Dangerous Boys by Greg F. Gifune Down & Out Books, PB, $17.95, 308 pages, ISBN 978-1-946502-52-0 In the summer of 1984, a series of heat waves blasted the northeast United States in rapid succession, one after another. It’s particularly hot in the old whaling port of New Bedford, Massachusetts, where the usual cooling ocean breezes have disappeared, leaving the city in a steaming humid mess of baking sidewalks, human
Sunburn by Laura Lippman William Morrow/Harper Collins, $26.99, 290 pages, ISBN 978-0-06-238992-3 Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the warm weather season; a time for vacations, kicking back, relaxing and light summertime reading. And hey, what could be better, we’re kicking it off with one of America’s most loved, respected and widely-read authors who’s always at the top of the NY Times bestseller lists. Sunburn, by Laura
Mysterious Book Report No. 336 The Hush by John Dwaine McKenna One of the awesomest young writers to come down the literary turnpike in the new millennium is a southern gothic wordsmith named John Hart. The accolades, superlatives and awards directed at him keep piling up at an astonishing rate; making him one of the hottest new novelists; one that all thriller enthusiasts will want to be acquainted with.
The Detonator by Vincent Zandri Polis Books, $25.99, 287 pages, ISBN 978-1-943818-88-4 Psychological thrillers are among the most popular of modern crime fiction works, because they give readers a long and hard look into the hearts and minds and motives of people who are far outside of the usual norms of society. The Irish and Brits call them nutters . . . while we Americans simply call them what
Mysterious Book Report No. 334 Green Sun by John Dwaine McKenna There’s plenty of reality TV programs these days that show viewers what cops are doing during their shifts, and what they’re putting up with from John Q. and Susie B. Public. Now, a new book puts readers into the jump seat of a 1980s vintage squad car during the spring and summer of a new officer’s probationary period
Killer Choice by Tom Hunt Berkley/Penguin Random House, $26.00, 342 pages, ISBN 978-0-399-58640-8 A harrowing ride into desperation, is how one commentator described this chilling suspense novel by a debut author who posits the following question: How far would you go to save the life of the person you love most in the world? That is what faces protagonist Gary Foster in this devilishly-twisted plot that puts an ordinary
Mysterious Book report No. 332 Down The River Unto The Sea by John Dwaine McKenna Walter Mosley has authored more than fifty books. He’s been appointed a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, won just about any award you could name, his books have been translated into twenty different languages and he is revered from here to kingdom come. He entertains, enlightens and thrills his readers. While
Defectors by Joseph Kanon ATRIA BOOKS/Simon & Schuster, $27.00, 290 pages, ISBN 978-1-5011-2139-5 In light of all the nic-nac paddy-whacking that’s been going on for weeks . . . or is it months . . . or, OMG . . . years now about Russia and who did what to whom, and the when, where, why and how until we’re all sick to death of hearing about it, the
Blood on the Tracks Mysterious Book Report No. 330 by John Dwaine McKenna It was a lucky day for all of us when my wife June’s book club decided to read this outstanding first novel, written by a Colorado author and published in 2016. Smart group those dozen-plus ladies, all college or public librarians, administrators and professional women, the core group of which—including June–has been meeting on the first
Slaughterhouse Blues by Nick Kolakowski Shotgun Honey/ Down & Out Books, PB, $11.95, 136 pages, ISBN 978-1-946502-40-7 Do you ever take a chance on a book, based only on the title, or cover illustration? It’s a fun way to discover a new author or genre you might otherwise pass up. Or Not, in which case the non-profit stores and neighborhood churches always need stuff to sell. But, when it