I am fortunate in that the Toe Tags I do as part of Mysteries To Die For exposes me to many authors and titles I wouldn’t ordinarily find on my own. Add to that list the books that are recommended by other readers and the ones my husband gives me and, well, I read a lot of mystery, crime fiction, and thrillers. This post contains those that I gave 5 start ratings to. To earn 5 stars from me, a story has to have flawless logic, no loose ends, great characters, and, of course, be entertaining. One is missing: Room 13 by Edgar Wallace. This 1924 mystery was one of the coolest I’ve read. Happy Reading Detectives!
Jack Frost, that naughty sprite, is found strangled in a greenhouse. Mother Nature and Father Time have called for Themis, the titan of justice. The suspects include Pare Noel, El Nino and La Nina, Alena Vera, and all the baby new years since the start of time.
This character mash up is our gift to everyone in our M2D4 audience. Here’s hoping 2024 is filled with only good mysteries.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Friend of the Departedis a PI Mystery. Stef Kopriva used to be a cop, but that was more than ten years ago. A shooting, a wrong call, and a deep, personal relationship with a liquor bottle took him from a stand-up guy to the bottom of the barrel. He’s unofficially in the business of doing favors for people who need help. This time the call comes from Joel Harrity, the defense lawyer who came when Stef was the one calling.
Bottom line: Friend of the Departed is for you if you like gritty heroes and stories that zig before they zag.
Strengths of the story. Kopriva is a well-developed character, having been part of Zafiro’s River City series and then taking the lead in Waist Deep (Book 1), Lovely, Dark & Deep (Book 2) and several short stories. You get to know his backstory through the cops who won’t let Stef forget what he did. This one opens with Stef at the bottom of a bottle and fighting his way out.
The premise for this story is classic. A defense attorney is being asked to take a case. His potential client, however, is accused of killing her husband, a friend of the attorney. Joel Harrity is the best defense attorney in River City and he’s not afraid of tough cases. But, if he’s going to take this one, he needs to know that she didn’t do it. With nothing to go on, he calls Stef.
The mystery gives puzzlers a lot to work with. The victim, financial advisor Henry Brassart, was struck by a car while out for a run. The force shot him into a wooded area, where he struck a tree, dying from his injuries. With a nice life insurance policy and a fairly new damage to her car, the cops look at his wife, Marie. She says she didn’t do it.
As so often happens, Henry was well liked and respected. He didn’t have any enemies. He was a top performer at work, a leader in his company. So who killed a perfectly likeable man?
I like where Zafiro took Stef in this book. In the first two books, Stef is working to get out of his 10-year slump. In this book, I felt like he turns the corner and, at the end, is ready to start living life forward rather than in the past.
This is the 3rd book in the series. The mystery is completely standalone, and no past Stef Kopriva experience is needed. The character development does continue from the previous books. I don’t think you need to read the prior books to understand where Stef is, but certainly reading the prior books will enhance your appreciation for his progress.
Where the story fell short of ideal: Standing at the end and looking back, there isn’t much to pick on. The characters are true to their nature, especially Stef, which is important because he’s the hero who keeps us turning the pages. The whodunnit is nicely constructed, the mystery resolved through conversations that reveal the smallest deviations.
Frank Zafiro writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1986-91 in military intelligence as a Czechoslovak linguist. In 1993, he became a police officer in Spokane, Washington. During his career, he worked as a patrol officer, corporal, and detective. In 2002, he became a sergeant and entered into leadership roles. He was fortunate enough to command patrol officers, investigators, the K-9 unit, and the SWAT team. He retired from law enforcement in 2013 as a captain in order to write full time and to teach.
The Legacyis a mystery / legal thriller. Professor Emma Thornton’s newest case is complicated. Jeremy Wilcox is accused of killing his mother, stabbing her to death. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Jeremy is off his meds in jail, making communication difficult. He has a history of self-medicating with painkillers and escaping from the local hospital’s mental health ward. The family dynamic is dysfunctional, support is non-existent, and answers to even basic questions are not forthcoming.
Bottom line: The Legacy is for you if you like legal thrillers where it takes more than evidence to get to the truth.
Listen to the first and second chapters here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcast
The Legacy was released from Level Best Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours
Strengths of the story. This is the fourth story in the Emma Thornton series. The cast of characters are mature, each comfortable in their skin. Tolbert’s detailed and loving description of New Orleans IS a treat. I have only been a visitor to the city a handful of times but feel like she transports me onto the streets and into the culture.
Tolbert also does a very nice job of giving us a meaningful story without crossing the line into a lesson driven story. She explores the idea of and consequences of heredity. In the Wilcox storyline, it is the genetic heredity of schizophrenia and the impact it has on a leading New Orleans family. This is paralleled with Emma having to face to other legacies that hit closer to home. As her 14-yr-old twins start experimenting and rebelling, Emma has to confront their father’s legacy of alcoholism. At the same time, she realizes she had passed on traits that drive her to excel in one area, even at the cost of others. It is an excellent study and very well done.
The Legacy is listed on Amazon as a mystery and traditional detective. Those are reasonable genre descriptions. Certainly, they do not reflect the degree to which the legal case is front and center. Also, as Emma is a law professor, this is an amateur sleuth, not PI or cop detective. There are thriller elements in the resolution, which lead me to the opinion that legal thriller or legal mystery (making up my own genre here) give a more accurate impression of this story.
While this is the 4th, readers can jump in right here. There is a continuing growth arc with Emma, her new husband Ren, and Emma’s two boys, but Tolbert does a nice job of giving us what we need to know them without leaving us feeling left out. Of course, if you are one of those reader who CAN NOT NOT start at book one, by all means, pick up book 1, OUT OF SILENCE, to start from the beginning.
Where the story fell short of ideal: There isn’t a lot to pick on here. Looking from the end back (as you know I like to do), the story holds up. The mystery is made up of different layers where looking at the whole implies a different story than when you take apart the individual layers. Emma is true to her character, even when its going to cause her problems. The issues related to mental health are hard for me to develop an opinion of reasonableness, as that is exactly what mental health issues are not. At the end of the book, Tolbert sites that this story was formed and informed from her experiences working pro bono on cases like this. I trust that her representation of mental health issues, while they may not be every patient’s experience, does represent actual experiences of her and her clients. I appreciated that she represented all of the characters with dignity and individuality.
About CL Tolbert
Licensed in Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Cynthia Tolbert retired after thirty-five years of practicing law and began writing full time. After winning the Georgia State Bar Fiction Writing Contest, she developed the winning short story into the first novel in the Thornton Mystery Series, OUT FROM SILENCE, published in 2019. Cynthia taught at Loyola Law School for several years where she directed a homeless clinic, and worked with third year law students in actual cases. All of these experiences have informed her fiction.
She is an avid reader, a mother of two, and a grandmother to three beautiful girls. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband and schnauzer, Yoda.
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
Tryson St. James was the greatest guitar player in the world, or at least the greatest guitar player in England Connolly’s world. He went north of the border for a chance to meet his hero, who was recording at Guitar Nirvana. After security broke up an awkward introduction, Tryson is found dead. Now Connolly is on the case where he would claim the title “Detective.”
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcast.
Lovely, Dark, & Deepis a PI Mystery. Stef Kopriva used to be a cop, but that was ten years ago. A shooting, a wrong call, and a deep, personal relationship with a liquor bottle took him from a stand-up guy to the bottom of the barrel. He’s unofficially in the business of doing favors for people who need help. This time it’s a pimp who needs a poor but clean White boy to look into who put one of his girls in the hospital.
Bottom line: Lovely, Dark, & Deep is for you if you like gritty heroes so far from perfect they’re exactly what a story needs.
Strengths of the story. Kopriva is a well-developed character, having been part of Zafiro’s River City series and then taking the lead in Waist Deep and several short stories. You get to know his backstory through cops who won’t let Stef forget what he did.
The premise for this story is simple but interesting. Stef and his coffee buddy, Adam, watch an odd exchange featuring one of the most beautiful women either have seen. A year after Rolo, a pimp who runs a good part of River City’s night life, beat him and took Stef’s prized possession, the man comes knocking. One of his girls was beaten to within an inch of her life, he needs to know who did it. That’s all Stef has to do. Rolo will take it from there.
But it isn’t as simple as Stef or Rolo hope. It never is when Stef is involved, which is what keeps those pages turning.
Where the story fell short of ideal: Standing at the end and looking back, this story is pretty solid. Zafiro excels at endings that complete the story, but aren’t happy endings. Without giving anything away, the guilty characters are too smart to run their mouths for the likes of me. So we know whodunnit. The how and why are a little less firm.
About FRANK ZAFIRO
Frank writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1986-91 in military intelligence as a Czechoslovak linguist. In 1993, he became a police officer in Spokane, Washington. During his career, he worked as a patrol officer, corporal, and detective. In 2002, he became a sergeant and entered into leadership roles. He was fortunate enough to command patrol officers, investigators, the K-9 unit, and the SWAT team. He retired from law enforcement in 2013 as a captain in order to write full time and to teach.
The Medusa Murdersis an amateur sleuth mystery. Professor Bay “L.L.” Browning is drawn into a serial killer’s world when her coat is found at a crime scene. The killer has an agenda and a style, one that emulates the mythical Medusa turning her victims to stone. Her knowledge of art and mythology turns out to be the expertise the police need.
Bottom line: The Medusa Murders is for you if you like clean mysteries with a cozy feel and centering on art and mythology.
Listen to the second chapter (not a typo) here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Strengths of the story. The Medusa Murders is classified on Amazon as amateur sleuth, women’s crime fiction, and contemporary women’s fiction. It absolutely is an amateur sleuth follow-along mystery. Crime fiction has become the broader term for stories involving crime, so it fits again. Contemporary women’s fiction is a story of a woman’s growth through the story. This is an element of the story but is most applicable to the secondary stories. While it is not listed as a Cozy, the clean storytelling style (no cursing), lack of on-screen violence, and prominent role of interesting and quirky specialties (classic art and mythology), make The Medusa Murders a good fit here, too.
The setting in a fictional Wisconsin college in the winter is a nice variation on a small town setting. The social complexities of working inside higher ed gives a “peak behind the curtain” from what life looks like from a professor’s perspective.
The story does a nice job of showing Bay having to juggle her work responsibilities and family problems that includes her ex-con sister showing up at her door, while also working to find a link between the murders and mythology.
All in all, it’s a fun read. For those who dig mythology or know their way around classic art about mythology, you will find a lot to dig your teeth into with this one.
Where the story fell short of ideal: One of the first and biggest challenges for authors using amateur sleuth is getting the hero into the story. From the beginning, Bay doesn’t know why she is part of the investigation and, several times, makes credible arguments that someone else who knows more should be doing the work. For me, this undermined the strength and credibility of the character. Ultimately, it doesn’t affect the flow or result of the story.
It took me some time to warm up to Bay. There were times it felt like she embodied the collegiate arrogance she accused others of having. She came into her own in the second half of the book and I came to like and respect her.
Joy Ann Ribar is an RV author, writing on the road wherever her husband and their Winnebago View wanders. Joy’s cocktail of careers includes news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and aquaponics greenhouse technician, all of which prove useful in penning mysteries. She loves to bake, read, do wine research, and explore nature. Joy’s writing is inspired by Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons, natural beauty, and kind-hearted, but sometimes quirky, people.
Joy holds a BA in Journalism from UW-Madison and an MS in Education from UW-Oshkosh. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Blackbird Writers, and Wisconsin Writers Association.
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 Grifter’s Songis a Crime Thriller novella series. Sam and Rachel are long time lovers and lifelong grifters. No mark is too big, no scheme too hot. They zigzag across the continent, looking to make the next score and stay ahead of Little Vincent and the Philadelphia mob. From the first book to the last, nothing is sacred. . . except the love they have for each other.
Bottom line: A Grifter’s Song is for you if you get your thrills cheering for heroes who live on the other side of the tracks.
Today’s featured release is not a single book but 35 novellas in a collection called A Grifter’s Song. The collection was conceived and edited by Frank Zafiro with episodes written by Frank and 29 other authors, myself included. I have for you today an excerpt of the 1st book, THE CONCRETE SMILE by Frank Zafiro, the first chapter of the 2nd book PEOPLE LIKE US by J.D. Rhoades, and the 4th chapter of the last book, INTO THE DYING SUN by Frank Zafiro.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcast
Strengths of the series: Zafiro created a world for the grifters with a full backstory that drives Sam and Rachel’s continuous need to move on. They have a few trusted acquaintances, including a computer hacking expert, and too many enemies, thanks to the long arms of the Philadelphi mob.
All novellas are under 30,000 words, or about 100 pages, making them easy reads that fit into a busy lifestyle. Stories have equivalent ratings of PG to R, but most are pretty hard core. Lol, my episode, #30 GOOD FOR IT, was definitely as lighter end.
Each story is a unique blend of Zafiro’s world and the imagination and style of the individual authors. Sam and Rachel remain true to themselves and each other, no matter what situation they are thrown into.
Where the story fell short of ideal: The series concept is well developed and provides a framework that is defined enough to provide continuity but is open enough to give authors room to work. Readers are bound to have favorite stories and stories they like less – I certainly do. If you don’t love one, I encourage you to read on. This is a very satisfying series.
For behind the scenes interviews between Frank and his writers, check out the podcast Wrong Place, Write Crime wherever you get your podcasts.
All books in A Grifter’s Song were released from Down & Out Books and are available from AMAZON and other book retailers.
Frank writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1986-91 in military intelligence as a Czechoslovak linguist. In 1993, he became a police officer in Spokane, Washington. During his career, he worked as a patrol officer, corporal, and detective. In 2002, he became a sergeant and entered into leadership roles. He was fortunate enough to command patrol officers, investigators, the K-9 unit, and the SWAT team. He retired from law enforcement in 2013 as a captain in order to write full time and to teach.
Cleveland, OH 1895. Detective Cian Kelly and Patrolman Grant McPherson are called to the home of Emmitt Childs, a local clock maker. He was found beaten unconscious in his kitchen and ultimately died from his wounds. Childs, a likeable eccentric, was survived by his daughter, Sadie, who was dating one of the suspects, the leading scorer for the Cleveland Spiders. The crackpot was a regular at a local poker hall, where he had an unusual relationship with the owner and his muscle.
Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcasts
Second Termis a Political Thriller. Cora Walker represents the best of US intelligence and skills. Sixteen years after leading a campaign to protect the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, she is pressed into action again. This time, she is defending the Capital and Speaker of the House against a homegrown attack.
Bottom line: Second Term is for you if you love tense, political thrillers built from today’s headlines.
Listen to the first chapter here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast
Strengths of the story. This story is told in three parts. First is a 2012 invasion of the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The second is 2028, post presidential election and set the scene for Cora as the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. The third is January 2029 and the chaos accompanying a president who does not want to step down.
The first thing that pops out about this story is the intensity. Adams doesn’t waste words as he builds worlds both in Libya and Washington, D.C. We see both worlds through the eyes of the efficient, no-nonsense Cora Walker. The intensity drives the pacing and, for me, kept the pages turning.
The texture to this book is notable. JM Adams takes us to the places he has been not just through visual description but through sounds and smells. It adds a layer to the scenes making them richer and more real.
Cora Walker is a strong character who acts independently and according to her moral code. The things she does engaging the enemy places her with other elite fictional agents like Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne. She is a fun hero to cheer for.
Where the story fell short of ideal: While not short of ideal, readers are either going to love or going to hate how the main story presents a sadly easily imagined attack on US democracy by an egomaniac president who can’t accept losing and attacks everyone and everything in an effort to win.
Thrillers are one of the hardest genres to resolve the storylines without breaking logic. The Benghazi story line was especially tight and stood up well. I would have liked a bit more detail on what happened, but that is a personal preference. For Parts 2 and 3, Cora acted true to her character with no flaws in her decisions. I did take some issue with the actions of other characters in developing the situation Cora had to fight her way out of. If you can get past those and/or focus on Cora, you’ll enjoy one heck of a ride.
J.M. ADAMS has more than 15 years of on-air television journalism experience, reporting for CBS and NBC news affiliates across the United States. Highlights from his career include sea patrols with the Navy after the 9/11 attacks and reporting on location from Kuwait, Iraq, and a number of hurricane disaster zones across the country. Adams was briefly detained in East Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Second Term is his debut novel.
Adams lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a pair of Cavashons who appear to have taken over the house.
Second Term is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours. PICT 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 