June's Books

In Richard Stark's "Ask the Parrot," Parker, scrabbling through rural Massachusetts after a botched robbery, has police and their dogs tracking him. Tom Lindahl, a local recluse who's been nursing a grudge, agrees to help Parker hide out, but only if he'll help him with a robbery he's been plotting.

Lindahl used to work at a racetrack, but lost his job when he blew the whistle on his employer's criminal activities. He's been plotting his revenge ever since, spurning his neighbors' company, with a sullen parrot as his only company.

Suspicious locals dog Parker's every move, while the reader wonders whether Lindahl will turn Parker in for the reward money. Or will Parker rob the racetrack, and doublecross Lindahl? Is there honor among thieves?

Stark, a pen name of mystery Grand Master Donald Westlake, keeps the suspense and action rolling along. It's only been six months since his death, but knowing there'll be no more Westlake/Stark mysteries to anticipate makes the world just a little less interesting.

Thunder keeper by Margaret Coel
Star spangled murder by Leslie Meier
Only the super-rich can save us by Ralph Nader
Ask the parrot by Richard Stark
Irreverent guide to Manhattan by Ethan Wolff
Farm fresh murder by Paige Shelton
Stranger in the country by Robert Barnard
The girl who kicked the hornet's nest by Stieg Larsson
Compromising positions by Susan Isaacs
Frommer's New York City by Brian Silverman
Let's go: New York City by Carl Hughes, ed.
Bodies left behind by Jeffrey Deaver
Something in the water by Charlotte MacLeod
Seven year switch by Claire Cook

May's Books

In "Town in a blueberry jam," Candy Holliday manages a blueberry farm with her father, a retired professor. When the local ladies' man and the newly crowned blueberry queen are murdered, Candy investigates to clear the local handyman of the charges. It makes you crave a slice of blueberry pie!

Stress fracture by D.P. Lyle
An owl too many by Charlotte MacLeod
Complete idiot's guide to self-sufficient living by Jerome Belanger
Get positively beautiful by Carmindy
Glycemic load diet cookbook by Rob Thompson
This body of death by Elizabeth George
Five minute face by Carmindy
Open season by Archer Mayor
Town in a blueberry jam by B. Haywood
Shadow dancer by Margaret Coel
Tome of death by Dr.R. Meredith
Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Death by pantyhose by Laura Levine
Fever dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The black cat by Martha Grimes

The Black Cat by Martha Grimes

In ten words or less: Designer-clad young women are murdered--who are they?

Review: Richard Jury has been sent to Chesham to help the local force with their investigation into the murder of a beautiful young woman found outside the local pub, the Black Cat. Beautifully dressed in expensive designer clothes and shoes, she seems familiar to the town residents, but no one can identify her.
When a second exquisitely clad young woman is murdered in London--and then a third--Jury is frustrated that no connection can be made between them.
Meanwhile, Melrose Plant is approached by a ten year old girl who claims her cat, Morris, the pub cat, has been kidnapped or murdered. Morris witnessed the murder of the beautiful woman in Chesham. Was the cat kidnapped because it knew too much?
Some chapters are told from the point of view of the animals, which is a bit too cute for me, and seems at odds with the previous books in this series. But the book was dedicated to Grimes' own black cat, who died. As the owner of an elderly black cat, I'll give her a pass this time.
I always look forward to a new Jury mystery, and "The Black Cat" did not disappoint.

Why bother? The twenty-second book in a series that has been consistently entertaining.There are enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages far into the night.

Fever dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

In ten words or less: Pendergast's wife was murdered; he and D'Agosta track the killer.

Review: FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast's wife Helen died in an accident in Africa twelve years ago. An excellent shot, Helen missed an attacking lion, and was mauled by the beast.
Accidently he discovers that her gun had been tampered with. Pendergast asks NYPD Detective Vincent D'Agosta to accompany him to Africa to track down Helen's murder. Their investigation takes them to the Pendergast family plantation in Louisiana and to Mississippi and Florida.
Just who is this woman I married, Pendergast begins to wonder. The enigmatic FBI Agent's personal life is laid bare in this action-packed adventure. Many of the past adventures have featured supernatural elements, but "Fever Dream" is a straight forward thriller, one of the strongest entries in the series yet. It's hard to imagine how the authors will top this.

Why bother? The mysterious Pendergast's past and personal history is revealed--or at least part of it is. Fans of the series will savor the latest from Preston and Child.

April's Books

In Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay, Two best friends, melanie and Angie, own a cupcake bakery. When their good friend Tate becomes engages to a woman they can't stand, they grin and bear it and offer to make cupcakes for the wedding. When the fiance is found dead with a cupcake clutched in her hand, the girls become murder suspects. First in a new series.

The cruelest month by Louise Penny
Rotten to the core by Sheila Connelly
Montana man by Barbara Delinsky
Matter of motive by Michael Hachey
125 best vegetarian slow cooker recipes by Judith Finlayson
Sprinkle with murder by Jenn McKinlay
Murder over easy by Jimmie Sue Evans
Story teller by Margaret Coel
Brutal telling by Louise Penny
Backroads and byways of Wisconsin by Kevin Revolinski
Comics in Wisconsin by Paul Buhle
Miss Julia renews her vows by Ann B. Ross

STALKING THE WILD ASPARAGUS

Spring came early to the frozen tundra this year. The first asparagus is appearing, and here's a great recipe to welcome the new season.


Cream of Asparagus Soup

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water
1 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large potato, thinly sliced
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
2 tbsp. flour
2 cups milk or soy milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. dried tarragon

In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth or water to a boil.
Add the asparagus, onion, and celery, then reduce the heat and cook for 25 to 30 minutes.
Pour the mixture into a food processor along with the flour and puree until smooth. (If you don't have a food processor, use an immersible blender. Your soup will be a little chunkier, but I like it that way).
Return the soup to the saucepan, add the remaining ingredients, and simmer until the soup begins to thicken and is heated through.
Serve immediately.
Makes six servings.

BOOKS I READ IN MARCH

In Tim Dorsey's "Nuclear jellyfish," madcap psychopath Serge Storms wants to be THE travel authority on Florida. After all, who knows more about the history of the state? Serge and his ever-toking sidekick Coleman seek out justice for those who have been ripped off by cheap motels, con artists, and thugs. Serge's brand of justice includes items found at Home Depot and lots of duct tape. You'll laugh out loud, and never look at a garden hose the same way.

Polk: the man who transformed the presidency and America by Walter Borneman
Thereby hangs a tail by Spencer Quinn
Betty Crocker easy everyday vegetarian: meatless main dishes you'll love
Miss Zukas and the raven's dance by Jo Dereske
Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard
Which big giver stole the chopped liver? by Sharon Kahn
Killer market by Margaret Maron
Bell, book and scandal by Jill Churchill
Nuclear jellyfish by Tim Dorsey
The spirit woman by Margaret Coel
Miss Julia strikes back by Ann B. Ross
One last good-bye by Joyce and Jim Lavene
Trouble of fools by Linda Barnes
Clubbed to death by Elaine Viets

BOOK REVIEW

The Silver Ghost by Charlotte MacLeod

In ten words or less: Which eccentric relative or friend committed murder at Renaissance Revel?

Review: Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn attend the Renaissance Revel of Sarah's family friends, Bill and Abigail Billingsgate. During the festivities, one of the Billingsgate's employees is killed, and Sarah's Aunt Appie goes missing. The Billingsgate's valuable antique cars have been going missing, and Sarah and Max investigate. The local police are incompetent, and the couple must interview the eccentric collection of Kelling relatives in attendance.

Why bother? MacLeod's description of the Revel alone is worth reading the book. Who knew Morris dancing could be so funny? Sarah and Max are a pair of level headed thinkers among the assortment of odd ducks that are Sarah's old monied family.

BOOK REVIEW

Killer Insight by Victoria Laurie

In ten words or less: Professional psychic investigates missing bridesmaids; sulks over breakup with boyfriend.

Review: Abby Cooper is a psychic who has just broken up with her FBI agent boyfriend. Why didn't she see that coming? But a good friend is getting married in Colorado, and when Abby travels to the wedding, she gets seriously bad vibes when she looks at a photo of one of the other bridesmaids. And when the bridesmaid goes missing, Abby teams up with hunky Duffy McGinnis, the bride's brother and now sheriff to try to track down the woman. Chick lit meets mystery in this Psychic Eye series.

Why bother? For someone who is psychic, you think Abby would have been feeling some vibes from the ex-boyfriend. She also misreads clues and stumbles into dangerous situations. Still, an overall better-than-average amateur detective novel.

BOOK REVIEW

Blue Wolf in Green Fire by Joseph Heywood

In ten words or less: Conservation officer discovers a government cover-up when scientists are killed.

Review: Grady Service, a Vietnam vet, is a conservation officer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula investigating a deadly fire that killed two scientists. Animal rights activists are blamed, but Grady has his doubts, especially when the FBI and the governor get involved. Grady has just received a promotion that takes him out of his beloved Mosquito Wilderness and away from his much younger girlfriend and fellow conservation officer Maridly.

At the same time, poachers have been targeting bears for their gall bladders and deer with price specimen antlers, and now set their sites on the rare blue wolf that escaped from the secret scientific laboratory. Grady manages to untangle the mass of government lies, petty political grudges, and greed to bring the guilty to justice.

Why bother? Although Heywood's female characters are stereotypes with little individuality, his description of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is spot-on. Readers who enjoy mysteries with a hefty dose of nature and wildlife might like to try this series. Fans of Nevada Barr, Dana Stabenow, C.J. Box, and Steve Hamilton should add this author to their list.

February's Books

This pen for hire by Laura Levine
Jaine Austen owns a freelance writing business, and geeky Howard Murdoch hires her to write a love letter to luscious Stacey Lawrence, a fitness instructor. Though Howard has never met the object of his desire, he is the leading suspect when she is discovered bludgeoned to death with a Thighmaster. Author Levine is a former TV sitcom writer, and no laugh track is needed here. Nonstop fun for the reader, and--even better--it's the first book in a series of eight.

Taste of Home's garden-fresh recipes
Shoes to die for by Laura Levine
Cut and dry by Jo Dereske
Lineup: the world's greatest crime edited by Otto Penzler
Quilting for peace by Katherine Bell
Oh Joe by Michael Z. Levin
Unsafe harbor by Jessica Speart
To thine own self be true by Judy Clemens
Blue wolf in green fire by Joseph Heywood
Death in a prairie house by William Drennan
The long walk by Slavomir Rawicz
Carrot cake murder by Joanne Fluke
Murder on the mind by L.L. Bartlett

BOOK REVIEW

Bride and doom: an Iris House B & B mystery by Jean Hager

In ten words or less: Who killed the chef at the country club?

Review: Matrimony or murder? Wedding bells will soon be tolling for Tess Darcy, who is finally to tie the knot with longtime love Luke Fredrick. To celebrate the much anticipated occaston, Tess's Aunt Dahlia and Cousin Cinny are hosting a bridal shower at the Victoria Springs Country Club, the sacred domain of Julian Walker, superchef extraordinaire, who is as thoroughly despised as his culinary masterpieces are adored. So it is not a complete surprise when the dictatorial kitchen artiste is murdered; the real shock is when Iris House cook Gertie Bogart is fingered as the prime suspect.

Why bother? Mix an upcoming wedding, an arrogant chef, and murder for a classic cozy recipe.

January 2010 Books

Vi Agra Falls by Mary Daheim

What could be worse than having your husband's ex-wife move into your neighborhood? Judith Flynn is trying to run a relaxing bed and breakfast when Vivian and her new, much younger husband buy a house on the quiet cul-de-sac. is Billy Buss her fifth or sixth husband? Who's keeping track?
Vivian and her toy boy throw a huge, noisy party that attracts the cops and the ire of the neighborhood. But the morning after, during a massive cleanup, a body is found hanging in Vivian's back yard.
Judith's husband Joe, a retired cop, wants her to steer clear of the police investigation. But she's losing business and her sleep. Of course, she'll find the killer.
A solid entry in Daheim's long running series.


Nine dragons by Michael Connelly
Our Wisconsin River by Nels Akerlund
Complete book of underground houses by Rob Roy
Murder can wreck your reunion by Selma Eichler
Uncommon grounds by Sandra Balzo
Storey's guide to raising llamas by Gale Birutta
Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms by Paul Stamets
Bubbles betrothed by Sarah Strohmeyer
Cherry blossom corpse by Robert Barnard
Fatal grace by Louise Penny
Whisper to the living by Stuart Kaminsky
Case of the tough talking turkey by Claudia Bishop
Write away by Elizabeth George
Savage cut by Jo Dereske
Three can keep a secret by Judy Clemens
Conventional corpse by Joan Hess
Bookmarked for death by Lorna Barrett
Welsh rabbit by Douglas Carstens
Impact by Douglas Preston
Vi Agra Falls by Mary Daheim
Death of a valentine by M.C. Beaton
Think fast, Mr. Peters by Stuart Kaminsky
Merry wives of Maggody by Joan Hess
Agatha Raisin and the case of the curious curate by M.C. Beaton

Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton

Hamish MacBeth has been assigned an assistant, but he wasn't expecting the pretty, outgoing Josie McSween. Josie is more interested in becoming Mrs. MacBeth than in investigating the murder of a local beauty queen. The beauty queen--all agreed she was a lovely, kind girl with no faults--is discovered to be a manipulative, vindictive troublemaker.

In the previous MacBeth adventures, Hamish is pursued by attractive females but they never get him to the altar. He solves the crime while enraging his superiors. This one is no different, but it's a fun, light read, just right for a cold winter's night.

My top ten books of 2009

Looking over the titles of the books I read in 2009, I can't give myself high marks for literary taste or a quest for knowledge. At least half the books I read were mysteries--that's somewhere between 100 and 200 volumes. But there were some great mysteries, and some wonderful authors I had never read before. I'll have to check my list for the exact numbers of books read last year. Here are some of my favorites.

Winter and night by S.J. Rozan
This was the year I discovered Rozan's Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series. I read 'em all, and can't wait for the next one to appear. Books with finely drawn characters and complicated relationships appeal to me, as does the New York Chinatown setting.

Road dogs by Elmore Leonard
In this follow up to "Out of Sight," Leonard unites bank robber Jack Foley with criminal Cundo Rey and part-time psychic Dawn Navarro, characters from other books. Lots of over-the-top laughs.

What it is by Lynda Barry
A book that almost defies description. Barry has combined a memoir of her unhappy childhood with a guidebook to help stimulate the creative process. A visual treat.

Rule against murder by Louise Penny
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife are on their summer holiday when murder strikes, and of course, Gamache must oversee the investigation. The Quebec countryside is a wonderful setting for a mystery, and Gamache is a thoughtful, compassionate detective.

Driftless by David Rhodes
A reviewer called this novel "pleasantly overstuffed." It gives a glimpse into the lives of folks in the small town of Words, Wisconsin, and how those lives intersect and affect each other. It's Rhodes first book in thirty years, since being paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.
500 things to eat before it's too late by Jane and Michael Stern
The Sterns take on regional specialties in this guide to locally favorite foods that are fast disappearing, probably because they are laden with fats, sugars, and other unhealthy things. Be sure to check out your favorites---mmmm, frozen custard, bratwurst, and cheese curds.

Wreck of the Carl D. by Michael Schumacher
It's difficult to write a compelling story when the outcome is already known, but the author does a masterful job. Not as exciting as his earlier "Mighty Fitz," but a whopping good story of a shipwreck on Lake Michigan that had tragic results.

Dog on it by Spencer Quinn
Police dog washout Chet teams with human partner Bernie to find a missing teenager. Chet narrates, but doesn't talk, so this mystery doesn't suffer from cute animal syndrome. Ever wonder about what a dog is thinking?

Til the cows come home by Judy Clemens
Stella Crown is a young woman who runs a dairy farm with the help of a hired man. Tattooed and riding a Harley, she's not what you'd expect in the heart of Mennonite country. A mysterious illness is affecting local children, and someone is pointing the finger at Stella's cows.

Beat the reaper by Josh Bazell
This first novel is violent and funny, and not for everyone. A Mafia hitman is sent into the witness protection program as a medical intern and a former associate recognizes him and threatens to rat him out. Fans of "Dexter" would like this book.

THREE CAN KEEP A SECRET by Judy Clemens

Dairy farmer and biker Stella Crown is exhausted running her farm by herself, after the death of her long time farm hand. When Lucy Lapp, a young Mennonite widow with a daughter, applies for the job, Stella is relieved. She checks Lucy's references, and has a good feeling about her. She certainly knows her way about a dairy barn.

But Stella's house is vandalized with graffiti directed against Lucy, and there are anonymous calls hinting about suspicious circumstances around her husband's death. Plenty of suspicious characters and pinger pointing to go around. The second book in this series does not disappoint.

ROBERT B. PARKER

Robert B. Parker, author of the wisecracking Boston private detective Spenser series, died this week. He wrote dozens of books, mostly mysteries featuring the hard-as-nails but quick witted Spenser, but also penned series with small town cop Jesse Stone and private investigator Sunny Randall. A fan of westerns, he has a new title coming out this year. You could always count on a Parker novel for snappy dialog and characters that felt real.

DECEMBER'S BOOKS

Professional by Robert B. Parker
Bullet for a star by Stuart Kaminsky
Rule against murder by Louise Penny
Still life by Louise Penny
New tricks by David Rosenfelt
Champlain's dream by David Fischer
Hollywood moon by Joseph Wambaugh
Pride prejudice and zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Big little life: a memoir of a joyful dog by Dean Koontz
Murder she wrote: coffee tea or murder by Donald Bain

NOVEMBER'S BOOKS

Murder can depress your dachshund by Selma Eichler
Donovan and son by Michael Jahn
A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer
Girl who played with fire by Stieg Larsson
Dead of winter: CSI: NY by Stuart Kaminsky
Fete fatale by Robert Barnard
Bomb squad: a year inside by Richard Esposito
No plot no problem by Chris Baty
Sharing the harvest by Elizabeth Henderson
Money shot by Christa Faust
Plum pudding murder by Joanne Fluke
Cookie dough delight by Camilla Saulsbury
Taste of Home Christmas cookies and candy

OCTOBER'S BOOKS

The trouble with J.J. by Tami Hoag
Wash and die by Barbara Colley
Mildred Pierced by Stuart Kaminsky
Til the cows come home by Judy Clemens
Death of a cozt writer by G.M. Malliet
Museum of Natural History by Lyle Rexer
Bad bears go visiting by Daniel Pinkwater
Deluge: CSI: NY by Stuart Kaminsky
Miss Zukas and the library murders by Jo Dereske
Great Christmas cookie swap cookbook by Good Housekeeping
Marshall plan for novel writing by Evan Marshall
Marshall plan workbook: writing your novel by Evan Marshall
Blood on the sun: CSI: NY by Stuart Kaminsky
Marshall plan for getting your novel published by Evan Marshall
Brothers from Bataan by Adrian Martin
Marley and me by John Grogan

Mildred Pierced by Stuart Kaminsky

In ten words or less: Peters investigates a murder; Joan Crawford was a witness.

Review: Private investigator toby Peters is hired by hapless dentist Sheldon Minck to prove his innocence in his wife's murder. Actress Joan Crawford was a witness to the crime, and she claims she saw Minck shoot a crossbow at his wife. The dentist had joined a survivalist group and was training with weapons.
Peters attempts to exonerate the dentist while keeping Crawford's name out of the papers. The wisecracking Peters reminds the reader of Nero Wolfe's associate Archie Goodwin. Grat characters, lots of action, and snappy dialog.

Why bother? Fun classic private eye series set in Hollywood during the golden age of film stars. Fans of Rex Stout and Dashiell Hammett will love this series.

SOUPY SALES
1926-2009

Take a pie in the face in memory of Soupy Sales.

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM PIE

1 (3oz.) pkg. strawberry jello
1 1/4 cup boiling water
1 pt. vanilla ice cream
12 oz. strawberries, thawed and drained (can use the juice for part of the water)
Graham cracker crust or baked pie shell

Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Add ice cream by spoonfuls. Set until partially firm. Add thawed and drained strawberries. Put in crust and refrigerate until firm. Top with plenty of whipped cream! makes a 10" pie.

Eat or toss--it's your choice.

City of God by Michael Jahn

In ten words or less: Mad killer haunts a NYC cathedral.

Review: The world's largest Gothic cathedral is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. A killer has nailed a threat to the door. "The pleasure seekers of the City of Man will be punished for encroaching on the City of God. I am the protector of his temple, and I speak for him."
The first victim, a film festival organizer, was bludgeoned to death. While Lt. Bill Donovan searches among the mazes and cellars of the cathedral, Marcie's friend Jennifer is stabbed to death while running the NYC marathon.

Why bother? There are plenty of suspects and plenty of hiding places. Donovan must catch the killer before he becomes the next victim. For those who enjoy big city police procedurals.

Probable claws by Clea Simon

In ten words or less: Club scene reporter meets shelter workers; accused of killing veterinarian.

Review: Theda Krakow is a freelance reporter who writes about the Boston club scene. She's also a cat lover whose friends run a no-kill shelter. When a cat gets sick from tainted kibble from the city shelter, Theda decides to investigate. And when she discovers the body of the city veterinarian stabbed with a scalpel, she's arrested for murder.
Her boyfriend, a retired cop, bails her out but warns her to leave the investigation to the police.
Why bother? A heavy overload of cats and the club scene was too much, even for this cat lover.

September's books

In Dead men don't get the munchies by Miranda Bliss, Annie is a bank teller who has a part-time job at Bellywasher's, a local pub owned by her boyfriend Jim. Jim is offering cooking classes and Annie, who can't boil water, is slated to be his assistant. During the first class one of the students, Brad Peterson, an obnoxious weasel with a capital W, is threatened by Annie's friend Eve. And when Brad is murdered, Eve is the prime suspect. Of course, Annie has to investigate. Light and fluffy mystery.

Publishing basics by Robert Johnson
Writer watchdog self-publishing directory
Whitechapel horrors by Edward Hanna
Girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Washington D.C. by Becca Blond
Fixer upper by Mary Kay Andrews
Grand finale by Janet Evanovich
Ride by David Walton
Fluke by Christopher Moore
One bad apple by Sheila Connelly
Dead men don't get the munchies by Miranda Bliss

Death games by Michael Jahn

In ten words or less: Mysterious hitwoman is taking out Mafia mobsters; Donovan wonders why.

Review: A beautiful hit woman is taking out mobsters with a Civil War pisstol, and Bill Donovan, NYPD, is on her trail. She's a race horse owner who is settling a score--but what is the connection between the uppercrust horsewoman and the Mafia hoods? On hand are Donovan's on-again, off-again lover, Sgt. Marcia Barnes; Donovan's assistant, T.L. Jefferson, the regulars at Riley's Saloon, and Clint, the snapping turtle.

Why bother? Donovan takes the reader through the streets of New York, adding lots of local color to a solid murder mystery.

BOOK REVIEW

Road dogs by Elmore Leonard

In ten words or less: Jack Foley is back. Will he give up robbing banks?

Review: Jack Foley, the "Sweetheart Bank Robber," is released from prison, where he has spent the last three years with Cuban criminal Cundo Rey. Cundo pays for a lawyer for Foley, who gets his sentence reduced, and agrees to wait in Venice Beach, CA., for Cundo, due to be released shortly.
Also waiting for Cundo is Dawn Navarro, his wife of eight years and a professional psychic. When she meets Foley, she discovers the perfect partner for her scam to relieve Cundo of all his money. Can Dawn trust Jack? Does Jack trust Dawn? And does Cundo trust either one of them?

Why bother? A fast, funny read that unites characters from three of Leonard's previous books.

BOOK REVIEW

Murder in Central Park by Michael Jahn

In ten words or less: Body discovered in Central Park; many suspects, no alibis.

Review: NYPD Captain Bill Donovan is invited to spend a night high up in a tree in Central Park. His neighbor, a scientist who studies crows, goes for a walk in the middle of the night, and when they descend from the tree in the morning, a crow is picking on a corpse.
Donovan's friend swears he's innocent. But the friend's son, the girlfriend, the girlfriend's father (a reclusive poet of note), a rollerskating pickpockets, and a rival scientist all have motives.
Donovan's boss wants him to wrap up the case quickly, before the big Earth Day celebration. His wife, retired police sergeant Marcy Barnes, wants him to quit his overnight stakeouts in the park.

Why bother? A solid police procedural, with lots of Big Apple atmosphere.

Whiskey and water by Nina Wright

In ten words or less: Whacky dogs and townsfolk complicate Whiskey's life.

Review: Real estate agent Whiskey Mattimoe's life is spinning out of control. Her incorragible Afghan hound Abra is causing trouble among the other residents of this small, upscale Michigan resort town. Three men are interested in her--newcomer MacArthur, a hunky Scotsman and potential new employee, self-help author Fenton Flagg, and her ex-husband Jeb Halloran, a musician who woos her by playing covers of Barenaked Ladies' songs.
When a young tenant of Whiskey's is found dead on the beach, everyone presumes she was caught in a riptide. But what happened to the small children she was caring for?
The book is crammed full of whacky characters--a mayor returned from the dead, a computer guru who controls a vast financial empire, a pack of neurotic dogs, an oldeer-than-his-years middle schooler, and more.

Why bother? Whiskey is an incompetant pet owner and a neglectful step-parent. All the eccentric characters are hard to keep straight, and the plot gets lost along the way. I assume the dogs' and kids trials were meant to be funny, but they were just sad.

August’s Books

In "The day my dogs became guys" by Merrill Markoe, a solar eclipse makes Carey's dogs turn into people. Butch, Dee Dee, and Ed raid the kitchen, and chase cars and squirrels. Eric Brace's illustrations are wonderfully wacky and Merrill Markoe's story brings the trio of hungry dogs to life. Fun for kids and adults.

Person of interest by Theresa Schwegel
China trade by S.J. Rozan
State of the onion by Julie Hyzy
The day my dog became guys by Merrill Markoe
The first quarry by Max Allan Collins
Brass verdict by Michael Connelly
500 things to eat before it’s too late by Jane and Michael Stern
Concourse by S.J. Rozan
Mandarin plaid by S.J. Rozan
Whiskey and water by Nina Wright
No colder place by S.J. Rozan
A bitter feast by S.J. Rozan
Death wore white by Jim Kelly
Stone quarry by S.J. Rozan
Get real by Donald Westlake
Last known address by Theresa Schwegel
Life is good by Trixie Koontz
Chasing the bear by Robert B. Parker
American eats! By Pat Willard
American sea writing: a literary anthology
Reflecting the sky by S.J. Rozan

Casualty crossing by Kevin Hughes
In ten words or less: Police officer advocates for a runaway boy who won't talk.

Review: Toby Jenkins, known as TJ, is on the verge of losing his job at the Madison Police Department. His ex-wife, a lawyer, isn't contributing to his peace of mind, either. When a thirteen-year-old runaway turns up in a Madison hospital, beaten and claiming not to remember anything, TJ investigates. As he gains the boy's trust, he discovers the boy was abused by his stepfather. The author is a former Dane County Sheriff's Department detective.

Why bother? The boy's story is more interesting than that of TJ, a hothead with an adolescent attitude toward his work and ex-wife.

China Trade by S.J. Rozan

In ten words or less: Asian-American investigator Lydia searches for stolen porcelains in Chinatown.

Review: An expensive gift of porcelain is stolen from the Chinatown Museum, and Chinese-American private investigator Lydia chin is hired to look into the theft. She is young, smart, and tough, and lives with her traditional mother, who fears that her daughter will never find a husband until she finds a more suitable career for a woman.
The porcelains are a gift from a reclusive collector; not many people knew they were stored in the Museum’s basement. Is it a gang-related crime? Or is a professor charged with inventorying the collection covering up insurance fraud?
Lydia’s partner, Bill Smith, is attracted to her, but her mother calls him the “white devil.” Lydia tries to sort out her feelings toward him as they discover a body in another museum, and set up a meet with a gang leader.

Why bother? Lydia is fiercely independent yet loyal to her family and community. Chinatown provides an intriguing setting for a mystery, and the reader wants to find out where the relationship between Lydia and Bill is heading. I’m getting the next in the series this week.

July's Books

Not so funny when it happened edited by Tim Cahill is a collection of travel stories by a group of stellar contributors. What happens when the best plans fall by the wayside? Ask flight attendant Elliot Neal Hester, as he deals with a queasy young passenger, or Nigel Barley, when he visits a dentist in Cameroon. Contributors include Anne Lamott, Dave Barry, Randy Wayne White, Douglas Adams, and others.

Wanderlust by Chris Dyer
Bliss to you: Trixie's guide to a happy life by Trixie Koontz
Honeymoon with my brother: a memoir by Franz Wisner
Pros and cons of windpower by Louise Spilsbury
The greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry
Winter and night by S.J. Rozan
Not so funny when it happened edited by Tim Cahill
Red knife by William Kent Krueger
Sherlock Holmes and the Brighton Pavilion mystery by Val Andrews
Sherlock Holmes and the Chilford Ripper by Roger Jaynes
Sherlock Holmes and the giant rat of Sumatra by Alan Vanneman
Sherlock Holmes and the case of Sabina Hall by L.B. Greenwood
NYPD confidential by Leonard Levitt
Wife of the gods by Kwei Quartey
Shanghai Moon by S.J. Rozan
Pushing up daisies by Rosemary Harris
1001 books for every mood by Hallie Ephron
Off the beaten path Washington DC by William Whitman
Robbers by Christopher Cook

Mandarin plaid by S.J. Rozan

In ten words or less: A ransom drop goes wrong; fashion show may be ruined.

Review: Lydia Chin is hired for a straight-forward job--seliver a ransom in return for a set of sketches for an upcoming fashion show. Designer Genna Jing is a friend of Lydia's brother, and he recommended her for the job.
But Lydia is shot at while making the drop, and a suspect is murdered before she and her partner Bill Smith can question him. Their investigation takes them into the world of models, designers, and the sweatshops that produce the garments. They cross paths with the police; there is a detective that has a personal grudge against Smith.

Why bother? Each book in this series reveals more about Lydia and Bill. She's a feisty, headstrong young woman who cares about her partner, but doesn't want a romantic relationship with him. A winner!

What the fortune cookie said today

"To lower your stress level, get a cat."

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swings

Headliners at Oshkosh Waterfest were Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a band that updates swing and jive music of the 1930s. Cab Calloway’s “Reefer Man” and “Minnie the Moocher” had the crowd on their feet, and the band mixed old music with some original songs. This group is more than a tribute band—they bring jive into the 21st century.
Opening the evening was the “Susan Cowsill Band”—yes, that Susan Cowsill. Their New Orleans tinged rock was okay, but sounded like a lot of other opening acts. Followed by Paul Sanchez and the New Orleans Rolling Band; the membership varies, but great high energy New Orleans boogie-rock. Susan Cowsill joined them for most of their set, and my opinion of her went up. She contributed on percussion, washboard, guitar, and vocals. They also did a version of “The rain, the park, and other things,” without the bubblegum. It’s been stuck in my head for days now. I also hadn’t realized that Barry Cowsill was one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Person of interest by Theresa Schwegel

In ten words or less: Noir tale of an undercover cop and family in Chicago.

Craig McHugh is an undercover cop who is getting too involved in his assignment. He's draining his bank account, trying to get an "in" with Asian criminals. His marriage is crumbling, and his wife is showing a little too much interest in her 17-year-old daughter's boyfriend. The daughter is picked up using Ecstasy at a party, and mom Leslie covers for her.
When Craig's former partner is killed making a drug bust, he sinks further into his secret life. But Leslie believes he is having an affair, and investigates on her own. Both Craig's wife and daughter are in danger because of his undercover activities.

Why bother? A dark and gritty tale of an undercover cop's life and the toll it takes on his family. The McHughs aren't a particularly likeable family, but the reader wonders what they might have been like years earlier. The author is an Edgar Award-winner.

June's Books

Comedy writer Merrill Markoe has written some hilarious books for adults. With "The day my dogs became guys," she penned a books dog-loving kids will love. A solar eclipse makes Carey's dogs turn into people. Butch, Dee Dee, and Ed raid the kitchen, and chase cars and squirrels. Eric Brace's illustrations are wonderfully whacky and Markoe's text brings the trio of hungry dogs to life.

Murder in Coney Island by Michael Jahn
How to write a damn good mystery by James Frey
Writing the breakout novel workbook by Donald Maass
Cemetery dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Weddings can be murder by Christie Craig
Don't look down by Jennifer Crusie
Walking in circles before lying down by Merrill Markoe
Second fiddle by Carol Reigh
Nose down, eyes up by Merrill Markoe
The day my dogs became guys by Merrill Markoe

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy

In ten words or less: White House chef competes for job; is target of assassin.

Review: Olivia Paras is nervous enough. She's been a leading contender for the Executive Chef position at the White House, until food show host Laurel Anne is scheduled to audition. The White House staff is talking like Laurel Anne's appointment is a done deal.
Sighing, Olivia runs out on her lunch hour to pick up a retirement gift for the retiring chef--an engraved saute pan. When she spies an intruder on the White House grounds, with the Secret Service in pursuit, she brains the man with her pan. But as she brings down the skillet on the man's head, he tells her something. And when the Secret Service hushes up the incident, Olivia is suspicious. Even the Secret Service agent she is dating won't tell her what's up.

Why bother? Totally unbelievable plot, but the insider's view of the White House kitchen is fun. And the smug Laurel Anne gets her comeuppance. Recipes included.

May 2009 books

Another coming-of-age story, “Planet of the dates” by Paul McComas is a tale of a seventeen year old boy with raging hormones, and the three girls in his life. Stephanie acts in his homemade movies, Danielle is an African-American friend from school, and Cheryl, a stoner obsessed with punk rock, shoplifting, and getting high. It’s the 1980s in suburban Milwaukee, and the hero (based on the author, ya think?) spends his time at a meaningless part-time job and plans to make a movie about the Loch Ness Monster. Mildly humorous and not too deep.

Singing swan by Margaret Ashmun
Forensics: a guide for writers by D.P. Lyle
Murder in Central Park by Michael Jahn
Death games by Michael Jahn
Character naming sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Doll with opal eyes by Jean DeWeese
Abroad for her country by Jean Wilkowski
City of God by Michael Jahn
Casualty crossing by Kevin Hughes
Planet of the dates by Paul McComas
Bibliophiles dictionary by Miles Westley
Murder on Fifth Avenue by Michael Jahn
Road dogs by Elmore Leonard
Cream puff murder by Joanne Fluke
Night rituals by Michael Jahn
Probable claws by Clea Simon
Writing and selling your mystery by Hallie Ephron
I’ll never be French by Mark Greenside
Don’t murder your mystery by Chris Roerden
First draft in thirty days by Karen Weisner
From first draft to finished novel by Karen Weisner
Murder on the waterfront by Michael Jahn
How to write killer fiction by Carolyn wheat
What it is by Lynda Barry

Flipping out by Marshall Karp

Ten words or less: Wisecracking detectives pursue a killer while wives could be targets.

Review: Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs are homicide detectives with the LAPD. When the wife of one of their power playing cop buddies is shot, they investigate. Since they don’t believe Reggie would have shot his own wife, the investigation focuses on her business. She is an event planner, but is involved in the LA Flippers, a group that renovates property. Several other cop wives—and a cop mother-in-law—are also partners. Are they also in danger?

Why bother?
Fans of Robert B. Parker will appreciate the wisecracking banter among the detectives, and fans of Donald Westlake will like the fast-paced humor and action. This is the third book in the series.

March 2009 books

Dirty wow wow and other love stories by Cheryl Katz is a photo essay of well-loved childhood comfort objects. There are stuffed animals that have been worn and re-stuffed, blankets that have been reduced to no more than a shredded rag, and faceless dolls. It will make you recall the special love objects of your own childhood.

Gumbo tales: finding my place at the New Orleans table by Sara Roahen
Favre: his twenty greatest games by Doug Moe
Batter off dead by Tamar Myers
Designed to kill by Denise Osborne
Write great fiction: description & setting: techniques and exercises for crafting a believable world of people, places and events by Ron Rozelle
Terminal freeze by Lincoln Child
Unmasked and anonymous: Shimon and Lindemann consider portraiture by John Shimon
Two off q: a conversation in poetry by June Nirschon
Quilt with confidence by Nancy Zieman
Booked for murder by Tim Myers
End of the straight and narrow by David McGlynn
Steven Spielberg and philosophy by Dean Kowalski
Sudden anthem by Matthew Guenette
For a limited time only by Ronald Wallace
Armed and dangerous: a writers guide by Michael Newton
Jasper mountain by Kathy Steffan
Shining moments finding hope by Georgia Weithe
New York. Insight guides
On the hunt: the history of deer hunting in Wisconsin by Robert Willging
Posed for murder by Meredith Cole
Dirty wow wow and other love stories by Cheryl Katz
Death of a witch by M.C. Beaton
The first five pages: a writer’s guide to staying out of the rejection pile by Noah Lukeman
Operation plum by Adrian Martin
Wisconsin Korean war stories by Sarah Larsen
Death by sukoku by Kaye Morgan
How the states got their shapes by Mark Stein
North of the port: stories by Anthony Bukoski
Writers guide to character traits by Linda Edelstein
Driftless by David Rhodes
Write great fiction: Characters, emotion and viewpoint by Nancy Kress
Formatting and submitting your manuscript by Cynthia Lautenberg

IT'S TAX TIME!

Homer watches last minute tax payers rushing to mail their checks by midnight.
Homer: Would you look at those morons....I paid my taxes over a year ago!

BOOK REVIEW

Jennie by Douglas J. Preston

In ten words or less: A chimp taught to sign raises questions about man’s experiments.

Jennie is an orphan chimpanzee brought to America by an anthropologist and is raised with his family and taught American Sign Language. Quickly learning to behave much like a human spoiled brat, Jennie steals, shops, meets celebrities, and is arrested. When she reaches sexual maturity, she becomes uncontrollable and is sent to a wildlife refuge. She feels betrayed and misses her freedom. This book raises questions about our relationship to, and treatment of, other species.

Why bother? What happens to animals when humans are done with their experiments? If animals are taught to communicate outside of their species, can man ignore what he has already done? This novel raises questions that have yet to be addressed by the scientific community.

February’s Books

The staff of “The Onion” lets us know what’s really in the minds of cats with their latest “The devious book for cats.” This book offers cats advice on everything they need to know, from in-depth guides on cardboard boxes and catnip to a history of the Felinism movement. It provides tips on working a human when you want to get fed, staring like a pro, and for black cats, making the most of superstitions. Explained are the allure of the Window, the terrifying specter of the Vacuum, and Extraordinary Cats in History. Cats! Discover the devious fun you can have when you’re the one in charge!

An unlikely cat lady by Nina Malkin
Gun shy by Donna Ball
All souls by Christine Schutt
Devious book for cats by Fluffy and Bonkers
Last days of old Beijing by Michael Meyer
Obsessions by Marshall Cook
Bomb detection dogs by Charles George
The chemical muse by D.C.A. Hillman
Night sisters by Sara Rath
You can write a mystery by Gillian Roberts
Wreck of the Carl D. by Michael Schumacher
Black and white and dead all over by John Darnton
Fodor’s New York City 2008
Land of a hundred wonders by Lesley Kagen
How to write mysteries by Shannon Ocork
Done gone wrong by Cathy Pickens
Kinky gazpacho by Lori Tharps
Dog on it by Spencer Quinn

Kinky gazpacho: life, love and Spain by Lori L. Tharps

In ten words or less: Young black suburban woman comes to terms with her blackness.

Review: The author grew up in northern Milwaukee suburbs (Shorewood) and attended prestigious University School. She was usually the only black or one of a few in her school. She yearned to learn Spanish and to go to Spain. She spent her high school year as a foreign exchange student in Morocco and she was still singled out because of her race.

She attended Smith College but she did not blend in with blacks there either. Finally she went to Spain for her junior year abroad and met Manuel. After graduation, she went to New York, but still kept up a long distance relationship with Manuel.

Why bother? An engaging memoir by a young black woman seeking to fit in. Tharps has a refreshing voice that readers across race and class lines will enjoy.

January’s books 2009

Photographer Paul Lacy has compiled a book of color photos of Brooklyn storefronts—mom and pop businesses like bodegas, barbershops, auto repair shops, bait shops, etc. He focuses on hand painted signs; there is no text except for the address of the store. An interesting view of New York showing the neighborhoods and not the skyscrapers.

22,477 Big Macs by Donald Gorske
Brooklyn storefronts by Paul Lacy
Beat the reaper: a novel by Josh Bazell
White coat wisdom: extraordinary doctors talk about what they do, how they got there, and why medicine is so much more than a job by Stephen Busalacchi
Secret of the Great Pyramid: how one man’s obsession led to the solution of ancient Egypt’s greatest mystery by Bob Brier
Hell for the holidays by: a Christopher Miller holiday thriller Chris Grabenstein
Dewey the small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron
Step on a crack: a novel by James Patterson
Orphan train by James Magnuson
I was told there’d be cake: essays by Sloane Crosley
Christmas cookies: 50 recipes to treasure for the holiday season by Lisa Zwirn
So long at the fair: a novel by Christina Schwarz
Decline of sentiment: American film in the 1920s by Lea Jacobs
Bodyguard to the Packers: beat cops, Brett Favre and beating cancer by Jerry Parins
Martin misunderstood by Karen Slaughter
By heart: a mother’s story of children and learning at home by Kathleen Melin
Bright futures: a Lew Fonesca mystery by Stuart Kaminsky
Exxon and the Crandon mine controversy by Michael O’Brien
Windfall by James Magnuson
Lead-mining towns of southeast Wisconsin by Carol McLernon
Growing up Amish: insider secret from one woman’s inspirational journey by Anna Dee Olson
Take your characters to dinner: creating the illusion of reality in fiction: a creative writing course by Laurel Yourke
The sixth lobe by Michael Miller

BOOK REVIEW

Beat the reaper by Josh Bazell

In ten words or less: Mafia hitman becomes doctor in witness protection program; is discovered.

Review: Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan's worst hospital. But he was not drawn to medicine by an altruistic nature. When he was a teenager, his grandparents--who raised him--were gunned down in their home. He was taken in by a friend's family. The dad, David Locana, is a Mafia lawyer, and helps young Peter (then known as Pietro) to seek revenge on the killers.

The violence is graphic, but Peter is a sympathetic killer, like Jeff Lindsay's Dexter or Lawrence Block's Keller. Will there be a sequel?

Why bother? Although cynical and violent, Peter has a unique outlook on life. This is a fast-paced mystery with enought twists and turns to keep the reader interested. Not for the squeamish.

December’s Books

Fill ‘er up by Jim Draeger is a terrific book on the history of gas stations in Wisconsin. There are loads of great photos showing the different types of architecture through the years. The first fifty pages are a history of service stations, the various oil companies, and the evolution from auto repairs to convenience stores. An interesting point was the promotion of clean rest rooms to appeal to the increasing number of woman drivers. The rest of the book devotes two pages to each of a number of stations, scattered throughout the state. There are photos of stations in their heyday, and photos of stations that became ice cream parlors or insurance offices. Very entertaining!

Romanov bride by Robert Alexander. Alexander
The story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Lady of the snakes by Rachel Pastan
Red tails in love by Marie Winn
Poe’s children: the new horror by Peter Straub
Fill ‘er up: the glory days of Wisconsin gas stations by Jim Draeger
May day by Jess Lourey
Writing mysteries by Sue Grafton
Make-a-mix by Karine Eliason

BOOK REVIEW

Finding freedom: the untold story of Joshua Glover, runaway slave by Ruby JacksonWest

In ten words or less: True story of a runaway slave who escaped to Wisconsin.

This is the story of Joshua Glover, runaway slave, who after his escape was living and working in Racine, WI. His fate as a free man was tenuous-- the state of Wisconsin was pitted against the Supreme Court, which supported the slave owners. Glover, who could not read or write, is remembered through documents, newspaper reports, and letters and accounts of others who knew him.

Why bother? Compelling story of an ordinary man, who only wanted to be free.

AMERICAN COZIES

Short takes on a few mysteries.

Death in the cards: a stain-busting mystery by Sharon Gwyn Short

Josie Toadfern, who runs a Laundromat in small town Paradise, Ohio, finds murder and mystery when a psychic fair comes to town. One of the psychics predicts danger, and when Josie stumbles over a body, conservative town residents confront the New Agers.

The gourdmother by Maggie Bruce

Lili Marino, a gourd artist from the big city, moves to upstate New York and gets involved in solving the murder of the high school football coach. Bigotry, football rivalries, and old feuds surface. The author slips in information about the history of gourd craft, and instructions on various techniques used to work the gourds.

Gunpowder green by Laura Childs

Theodosia Browning owns a tea shop, and gets involved in a murder investigation when a starting pistol explodes at a yacht race. Way too much information about tea for me, but otherwise a pleasant enough read.