Mystery Crime Books

Michael Jecks is a very, very accomplished writer. He brings the Edward and Isabella period to brilliand life. I recommend everyone who has interest in mistery and medieval history to read his books as soon as possible and, just like me, to crave for the next installment of the series

This is the first book in the series that fails to deliver on an enjoyable mystery. The author almost apologizes for the radical change in his crafting of this story. Mr. Jecks does a wonderful job of weaving his character into the historical backdrop of the English-French conflict and provides a solid story line to follow. It is however not his typical work that builds details and characters to a climax of understanding who the culprit is. I would recommend it as a good read for someone who is like the time period of the setting, as the story touches on many of the little known facts of the events, just not a good mystery.

I can only apologize to Michael Jecks for not having written a review before now. Although I had the long wait, it arrived earlier than originally expected. I pledged to wait and finish the book that I was reading at the time by an excellent author. But, the flesh is weak and before I knew it, I was carefully taking the dust jacket off the precious tomb and finding it most difficult to put down despite a set back in health. Jecks has been good, no excellent before now. Then he wrote outside of his "home ground" and one or two nay sayers where there to chide him for leaving home as it were. I could not agree! He grew and his character development grew apace. Now Jecks has proven to me that he can weave a great story in a most complex web while one enjoys every minute of reading not just the "who done it," but absorb the historical period at the same time. I will leave it at that because I don't plan on telling the story. But, Jecks, you had best get the next one on the shelves soon. I am also glad to see that the book stores are keeping his older works on the shelves as never before that I have seen in this part of the U.S. I certainly hope that British readers appreciate what they have in this author and give him credit. The book is good enough that I over looked the few typos that I don't credit the author with, but his publisher should take greater care for Jecks. I am looking forward to the release of his friend, Bernard Knight's, latest work. I hope for earlier than expected release here.

First, I'll admit to two of my biases: I have enjoyed all of Michael Jecks' books, and I love medieval mysteries in general. And I hate the fact that these are sold as being "Knights Templar" mysteries, because that is hardly their main focus.

That being said, this book is more Templar-oriented than most, and Jecks is as scrupulous about history as always. I also love the fact that the title is in some ways a potentially misleading riddle.

For those who are used to seeing Jecks' characters in the English countryside, this novel, which is set mostly in France, will be new and different. I applaud Jecks for branching out geographically, while keeping the characters with whom I was comfortable. It is another book that teaches a lot of history painlessly while amusing us with interesting characters and a good mystery.

Amazon's algorithms somehow decided for me that I would enjoy this genre, and I have. This author and series are interesting in the insights they lend to post-revolution Laos as well as giving us story lines and characters that we cannot easily intuit, always a plus in detective novels. More character focus than the detective Chen series, even less western in feel. Give the series a shot.

In 1977 Vientiane a truck ran over blind dentist Dr. Buagaew, killing him instantly. Everyone who witnessed the tragedy assumes the late pedestrian obviously owed karmic debt so no tears were shed. As is the case in these types of vehicular deaths, the Laotian National Coroner septuagenarian Dr. Siri Paiboun is directed to perform a cursory review. He and his capable assistant Nurse Dtui assume nothing of their inquiry even when they find an odd anomaly of blank papers on the victim.

Paiboun soon realizes the papers actually contain encoded notes written in invisible ink. He and Dtui with the assistance of his closest comrades Police Officer Phosy and Politburo member Civilai begin to find clues related to the secret writings that to their shock is simply moves in a game of chess that sends the coroner to the city of Pakse where he begins to piece the puzzle together of a plot to overthrow the Communist regime.

Combining humorous eccentric characters like a fortune telling transvestite Auntie Bpoo and the corpse as a practicing blind dentist inside a strong serious investigation, Colin Cotterill continues his great late 1970s Laos mystery series with another excellent entry. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the truck hits the dentist and never slows down until the final confrontation between anarchists and the old dogs like the coroner. Readers will appreciate Colin Cotterill's fine tale with newcomers seeking the backlist (see DISCO FOR THE DEPARTED, THE CORONER'S LUNCH and THIRTY-THREE TEETH).

Harriet Klausner

This is the fourth book in the Doctor Siri series. I have still to read the second and third in the series and I know that the fifth has just been finished. Ideally, of course, one should read these books in order. But linear patience is not amongst my virtues and having so recently discovered these wonderful novels, I find I must read them as quickly as I can obtain them.

In this novel, Dr Siri Paiboun, the reluctant national coroner of Laos, is initially asked to discover the identity of a corpse delivered to the morgue in Vientiane. This is simply the beginning of a series of events involving the problem solving skills of our hero Dr Siri, his friend Civilai (currently a senior member of the Laos politburo), Nurse Dtui, Phosy (the police officer), and Auntie Bpoo, a transvestite fortune teller. Set in the Laos of the 1970s, filled with action, unpredictable events, fascinating characters with wry observations on life, death and politics - this is truly a delightful series.

The writing is superb, and frequently had me laughing out loud. Who can resist:`It is hard to hold a serious debriefing with a man who's ripping off his pants in the middle of a town's main street.' Naturally, by this stage there were other crimes to be solved. After all: `A good socialist is not a dustbin, with a closed lid. He is a letter box, always open to receive news.' Fortunately for Dr Siri, in relation to one of the crimes: `.. the god of unnecessary paperwork intervened. Even before they had the powder, the crime solved itself.'

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of books two and three, and keenly anticipating the publication of the fifth book. After all, Dr Siri isn't getting any younger.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Mr. Cotteril has several of the talents necessary to a mystery writer. He creates likeable and believable characters, a gripping story, and some memorable description. Unfortunately he puts his talents to the service of a propaganda so pure you would have to go back to Jiang Qing's entertainments during the cultural revolution to find an equivalent. First we are led to like and trust a number of smart and funny characters. Then all these characters turn out, despite the lovable foibles which communism is shown to possess, to be devoted enough to the communist regime to devote all their energy to preventing an anti-communist coup. This is essentially a child's story, remember--the whole pleasure of reading it is supposed to consist in rooting for the group of good children in their attempt to overthrow evil--so that in order to derive any pleasure at all from this book the reader is forced to regard the communists as the good guys. It gets worse. We actually meet two people who support their deposed king, and it's not enough that they should be shown to be thoroughly unpleasant people: they turn out to have been the killers of a little boy. Think about that. You populate a novel with good people who all belong to the same political side, and the only people from the other side whom you introduce are child-killers. I feel disgusted for having spent money on this kind of drivel. The obligation of art to portray human complexities--the human obligation to tell both sides of a story--the obligation of anyone writing anything to respect the intelligence of his readers--Mr. Cotteril spits on and tramples on all of these things with such abandon that I feel disgusted for having spent money on and read his book.

On the level of simple facts, Laos had what by many accounts was a decent and honorable royal family whom the communists starved to death after taking power. Here they are vilified. Why? For being "running dogs of the French". Let's see. The French left in 1954--22 years is a little long to be serving people who'd left the scene. But there is no logic, no integrity, no honesty in this book. I called it crude propaganda because in many respects it is, but there is one respect in which it is quite crafty. Even the author of a book like this knows that if he portrayed his side as all good nobody would believe him. And so he allows his good communists to grumble about the shortcomings of the new regime. Expose some of the weaknesses as well as all of the strengths of your side, and allow the other side to be devils incarnate--that is the trick and Mr. Cotterill knows it well.


Turning for a moment to technique, while it is as I have said a gripping enough tale, there is very little in it that will be new to or surprise anyone who read Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys or any other of a plethora of juvenile fiction. Nobody could seriously compare this work to genuinely delightful detective fiction such as that of Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle.

Having enjoyed the first 3 instalments of Siri's story, the fourth comes as a bit of a let-down. The mixture of crime mystery, political satire, and supernatural mumbojumbo is out of balance.
The crime cases are a bit lame, maybe due to too much reliance on the recipes of M. Maigret.
The ghosts are not what they were in other cases.
And the politics are the main disappointment. Actually, the main case is this time based on politics: a counter-revolutionary coup plotted by royalists in refugee camps in Thailand. Siri and his friends get caught up in their conscience: despite their disenchantment with the government, which has been in place since two years now, rather like a visiting family that overstaid their welcome, the loyalty of the old party warrior puts his course of action beyond doubt. That is convincing, but not interesting.
What do we care if the coup wins or fails? Siri does not manage to draw us in on his side this time. Pity. It is hard to keep a series with such specific and unusual protagonists alife for many sequels.

Third book in the deliciously sinister series created by Frank Miller. If you've ever heard the phrase "They had it coming to them" and agreed, you should definitely read this book. If anything is great of this decidely Noir series is that all heroes in this series make you nod in approval in regards to bloody murder. That's the magic of Frank Miller, he puts situations which are obviously not conforming to society or what we deem as correct and spins it in a light that makes you not only acquiesce but root for hookers and murderers. If that's not talent I don't know what is. So how fat is the Big Fat Kill? Did you see seven, that first guy who was fed to death? Well add another ton or so. This series and this book is not for the weak of heart or stomach. Now if you do have the required like for gore necessary for this series, you will find yet another tale of alluringly torrid happenings in a city that makes Gotham look like a Winter Wonderland. Basin City... Population fluctuates and declines with every book.

The comic came in perfect condition and superb time. I recommend it to everyone. :)

Take Dwight, the man who gets involved with the wrong women. Throw in a cop, seeing one his old girlfriends.

Add a weekend at Bernie's routine, a small female ninja sword wielding killer, some tar pits, and a lot of whores with guns desperate to maintain the status quo after some cops die on their turf.

At the end, it is a Big Fat Kill.

After the strong start of the Sin City series of THE HARD GOODBYE and A DAME TO KILL FOR, the books take a bit of a dip with this third volume, THE BIG FAT KILL. It is not bad, but it lacks that stick-to-the-ribs impact of the first two, mostly due to characters that are not as interesting as others we have seen.

Dwight McCarthy is simply not as intriguing a character as Marv from Volume 1 (nor as interesting as John Hartigan in the volume that follows this). This was not a major liability in the second volume, A DAME TO KILL FOR, for the simple reason that Dwight was overshadowed by one of the most captivating characters in the series, the ultimate femme fatale of Ava Lord. But here, Dwight has to stand more on his own and, although certainly not a bad character, he also certainly is not strong enough to really hold the audience as much as we would like.

Yes, there are the girls of Old Town. But their appeal is diluted as no one character stands out. Miho is quite something, but the fact that she does not talk limits her development. And personally, I always thought Gail was just not up to snuff for the Sin City series.

The book is saved by the action. Miho taking care of business the hard way, the Irish mercenaries, the high body count, make THE BIG FAT KILL worthwhile. The weaker characters are a detriment but, fortunately, not a deal breaker.

I've said it before and I know I'll continue to say it, when it comes to comic book artists, no one tops Frank Miller (and no, I haven't forgotten about Alan Moore). He comes in an works magic. I love the pen and ink artwork, both simple and complex. And Miller is great with noir. Sin City is everyone's favorite town of sin populated with everyone's favorite losers. You're gonna love it.

I am truly quite fond of Sue Grafton's work and I believe this is one of her better mysteries (letting you know my opinion that all our good). Kinsey Milhone is a character who has all the right sass and detail to make her extremely and believably human.

I completely agree about the filler. I skipped paragraph after paragraph. Would have been interesting to read what Kinsey thought or felt about what was going on, but in most situations, no luck. I also object when characters do something stupid or out of character in order to move the plot along. Kinsey is supposed to be an independent thinker, but in this case the story wouldn't have had any forward motion unless she unquestioningly let Reba lead her around by the nose. Complete nonsense. I agree, Grafton is fulfilling an obligation, not writing entertainment.

I read R to see if Kinsey would talk more about her family life, which is the only part I liked about Q.

R is awful and doesn't elaborate at all on Q in that regard.

While maybe not the best of the alphabet series, it is still good. Kinsey is hired for a seemingly simple task, which of course doesn't turn out to be that easy. There are times it drags, but I still look forward to S and T. In some ways, I hesitate to read them, but that is only because that means I will start having to wait a whole year in between books!

I've been reading Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone mysteries for years and have loved the series as a whole. Kinsey is a character who seems so real it's as if she'll jump right off the page. She's also a woman with whom I can relate, the kind of woman I'd enjoy having as a friend because she is who she is without any pretense. When Kinsey has had problems with love, I've been sad for her and when she's been in dangerous situations, I've been worried about her. In short, she is a beloved character to me and I had thought that I could never read a novel in the series in which I would be, well, bored. I was wrong.

The premise of this novel, that of Kinsey as babysitter, just didn't quite work for me. What was more, it felt thin and stretched out, the plot tending to meander. I couldn't see how Kinsey could like Reba as much as she did as Kinsey has always seemed so down to earth, the sort of person who has no time for b.s. Yet Reba dealt plenty of it and Kinsey was happy to do Reba's bidding. None of it seemed all that in character to me and I couldn't warm up to Reba either, who just struck me as self-centered and obnoxious.

Surprisingly, I also didn't enjoy the subplot involving Henry and that really surprised me as he's a character that I normally enjoy. Maybe the whole love triangle involving him and his brother just struck me as too soap-operaish, I don't know. At any rate, I felt that the end result of their mini feud was very unsatisfying given that it more or less rendered that whole subplot pointless. Henry also seemed rather more petulant than I remember him being in other novels, which made him less endearing to me.

The real high point of the novel for me was the new man in Kinsey's life. She's always been a character who's so unlucky in love and who seems so lonely at times that I was glad to see that she might finally have found someone. I hope I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch in that regard but, really, Kinsey's had so many bad relationships that another would start to seem too cliche.

I tend to prefer serial novels to one-offs but I find myself wondering sometimes if the author reaches a point in a serial where they just don't know what to do with their character anymore. I felt almost like this book had reached that point. Maybe Grafton was trying to diverge a bit from the usual structure of this series in order to spice things up but to me she didn't hit the mark. I would have preferred more of Kinsey's usual sleuthing and less of the uninteresting character she created in Reba.

That's what keeps this mystery series interesting and exciting. In a lot of ways the goings on in the small town of Lake Eden are not realistic, but who cares? Hannah and her friends are just so much fun. It took awhile for this book to get going, and the actual murder doesn't occur until over half-way through, but the pacing after that is pretty good. I figured out who the murderer was right away since it seemed to me only one could have done it, but it was fun to find out the motive and to watch Hannah and her crew discover the clues that they needed to put it all together. The book has a Hollywood movie being shot in downtown Lake Eden, and this puts the whole town in a state of excitement. I also loved the parts of the book with Moishe (Hannah's cat) in them. And of course there is lots of food and recipes to keep things going. Altogether not a bad effort in this wonderful cozy series.

I purchased the book because I enjoyed the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swenson Mysteries) and Sugar Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen Holiday Mysteries) by the same author.

This book, like the other two I've read, is a delightful depiction of Minnesota as it's often viewed by others. The nurses I worked with in New York City knew exactly one thing about Minnesota, it's COLD!! The author perpetuates our snowy image and the Minnesota Nice character of the people in her little town of Lake Eden where the central characters are charming and enjoyable people with whom to spend time. Each has his or her strengths and weaknesses and each supplies something to the others and to the story that moves things right along. Furthermore, there is a growing history through the sequence of the stories that leaves one wanting to know more about where each character goes.

In this book the murder occurs on main street in front of virtually every one in town. A movie company has chosen the town as its setting for an independent film--something that has actually occurred in Minnesota on several occasions--and many of the locals are recruited to play parts in it. The director is murdered, and it's anyone's guess "who dunnit." As usual the main characters pool their knowledge, skills and abilities to detect the culprit with enjoyable results.

Of particular enjoyment, and a clear indication of her talent, is Ms Fluke's introduction of a plausible, serious, and very interesting film script that is developed throughout the main story.

Exceptional. It's all about entertainment from beginning to end.

This time, Hollywood is coming to Hannah! A small movie crew comes to town to shoot an indy film with an A list director, who happens to also be a real jerk. There are plenty of suspects because almost everyone has a reason to want him dead! Hannah finds a couple of links to her past college days and that leads to some funny sub-plots. I totally adore these characters, and the book was as enjoyable to me as the others. I still think visiting my friends at Lake Eden make for a good time. However, I have some complaints! To start, the mystery doesn't come into play until the last third or so of the book, which I personally don't mind, because I enjoy so much the regular antics of these characters. I'm only mentioning that point because I'm sure not every mystery lover would be as patient with that fact as I am. I was disappointed by Hannah's choice of marriage proposals and I felt like Fluke really dropped the ball for a chance to pursue something good here. And also this was the first of the mystery's where I guessed the murderer from the start. I kept waiting for the curveball that would knock my suspect back off the suspect list but it never happened. I like to think that I'm just good, but I think more likely the handling of this mystery could have been worked out better. I think Fluke does do a great job of keeping the previous murderer's out of the books so that these books can probably be read out of order. I am still waiting for these characters to evolve a bit. I think it could be helpful to the overall series if that happens. Overall this book was still a delight- a lite delight. Don't expect anything too heavy here and you won't be disappointed.

I love this author. She has a way of getting you hooked on the story and making you feel as if you are part of the story. One of the things that I like about her stories is I am able to read this story to my students at work. I can hardly wait for her next murder.

The series, with the 'two love interests' core, is beginning to wear. The mysteries are still good, but when the characters annoy you the book is simply not as enjoyable. The recipes are still amazing, though. A decent fluff read if you've read everything else that's good, but there are much better books of this genre out there.

I love Lily! and Charlaine Harris! This series is so great! I never even read mysteries before these books!! I wish Ms. Harris would write more Lily books!

I won't go into detail about this book, so many have already written great reviews. I will say that if you are looking for something new to read, don't pass up the Lily Bard Series. Lily is a woman who has experienced the worst life has to offer, kidnapped, gang raped, and commiting murder to save her life. Her body is not only scarred, but psychologically she is a mess. Her main goal in life has been to shield herself from people, and taking the solitary job of cleaning other people's houses has insured she has the least amount of contact as possible. Then along comes a man (sexy as hell) with as many demons in his past as she has, though his are of his own making. How these two wounded people find each other and the growth of their love does the heart good. Ms. Harris has a unique quality of bringing fictional characters to life. When I read about the people of Shakespeare, Lily, Jack, Claude, and the rest of the gang, it's hard to remember they don't really exist. I challenge anyone looking for something new to read to pick up the first Lily Bard mystery. You will be hooked from the first page. These books have rich characters and the mystery/suspense keeps you guessing till the end. Now Ms. Harris, please get writing on the latest peek into the complicated but throughly entertaining world of Lily Bard.

I have had all the Lily Bard series sitting on my shelf for over a year and just kept putting off reading them, which is strange since I just love the Sookie Stackhouse books. Now I've finally read them and what a surprise -they are all terrific. Shakespeare's Counselor is the last one Charlaine Harris has written (and it is possibly the last one according to her website)and it is a fast paced , quirky , intelligent story with great characters and plot. Do not put off reading these books !! Lily is very different from Sookie , but just as captivating . I read all 5 books in 2 days and I'm so sorry that I did not read them sooner.
Now I'm going to read all her other books.

The Lily Bard mysteries are a fun, quick read. The heroine is a strong, quirky character, and the series will keep you entertained.

While dreaming about the weekend she spent tied up in a shack, tortured and raped, Lily Bard wakes up trying to kill the man she loves, Jack Leeds. Lily has made some changes in her life since Jack came into it. Now she takes the biggest and most important step, she finally seeks therapy.

She joins a local support group for rape survivors and finally, willingly, begins to discuss what happened to her over 4 years ago. When a member of that group is murdered, Lily once again finds herself in the midst of an investigation to try to figure out whodunit.

This book will show a lot of changes happening in Lily's life and those around her since the last book. There are some very real and painful moments in this story, things that quite simply made me hold my breath or ripped at my heart. Intertwined with the mystery are glimpses into the very personal lives of the women in the support group, and Lily in particular. It's a heartbreaking, heartwarming, and suspenseful story that's always engaging and impossible to set aside.

On Ms. Harris's website it's stated that Shakespeare's Counselor is the last book in the Bard series and although she'd like to write another one, IF that did happen it wouldn't be anytime soon. So I started this book knowing it was the last in the series and prepared to be thoroughly upset with Ms. Harris for not having another book ready for me to dive into; but the truth is I am happy with this ending. I love Lily and Jack and all the characters that make up the quirky little Shakespeare town and right now I am very pleased with where they all are in their lives.

I would love to come back to Shakespeare and be a back seat driver to another Lily adventure. But Ms. Harris ended this book in a way that has me completely content with everything, and for that I thank her. There is nothing worse then being left hanging in a series; thankfully, there is no noose here. The closure seems a natural progression for everyone in Shakespeare. If she were to revisit, it would be welcome, but if she doesn't get a chance to it won't be devastating to this reader. Besides, I can always visit Shakespeare by rereading, and that is something I intend to do.

Shakespeare's Counselor is a perfect ending to a perfect series.

Shakespeare's Landlord (Lily Bard Mysteries, Book 1)
Shakespeare's Champion (The Second Lily Bard Mystery)
Shakespeare's Christmas (Lily Bard Mysteries, Book 3)
Shakespeare's Trollop (The Fourth Lily Bard Mystery)

Cherise Everhard, March 2008

I ordered a book that was supposed to be in good condition. I was very disappointed when it arrived. It was soiled, some of the pages stuck together, the spine broken and pages loose. It even smelled bad. I sent it back within a week in April. I hadn't heard from them by the middle of June so emailed them and they finally credited my account. Bad experience all around.

This is a great series. The writer has a wonderful sense of humor. One of the few times I've ever laughed out loud while reading a book. I had to read the funny parts to my husband.

The Stephanie Plum series is a riot to read - If you like to laugh you'll love these books!!

No one can make you laugh like Janet Evanovich! What a hoot! Love her Plum novels...

IT is exactly as they said and exactly what I expected. It arrived in a timely manner and I am very pleased.

how can carol higgins clark show her face in public after this book? her mother is a much better writer. does she even consult her mother before writng? i read someother books by her and they were better. the only expalntion for this book would be she was taking some of those knockout drugs she wrote about in this book.the characters go out of thier way to find a woman who is going to brand a man. they do not know them. why does the brand say i am snake? why does she brand blond men? are they cows? where would you buy this? also the guy's parents can drive in from maine through a blackout? they have to go through new jersey which was also in a blackoout in this book. what about highway lights and traffic signals?
how did everyone from the other states make it over the bridge? unbelievable.

This was the first Carol Higgins Clark book that I have read and I'm afraid that it will be my last. Admittedly this book is a quick read so you don't waste too much time on it, but I suspect that it was very quickly written too.
The tone of the writing suggest a mildy talented teenager is writing the book. There are far too many characters who all seem to 'coincidentaly' wind up involved in the same farce. New York comes across as a small town, not a huge city!
The character names sometimes stretch the powers of belief - Mr Blankbucks and Huckleberry Darling??
Do yourself a favour and find something else to spend a couple of hours reading - even a local newspaper will have more entertainment value.

I'm afraid that I have to agree with most of the reviewers. This was the weakest of the Regan Reilly mystery series. The book lacked suspense and pausibility. The reader knew early on what the outcome would be, and why would anyone attempt to break into a dwelling that one previously owned when contact with the new owners could easily be made, relating to them that some important papers had been inadvertently left behind. Also unexplained is how cellphones and laptop computers can be used so freely without without electrical recharging. Additionally, Georgina was not a believable antagonist. Branding someone in the midst of a NY City blackout does not appear to warrant the extensive involvement of either a private investigator, numerous unrelated strangers, or the head of the major crime division of the NYPD.

If this book is a precursor of what we can expect from Carol Higgins Clark in the future, I'm afraid her readership will suffer immensely. She may have,like so many other mystery writers, simply been zapped of any fresh and original plot twists.

Really, really glad I got this at the library and didn't spend any money on it.
The plot - Crazy lady actress leaves some letters in a loft her estranged husband sold to Regan Reilly(heroine of this series). Instead of just going by (or calling) to retrieve her letters, she hatches this plot with her "friend" to go break in and get them back. This happens during a blackout of NYC where all cellphones work and our heroine manages to drive thru everything to rescue a friend and find a mystery to solve, no problem.
Can't believe this even got published.

My friend bought me this book for my birthday knowing I liked mysteries (If you actually want to call this a mystery),therefore, I felt obligated to finish it even though I didn't like it 20 pages in. I've since made a vow to myself never to be this loyal to any friend. No friend is worth what I went through while reading this.
Ok, where to start? First of all, this is the only (and last) book I've ever read of this series or this author for that matter. Is it just me or is this the perfect, crime-solving couple that's better looking than you or I but not quite Brad and Angelina. They love each other soooooooooo much it makes me sick. I literally think the last words of the book are (You might not want to read the next line if you haven't read the book)
something like "I love you so much dear, what would I do without you?" and they all enjoy a good laugh like the last 9 seconds of your typical Scooby-Doo episode.
The main plot follows a derranged girl who picks up blonde guys, drugs them and brands "I am a snake" in their arm, all the while New York city is under a blackout, making things even more ridiculous. So perfect wife gathers the usual suspects along the way so they can save this poor blonde-guy from being slighlty uncofortable for a little while. Invigorating.
Do yourself a favor and don't read this book. Do your house a favor and don't bring this book inside of it.

This series is a pleasant light read that has enough originality to keep it interesting.

We join Maggie O'Neill back in Indiana, in the mystical gift and antique shop Enchantments, where she works for a witch, Felicity Dow aka Liss. And Liss really is a witch - a practicing witch in an established community that is blithely aware of the paranormal happenings around them. At least, most of them seem to be immune, but many are starting to notice the increase in crime and accidents that are plaguing the community. When a local Amish craftsman is found dead next to his bicycle with his head bashed in, residents are shocked. Not only was this gentle and talented man killed, but his was the third murder in six months in their small community. Are there supernatural forces at play, or has the town simply run out of luck?

Maggie is quite excited to be attending the annual craft fair put on by the county. Normally Liss attends alone, but this year Maggie is getting a break from running the store to help find some new merchandise. While browsing, they visit the stall of an Amish woodworker they are friends with, and Liss falls in love with an armoire decorated with patterns and bright colors not normally seen on the shaker style furniture normally produced. The armoire had been donated to the auction taking place later that day, so the two women plan to attend in hopes of winning. But the armoire's decoration is credited to another Amish craftsman, Luc Metzger; one like Maggie has never before seen. His craft work is just a beautiful as the man himself, an uncommon trait among the simple Amish people whose faith is foremost in their community. And when the ladies' man is found dead after supposedly doing `one more job' to help earn money for a farm for his wife and children, Maggie can't help but wonder where he'd been.

Maggie and hunky friend Marcus come upon the nighttime scene of buggies that have discovered the body on a darkened stretch of road, and Maggie has to decide whether or not she is comfortable with the paranormal side of her life in order to help discover why there was a strange hex tacked to a tree not far from the body - on Amish property. Maggie's sometime boyfriend, Tom the detective, is also having a difficult time with the peculiar aspects of the crime, but mostly with Maggie's involvement with people he considers questionable because they are not considered mainstream. So we are able to follow Maggie's personal journey into unfamiliar territory that is considered taboo to her Catholic religious background, and also her journey on how to trust her heart and instincts.

I am really enjoying the Bewitching series by Alt. We are seeing characters develop with the paranormal aspect - especially some who are new to the subject or fear reprisal if outed, which I think are normal reactions people would have in real life. The cozy series is engaging, and there is enough mystery to keep you guessing throughout the story. I eagerly await the next in the series, but I have one question: How does Abel charge his cell phone?

i give this author a thumbs up. this is a delightful mix of magic and fun.

Third in the series, this book once again brings us back into the cozy world of small town Indiana. Being from Indiana myself, I can relate to Hoosier prejudices and such. However; after the initial murder, it seems the plot is shelved until after halfway through the book. Maggie spends her time dickering about her love interests. It's gone beyond romantic tension and is dangerously close to entering the annoying. Make a decision and move on! The ending to this book was not quite as satisfying as the other two books but I'm most definitely looking forward to November when number four is released.

a great read...mixes seers from different traditions gracefully. i hope to see many more.
star santa cruz ca

A great and well written thriller, Angel's Tip, does not disappoint. Alafair Burke is a strong writer bringing together believable characters, dialogs, and story lines in a strong piece of fiction that combines elements of cop drama, who dunnit, and derangement.

I was especially pleased with the style of writing that unlike many modern authors wasn't self centered or egotistic and spoke to the reader in plain English and did well to craft a great story.

From the first page you care about the characters, the story, and everything about it. Masterfully written by an up and coming crime author. I highly recommend this book!!

With Alafair Burke's fifth mystery, she seems to be getting a hefty push from her publishing house. I've seen "Angel's Tip" stacked near the front of almost every book store I enter. I'm glad to see this happening for her, because each novel gets stronger and more fluid.

"Angel's Tip" is the best Burke mystery yet. The story is set in NYC, opening with a trio of young ladies hitting the town for the last few hours before their flight home. One of them decides to stay out a little longer, despite her friends' worries, and she never makes the flight. Through a number of seeming coincidences, Ellie Hatcher ends up on the job, along with her new partner, a seasoned detective with a loyal streak.

But not all are as loyal as they seem. Soon the children's blocks that are stacking together so neatly for a tidy homicide trial come crumbling down, not just once, but twice, even three times, as Ellie's theories about the killer and past crimes begin to rattle cages--on both sides of the law.

The plot moves forward with clock-like precision, Burke's blessing and curse. Her stories unfold with clarity and logic, but feel sometimes more like nonfiction because of the straightforward style. "Angel's Tip" is a great step forward, though, giving the characters as much depth and motivation as ever, spicing it up with good dialogue and bits of humor. Just when I was sure I knew where the story was leading, it turned back on itself one more time--without trying to outdo itself, in the manner Harlan Coben, mystery-plotter-extraordinaire, sometimes does.

The Ellie Hatcher series is a good one, allowing the protagonist more street time, and Burke could probably expand that aspect without losing any of her credibility. With Burke's continued improvement on every level of her writing, I will keep coming back for more of her stories.

I have not had a chance to read a good crime novel in a long while, and from the description this book seemed like a good one to read. It took a while for the story to develop, and since I was not familiar with the main character from the previous novels by Alfair Burke, it took about hundred pages or so before I could care enough to be fully gripped by the story. However, once I had the full interest in the happenings, the book was hard to put down. Burke has a very well developed style that is precise and technically impeccable. The story has a feel of a combination of the "Law and Order" and "Silence of the Lambs." So if you are into either one of those two genres, this will be an interesting book to read.

Chelsea Hart is an Indiana University student in New York City on spring break. She and her friends are out at a trendy night club on their last night in town. It's late and her friends are trying to pry her away from the club. Chelsea, however, doesn't want to leave yet so she talks her friends into returning to the hotel without her. It's a deadly decision. Chelsea isn't seen alive again.

Ellie Hatcher is one of the first to find Chelsea when she and her brother Jess are out for a morning run. Ellie is back in NYC and back with the homicide department, this time as an official detective IN the department. She calls her new partner J.J. Rogan and tells him to get to the crime scene, they've just snagged a murder investigation.

All seems great in NYC when a suspect is arrested and an air-tight case appears to be in order. But in the process of the investigation, Ellie discovers three cold cases her old partner Flann McIlroy had been looking into. Cases he believed were connected...and cases that look eerily similar to the Chelsea Hart case.

Alafair Burke is back in prime form! She hit another Ellie Hatcher homerun with ANGEL'S TIP, the follow-up to Hatcher's debut in DEAD CONNECTION. Like Harlan Coben, Burke is a master of "imitating life." I love the pop culture allusions that weave throughout the plot.

The nightlife, club scene in ANGEL'S TIP is one that is very foreign to me. BUT, Burke had me connecting with Ellie because that wasn't her scene either. I could FEEL her discomfort at wearing clothes that just weren't HER.

The introduction of J.J. Rogan was a fantastic addition to the series. J.J. is a fun and rich character - and I'm not talking about his inheritance either. It's refreshing to have two relatively young, intelligent professionals working together - of opposite genders - who have great chemistry that doesn't necessitate jumping in the sack.

Both Ellie and J.J. have such a realistic passion about their jobs as police detectives. The way Burke illustrates this passion you would think she was a New York City detective herself.

Another point of realism that reminded me of how "unreal" television can portray police work came when Ellie took off running after a suspect. J.J. was screaming for her to stop. She didn't have a protective vest on; she didn't know if the suspect was armed; they didn't have back-up - that wasn't correct procedure. Yet, we see that every night on the crime dramas and we expect it. But the "correct procedure" sure does make a lot of sense. I always feel like I've learned something after reading a book by Alafair Burke. This point also reminded me why I like Ellie so much - she's human. She makes mistakes in the heat of the moment; rookie mistakes, if you will. But she's also accountable for her mistakes. She doesn't need some Superman to come save her. There's even a point where the young ADA is with Ellie and she tells him she doesn't need a protector, he can go home. He informs her that he's there for HER to protect HIM! Priceless!

All of this excellent character development and realism sets the scaffolding for a fantastic plot. There are twists and turns at every chapter. While at one point in the novel I suspected the culprit, Burke threw in so many twists that I ended up constantly oscillating trying to guess who the real killer was, "well, it can't be HIM because..." "hmmm, maybe it's HIM..." "then again, it could be...".

Thrillers like ANGEL'S TIP are the only roller coaster rides I enjoy. I'd line up again and again to experience Alafair Burke's kind of thrill! Outstanding!!

Alafair Burke's Det. Ellie Hatcher returns after last year's disappointing "Dead Connection." Thankfully, "Angel's Tip" is much better, maybe even one of the best crime novels of the year, so far. On a morning jog, Hatcher discovers the body of murdered college student Chelsea Hart, and the investigation soon leads to the trendy New York City club scene, where Hart was last seen with investment banker Jake Meyers, who immediately becomes the prime suspect. But Hatcher quickly discovers striking similarities to several cold cases, leading her to believe a serial killer is on the loose. And she also wonders why police brass dismissed the serial killer theory a few years ago, when those old cases were first being investigated. Meanwhile, leaked details about the current murder keep appearing in the local newspaper, complicating Hatcher's relationship with her tabloid reporter boyfriend, as well as her professional life when he's accused of being the source. Things really get interesting when a new victim is found, her hair style eerily similar to one Hatcher wore in an old school picture, with Hatcher's initials cut into her forehead. In addition to the suspenseful plot (which has a doozy of a twist near the end), all of the characters are interesting and believable - qualities that are sometimes missing from a lot of crime fiction. Highly recommended.
Also recommended: A Stranger Lies There - winner of the Malice Domestic Award for best first mystery, its plot also leads to the New York City club scene.