REHEARSED TO DEATH- Review 2023

Rehearsed to Death by Frank Anthony Polito
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
On Sale: May 23, 2023

Over the years my reading choices have often been books that surprise me, that teach me something new. I picked up "Rehearsed to Death", because it was about theatre, an HGTV hit reality show, and Detroit. It was a fun quozy mystery mixed with romance, rescued dogs, and Mini Coopers.

FIRST LINE: "As cohost of a popular home renovation show, I had a few principles to which I prescribed:
If you're going to do something, do it right.
Don't pay someone to do a project you can do yourself.
Every project ultimately takes longer than you estimate it will."

THE STORY: Partners JP and Peter created 'Domestic Partners' (think 'Bargain Block'). During a break between seasons, playwright Peter has an opportunity to see his play produced locally with JP starring and directed by a first rate (and terribly unpleasant) director, Xander Sherwood Deva. Shortly before the show is to open, Deva is found strangled by his own elaborate neck scarf. Was it an accident or murder?

WHAT I THOUGHT: Frank Anthony Pollito has created a series that will be a favorite of many readers. Peter is the narrator and scattered throughout are mentions of special things (from Michigan and beyond) like Sanders Bumpy Cake, Creamora, and Carnegie Mellon University. It made the book lots of fun even though the plot construction was uneven. Some characters are more fully developed than others but the description of clothing especially on the well-dressed is great.

BOTTOM LINE: This is the second title, after "Renovated to Death", in the Domestic Partners in Crime Mystery and has gathered a lot of interest from cozy/quozy readers. The author reads the audiobook version which has gotten some nice comments too.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of "Rehearsed to Death" was provided to me by Kensington Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

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MANIAC (2021)

Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer by Harold Schechter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know state history in the same way as a native Michigander, but I'd heard of the Bath Disaster since it has been revisited by the media every May 18 since 1927. Andrew Kehoe, a local farmer, blew up the school. Then when I read "Maniac", I discovered that he bought his 500 pounds of explosive Pyrotol in Jackson, Michigan where I have lived for many years. Bath Township is a mere 50 some miles away.

The world was changing and Andrew Kehoe was not pleased. Bath Township residents had been arguing about the need for a consolidated school for the area. But moving from one room school houses had a cost that some, like Andrew, thought unnecessary. Teachers would cost more. Transportation to a central school would have to be provided and taxes would be raised.

This was the issue that sparked Kehoe's long battle with School Supervisor Emory Huyck and ultimately the most horrific event of the time. Author Harold Schechter carefully and clearly establishes the events that culminated in the final murderous act.

Why has this tragedy passed into history? Several reasons are suggested including the fact that Lindbergh made his famous transatlantic flight on May 20 just two days later and overshadowed every other story.

When I picked up "Maniac", I meant to read a chapter or two but kept turning pages until I reached the end. The subject of this book is horrific, but the author does not exploit it. This is a well researched and told story; and although it happened in Michigan, it could have happened anywhere.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Little A/Net Galley for an honest review.

FOOTNOTE: https://bit.ly/3rK7CZb

Irene Dunham, stayed home with a sore throat on the day of the bombing, and is now the oldest resident in Michigan at the age of 114. She was interviewed as a follow up to this story (see link above) in the Lansing paper.

She and her mother heard the blast and drove to the scene. She described just a bit of what she saw and was still greatly affected by her memories of that day.

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Harold Schechter is an American true-crime writer who specializes in serial killers. Twice nominated for the Edgar Award, he is the author of a number of non-fiction books including the Washington Post bestseller Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men. He received his PhD in American literature from the State University of New York in Buffalo and is professor emeritus at Queens College. He is married to the poet Kimiko Hahn.

Publisher : Little A (March 9, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 239 pages
ISBN-10 : 154202532X
ISBN-13 : 978-1542025324

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHT (2020)

Northern Light by Deb Davies
My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars 

I always enjoy discovering a new mystery writer and when the books turns out to be the debut of a friend, it is a real pleasure! Hopefully the subtitle "A Coast-To-Coast Michigan Mystery" suggests this will be the beginning of more adventures.

THE STORY: Claire, with her best friend Laurel in tow, has retreated to the summer cabin in Michigan to recover from the death of her husband. When friends and family begin arriving, the house fills up. The first sign of trouble occurs when a raven, somehow trapped in the house, trashes it.

 

While the friends go on with their lives enjoying Northern Michigan, unpleasant events happen and escalate putting everyone in harms way. Will they figure out the mystery before it is too late?

FIRST LINE:
"Claire and Laurel were sitting at a heart pine table, letting the day fade."

 
WHAT I THOUGHT: What seemingly starts as a cozy mystery turns out not to be for the faint of heart. The curious events that happen in the first half bloom into pure evil in the second.

 

The story reads like a literate mystery combined with a violent thriller. The author has created a very specific world. For example, she is "passionate about rescued animals and nature", so those topics find their way into the story. Michiganders will recognize places, products, and traditions the author weaves throughout the book.

 

The characters, of which there are many, are living in our pre-Covid 19 world and dealing with all the challenging modern day issues. The dialogue and banter seems natural as does the friendship between Claire and Laurel. 

 

Her charming, quirky characters make it difficult to believe that any of them could be guilty of so much wanton destruction and death.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED. With her love song to Northern Michigan disguised as a mystery, Deb Davies is an author to watch.

Disclaimer: A copy of Northern Light was provided to me by BHC /Net Galley for an honest review. Deb Davies has been a friend for many years.

Hardcover:  248 pages
Publisher: BHC Press (August 20, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1643971204

ISBN-13: 978-1643971209

THE AUTHOR: "Deb Davies enjoys writing mysteries about her favorite place: Michigan. She is passionate about rescued animals and nature, and also enjoys classical music. She resides with her husband, Rick, in an old farmhouse on a trout stream near Luzerne, Michigan. Northern Light is her debut novel in her Coast-to-Coast Michigan Mystery series." (from Amazon)

 

THE COLOR OF WATER IN JULY (2012)

The Color of Water in July by Nora Carroll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What attracted me to this book was the Northern Michigan setting, but the story was what kept me reading. There are only so many stories. It's how they are told that makes the difference.

THE STORY:  Jess is 33 and has just inherited a big Victorian cottage she hopes to sell so she will finally have some money to comfortably cushion her ordinary life in New York City. Reluctantly returning to Journey's End after so many years, however, awakens yearnings for lost opportunities, family secrets, and old loves.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Carefully plotted, the reader finds clues from the memories of two women separated in time by many years. The story belongs to Jess, but the revelations come from Mamie, her grandmother. The story is not as predictable as one might assume and there is some lovely writing.

"I call that summer blue, the color of water in July - all of promise wrapped up in it, and every disappointment too."

 "It had turned August now, you could feel it right away, the lack of sincerity of summer, the hint that it was already planning to leave."

The Northern Michigan setting is a character as well and capable of inducing all sorts of nostalgic memories of summers by the water. It is obvious that the author knows and loves this part of Michigan.

The message of the book is an important one. Hold on to what matters. The trick is to find out what truly matters.

FIRST SENTENCE: "There must be a precise moment when wet cement turns dry, when it no longer accepts footprints or scratched-in declarations of love; an ordinary moment, unnoticed, just like any."

BOTTOM LINE: After reading this book, I immediately requested permission to download the author's second book Academy Girls and loved that as well! Highly recommended.

DISCLAIMER: Invited by Net Galley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Title: The Color of Water in July

Author: Nora Carroll

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Chic-Lit

Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

No. of Pages:235 pages

Copyright: August 18, 2015

ISBN-10: 1503945634

ISBN-13: 978-1503945630

"Nora Carroll is a pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Letts. As Nora Carroll, she writes multi-layered novels filled with the things she loves most-- rambling houses, old letters and manuscripts, and most importantly, the mysteries of love, women, and family." (from Amazon)