M2D4 Toe Tag: Hounds of the Hollywood Baskerville by Elizabeth Crowens

TG Wolff

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a comedic, cozy mystery. Babs Norman is a Hollywood stunner, but instead of gracing the silver screen, she’s gumshoeing it through the star-studded streets. Hollywood’s movers and shakers are reeling as canine stars and faithful companions alike are disappearing. Babs must mingle with Tinseltown’s elite to find the hand that holds the leash.

Bottom line: Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is for you if you like cozy-styled mysteries and fun-filled romps through the golden age of Hollywood.

Listen to the first chapter here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

Strengths of the story. One of the shining stars (ha!) of the story was the 1940 Hollywood setting. Crowens took us into the glitz and glamour of the parties, the mansions, and the sets. It was one of the most unique and detailed settings I think I have ever read. The depth of Crowens imagination is a remarkable as she brings a lost world back to life.

The characters surrounding the mystery are just as creatively detailed. Basil Rathbone of Sherlock Holmes fame and his Watson, Nigel Bruce. Myrna Loy and William Powell. Crowens takes what could have been cardboard cut outs of the icons and gives them family, relationship troubles, friends, and secrets – just like normal people. I don’t know how much research Crowens did or if the result was pure imagination, but it was a sweet result.

The character of Babs Norman and her partner Guy Brandt are a good, functional team. They were witty and engaging, but largely played the straight role to the Hollywood icons. I do look to see how much a detective drives the story. In the first half of the book, Babs goes about traditional Q&A which doesn’t yield much success. Then she decides to take a risk, grabbing control of the story and getting it moving forward.

This story has been classified as a cozy, won awards as a comedy, and listed as a historical. The steady pacing and clean storytelling style is a real treat.

Where the story fell short of ideal: When it came to the motive behind the dognappings, it was as solid as it was creative. But inside of that, there were elements that felt underplayed or inconsistent. The number of dogs missing and their fame increases but there is no outcry, it isn’t picked up in the press, etc. It was believable when it was two dogs, but as it grew, I felt like the story didn’t grow with it.

While it is critical that the detective drives their story, the logic of the actions also matters. There was a point where Babs had earned her big break in the case, and then the story took a doglegged turn. She abandoned her first success for a half-heard reference. I had issues with the sudden redirection that seemed to fly in the face of the evidence.

In the category of personal preference, I struggled with the breakdown of the chapters. There are 38 chapters, most of which are seven to ten pages. Then three of the last four chapters were over 20 pages each with subsections. It confused me as I read as I was conditioned to expect the short, quick hitting chapters.

All in all, this was a clean, fun read.

The Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles was released from Level Best Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON and other book retailers.

About Elizabeth Crowens. Elizabeth has worn many hats in the entertainment industry and has a popular Caption Contest on Facebook. She has three award-winning alternate history novels. Awards include 2020 Leo B. Burstein Scholarship from the MWA-NY Chapter, New York Foundation of the Arts grant, an Eric Hoffer Award, Honorable Mention in the Glimmer Train Awards, and two grand prize and five first prize Chanticleer Awards, including Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles. https://www.elizabethcrowens.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

M2D4 S7E5 A Forced Card by Ed Teja

TG Wolff

Bill Garrity, a man at the top of his game, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. First, there’s the hole in his head made by a bullet. Second, there’s the holes in his head made by staple attaching the ace of hearts. Detective Masters and his team take up the question of who forced this card.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

Book Review: Devil May Care by David Housewright

TG Wolff

Devil May Care (Mac McKenzie #11) is a PI Mystery. McKenzie is approached by the granddaughter of a locally powerful man to find her missing boyfriend. She is certain he didn’t ghost her. McKenzie starts to believe he is a ghost…or at least not the man he sold himself to be.

Bottom line: Devil May Care is for you if you like hard punching PIs who do what’s right, even if it’s gonna hurt a little.

Strengths of the story. As the star of the show, McKenzie is a strong leading man. His morals and ethics repeatedly lead him into the heart of trouble. His quick wits and fast actions get him out. He is a hero that is fun to cheer for.

The series contains a cast of characters that makes reading the next McKenzie book feel like visiting old friends. From McKenzie’s girlfriend Nina, to his best friend Bobby and his family, they round McKenzie out as well as fill in the gaps and smooth out the rough edges.

Housewright’s development of a plot that has more switchbacks than a mountain pass means that the reader is never bored and rarely goes where we think we are. The pacing matches my preferred style of fast and driving, moving forward with every chapter.

Where the story fell short of ideal: McKenzie always drives his own story and the logic of the arc holds up, so nothing to pick on here. The boyfriend McKenzie is looking for, Juan Carlos Navarre, is a character some readers will hate and others respect. That’s the sign of good writing when, even buttoned up, things aren’t black and white.

M2D4 Toe Tag: Black & White by Justin M. Kiska

TG Wolff

Black & White is a mystery. This story is told in two times. Then was 1945. Stride agency investigator Francis “Fitz” Mason is hired by a retired US Ambassador to find the daughter who disappeared while dressing for her wedding. Now is 1985. Park City Police Detective Sergeant Ben Winters and Detective Tommy Mason are called to the scene of a woman’s body discovered in a field. She’s young, beautiful, and frozen solid. Winters and Mason take up the case where Uncle Fitz left off forty years ago.

Bottom line: Black & White is for you if you like mysteries driven by classic detectives, both cop and private investigator.

Listen to the first chapter here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For Podcast

Strengths of the story. Black & White moves back and forth between the 1945 kidnapping case and the 1985 suspicious death case. The movement between the two periods are distinct, staying in each period for multiple chapters, with distinct indication of the change.

The 1945 story features PI Fitz Mason with a cast mixing the local rich and famous with local cops covering their own butts. The story is a solid kidnapping mystery with the who, why, and how largely making sense. Former ambassador Conrad Martin’s daughter, Lillian, went missing the morning of her wedding. Someone carried her out of her father’s mansion dressed in her wedding gown. The character of Fitz Mason is of the classic, heroic cut and is easy to cheer for. The supporting characters of Ambassador Martin, younger sister Lucy, the valet Joe Grainger, and police chief Buchanan are also well developed, three-dimensional characters who you can like, hate, laugh at, and sympathize for.

The 1985 story features police detectives Ben Winter and his partner and friend Tommy Mason. Childhood friends, they grew up listening to Uncle Fitz’s case stories. The suspicious death is intriguing. The who, why, and how are built off the 1945 case, so, while it has equal weight in the book, it feels secondary. Even in writing this review, I’m being careful to not reveal anything that would detract from your enjoyment. This is the fourth book for Ben and Tommy, so they have the history and depth of established characters. The supporting characters are more typical of police procedurals, being effective, informative, and often entertaining.

The scene setting in both 1945 and 1985 are distinctively drawn using language, clothing, and period appropriate relationships between father and daughters, men and women. I felt transported to 1945. The 1985 language was not very different from now. The biggest “feel” for the mid-80s came from Tommy looking and dressing like the original Magnum P.I.

Fitz does an excellent job of driving his story. He investigated, picked up the clues, and drove it to the next point, then the next point, etc. Ben and Tommy are more traditional cops, acting on information given to them by the evidence clerk, forensics, etc and ushering the story point to point.

Where the story fell short of ideal: To enable the two stories to be told simultaneously, the modern story had to be slowed down, so it didn’t give away the historic story. But in doing that the modern story felt to me like it was idling, sometimes waiting until Fitz made a move before Ben and Tommy took a step forward.

The logic on the kidnapping, as I said, largely made sense. However, Lillian was knocked out and carried out of a mansion busy with wedding preparation without being seen. While Fitz was investigating, he had a hard time buying that part of it and so did I. It was never explained how the kidnappers got her out of the house. In the end, it was the one flaw my head kept coming back to in a multi-faceted diamond case.

The logic on the suspicious death-why the body was dumped, the steps taken to cover up-where fun to read start to finish…but looking from finish to start, I had trouble with some of the decision making of otherwise smart characters. All three of these criticism fall are my personal preference, other readers may not notice or care about any of these.

The Black & White was released from Level Best Books, is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

About Justin M. Kiska

When not sitting in his library devising new and clever ways to kill people (for his mysteries), Justin can usually be found at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, outside of Washington, DC, where he is one of the owners and producers. In addition to writing the Parker City Mysteries Series, which includes Now & Then, Vice & Virtue, and Fact & Fiction, he is also the mastermind behind Marquee Mysteries, a series of interactive mystery events he has been writing and producing for over fifteen years.

Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers. Founded in 2011, PICT serves well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting their careers. PICT prides itself on tailored packages for authors with a personal touch from tour coordinators. For more information, check out their website partnersincrimetours.com

M2D4 S7E4: Hard Scrabble by KM Rockwood

TG Wolff

Misha Soleby-Welkins was looking for some practical experience in geriatric social work. The community center was the antithesis of its name with an overbearing boss, an unsettled group of clients, a lunch that defies classification and a dead body. Now she getting a lesson in means, motive, and opportunity.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

About KM Rockwood

kmrockwood.com

KM Rockwood draws on a varied background for stories, among them working as a laborer in a steel fabrication plant, operating glass melters and related equipment in a fiberglass manufacturing facility, and supervising an inmate work crew in a large medium security state prison. These jobs, as well as work as a special education teacher in an alternative high school and a GED teacher in county detention facilities, provide most of the background for novels and short stories.

Check out her backlist on her website or on Amazon

M2D4 Toe Tag: Playing Dead by TG Wolff

TG Wolff

Playing Dead is a mystery. A body is put on display in Det. Jesus De La Cruz’s neighborhood. The victim isn’t random but some Cruz and the Cleveland police have been after, Alexander “Rotten” Carter. There was nothing plain and simple about this murder. Point in fact: the corpse was dressed as the king of hearts…the suicide king. Now Cruz is on the case to find answers to Carter’s killing and to the activities that hit much closer to home.

Bottom line: Playing Dead is for you if you like complex mysteries and being part of the detective’s professional and personal life.

Listen to the first chapter here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

At the time of this recording, Playing Dead was days away from release, so there are no reviews to pull from. So, I’m putting my M2D4 hat on and critiquing my own book.

Strengths of the story. Playing Dead is the 4th book in the series that deals as much with the ups and downs of the personal life of Jesus De La Cruz as it does the details of the mystery. The characters continue to grow from past novels, making it feel like we are catching up with old friends.

The main characters of Cruz, his fiancé Aurora, best friend Det Matt Yablonski, and awkward brainiac Professor Grayson Manor are fully developed, having strengths that bridge challenges and weaknesses their work against their success. The side characters often offer comedic relief to the intensity of the murder.

The mystery itself ties off storyline from the last two books. Reading prior books is not a necessity in following the mystery itself. The motivations and actions of the suspects is fully contained within this book. Reading the prior stories will be helpful in understanding the emotional strain the victim, Rotten Carter, cause to the cast of characters.

The story is told linearly including both Cruz’s on-the-clock and personal time. This drives the pacing as Cruz, like all of use, juggles the demands of a challenging professional life and a full private life, which includes a best friend who is treading dangerously close to over-the-line.

Where the story fell short of ideal: For lovers of stand-alone mysteries where the story is one-hundred-percent about the murder, the incorporation of personal life may not be as rewarding.

As with all series, starting a book four may has the potential to leave new readers feeling either like they are left out of the story or not getting as immersed in the emotions the characters are feeling. Certainly, as the author, I worked to make it welcoming to new readers, but this is always a challenge of series.

The Playing Dead was released from Down & Out Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

About TG Wolff. You are already on my website. Please click around to learn more about me and my projects. Thanks for stopping by!

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

Book Review: Dutch Threat by Josh Pachter

TG Wolff

DUTCH THREAT is an amateur sleuth mystery. History grad student Jack Farmer gets the opportunity of a lifetime – a two-week research assignment in Amsterdam. But when the old crone in the apartment next door is murdered and her young, beautiful nurse is suspected, well, what’s a guy to do but jump in and make like a detective.    

Bottom line: DUTCH THREAT is for you if you like light-hearted mysteries where the setting is as interesting as the plot.

Strengths of the story. DUTCH THREAT is a stand-alone novel featuring the lead character Jack Farmer. Jack Farmer is a 24-year-old history grad student. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, is known to make references to mid-20th Century pop culture, and generally doesn’t know when to stay quiet. He has a wonderful amount of energy and curiosity. Working with Jack is Jet (pronounced yet), the nurse suspected of the murder. She is patient with a sweet disposition who finds Jack charming.

Most stories have a side plot and in DUTCH THREAT this is a tour of Amsterdam. Jack and Jet dine on everything from fries dipped in mayonnaise (which we are taught to pronounce correctly) to local Chinese food. Jet takes Jack to her favorite museums and shares history as well as some ghost stories. Foodies and travel lovers will delight in the excursions into neighborhoods of Amsterdam.

The pacing is fair and steady. With breaking up the murder investigation with the side trips into Amsterdam, this doesn’t have a frantic sense of pace but a more deliberate one, perhaps reflecting the city itself.

The biggest strength of this story was just how enjoyable it was to read. It is largely a clean book, for those who prefer that style. Near the end, Jack goes on a little rant which prevents it from being completely clean. Jack was very entertaining as he interjected poorly timed attempts at humor that referenced Americana some 40-80 years before he was born. References to Groucho Marx and similar may be lost on young readers and delight older ones.  

Where the story fell short of ideal: For me, I look for the detective to be instrumental in the resolution of the mystery. That didn’t happen here. Despite the work Jack and Jet did, the mystery was resolved when the killer revealed itself (note word choice to avoid any spoiler!) I did appreciate the killer’s confession, explaining the whys and hows. In the end, there were few clues or evidence revealed that the reader could use to deduce the solution.

Throughout the story, there is a lot of Dutch dialog. I hope those who speak/read Dutch find this to be charming. As I don’t have even a rudimentary understanding the language, at some point, the dialog swung from being a strength to a shortcoming. I eventually found myself visually skipping over those passages. I don’t at all think that incorporating other languages is a negative. In this instance, it just was too extended for my tastes.

M2S4 S7E3: Cards Against Jake by Jim Winter

TG Wolff

Jake Randall delighted in playing every “vagina” card in his Cards Against Humanity to the discomfort of the female players. Detective Ana Friedman, one of those women, escapes to the bathroom for some quiet reading time. And that’s when somebody struck. Now Ana needs to solve Jake’s murder or live with her vic dying while she was on the toilet.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

M2D4 Toe Tag: Objects of Desire by Valerie Webster

TG Wolff

Objects of Desire is a PI Mystery. Two years ago, PI Rita Mars broke up with Diane Winter. It was loud and messy end to their relationship. Now Diane is missing and the note left behind points in Rita’s direction. Juggling a case of corporate embezzlement, Diane’s disappearance, and a mother with early dementia means Rita has to do a lot of juggling to keep the balls in the air and her butt out of jail.

Bottom line: Objects of Desire is for you if you like mysteries without murder, female-centric casts, and clean storytelling.

Listen to the Prologue and Chapters 1 & 2 here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

Strengths of the story. The second in the Rita Mars thriller series, Objects of Desire is listed as an LGBTQ+ Mystery and Women’s Detective Fiction on Amazon. I do agree with the genres of mystery and detective fiction, moreso than thriller. Rita runs her own PI agency and juggles two cases, keeping both stories moving forward. While there were implied threats to Rita from the police investigation, this was a subplot, which placed the mysteries front and center.  

The characters of Rita, her assistant Beverly Hills, her best friend Mary Margaret Smooth, and IT wizard Roswell were comfortable in their roles, which reflected this being the second book in the series. Rita was a PI who relied on her team to extend her reach and resources. As compared to other PI characters, she runs a team and uses them to their strengths. The characters were both likable and interesting. Rita’s mother played the role of the comic relief with her sugar and Oreo obsession.

I have not read the first Rita Mars story but had no problem reading Objects of Desire. Webster did a nice job of giving new readers the information needed to jump into Rita’s world.

Webster’s storytelling style is clean, without cursing, sex, or on-stage violence. There is the implication and threat of violence but not actual depiction of, which makes this a great choice for readers who prefer classic mystery styles of Miss Jane Marple, Nero Wolfe, and others. On the spectrum of cozy to hard boiled, this is closer to the cozy end.

The financial mystery was well developed. While Rita developed the theories, the technical nature of the crimes meant that Roswell did more of the leg work than Rita. This worked to keep the story progressing while Rita worked on Diane’s case.

The kidnapping mystery was a straighter story. The biggest challenge here is there was nothing for Rita or the cops to start from. Rita had to return to PI gumshoe roots, working through all of Diane’s friends, acquaintances, and other exes to get to a clue that led somewhere.

This mystery is categorized as LGBTQ+ with the majority of the main characters being gay. Rita Mars and Objects of Desire stands as a solid mystery because of the plot, not because of the characters’ enduring attraction to the same sex. While being gay is central to Rita’s identity, much as being from Belgium was central to Poirot, it has no bearing on her capability as a PI. If you are a reader looking for a lead from the LGBTQ+ community, read Rita Mars. If you are a reader looking for a clean mystery with an intelligent PI, read Rita Mars.

Where the story fell short of ideal. Considering Objects of Desire as a mystery, there was a lot to like, as already mentioned, but I had a few minor items. I did think that the urgency of finding Diane was undermined by both the financial case and Rita’s mother, at times slowing down the pacing of the storytelling. The evidence in the financial case evolved consistently where Diane’s case turned when Rita latched on to a single comment during an interview. The smoothness of the former heightened the abruptness of the latter for me. Finally, I struggled with Rita’s actions in the ending being consistent with her approach and decision making throughout the book. None of these affected the overall logic of the storylines or appeal of the characters.    

The Objects of Desire is published by Valerie Webster with Ignited Ink Writing and promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

About Valerie Webster

Valerie Webster spent a career developing law enforcement applications for surveillance, security and forensics. She has also been a triathlete and a crime reporter. She honed her writing skills through “Sisters in Crime” and “Mystery Writers of America’s” mentoring program. Valerie makes her home near Boulder, CO.

https://valeriewebster.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

M2D4 S7E2: A Scent of Murder by Paul A. Barra

TG Wolff

It’s August, 1968 and the rural community of Titus Town, South Carolina is looking forward to the cow bingo fundraiser. But before Katie Hammet’s Jersey cow can do her thing, Deputy Sandy Buford has to figure out who snuffed out the local hip-pocket lender and emptied his till.

Listen here or wherever you get Mysteries for Die For podcast

About Paul.

Paul A. Barra is a chemistry teacher, a former newspaper reporter, and Naval officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V and other decorations for his service on the rivers of the Mekong Delta. He is married and has eight children with his wife, the former Joni Lee. They reside in Columbia, South Carolina. 

Help support Paul and make writing for Mysteries to Die For the best decision he’s ever made by going to his website and buying his books. Then write a review and help other mystery lovers find him.

https://paulbarra.com/