Reviews 
Whether it be a book, movie, or something else, here’s a critique.
Top 10 Mysteries of 2019?
A new decade has dawned! But before we get much further into 2020, it’s time to take one last look at the last decade (and last year), and see what the most popular mysteries were in 2019. Based on circulation figures at my local library, these were the most checked out mysteries in 2019. ***… Read More ›
15 Years of Mystery: Part Six
Welcome to Part Six of 15 Years of Mysteries! The list of titles for 2009 proved to be a bit more challenging to my powers of recall. Knowing what was read is far different from remembering what my thoughts and opinions were. Over the years, some books made an impression while others are but a… Read More ›
15 Years of Mysteries: Part Five
Welcome to Part Five of 15 Years of Mysteries! In 2008, my local library moved to a new location and the Mystery Book Club moved along with it. Since the move closed the library for two weeks in January, the club did not meet that month. Fittingly, when we resumed in February, the club read… Read More ›
15 Years of Mysteries: Part Four
Welcome to Part Four of 15 Years of Mysteries! The Mystery Book Club (at my local library) continued its tour of mystery fiction with several women authors. Perhaps the biggest mystery of the year, however, was why there wasn’t a selection for May 2007. I’ve not been able to find a single document, file, listing,… Read More ›
15 Years of Mysteries: Part Three
Welcome to Part Three of 15 Years of Mysteries! The Mystery Book Club (at my local library) kicked off its third year of reading with a tie in to a local community initiative. In the late 1990s / early 2000s, several communities across the United States created “If all of {city name} read the same… Read More ›
15 Years of Mysteries: Part Two
Welcome to Part Two of 15 Years of Mysteries! The first full year of hosting a Mystery Book Club at my local library included a variety of titles in the mystery genre, including cozies and private investigators. In 2004, I began a book discussion group focused on the mystery genre. In the 15 years since… Read More ›
15 Years of Mysteries
Working at my local library over the years has been a perfect fit for my varied interests, particularly literary ones. In 2004, I began a book discussion group focused on the mystery genre. This Mystery Book Club has evolved over the years and continues to meet at the library today. In the 15 years since… Read More ›
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Is it the greatest spy thriller ever written? The Spy Who Came in From the Cold certainly ranks highly on best crime/mystery lists and is considered a quintessential Cold War era spy novel. In it, British agent Alec Leamas becomes part of a careful laid plan. One that even he may not be fully apprised… Read More ›
By Its Cover: Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge
A woman holds up a glowing martini glass in front of a green-lit bar. The mix of light and shadow draw the eye, but it’s the subject matter that piques interest: a novel of magic and mixology. Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge is, according to the book blurb, an urban fantasy that “blends alcohol… Read More ›
Aaron Elkins’ Old Bones
An ingenious murder kicks off this award-winning Gideon Oliver mystery. The story opens with a man exploring the tidal pools of Mont St. Michel Bay, but who appears lost in thought. “For many minutes he remained so, unmoving, lost in reflection, and then he tensed suddenly.” He hears the tide rushing in. “The tide! How… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 