Waukegan Public Library - mystery

Have You Heard About... Grace among Thieves

Fran J — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 06:04:22 +0000

… the historical Marshfield Manor, in North Carolina? It’s just been robbed. In Julie Hyzy’s Grace among Thieves*, Grace Wheaten, the curator and manager of Marshfield Manor, has discovered that several very valuable items in the manor are missing. A film crew is making a DVD of the property to showcase all of it beautiful antiquities. Is one of the film crew responsible for the thefts, or could it be one of the hundreds of daily visitors that come to see the magnificent estate?

Grace has her hands full trying to run the estate and maintain its integrity. Suddenly one of the visitors is murdered. The police warn Grace to steer clear and let them do their job, but Grace has other ideas and is determined to find the killer and find the missing precious items. This is book three in the series. While enough backstory is given, you really need to read to first two books so as not to miss all of the characters who work at the mansion and what their jobs are and how they help or hinder Grace.

* Earlier books in the series include Grace under Pressure and Grace Interrupted.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... A Simple Act of Violence

Fran J — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:20:40 +0000

… the political conspiracies brewing in Washington, D.C.? R.J. Ellory’s new mystery, A Simple Act of Violence gives the reader a fictional (but all too believable) insight into the political workings of the D.C. justice system. Detective Robert Miller is pulled into what looks like a typical serial murder case — four women have been brutally murdered, and their killer has tied a ribbon around each of their necks. However, Miller discovers that all of these women had false identities, and the more he discovers, the more he’s pulled into a conspiracy involving the CIA and a team of hired political assassins.

Even though I don’t usually go for stories with a political edge, this story had me hooked from the first page — well written, plenty of suspense, and full of plot twists to keep even the most experienced mystery reader guessing. This is a highly entertaining intellectual exercise, and a book that I’m very much looking forward to rereading.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... A Timely Vision

Fran J — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:57:23 +0000

… someone with a talent for finding lost items? In A Timely Vision* by Joyce and Jim Lavene, you meet Dae O’Donnell, the mayor of Duck, North Carolina. Dae has the ability to find lost items simply by touching the person who has lost the item, but she’s not always happy to have this unique talent. When Miss Mildred loses her watch and asks Dae to find it, she finds a dead body instead. The body turns out to be 90-year-old Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mildred’s sister.

Kevin Brickman has just moved into town to reopen the once-renowned Blue Whale Inn. With Kevin’s help, Dae tracks down who killed Miss Elizabeth and why. A romance slowly develops between Dae and Kevin over the books in this quaint series filled with quirky characters and interesting historical facts.

Duck, North Carolina is a real place you can find on a map. I’ve been there several times and had a marvelous time. I highly recommend stopping for a visit if you are ever in the area. It’s not far from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

* Later books in the series include A Touch of Gold, A Spirited Gift and A Haunting Dream.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Threadbare

Fran J — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:35:18 +0000

… the latest murder in Excelsior, Minnesota? In the newest mystery from Monica Ferris, Threadbare* tells the story of two murdered homeless women. These women really had nothing in common except that they were homeless, and when the niece of one of the women asks Betsy to help her, another body turns up frozen in the snow. Could the murders be connected? A piece of Hardanger needlecraft is found on one of the women. Is it a clue?

The plight of the homeless is good part of the storyline. Betsy’s needlecraft shop, Crewel World, is also a part of the story. Relatives of the homeless women, of course, are some of the suspects. It isn’t until the very end that the mystery unfolds itself into a shocking tale of greed.

This is a stand alone book with enough back story so you will understand why Betsy can take off from her job at Crewel World.

* Earlier books in the series are Crewel World, Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by a Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork and Buttons and Bones.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Bad Always Die Twice

Fran J — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:18:08 +0000

… the daughter of a Hollywood screen legend who doesn’t want to follow in her famous mom’s footsteps? Nikki Harper decides to become a real estate agent instead. Do The Bad Always Die Twice when a film icon turns up dead but the death was reported six months earlier? How can this happen and be believable?

Catering to the Hollywood elite and their crazy lifestyles, this book has a lot to offer. Think Jackie Collins only on the cozy mystery side. There are a few slow spots, but plenty of red herrings will keep you guessing to the very end.

Cheryl Crane is the daughter of Hollywood legend Lana Turner. This book looks like it will be the first in a fascinating series.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Flowerbed of State

Fran J — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:24:12 +0000

… the new assistant gardener at the White House? In Flowerbed of State, by Dorothy St. James, you’ll meet Casey Calhoun, an organic gardener who’s only been at the White House a short time, but she’s already in trouble with the Secret Service. This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the how the White House grounds are kept up.

Casey finds a dead body after being conked on the head, and since she’s a huge fan of Miss Marple, she decides to investigate on her own, much to the annoyance of Jack Turner, a top Counter Assault Team Agent. With protesters marching across the street from the White House, a new puppy digging up the Rose Garden, and a quirky cast of secondary characters, will the killer get to Casey first or will Jack throttle her for interfering with the security of the White House?

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... In the Woods

Fran J — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 06:29:08 +0000

… the Dublin Murder Squad? In the Woods,* the debut mystery novel from Tana French, follows the investigation of Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox as they try to solve a bizarre murder. A nearby archaeological excavation team has discovered the body of a twelve-year-old girl on a stone altar, but where did she come from, and why was she murdered? Was it a member of the archaeological team, a local political activist, or worse - someone from the girl’s family? Rob, however, notices startling similarities between this case and a mystery from his own past, when two of his friends mysteriously disappeared in the woods, very close to where the girl was discovered, and the more he investigates, the more the details of his past come back to haunt him.

Tana French takes all the elements of a good mystery - clever plotting, well-defined yet flawed characters, suspense - and mixes them with her own brand of dry, Irish humor to create an intelligent mystery unlike any other I’ve ever read. And if In the Woods appeals to you, Tana French has written two other Dublin Murder Squad mysteries, both of which are available at the library.

* The next two books in this series are The Likeness and Faithful Place.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... An Uplifting Murder

Fran J — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 06:07:27 +0000

… the mystery shopper who is also a sleuth? An Uplifting Murder is the sixth book in the series* by Elaine Viets.

Josie Marcus is a mystery shopper in Missouri. In this latest book, she is mystery shopping in a high priced lingerie shop, looking into several customer complaints about the staff members. What she finds instead is her former gym teacher working as the store’s manager, an old hateful classmate shopping in the store, and murder. This is a very fun read into the world of mystery shopping. Josie’s boss Harry is a hoot.

*If you enjoy this stand alone book, you might be interested in looking for the others in this fun series: Dying in Style, High Heels are Murder, Accessory to Murder, Murder with All the Trimmings, and The Fashion Hound Murders.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Death by the Dozen

Fran J — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:40:00 +0000

… the Scottsdale Food Festival? Jenn McKinlay’s newest book, Death by the Dozen*, has Mel, Angie, Tate and all of the DeLaura brothers back for the baking festival of the year. This one comes with a $10,000 prize and a lot of prestige.

Crazy Olivia is up to her usual shenanigans again to try to sabotage Mel and Angie’s efforts to win the contest. There is a new foodie intern at Fairy Tale Cupcakes named Oz. Keep your eyes open for all that he contributes to the story. Mel’s mentor is literally put on ice, and it’s up to her to try to figure out who killed him. Meanwhile, Angie and Tate are still trying to figure out if they are meant to be or if Angie’s current boyfriend Roach is still in the picture.

A new character named Captain Jack will steal your heart in this delightful read.

* Earlier books in the series are Sprinkle with Murder and Buttercream Bump Off.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Angel Interrupted

Fran J — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:18:38 +0000

…the Dead Detective? Angel Interrupted is the really good second book in Chaz McGee’s series*. Kevin Fahey was a drunk and a so-so detective in life and is now a ghost trying to help his replacement, Maggie Gunn. He can only guide Maggie in solving crimes through his thoughts, which are at times both funny and gritty. Kevin figures that if he can do good by “helping” Maggie he might get out of the limbo he’s in, though he is proving to be a better detective dead then when he was alive.

In this book, it takes a bit longer to solve the crimes of a murdered nurse and an abducted kid. More insight is given into the main characters’ lives, and the twists near the end almost gave me a heart attack. This book will keep you counting the days until the next book comes out.

*The first book in the series is Desolate Angel.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)