Reviews 
Whether it be a book, movie, or something else, here’s a critique.
A Tale of Two Covers
Judging a book by its cover is inevitable, n’est pas? We all do it in spite of our best efforts not to. After all, an eye-catching cover will draw our attention to pick up that book from the shelf and read the blurb to find out what it’s about. For an author, that’s half the… Read More ›
In the Woods
After presenting an idyllic scene of summer past in which three children play, the prologue ends chillingly with the words… “These children will not be coming of age, this or any other summer. This August will not ask them to find hidden reserves of strength and courage as they confront the complexity of the adult… Read More ›
Wicked Syracuse
Every city has its secrets… “Like any city, Syracuse holds secrets. Some secrets are simply things that don’t get said, but others are juicy–the stuff scandals, soap operas and miniseries are made of. If stalwart heroes made Syracuse a vibrant, growing city, so too did the miscreants that dot the city’s history.” Reading like the… Read More ›
Pearls and Poison
Brown’s latest Consignment Shop Mystery is a rip-roaring, hijinks-filled cozy mystery. Reagan Summerside’s mamma is running for city alderman. Though a bit of a disaster working on her mom’s campaign, Reagan is present when rival politico Kipling Seymour shows up. He’s got a brand new attack ad lined up to air the next day unless Gloria Summerside… Read More ›
Evan and Elle
Arson leads to murder in this fourth book in the Constable Evan Evans series. Constable Evan Evans of the North Wales Police is on a hike at the beginning of this story. He is not alone. “If anyone was sheltering up on the mountain, it was probably nothing more than a passing tramp or a… Read More ›
The Mermaid’s Singing
The Mermaids Singing is a very well-craftet, taut psychological thriller in which a very careful, organized serial killer stalks the streets of Bradfield, a fictional northern England city. It is not a story, however, for everyone. The story opens with a murderer vactioning in Italy and visiting “the one tourist attration I really wanted to see.” The Museo… Read More ›
Enter a Murderer
As the brief foreword warns, we will know the identity of the murderer early on. Or do we? The scene is set. Actors play out their roles in The Rat and the Beaver on the London stage, but behind the scenes, they have hidden agendas. In front of a live audience, including Chief Detective Inspector… Read More ›
Top 10 Mysteries in 2013?
2014 is nearly here. That means it’s time to reflect on the year that’s been. What books did you read this year? Were they the most popular? Based on circulation figures at the library where I work, these were the most checked out mysteries in 2013. *** 10. Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs —… Read More ›
The Daughter of Time
What would you do if you were cooped up, staring at the ceiling, with nothing to engage your mind? Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard finds himself in just such a position, having fallen through, of all things, a trap door! To relieve his boredom, at the suggestion of his friend, actress Marta Hallard, he endeavors to… Read More ›
Strangers on a Train
“The train tore along with an angry, irregular rhythm. It was having to stop at smaller and more frequent stations, where it would wait impatiently for a moment, then attack the prairie again.” Guy Haines is on that train thinking about divorcing his wife, Miriam. In a matter of moments, he will meet Charles Anthony Bruno… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 