The Hard Word: TOP TWENTY-FIVE FOR FIRST TWENTY-FIVE (20-16)
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Market Call Facebook -- One Eyed Press
Shotgun Honey is relaunching this and they want novellas 8k to 30K. More info at https://submissions.shotgunhoney.com/publication/one-eye-press/
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: More Stories from Christmas Stalkings
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: More Stories from Christmas...: Christmas Stalkings , published in 1991, was the second Christmas short story anthology edited by Charlotte MacLeod. As the subtitle ...
Jerry's House of Everything: ALMOST SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: MURDER PICTURE
Jerry's House of Everything: ALMOST SHORT STORY WEDNESDAY: MURDER PICTURE: [Having nearly completed a lengthy post on George Harmon Coxe's "Flashgun" Casey story "Murder Picture" ( Black Mask...
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Clock House Murders (1991) by Yukito Ayatsuji
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Clock House Murders (1991) by Yukito Ayatsuji: Pushkin Vertigo has, as of 2025, published four novels in Yukito Ayatsuji's "Bizarre House Mysteries" series, translated by H...
SleuthSayers: Half-Topless?
SleuthSayers: Half-Topless?: It's wonderful when story ideas come to mind fully fleshed out so you can sit down and start writing. Or, if you don't have the time...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews: Reviewed by Jeanne Decorative blacksmith Meg Lanslow’s Christmas plans have had a bit of a twist—Meg’s ankle, to be specific. She se...
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVELLAS
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVE...: Here's my list of Christmas Mystery Short Story Anthologies and Novellas . There may be some overlaps from my other lists, as well...
Monday, December 15, 2025
Jerry's House of Everything: BIT & PIECE -- INCOMING ONLY
Jerry's House of Everything: BIT & PIECE -- INCOMING ONLY: Despite all good intentions, I sometimes get behind in items I want to post on the blog. Rather than pt it off for another week here's ...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Satan Sampler: Victor Canning
Bitter Tea and Mystery: The Satan Sampler: Victor Canning: This is the 6th book in a loose series called the Birdcage books. They were published between 1971 and 1985. They all revolve around a cover...
Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Softly Calls the Devil by Christopher Blake
Softly
Calls the Devil (Echo, November 2025) by Christopher Blake is the second
book about New Zealand cop Matt Buchanan. The first book was shortlisted for
the Best First and the Best Novel of the 2018 Ngaio Marsh awards.
Here Matt is
happier in his new job, an ostensible demotion from his high-powered Criminal
Investigation Bureau role to the rural community of Haast, where he is doing
routine small-town policing. After a year he’s settled in to the slower pace of
life and has grown to like the people of the area. Breaking up the intermittent
teenage party and warning the local pothead about his marijuana crop and
navigating the occasional traffic snafu is right up his alley these days.
Matt is good
friends with his predecessor Gus, who retired when Matt took over the job but
stayed in the area. Over a beer or two Gus tells Matt that he’s been looking
into an old case of murder-suicide that wasn’t what it seemed, and he wanted to
tell Matt about it some time. A day later Gus is found shot in the head. No
chance of a hunting accident. Matt had to wonder if Gus was killed because of
what he had learned about the old case. And just who heard Gus tell Matt he
wanted to hand off his research to him.
The murder
investigation was the province of the CIB and therefore out of Matt’s
jurisdiction but nothing kept him from looking at that old case, an especially
ugly story of a father killing his daughter and wife and then killing himself,
to try to find the new information that Gus had uncovered. It led him to a
forgotten commune and to an older gang, both of which had ties to some of the
present-day Haast locals.
Blake is a
serving police officer himself and he knows what he writes about, which gives
the story more than superficial realism. He runs the Behavioural Science unit
of the New Zealand Police in Wellington, see https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/new-zealand-cop-makes-stunning-killer-admission/news-story/d9aff330076fe36b13dcd1fa00ff9ff9.
I particularly like that Blake has made Matt a team player who follows the
rules and respects his management, who in turn appear to respect Matt. I am really
tired of the lone wolf cop.
What starts
out as a police procedural turns into so much more: a multi-faceted cold case, a
meditation on mid-life re-invention, a scenic tour around the Haast region of
the island, and a reminder that old sins can come to light long after the
evildoer thinks they are buried.
A complicated
and fascinating read. Highly recommended.
·
Publisher: Echo
·
Publication date: November 4, 2025
·
Language: English
·
Print length: 278 pages
·
ISBN-13: 978-1786585417
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4rP613P
Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2025
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Little Big Crimes: Picture Palace Blues, by Colin Campbell
Little Big Crimes: Picture Palace Blues, by Colin Campbell: "Picture Palace Blues ," by Colin Campbell, in Celluloid Crimes, edited by Deborah Well, Level Short, 2025. I have a story in t...
Saturday, December 13, 2025
KRL Update 12/13/2025
Up on KRL this week reviews and giveaways of 3 more Christmas mysteries-"O, Deadly Night" A Year-Round Christmas Mystery by Vicki Delany, "The Snow Lies Deep" by Paula Munier, and "Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife" by Martin Edwards https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/trio-of-christmas-mysteries-for-the-holidays/
And a review and giveaway of "Death Comes to Jane Austen Town" by Rosemary Stevens, along with an interesting interview with Rosemary https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/death-comes-to-jane-austen-town-by-rosemary-stevens/
And a review and giveaway of "Road Trip With a Vampire" by Jenna Levine. It's a vampire rom-com with a touch of mystery https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/road-trip-with-a-vampire-by-jenna-levine/
We also have a review of a new Acorn TV mystery show called "Murder Before Evensong" and a review of "The Madame Blanc Mysteries Christmas Special" that goes up on Acorn on December 15 and 20 https://kingsriverlife.com/12/13/murder-before-evensong-madame-blanc-christmas-special-on-acorntv/
Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Hot To Talk To Your Dog About Murder" by Emily Soderberg https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/how-to-talk-to-your-dog-about-murder-by.html
And a review and ebook giveaway of another Christmas mystery, "Yule Regret It" by Annie McEwen- https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/yule-regret-it-by-annie-mcewan.html
And a review and giveaway of "Catering To The Dead" by Kim Davis, https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/catering-to-dead-by-kim-davis.html
And a review and giveaway of "Bone Chilling" by Sara E Johnson https://www.krlnews.com/2025/12/bone-chilling-by-sara-e-johnson.html
Happy holidays!
Lorie
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: How I Write by Caroline Clemmons
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: How I Write by Caroline Clemmons: I often get questions from readers about where I get my ideas and how I write. My ideas come from everywhere. I have more ideas than I can...
Beneath the Stains of Time: An English Murder (1951) by Cyril Hare
Beneath the Stains of Time: An English Murder (1951) by Cyril Hare: An English Murder (1951) by " Cyril Hare ," penname of Alfred A.G. Clark, was adapted from a radio-play, "Murder at Warbeck ...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond: Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond (Dinner and a Mystery, book 3) Reviewed by Jeanne Nora loves working at Castle Dark, an A...
Scott's Take: Red Hulk Vol. 1: Prisoner of War by Benjamin Percy and Geoff Shaw (Illustrator, Cover Art)
Red Hulk Vol. 1: Prisoner of War by Benjamin
Percy and Geoff Shaw (Illustrator, Cover Art) is a tie in series to One
World Under Doom. Doctor Doom has conquered the world and kidnapped
various people including military strategists like Thunderbolt Ross aka Red
Hulk. He is forcing these people into working in a think tank on how to
maintain Doctor Doom’s power. Of course, Red Hulk wants to escape. But, even if
he does. he is far from home in the country of Latveria and Doom owns America
now too.
The art is good and this is an action
packed series where the odds are against Red Hulk. Joining him on this journey
is Deathlok and Machine Man. A Deathlok is a zombie cyborg solider and there
have been a lot of them. I am not even sure which one this was. Machine Man is
an android. I have never cared about any of them before this read, but this was
still a fun read.
There will be a second collected book in
this series titled Red Hulk Vol. 2: Mission: Latveria. That will
be the last volume that Red Hulk will tie into the current Captain
America Series and probably be a part of the aftermath of One
World Under Doom.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3KkdXZO
I read this through Marvel Unlimited.
Scott A. Tipple ©2025
Friday, December 12, 2025
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: Death of a Dutchman
In Reference to Murder: Friday's "Forgotten" Books: Death of a Dutchman: Magdalen Nabb was born in Lancashire in 1947 but lived in Florence, Italy, from 1975 until her death in 2007. She wrote both children's...
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE JOHNNY MAXWELL TRILOGY
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: THE JOHNNY MAXWELL TRILOGY: The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy by Terry Pratchett (omnibus of three novels published by The Science Fiction Book Club, 1996; contains Only Yo...
FFB Review: A Bad Day For Sunshine: A Novel by Darynda Jones
From the archive….
Sunshine
Vicram is back in Del Sol, New Mexico, with her teenage daughter, Aurora,
better known as Auri. She is also less than thrilled about living in the small
tourist town of Del Sol again. Even if it is home for her parents and she and
Auri are in the guest house about fifty feet from their backdoor. She is also
not thrilled about being the newly elected sheriff. Especially when she wasn’t
even running for sheriff far as she knew.
But, being elected in
Del Sol when you are not even running for sheriff is not the strangest thing to
happen in Del Sol as Sunshine Vicram well knows. She has been gone for nearly
fifteen years and now that she is back, she is reminded again that Del Sol has
a sun that never quits and neither does the strange.
While her fourteen year
old daughter deals with her first day at Del Sol High School, Sunshine Vicram
arrives at the station in her full uniform to see what her first day will
bring. It soon brings a visit from the Mayor and a basket of muffins. The mayor
is a problem, but nothing she can’t handle at this point. The muffins are
another and, according to everyone else, a far more serious problem. Homemade
by Ruby Moore, they certainly look and smell good. Ruby Moore can certainly
bake as all can attest. The problem is that when she sends in food, trouble
always follows. It does not matter if they eat the delicious offering or not,
trouble is coming. They just do not know it yet.
Minutes after consuming
the delicious goodness, they soon find out that they have a major problem on
their hands. Wealthy new resident Mrs. St. Aubin reports that her daughter,
Sybil, same age as Auri, is missing. She vanished during the night. Mrs. St. Aubin
woke up this morning and realized that her daughter was missing. Having
searched the house in an increasing panic she came to town in a full panic
looking for help. If that is not enough, then comes word that an incarcerated
prisoner known for kidnapping has escaped custody and could be in the area. Are
the two situations linked? Does he have Sybil? Or is something else going on?
At about the same time
as her Mom has her hands fill with her job, Auri has her hands full with her
own issues at school. Being the daughter of the newly elected sheriff on top of
being the new girl in school comes with a lot of pressure. A number of her
fellow classmates are being less than welcoming. Three or four are being
downright hostile as they take a page of the mean girls playbook. Her first day
is turning into a real doozy and just like her Mom’s situation, thiings are
only going to escalate.
A Bad Day for Sunshine:
A Novel by Darynda Jones
is a really good book. It reminds this reader of J. A. Janice’s Sheriff Joanna
Brady series with considerably more humor and a tad more romantic intrigue. It
shifts at the start of each chapter as well as occasionally in a chapter between
Sunshine and Auri as they deal with various events and situations. The
backstory, told through memories and dialogue discussions, is very complicated
and applies to both Auri and Sunshine.
At its heart, it is
still a police procedural in many ways and that fact is not sidelined by the
backstory, the personal dramas, and potential romantic entanglements. Plenty is
at work in A Bad Day For Sunshine: A Novel is a fun and
fast read that lays an excellent foundation for the series. A Good Day for Chardonnay is
currently scheduled to be released in late July 2021.
A Bad Day for Sunshine:
A Novel by Darynda Jones
is strongly recommended.
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4aFiYqE
My large print reading
copy came from the Lakewood Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2020, 2025
Thursday, December 11, 2025
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Stocking Stuffers from the Short Mystery Fiction Society
The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog: Stocking Stuffers from the Short Mystery Fiction S...: With the holidays coming, it's a great time to pick up some of the exciting new publications from the multi-talented authors of the Shor...
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange
In Reference to Murder: Mystery Melange: The Wolfe Pack, the Official Nero Wolfe Literary Society, announced that Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Minotaur Books) has won the an...
Criminal Minds: Some Great Books I’ve Read Recently from James W. Ziskin
Criminal Minds: Some Great Books I’ve Read Recently from James W. ...: Some Great Books I’ve Read Recently Time to propose some great reads from the past year. Click on the book covers for the links. Feel free t...
In Reference to Murder: Author R&R with M.B. Courtenay
In Reference to Murder: Author R&R with M.B. Courtenay: Before turning to fiction, M.B. Courtenay lived and worked in Washington, D.C., Beijing, and New York City, and is fluent in Mandarin Chines...
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Mystery Fanfare: CHANUKAH (HANUKAH) MYSTERIES
Mystery Fanfare: CHANUKAH (HANUKAH) MYSTERIES: The Jewish Holiday of Chanukah ( no matter how you spell it - Hanukah, Hanukkah ) starts Sunday night. Because the holiday lasts eight days...
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Short Stories from Christmas Stalkings
Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Short Stories from Christm...: The subtitle for this book of Christmas short stories is "Tales of Yuletide Murder." Based on the cover, you might think the sto...
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES: Authors F-L // Christmas Crime Fiction
Mystery Fanfare: CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES: Authors F-L // Christmas Crim...: Today, I continue my Christmas Mystery/Crime Fiction list, with books by Authors F-L. It's amazing how many mysteries are set durin...
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Moving House of Foscaldo (1925/26) by Charles Chadwick
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Moving House of Foscaldo (1925/26) by Charles ...: Charles Chadwick was an American author, lawyer, sportsman and a former college athlete, a Yale strongman, who competed in the 1904 Summer O...
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Christmas at the Women’s Hotel: A Biedermeier Story by Daniel M. Lavery
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Christmas at the Women’s Hotel: A Biedermeier Sto...: Reviewed by Jeanne Manhattan, the early 1960s: the Biedermeier Hotel is home to a number of women of various ages, from the young an...
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