldman, Ed Gorman, Vicki Hendricks, Paul Levine, Harry Shannon and Dave Zeltserman.

Lastly, if you are a reader in the Cleveland area, I have three events in the near future to tell you about. First will be Michael Koryta. He's at the Crocker Park/Westlake Barnes and Noble on February 3rd at 7:00. Next, Lisa Black will be at the Fairview Park library on February 10th at 7 and finally Noah Boyd will be at the Brecksville library on February 11th. For the two library events they ask that you register, so I've included the links of where to go to register.

Sunday I will be in Milwaukee to see Robert Crais with my Crimespree family. If you're in that neck of the woods, do not miss RC! A fun time will be had by all.

That's it for my news today. I'll be back tomorrow with a new audiobook review for Audiobook Thursday. See ya then. Happy Reading!

LOVE ME TO DEATH - Allison Brennan

First line: "This was Roger Morton's big chance - his only chance - to get out of the country and re-create the life he used to have."

Lucy Kincaid is a rape survivor trying to join the FBI. As she works through the steps to attain her goal - impressive collegiate accomplishments and internships - she is also volunteering at a victims' rights group. Lucy has created a program to track released rapists who are at risk for repeating their crimes. She finds them online and sets up stings to take the offenders down and off the streets. However, when one of the offenders doesn't show at the arranged location and instead winds up dead in another location, the cop who was sent to arrest the rapist questions Lucy. When Lucy starts digging into the matter, she discovers this isn't the first man she's set up to turn up dead instead.

Meanwhile, one of the men responsible for Lucy's rape six years earlier has been released from prison. When he too winds up dead, the FBI is at Lucy's door searching for answers.

LOVE ME TO DEATH has a strong, suspenseful plot with well-timed twists. Brennan does a great job of giving just enough information to adequately tell the story but leave some vagueness that in turn creates questions and momentum.

The characters are well developed. Lucy is a strong female lead with realistic qualities. She has fears and doubts and desires but is resilient, smart and determined. Likewise, her sister-in-law Kate is talented and smart. I enjoyed the verbal sparring between Kate and Special Agent Noah Armstrong, contrasting and comparing the sexes and their obstinacy.

Sean Rogan is Lucy's love interest as well as her brother's partner in a security agency. He's young and full of testosterone. I think Brennan intends for his character to grow and mature in his relationship with Lucy and the dangers they're encountering, but it sometimes came off as a little overly dramatic and not so believable.

The main villain of LOVE ME TO DEATH is a 100% evil, creepy sociopath. Readers will not have any conflict about their feelings for this character.

As I'm a proponent of less is more when it comes to sex and violence, I think the "romantic interludes" were far more detailed then they needed to be and lost a lot of their effect in addition to slowing the plot at points. But if you're a fan of the romance, this element won't be an issue for you.

Finally, I was a little disappointed in the outcome, which I, of course, will not share. Part of the resolution I figured out early, and part was anti-climatic after all the suspense Brennan built up throughout the book. The book is so chock full of great elements that challenge the reader, and I wanted the end to be at that level as well. You know, one of those, "Wow! She really got me on that one."

That being said, it was a very enjoyable, fast read. Fans of romantic suspense will likely fly through the pages to find the resolution.

LOVE ME TO DEATH is available from Ballantine Books in paperback (ISBN: 978-0-345-52039-5). And this review is part of the LOVE ME TO DEATH blog tour, arranged by TLC Book Tours. You can find other reviews of this book at the TLC site.

ROOM - Emma Donoghue

I have several audiobook reviews that I need to catch up on, so even though it isn't Thursday, I have an audio review to share today.

First Line: "Today I'm five."

ROOM is the story of a five-year-old boy, Jack, and his mother. His mother was kidnapped and held captive in a small structure - 11 x 11 foot - in her captors back yard. The one-room building has no windows save for a skylight in the ceiling. It's been soundproofed, and a security system keeps the door locked by code. Jack was born in this small room and for all five years of his life his world has been the room.

Following an incident where their captor, who Jack refers to as "Old Nick", punishes Jack and his mother by turning off all the power to the room for several days, Jack's mother decides they have to find a way out or soon Old Nick will kill them both.

I listened to this book with a bit of apprehension at first. The concept of the story line seemed disturbing and I wasn't sure if it was subject matter I wanted to use for entertainment. But the raves for this book simply poured in, so I decided I had to at least check it out. ROOM turned out to be nothing like what I was bracing myself for. Instead it was a beautiful tale of discovery, of insight, of growth and relationships, of growing pains and life-changing events. There are underlying disturbing foundations to the story, but as it is told through Jack's eyes and voice, those are not the focus of the book.

Jack comes to life and the reader - or audience - feels five and naive and unaware. The cute and funny things that any young child says are elements of Jack's character and elicit the same kind of heart-warming laughs. Jack's fear of new, of the unknown is something everyone can identify with, and Donoghue uses that identification to bond the reader with Jack, to create not only sympathy but empathy.

Jack's mother is a fascinating character as well. She was kidnapped as a college student, so she never had the chance to fully grow out of the self-centered stage of life. But Jack is her world and she would do anything for him. The constant conflict between those two elements of her character can make for some uncomfortableness because the reader is forced to look at his/herself and say, "what would I do in that same situation?"

Donoghue did an amazing job of taking a hypothetical "what if" situation and looking at every detail, down to the most minute aspects. There were times where I would think, "really? Jack gets this concept but not that concept?" So some of those elements didn't seem like they balanced exactly right, but I think I was drawn to those details because Donoghue examines their lives at such high magnification. Those details were fleeting in the overall wonderfulness of ROOM.

The Hachette Audio version of this book is magnificent. It was read by a cast of narrators: Michal Friedman, Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff and Suzanne Toren. The entire ensemble is wonderful, but Friedman is brilliantly convincing as five-year-old Jack. His fears and wonderment; confusion and enlightenment shine through in every utterance. Archer voices Jack's mother and does a stunning job of reacting to and responding to Jack. And that's an important element of the novel. Jack's mother experienced life outside the room. She understands concepts Jack is completely ignorant of. Those interactions between mother and son were essential for the audio to pass muster. It overwhelmingly did. A superb performance from all the narrators.

ROOM is available on audio from Hachette Audio (ISBN: 978-1-60788-627-3) or in hardcover from Little, Brown and Co (ISBN: 978-0-31609-833-5).

Audiobook Thursday - NARROWS GATE

NARROWS GATE is Jim Fusilli’s most recent work, but it wasn’t written for print. Instead this epic novel went straight to audio.

NARROWS GATE is the story of three boys growing up in the midst of the Italian mob in mid-twentieth century New Jersey. Bill Marsala craved nothing more than his mother’s approval and attention. When he couldn’t have that he weaseled his way into the entertainment business as a singer, but at a heavy cost – an obligation to the family. And when that obligation mixed with his ever-increasing ego, disaster was inevitable. Sal Benno would never be mistaken for Eistein. His aspirations were low, but he was happy in his family’s grocery business and felt on top of the world when he was entrusted with some basic errands for the family. They never come without strings, though. And Leo Bell was the brains of the group. He wanted to make his way out of Narrows Gate, see the world, and live. But he also wanted to protect his best friend Sal from the dangers that were bound to find the clueless boy.

Fusilli doesn’t bring anything new to the classic mafia epic story. Instead the novelty comes in its delivery, strictly audio.

Joe Pantoliano and Joe Barrett were hand-picked for the project with Pantoliano performing the dialogue and Barrett the narrative. Their combined efforts resulted in a fantastic audiobook narration. Pantoliano brings the Jersey mafia to life with distinct dialect; each character had a sound as unique as his/her character. Sal’s bumbling personality and tendency towards cluelessness is emphasized in Pantoliano’s chosen sound for him. He adjusts for Marsala’s bi-polar tendencies. And many of the mob heavies have grisly and intimidating sounds. Barrett’s honey voice expertly set the tone of each scene. Combined, they bring out not only the World War II time period, but the geographic element as well. This performance element is what makes NARROWS GATE so unique; an extra layer of interpretation goes into audiobooks. The audience doesn’t have an option to interpret themselves by seeing the print version first. Instead, their interpretation is now influenced by the sound these two narrators have created. I found that sound to be highly effective.

The only drawback I would mention on this audio, however, is keeping track of all the characters and names. There are many characters to begin with, but as with most mob stories, the characters have multiple names due to nicknames and such. In addition there are a few names that sound very similar. So at times it may be confusing as to who is involved in what capacity.

Fans of Puzo or The Sopranos will likely appreciate this performance. It’s a long one at just over 17 and a half hours, but following Sal, Leo and Bill through their life-long experiences is quickly addictive and 17 hours is gone before you realize it.

A Day to Celebrate; A Day to Mourn

Today marks the 3rd birthday of Jen's Book Thoughts. I had anticipated a great day of celebration because I'm still slightly amazed that it's been 3 years since I started this blog. In a way it feels like just yesterday and in other ways it feels like I've been talking with you all forever.

I'm proud of the way the blog has grown and the accomplishments we've been able to make, the authors we've been able to talk to and hype, spreading the crime fiction love! I want to continue to grow and accomplish and discover. That's what my goals are. A bit broad, but it leaves me room to be creative, which is what I love.

However, this is also a sad day. Yesterday the announcement came out that The Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles is closing its doors at the end of the month. If you're a regular reader here, you've heard me talk about them and their link is at the bottom of the blog. Two years ago, when I was still a wee blogger and basically didn't know my way out of a paper bag, I visited The Mystery Bookstore for the first time. They were friendly and welcoming, despite the craziness of the pre-Festival of Books party going on.

The Mystery Bookstore is where I met Chris Grabenstein, Craig Johnson, Jeff Parker and Gregg Hurwitz for the first time. It's also where I met my wonderful friend Michael Alatorre for the first time.

I returned to my home across the country but continued to develop a wonderful friendship with the folks there. Linda introduced me to Reed Farrel Coleman's work and sent me pictures of Gregg Hurwitz signing my book; Emily - bless her heart - was always so thorough about my e-mail orders; and when I sent a request and said, "I'd like to spend xx dollars for prizes for my theme week" Bobby picked the greatest selection of books for me. Their entire staff is just amazing.

I had the good fortune to return again last year to see them in person. There's something just so magical for a crime fiction fan walking through the front door. You just enter a world where everyone "gets" you. Even though I couldn't walk through that front door very often, I still feel a loss. The Mystery Bookstore is much, much more than bricks and mortar. It's friends; it's family.


Please, if you have the chance between now and January 31st, visit the Mystery Bookstore. Take a picture of yourself there and send it to me. If you have a mystery indie bookstore near you, VISIT! Patronize. We can't afford to lose more of these magical places. They're endangered as it is; let's not allow them to become extinct.

SECRETS TO THE GRAVE - Tami Hoag

First line: "The house stood by itself back off the road in a field of dried-golden grass, half-hidden by spreading oaks."

A five-year-old girl witnesses the brutal murder of her mother, is strangled and left for dead by the assailant she refers to as "Bad Daddy." Vince Leone is called in to help investigate the crime with Detective Tony Mendez. Their investigation leads them to an eccentric professor, an attorney whose marriage is falling apart, and the victim's benefactor. When the victim's best friend vanishes the stakes grow even higher. Has another serial killer come to Oak Knoll, California?

The main plot of SECRETS TO THE GRAVE is an excellent thriller premise and Hoag does a very good job of throwing well-timed twists and red herrings into the mix. Unfortunately the plot is weighed down by what may be excessive red herrings - detail and subplots that don't work to advance the main plot. This causes the pace of the novel to drag when a suspenseful novel should constantly move. There is a great deal that could have been eliminated from this book for a much tighter, stronger story line.

One of my personal biases in fiction is the damsel in distress and the white knight scenario. There are quite a few damsels in distress in this story, the women who need the big strong men to make everything better for them. I didn't feel that any of the females had strong characteristics, so there wasn't anyone that I connected with. This is not to say that the damsel in distress doesn't exist, simply that I don't find her to be an interesting character.

Fans of romantic suspense may find this a more engaging book than I did since the romantic relationships seem to propel the plot more so than the criminal investigation. In this case, I believe I was simply the wrong audience for the book.

This review is part of the blog tour for SECRETS TO THE GRAVE, so you can check the other stops on the tour to get additional perspectives on this novel to determine if you are a better audience fit.

SECRETS TO THE GRAVE is available from Dutton in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-525-95192-6) as well as from Random House on audio (ISBN: 978-0-739-36583-5).

MOONLIGHTING FOR MURDER - Call for Bloggers

Wow! I can't believe it's already time to start getting ready for this year's theme week. This year we'll be celebrating the amateur sleuths in "Moonlighting for Murder." If you're a blogger and you'd like to participate with us, this post will provide details and a sign-up.

For the purpose of this theme week, an amateur sleuth is essentially anyone who solves crimes in the novels but isn't a licensed professional. Many amateur sleuths are found in cozy novels, but the theme week isn't restricted to cozies. Journalists, writers, athletes, musicians, agents, etc., can all be included in the amateur category. The only areas we're going to hold back are medical professionals and legal professionals. If you have any doubt about whether someone qualifies, don't hesitate to drop me an email to ask.

Last year as part of the theme week, bloggers were asked to review a book and then do an additional post related to the setting. This year since we're dealing with amateur sleuths who all have another day job, the additional post should deal with the occupation of the amateur sleuth. Possible options for this post include: the sleuth's resume, an interview with someone who works in that field, a description of the job with details like education requirements/salary ranges, etc. Those are just some examples. Bloggers are encouraged to be as creative as possible with this post.

The theme week will be held:

April 3 - 9, 2011

There will be another tournament to coincide with the theme week. This year we'll have the "World's Savviest Sleuth." Nominations for the tournament will begin February 1st and the tournament itself will take place:

March 7 - April 8, 2011

Bloggers are definitely encouraged to seek guest posts for the theme week. I will also be recruiting guest posts, so if you would like to host an author but don't have one to ask, I will help you connect.

I hope this sounds like a fun theme week and you'd like to participate. To help begin preparations and to keep you informed as details are secured and finalized, I'm asking bloggers to begin signing up at this time. If you would like to participate in "Moonlighting for Murder" please complete the form below. To avoid having several people cover the same sleuth, I ask that you provide three choices, the first being your top choice. If there is a conflict in top choices, the sleuths will be assigned based on the order the bloggers signed up. Last year there were no conflicts, so I don't anticipate a problem, but just in case. If you have questions, you can e-mail me at jensbookthoughts (at) gmail (dot) com.

Bloggers from last year's theme week, if you've already submitted your sleuth to me, you don't need to complete the form. I have you down. I'm excited about "Moonlight for Murder"; I hope you will be, too!

A COLD DAY IN PARADISE - Steve Hamilton

First line: "I stood in a cheap motel room just inside the Soo city limits at 2:30 a.m., looking down at a man who had died that night, a man who had seemingly lost every ounce of blood from his body."

Having discovered Steve Hamilton through one of my favorite reads of 2010, THE LOCK ARTIST, I absolutely had to go back and read his backlist. Lucky for me, Brilliance Audio is putting it out on audiobooks now.

In Steve Hamilton’s first novel, he introduces readers to Alex McKnight, a former minor league baseball player, former Detroit cop. A devastating shoot-out that left his partner dead and Alex with a bullet in his chest drives McKnight back home to Paradise, Michigan where he runs a hunting camp and does a little private eye work on the side.

When McKnight’s friend calls him in the middle of the night for help, Alex finds himself in the thick of a murder investigation that seems to be connected to the man who killed his partner. The only problem with that theory is the fact that the murderer is locked up in a maximum security prison.

Readers, like me, who are late arriving at Hamilton’s McKnight series are in for a treat. There’s humor, there’s drama, there’s crime, and there’s love. Just the right amount of each. And every time you think you have it figured out, Hamilton will jerk the rug out from under you. I loved everything about this book, but because of the plot twists, I didn’t realize that until the very end.

Hamilton’s characters are rich and layered. McKnight’s internal demons add an extra dimension to an already complex detective novel. I may have been late to this party, but in the case of Hamilton’s Alex McKnight, I say it’s far better to be late than never to experience it at all. I look forward to catching up on this series.

Dan John Miller narrated A COLD DAY IN PARADISE with a tone that seemed to expertly compliment Hamilton's damaged character. McKnight's passion and pain came through in a natural sound. At points in the narrative when Hamilton had me completely snowed, I was chastising McKnight as though it was truly him speaking to me through the speakers of my audio player. This is an audio that easily pulls you into the world of Alex McKnight and Paradise, Michigan. One that dims the lights and turns the temperature way down without you even realizing it.

A COLD DAY IN PARADISE is available in audio from Brilliance (ISBN: 978-1441817426). It was originally published in print by Minotaur (ISBN: 978-0312192488) and is available in mass market paperback from St. Martin's Press (ISBN: 978-0312969196). A COLD DAY IN PARADISE was the recipient of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

DRIVEN TO INK - Karen Olson

First line: "When Sylvia and Bernie came back from That's Amore Drive-Through Wedding Chapel with my car, it would've been nice if they'd taken the body out of the trunk."

Brett Kavanaugh returns and so does death in Las Vegas. This time, Brett finds a corpse in her car. The same car she leant Jeff Coleman’s mother, Sylvia, for her wedding. However, Sylvia and her new husband are M.I.A. The murder investigation leads Brett and Jeff to a Vegas chapel, complete with Dean Martin impersonators, and a medical research lab. It also leads them straight into a utility pole. The closer they get to finding the murderer, the closer they get to their own funerals.

This series has remained fun and entertaining. Olson continues to create unique characters befitting her Vegas setting. And the Painted Lady staff of misfits is better than ever. In DRIVEN TO INK she brings in the entertainment business coupled with the “quickie marriage” scene Vegas is so well known for. She also continues to make use of her setting, letting the glitz and glamor show through on each page.

The plot of DRIVEN TO INK is creative and fun, but there is a questionable element that arises near the end. It’s not enough to ruin the entire book, it simply requires the reader to let go of reality a bit and just enjoy.

The humor is well crafted as Olson illustrates the absurdity of human behavior, viewed through her eccentric protagonist’s eyes. In DRIVEN TO INK some of that humor includes the Adkins Diet craze, the oxygen bars and of course the drive-through wedding chapels.

As with the two books before it, DRIVEN TO INK is a creatively witty mystery with all the razzle dazzle of its setting.

DRIVEN TO INK is available as a mass market paperback (ISBN: 978-0-451-23157-4) from Obsidian.

REPORT FOR MURDER - Val McDermid

First line: "Lindsay Gordon put murder to the back of her mind and settled down in the train compartment to enjoy the broken greys and greens of the Derbyshire scenery."

In Val McDermid’s first book of her Lindsay Gordon series, the journalist is covering a fundraising event at a private girl’s school. The fundraiser features two alumni who have become successful through their arts: Cordelia Brown as a novelist and Lorna Smith-Couper as a cellist. When Lorna Smith-Couper is found dead just before her performance, the suspects begin piling up. From students to teachers to parents, seems everyone has a motive to kill the musician.

McDermid creates a wonderful puzzle mystery in REPORT FOR MURDER. She winds the plot around so that all the suspects seem plausible. She’s chosen a setting that allows her to pull in themes of class, politics and ambition. But they are subtly integrated and underlie the main story line.

Her characters are well developed and real. Characters who are smart but still do dumb things. Characters who are shaped by the nature of their environments. Characters who make bad choices with good intentions, regardless of their ages or educations.

REPORT FOR MURDER is a lighter novel from McDermid’s bibliography. Readers who favor the traditional mystery will appreciate the complexity with less of the graphic elements. All readers will appreciate the careful balance of plot and character combined with McDermid’s wit. A very enjoyable read.

REPORT FOR MURDER was originally published in the U.S. by St. Martin's Press in 1990. It is presently available in paperback from Bywater Books (ISBN: 978-1932859065)

The Sentry - Robert Crais

First line: "Monday, 4:28 A.M., the narrow French Quarter room was smoky with cheap candles that smelled of honey."

Joe Pike's only mistake was stopping to put air in the tires of his Jeep. Had he bypassed the gas station that day, his life would be completely different. Instead Joe noticed a couple of gang bangers assaulting a sandwich shop owner and went over to his defense. Joe promises the owner's niece that he will make sure the bangers don't return. So when the shop is vandalized with animal entrails and goat heads, Joe sets out on a mission. That mission is heightened when the owner and his niece disappear. It soon becomes clear that the sandwich shop owner and his niece aren't what they appeared to be, but Joe made a promise and regardless of appearances, he will keep his promise.

I approach each new Robert Crais book with trepidation. My biggest fear is the book that loses momentum in the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series. THE SENTRY is not that book. The plot is explosive out of the gate; it kept me engaged for the entire 300 pages. Half of me wanted to turn the pages quickly; the plot demanded it of me. And the other half of me wanted to savor each page as Joe Pike's layers continued to be peeled away and his relationship to Elvis Cole took on new depth and meaning. Crais shares with the reader:

"Not the likeliest of pairings, Pike being so quiet and remote, Cole being one of those people who thought he was funny, but they were more alike than most people knew."

As Crais shares more of Joe in the novels, those who have followed the series find that to be true. And that fact is developed further in each subsequent book. That being said, it should also be mentioned that "developing" Joe's character doesn't mean changing Joe's character. The strong, solemn warrior is as present as ever:

"'You are making a mistake. You think you're talking to some pretty-boy Mexican, but you are talking to La Eme. We are two hundred thousand strong. You should wait like I say. You don't want to go to war with us.'

Pike waited him out, letting the pressure of his silence build. When Azzara finally spoke again his voice showed a strain Pike found curious.

'Are we clear on this? Do you get it?'

Pike said nothing.

'Do. You. Get. It?'

'You don't understand.'

'What? What don't I understand?'

'War is what I do.'"

Crais' dialogue is immaculate. The tone of the scene comes through; the development of the characters is stronger than any direct description could be. And not one dialogue tag is necessary to accomplish that.

Likewise his prose echos for the reader as though Crais is reading it off into the canyon behind Cole's A-frame house:

"Then the cat growled, somewhere to his right and below on the slope. It started low, and spiraled louder like a terrible war cry until it filled the canyon with an anguished wail as if the cat was in pain. Cole thought it was the cat. He was pretty sure it was the cat."

Joe and Elvis will always remain Crais' focus in this series - just imagine if he'd have killed Joe in THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT like he originally planned - but as Crais once mentioned, he creates every character as if it could have its own book. Daniel, the antagonist in THE SENTRY, is just such a character. Despite being the villain, I wanted to know more about Daniel and would read a book Crais wrote just about him. Crais doesn't save all the good stuff for the good guys.

I do admit that I missed Carol Starkey. She doesn't make any appearance this go round. But I suppose it's hard to pack all the brilliant dialogue, strong emotion, superb character development, heart-pounding plot AND Carol Starkey into every book.

Raymond Chandler is quoted as saying, "When a book, any sort of book, reaches a certain intensity of artistic performance it becomes literature. That intensity may be a matter of style, situation, character, emotional tone, or idea, or half a dozen other things. It may also be a perfection of control over the movement of a story similar to the control a great pitcher has over the ball.” THE SENTRY is evidence that Crais has surpassed that level of intensity. Don't miss THE SENTRY.

THE SENTRY is available January 11th from G.P. Putnam's Sons (ISBN: 978-0-399-15707-3). It will also be available on audiobook from Brilliance Audio (ISBN: 978-1-423-37558-6).

Winners, Reminders and Such

I am excited to announce the winners of the 2011 Men of Mystery calendars. With the help of the Random Number Generator, I have determined that:

Sheila K from Florida
and
Stacy P from Ohio

will each be receiving one of these limited edition calendars. I will put them in the mail tomorrow so you can get the most possible use out of them, ladies. I'm thinking this might make a nice annual project, maybe make the theme different each year. What do you think?

Some other items I wanted to remind you about. First, don't forget that you have until Wednesday to enter the drawing for one of five e-books from Open Road Media. Winners will get their choice of one book from one of my four special guests last week: Jonathon King, Jack Higgins, Lawrence Block or Stephen Coonts. They are available for any format of e-reader you have, so don't miss out on that opportunity!

Also a reminder that Brian over at Spinetingler has been collecting links to all the "Best of" lists this year. You can see what everyone liked best in one easy access location.

The posts for the Criminal Plots reading challenge have gone up. So you can start posting the links to your reviews or adding your books in the comments sections for each of the books you're reading for the challenge. If you haven't signed up to join us, it isn't too late. We're going to have a grand time seeing all the books people choose for the challenge. (Note: as of this post, the Mr. Linky's aren't working due to maintenance. You can leave your link in the comments or add it later if it isn't working when you access.)

At The Precinct Facebook page, we're playing a hot round of The Title Game (on the Discussions tab). Seems like every time I go over to check on the status of the game, there's 20 new titles added. So, stop on over and test your title skills on that one. Also, at either The Precinct or The Agency (on the Discussions tab) we're taking the nominations for what books you think every crime fiction fan should read before they die. I want to turn this into a meme of sorts, but I can't do so unless we get more folks adding nominations. So stop over and drop in your thoughts on that topic. Sometimes I botch the Facebook links, so if these don't work, just do a search for The Precinct or The Agency and we'll pop up.

Some writers' tour schedules that have popped up that you may want to check out if you haven't already:

• Robert Crais
• Michael Koryta
• Brad Parks
• Steve Hockensmith
• T. Jefferson Parker

As I hear about additional schedules I'll share what I know! Hope you had a great weekend ringing in the new year. Here's to lots of great books and lots of great conversations about books! Happy Reading!