An international Twister competition is drawing the game’s elite to Schamberg, IL. Among the headliners are the returning champion The Garbage Man, Mister Twister, Knockout_Kitty, and The Spinner Doctor. When one of the competitors is found murdered, his right hand in a pool of blood, Detective Sam Carlisle has to separate fact from bravado to bring a killer to justice.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
ABOUT Twister The game Twister was created with the original name of Pretzel in 1966. Working for the Guyer Company, toy designer Charles Foley and graphic designer Neil Rabens combined ideas for a game where people were the pieces and a colorful mat concept into a game that is very much the one we know today. Foley and Rabens, with the support of their employer, applied for and received a patent, which was granted in 1969. Milton Bradley was approached for production, who took on the project but renamed it to Twister. Twister faced some controversy from critics claiming it was “sex in a box.” Twister withstood challenges, expanding sales throughout the world. In 2015, Twister was inducted into The Strong National Museum of Play. Fun fact from the museum of play website, The official Guinness Book of World Records temporarily banned the Twister category “most contestants” after the University of Massachusetts in Amherst’s massive Twister game involving 4,160 players in 1987. Guinness cited “evidence of officiating inconsistencies.”
ABOUT Jason Little JasonLittleWriting.com Jason Little has spent the majority of his working years in sales and marketing. He currently sells life insurance, where he gets to talk to people about their imminent demise for a steady paycheck. He loves to delve into the human condition and writes in a variety of genres from science fiction and horror to mystery and suspense. When he isn’t writing, Jason has a VR headset strapped to his face or he is sweating to a fitness challenge like 75 Hard. He actively discusses work/life/writing balance, the writing process and other miscellany at JasonLittleWriting.com. He is a native of Michigan and currently resides in Texas.
Lines of Deceptionis a thriller. Max Kaspar is finding a new kind of normal in post-war Munich, Germany. He has his club, he has his customers, and he has his brother’s ear. In a purple box. Now Max is on a mission to save his younger brother, who is on a mission to save someone the Soviets have and the Americans want. Allies and enemies, no one can be trusted.
Bottom line: Lines of Deception is for you if you like seat of your pants thrillers woven into the complicated world of post-war II Europe.
Listen to the first chapter here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Strengths of the story. The post-WWII setting takes center stage. This isn’t a story generically set in 1949 or in one city but is a thriller woven through a variety cities and countries, occupied by multiple allied countries. Miles are crossed on trains, in trucks, and on foot. The food is lackluster, the PTSD rampant. Yes, Lines of Deception has an incredibly rich setting.
This is the fourth book in the Kaspar Brothers series. As such, both Max and his brother Harry are well developed characters. Max leads the storytelling in this one. He stays true to his nature from start to finish. The side characters, good and bad, are well created and easy to keep track of. Max, Harry, and friends are constantly in danger of being discovered.
Max drives the story until he achieves his goal of finding Harry. The baton of the decision making lead then passes to Harry. Together Max and Harry do drive the story. If at any point they made different decisions, the story would have ended.
At the end, looking from back to front, the logic holds. This is a missing person type thriller without the elements of “switchbacks” that can weaken logic in political thrillers. I appreciated that at the end of the book, Max and Harry recapped the logic line, making me a very happy reader.
Where the story fell short of ideal: I didn’t find much to pick on here. Perhaps thriller readers who prefer fire fights, explosions, and stunt people might find this one a bit staid. I, myself, did not. The thrills were just right for the time period.
Meet Steve Anderson
Steve Anderson is the author of numerous novels, mostly historical thrillers about gutsy underdogs. In an earlier life he earned an MA in history and was a Fulbright Fellow in Germany. Day jobs have included busy waiter, Associated Press rookie, and language instructor. He’s also written historical nonfiction and translated bestselling German novels. Lines of Deception is fourth in his Kaspar Brothers series but can be read as a standalone. A hopeless soccer addict, he lives in his hometown of Portland, Oregon with his wife René.
Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. Founded in 2011, PICT offers virtual book tour services for well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PICT prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour coordinators. For more information, check out their website partnersincrimetours.com
In the town of Bonbanni, Louisianna, magic is a way of life. When murder intrudes, Lt. Pierre-Luc “Mystic” Fountineau uses the vast skills at his disposal to determine who or what caused a young woman to fall to her death.
Listen here or where you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
ABOUT Tarot Tarot cards date back to the 15th century where they were used in various parts of Europe to play card games. The earliest references date to the 1440s and 1450s and the region of the northern cities of Venice, Milan, Florence, and Urbino. According to a 2016 article posted by Tim Husband, curator, Department of Medieval Art and The Cloister with the Met Museum, the complicated nature of the tarot game points to the origins of the game being decades older. Tarot is a trick taking game and the rules have not changed significantly since the 15th century. According to Wikipedia, it was in the late 18th century that tarot gained its association with fortune-telling thanks to French occultists. Unsubstantiated claims began being made about the meaning of the cards. These cards began with Antoine Court and Jean-Baptiste Alliette in Paris. Alliette, who also went by the name Etteilla, is credited with first creating an adapted tarot set specifically for occult purposed around 1789. Modern derivatives of these decks are the only ones available in English speaking countries. There is a lot to learn about both types of tarot cards. Check out the links to dive down your own rabbit hole.
Like you, I’m not one thing. I’m a writer, an engineer, a wife, and a mother. What is first on the list depends on the day. Beyond the title I claim, I’m a person who loves learning and thoroughly enjoys a good puzzle, is creative and gets bored easily. I hold a BS in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and an MS in Civil Engineering from Cleveland State University, which gives me absolutely no background in writing, but I do it anyway. Writing mysteries and engineering isn’t as different as you’d think. Both require using logic and process to get from a starting problem to a solution.
A special thank you to Ed Teja whose work editing this episode made it better. Find me at www.tgwolff.com
The Machine Murders: Desert Balloonsis a serial killer story. Death has again found Interpol Chief Data Scientist Dr. Manos Manu. Hot air balloon pilots are being murdered in the United Arab Emirates, frozen to death high above the earth. Manos is dispatched to Dubai to support analysis by a software he led the creation of. But to generate correct answers, the software needs data, data that hides in the dark traits of men.
Bottom line: The Machine Murders: Desert Balloons is for you if you love high-tech code nearly as much as you love mysteries.
Listen to the mystery set up chapters here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Strengths of the story. The greatest strength of this story is the expert detail presented in the development, testing, and augmentation of machine learning systems. In his day job, CJ Abazis runs a software company and his expertise shines through here. The Machine Murders isn’t the typical high-level use of IT common in television shows like NCIS or Criminal Minds. Instead, the program is a rich as character as any of the humans and the language is true to life.
Much of this story is set in the Emirates. I found it to be a new and fresh scene, with texture and depth that supplemented the mystery. The justaposition of the uber high-tech with the traditional Arab culture made for fascinating reading. I cannot comment on how accurate Abazis’ representation of the culture was, just that it was well developed and added to the story.
The Machine Murders is structured as an extended story told in two parts. The first, Island Buoys, kicks off the story of Dr. Manos Manu and the use of machine learning models to hunt for the killer. The second, this story called Desert Balloons, picks up shortly after the end of the first. I have not read the first. The author does introduce the continuing Interpol characters and software basics to new readers. I do wonder if the machine learning would have been easier to follow if I had read Island Buoys.
As to how the logic stands up from the finish looking back, the result is fair. This is a mystery where the solution isn’t driven by testimony or evidence. The machine does the reasoning, using the additional information Manos identifies. We aren’t privy to actions or history of the suspects to be able to assess the logic of the solution and, as such, have the rely on the results from the computer system as correct. Manos confronts the killer, giving readers a satisfying end that the guilty party was found, but I was left with questions.
Overall, the pacing of the story did well to hold my attention. There were a few sections where I did not follow the change from one scene to another. While these ultimately did not affect the outcome of the story, I was pulled out of it as I went back to re-read. The thriller elements were written to align with a main character that was a chief data scientist, with Manos using his brains rather than fighting he way out of situations.
While the greatest strength of the story is the detail of machine learning, it is also the element that makes its less than accessible for some readers, including myself. Being an average technology end user at best, I simply could not follow the directions given to modify the code or or appreciate the results it generated.
The Machine Murders: Desert Balloons is unique in the mystery world for making the software itself a main character and is a must read for lovers of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and systems programming.
The Machine Murders: Desert Balloons is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.
About CJ Abazis
CJ Abazis manages a software company in Athens, Greece. His Machine Murders stories were written in Greek and translated to English. You can find out more about the stories on CJ’s website and social media outlets.
Detective Minka Avery is enjoying a rare day off poolside with her daughter. But an annoying game of Marco Polo turns into the end of Minka’s day off when the player turns up dead.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
ABOUT Marco Polo Marco Polo, as you got from today’s story, is an aqua “blind man’s bluff” – the tag game, not the poker game. According to Wikipedia, the origin of the name isn’t known. It isn’t related to horse-and-ball game or the people-and-ball game. There isn’t any reported connection between the explorer Marco Polo – Venetian explorer, born 1254, died 1324. Intriquing, isn’t it? The land version, Blind’s Man Bluff, dates back to the 16th century. Playing in water was a natural I’m sure. The game was referenced by this name in a late 1960s survey asking respondents to name a water game. More than a few said “Marco Polo.”
ABOUT Karina Bartow KarinaBartow.com Karina Bartow grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her works include Husband in Hiding, Brother of Interest, Accidental Allies, Forgetting My Way Back to You, and Wrong Line, Right Connection. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!
The Nowhere Girlsis a cold case, crime thriller. FBI Agent Nikki Cassidy has returned home to visit David Monroe in prison. On this 15th anniversary, her sister’s killer has an agenda of his own and Nikki is the key.
Bottom line: The Nowhere Girls is for you if you like serial killer crime thrillers where the past is the key to the present.
Listen to the first chapters here or wherever you find Mysteries to Die For podcast
Two strengths of this story lie in the complexity of the crime and the pacing of its reveal. As indicated in the backcover synopsis (i.e. not a spoiler) the crime here is the kidnapping and murder of not one young girl but several. It begins with the cold case investigation of the murder of Caitlin, Nikki’s sister, 15 years ago and is ramped up with the disappearance of another 13-year-old, Natalie, on the anniversary of Caitlin’s disappearance. While revisiting the site where her sister’s body was discovered, Nikki and team find another body – this one from a girl who disappeared from other state. That element of cross state boundaries enables Nikki to be officially assigned to the case and her team to come in. The evolution of the mystery is deliberately paced and satisfying with nearly every chapter counting.
This is the first in the Nikki Cassidy series with the next two already released. I have not read the others in the series. For a first story, Nikki is well developed. Readers can see from early on how her greatest strength is also her greatest weakness. Nikki is one of those characters wo has an abundance of confidence in her own judgement and abilities. This gives her the steadfastness to stick to a case where others would have turned away but also causes her to make poor and selfish decisions where other people pay the consequences.
The supporting cast in this story are largely the characters associated Caitlin’s murder including the convicted killer, his wife/lawyer, and the ME and prosecutor at the time. The characters are distinctly drawn, making it easy for me to both remember and differentiate them.
The logic of the mystery holds up reasonably well when looked at from back-to-front. But. There is no evidence laid out in the story leading to the Big Bad. Instead, the Big Bad self-reveals in the culmination. While this leads to a wrap-up that is satisfying to the reader, ultimately Nikki didn’t solve the mystery.
When we look at how the main character, Nikki, drove the story, there are mixed results. Nikki is focused on the cold case of her sister’s murder while there is an active hunt for missing 13-year-old Natalie. Understanding that Nikki has convinced herself there is a connection between Caitlin and Natalie, there is no sense of urgency on Nikki’s part to find Natalie. After the first interview with Natalie’s parents, she is focused on what happened 15-years ago. Nikki drives the cold case investigation, yes, but not the missing person in imminent danger.
Readers will enjoy this crime thriller best if they go into it with the expectation of a cold case crime thriller rather than a missing person thriller. The discovery that there is a serial killer and answers to Caitlin’s murder are the central story; the search for Natalie is not.
The dynamic storytelling, dramatic pacing, and satisfying ending make THE NOWHERE GIRLS great entertainment for lovers of crime thrillers.
The Nowhere Girls was released from Bookouture and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.
MEET Dana Perry
Dana Perry is a New York City author who writes mystery thrillers under the pen names of Dana Perry and R.G. Belsky. He is an award-winning author of crime fiction and a journalist in New York City. As Perry, he writes crime thrillers including the Nikki Cassidy series. As Belsky, he has has published 21 novels—all set in the New York city media world where he has had a long career as a top editor at the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star magazine and NBC News. He is a contributing writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. Founded in 2011, PICT offers virtual book tour services for well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PICT prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour coordinators. For more information, check out their website partnersincrimetours.com
A comic universe convention scavenger hunt ends in murder. Four newly aquainted friends go out to hunt for the final items; only three come back alive. Two cops, a journalist, and you have to deduce who became the hunter.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
According to Britannica.com, America writer and hostess Elsa Maxwell is credited with creating scavenger hunts as a party game. Maxwell was renown for your parties both for the A-list guests and for the novelties she created to amuse them. Maxwell was an interesting, self-made woman. Born in 1883, she supported herself as a theatre pianist and accompanist while in her teens. She worked with a Shakesperean troupe, in vaudeville, and in music halls, all without ever having been taught music. She published some 80 songs over her lifetime. By the end of World War I, she was a professional hostess and event organizer across Europe. It is certainly believable that a woman as talented as Elsa Maxwell was – both artistically and in managing events – that she could create a game that is both simple and endlessly creative.
Wikipedia notes that scavenger hunts are held at American universities and that Escape Manor, Inc. in Ottawa currently holds the Guiness World Record for the largest hunt with over 2,700 participants.
Nick Andreychuk is a Derringer Award-winning mystery writer. His stories, which range from classic whodunnits to hardboiled crime to suspense thrillers, have appeared in numerous publications, including Bullet, Hardboiled Crime Scene, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Plan B, Techno Noir, Who Died in Here? and Woman’s World. Reviewers have described Andreychuk’s work as “clever,” “fast-paced,” “action-packed,” “quirky,” and “bloody brilliant.”
Rise to Rebellionis a historical mystery. July 1776. Jeremy Butler is called to investigate threats to the Continental Congress delegation. The attacks seem to come from nowhere and everywhere at once and no one within the households are safe. Jeremy finds an unlikely ally in Hannah White, a Quaker, a widow, and a businesswoman. Together, they unknowingly corner the villain, only to have to fight their way out.
Bottom line: Rise to Rebellion is for you if you like mysteries equally braided with historical and women’s fiction.
Listen to the 3rd chapter – the start of the mystery – here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Strengths of the story. The premise of the story is one of the shining stars. Set in July 1776, the war for Independence is palpable to all. Everyone has a side and being on the side of the patriots isn’t the easy decision history leads us to believe. Bates shows us the working class side of Philadelphia through the household of Hannah Payne White and the farm where Faith Payne Clarke has returned to. The storytelling of the life of unmarried women, freed persons, and enslaved persons humanizes the history, showing us strong, capable people doing what they can to not just survive, but live and thrive.
Bates certainly did her research in the history and culture of the era. It, too, is a shining star. A note from the author talked about her commitment to historical accuracy and the one liberty she took with the story to make it doable for Jeremy. She apologized to history buffs who may be confused by the change. As someone who calls out unreasonable timeframes, I appreciated that she noted it and took steps to make the story plausible.
Jeremy Butler’s story is the mystery. As described, he has gone to Philadelphia to investigate incidents affecting members of the Continental Congress. John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin believe someone is working to subvert their cause.
Faith Clark’s story is women’s fiction. Faith returns home to visit her dying mother, reuniting with the father and siblings she left behind when she married and moved to Virginia. There is some intrigue—the discovery of a murdered neighbor and of an unknown oldest sister—but the story arc is focused on Faith coming to terms with her upbringing and her mother.
Hannah Clark’s story is a mix of drama, romance, and mystery. She picks up with question of an unknown sister and follows down leads as she is juggling running her business selling china settings and taking care of her guest, Jeremy Butler, who returns far too often bleeding from some place or another.
All three characters are engaging and likeable. I am sure readers will vary on which character and storyline is their favorite.
This is the third book in the Faith Clarke Mystery series. I have not read the first two. This story stands alone, being set a year after the second and in a different location.
Where the story fell short of ideal: There are a few places where RISE TO REBELLION falls short of an ideal historical mystery. While this is part of the Faith Clarke mystery series, Faith’s storyline is women’s fiction and is only present for about half the book. At that point, her sister Hannah picks up the storytelling, taking it in a different direction. The mystery would be more accurately characterized as a Jeremy Butler mystery. The story alternates chapters between Jeremy and Faith/ Hannah. Readers who like multi-faceted stories will enjoy the mystery, historical, and women’s fiction weave of the story.
Standing at the end of the mystery story and looking back, I had questions. Actions in the middle and end of the story are definitely supported by the resolution. It is more the beginning of the story that gives me pause. The story of Faith making peace with her mother is solid. The story of the unknown oldest sister again raises questions the resolution did not explain.
I read the kindle e-book version, which had typesetting errors throughout. Some readers will find the error distracting or potentially confusing. Other readers may not notice them.
RISE TO REBELLION was released October 2023 by Level Best Books and is promoted by Partners in Crime Tours
About Julie Bates. After spending a few years writing freelance articles, Julie’s first novel, Cry of the Innocent, premiered in June 2021. The series follows the timeline of the American Revolutionary War. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Triangle Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Southeastern Mystery Writers of America (SEMWA) and The Historical Novel Society. When not busy plotting her next story, she enjoys working in her garden, doing crafts and spending time with her husband and son, as well as a number of dogs and cats who have shown up on her doorstep and never left. Find her at https://juliebates.weebly.com/
Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers. Founded in 2011, PICT offers tour services for well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PICT prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour coordinators. For more information, check out their website partnersincrimetours.com
At a couples getaway at a posh New England golf resort, the weather isn’t the only thing that takes a turn for the worse. Lindsay Strauss, the last member of the group scheduled to arrive, checks in dead. Detectives Spencer and Flores have a club house classic on their hands to figure out who strangled Lindsay.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Meet Rick Ollerman
Rick Ollerman is the author of four novels, Turnabout, Shallow Secrets, Truth Always Kills and Mad Dog Barked as well as the non-fiction collection Hardboiled, Noir and Gold Medals. He was also the editor of Down & Out: The Magazine and has written numerous short stories and edited several crime fiction anthologies.
Wet, Warm & Noisyis an psychological thriller. Alaska State Trooper Jake Ward is stuck on light duty and a polygraph assignment is welcome break from the monotony. A woman was arrested breaking into a warehouse. Her defense: she was kidnapped. Ward’s job is to determine if she is a suspect or a victim. As he is realizing something is out of the ordinary, she is broken out of jail. Now a court services officer is fighting for his life, the woman is on the run with the shooter, and there is no way in hell Ward is staying out of the case.
Bottom line: Wet, Warm & Noisy is for you if you like psychological thrillers with a side of medical sci-fi.
Listen to the chapters one and two here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Strengths of the story. The premise of the story is simple and intriguing. There was something wrong with Belle Anderson. Any drugs would have worked out of her system, so what was the explanation for the way she would freeze up? She was alternately oblivious and hyperly aware. A mix of curiosity and duty drive Ward to investigate Anderson, leading him into a world of study on the brain and human consciousness. This is a psychological thriller, but if it were a mystery, it would be a whatisgoingon. Willson does an excellent job of grabbing the reader by the curiosity and never letting go.
Jake Ward is a likeable character. He’s a thinking man, not an action hero. He has survived surgery and treatments for pancreatic cancer and is determined to get the rest of his life back. Ward is a normal guy, sometimes making decisions that put his back in a corner. He drives the story, continually pushing on who Belle Anderson is and what her circumstances are. If Ward would have backed off, the story would have ended. His actions challenge the bad guys (BG) world, forcing BG to react and Ward to overcome another obstacle.
Belle Anderson is not a stereotypical character. She is the narrator in a few chapters, giving us a peak into the BG world that Ward doesn’t have. She will challenge readers to decide if she is a criminal or a victim. Belle went into the BG world willingly but, Unlike Ward, was not able to drive her narrative, becoming a victim. I cheered for Belle but other readers could easily go the other way. Just recognizing this means Willson did an excellent job crafting her.
The Alaskan setting is richly described, showing the challenges of protecting the peace in such a large territory. The supporting characters are well developed and act true to their nature. I especially liked that the other Alaska State Troopers acted as a professional and supportive organization. Meaning, I liked that there was not the trope of the a-hole boss who the hero is battling.
Where the story fell short of ideal: There isn’t much to pick on in this one. The logic, when examined from the backend forward, is a pretty straight line with no breaks. That’s not always the case with thrillers as they seek to surprise the reader with a twist. Ward put in the time and sweat equity to unearth the clues, using the technology and other resource available to the troopers. The story largely avoided use of coincidences. There was one, single scene where I didn’t follow how the BGs got to a certain place. Could have been convenient for the story or me just missing a key detail.
Willson’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the story to unfold. There were times when I wanted it to move faster, but that was primarily driven by my curiosity wanting to know what the heck was going on.
The medical elements of the story are beyond my expertise to comment on. From a civilian standpoint, the scenes were well told, enabling me to understand and picture what was going on without having either an MD or a PhD.
Days after I finished Wet, Warm, & Noisy, I found myself thinking about the sci-fi premise and Ward’s actions. This only happens when a story really catches me and my own wet, warm, and noisy brain wants to know more.
David A. Willson, a retired Alaska State Trooper with more than two decades of service, brings unmatched authenticity to his crime fiction. During his career, he served as a certified police instructor, polygraph program coordinator, court-certified computer forensics expert and supervisor of both Major Crimes and Technical Crimes units. With over a decade in an investigative capacity, he supervised thousands of felony cases, chasing Alaska’s most dangerous criminals. https://davidawillson.com
Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. Founded in 2011, PICT offers virtual book tour services for well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PICT prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour coordinators. For more information, check out their website partnersincrimetours.com
TG Wolff 