THE DEVIL YOU KNOW (2023) - Review

The Devil You Know by P.J. Tracy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On Sale: January 17, 2023

P. J.Tracy's "The Devil You Know" introduces Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Margaret Nolan to a death that threatens the foundation of Hollywood and its upper echelon. The book is #3 in The Detective Margaret Nolan Series ("Desolation Canyon" #1 and "Deep into the Dark" #2) It is recommended that you read the books in order.

FIRST SENTENCE: "The ocean was singing in the hushed, undulating tones of low tide on this still, damp night."

THE STORY: Well-known actor Evan Hobbes is found dead in the rubble of a Malibu rock slide a day after a fake video ruins his career. 'Is it an accident, a suicide; or a murder?' With more deaths, Detective Nolan has a difficult case to solve.

WHAT I THOUGHT: P. J. Tracy is a good mystery writer with lots of readers, but don't start with "The Devil You Know" without reading the first two books. There are lots of characters to try to keep straight and bits and pieces of past stories revealed but not explained.

Descriptive words accentuate every thought and every event, seeming too pretty for a police procedural. If you are more interested in a story than in the fancy writing and if you aren't comfortable with wordy writing, this might not be a book for you.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED If you are a fan of the Monkeewrench Series, you need to read copies of the first two books in The Detective Margaret Nolan Series and then read "The Devil You Know". P. J. Tracy is a pseudonym for the American mother-daughter writing team Patricia and Traci Lambrecht. They became New York Times bestselling authors in the process. Patricia died in 2016.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The Devil You Know" by P. J. Tracy from NetGalley/St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for my honest review.

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THE HIDDEN ONE: A KATE BURKHOLDER NOVEL (2022) - Review

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: July 5, 2022

Linda Castillo has her formula down pat. The storytelling is engaging, the writing is clear, and the author's inclusion of Amish language and customs is delightful. This time the story line moves to the Kishacoquillas Valley of Central Pennsylvania, which will send the curious reader researching the location.

FIRST LINE: "He'd always known this moment would come."

THE STORY: After a stunning prologue describing the murder of an Amish Bishop 18 years earlier, the story returns to the present life of Kate Burkholder. Kate left her Amish family when she was young becoming a police officer before returning to the resort town of Painters Mill, Ohio as Police Chief.

Amish elders from Pennsylvania visit Kate to ask her help in defending Jonas Bowman, jailed for the murder when the gun used shows up and he admits it is his. Although Kate has no official standing, she reluctantly agrees. She and Jonas spent a youthful and memorable summer together before being separated. She can't believe he is guilty.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The first Kate Burkholder story I discovered was Her Last Breath #5. I quickly devoured Sworn to Silence #1 and Pray for Silence #2. Then I stopped. I found the crimes against the Amish, especially the young women, too overwhelming. But because the series is so popular, I decided to try again. Although violence and death occur in The Outsider #12 there was more than enough life and happiness to balance the story. Fallen #13, on the other hand reverts to the ugly violence and lives destroyed. Although violence and death occur in The Hidden One #14, it is mostly in the past, a cold case.

All the characters are well-established so that you care what happens to them with, of course, the exception of the villains. Castillo does a nice job of catching the reader up if this is their first time reading the series. And it looks like Kate and John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, will finally get married.

Written in the first person, the narrative sometimes shifts to third person when filling in the past, but it is done seamlessly. There were red herrings along the way that added to the tension.

Kate gets hurt more than once in this story and always loses to the attacker. It would be nice to see her win a fight.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDThis entry filled in some very personal details about Kate and how she left her Amish family. It's a quick read and an entertaining story.

Disclaimer: A copy of The Hidden One was provided to me by Minotaur Books/Net Galley for an honest review.


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PANIC ATTACK (2021)

Panic Attack by Dennis Palumbo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: September 21, 2021

I love thrillers and the better written and circuitously plotted, the faster I consume the story. Suspending disbelief, sometimes I don't even attempt to solve the mystery. I'm just along for the ride and what a ride this book is! I actually tossed aside a literary novel that I've been reading for weeks and finished "Panic Attack" in a couple of days. At 1 o'clock in the morning.

FIRST SENTENCE: "On a bitterly cold afternoon in late October, I was one of twenty thousand witnesses to a murder."

THE STORY: In front of a football stadium filled with students and parents, the college mascot, dancing on the field, is struck down by a sniper. Pandemonium breaks out. While the authorities scramble to calm the public and find the shooter over the next few days, more deaths occur. Although the victims seem randomly chosen, Dr. Rinaldi suspects there is something that links them all together. Can he find the key to stop these dreadful attacks before it's too late?

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is the sixth entry in the Dr. Daniel Rinaldi series and I have read and reviewed them all. Author Dennis Palumbo hooked me by setting the stories in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I lived for many years. His narrator, a psychologist who consults with the Police on difficult cases, is surrounded by interesting characters, who don't always behave normally, Dr. Rinaldi ends up in all kinds of trouble.With great dialogue, well-drawn characters, and sense of place, you won't have any trouble seeing this as a television series or movie.

For an earlier entry in the series I wrote that although there is the requisite violence and sex, Palumbo knows when to back off and let the reader's imagination take over. I'll have to change that to say violence and sex has been ratcheted up a bit. As a matter of fact the body count in "Panic Attack" is pretty high.

Luckily there are five other Dr. Rinaldi titles and, although you can read them as stand alones, reading them in order is much more fun. In order "Mirror Image"; "Fever Dream"; "Night Terrors"; "Phantom Limb"; "Head Wounds"; and "Panic Attack". Find them. Read them.

BOTTOM LINE: A solid entry in the series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Poison Pen Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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FALLEN (2021)

Fallen by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

FIRST LINE: "She knew coming back after so many years would be difficult, especially when she'd left so much hurt behind when she departed."

With a dynamite opening, this 13th Amish mystery is off and running.

Rachael Schwartz left her tiny Ohio community, and her Amish faith a decade ago. Returning hoping to right a wrong, she is brutally murdered in her motel room. When Kate Burkholder, the Chief of Police in Painters Mill, recognizes Rachael the pain of it becomes personal. Kate herself had left the Amish community years earlier.

The first Kate Burkholder story I discovered was Her Last Breath #5 (Jul 17, 2015). Then I quickly devoured Sworn to Silence #1 (July 21, 2015) and Pray for Silence #2 (July 26, 2015). Then I stopped. I found the crimes against the Amish, especially the young women, too overwhelming. But because the series is so popular, I decided to try again. I'm glad I did. Although violence and death occurred in Outsider #12, there was more than enough life and happiness to balance the story. Fallen #13 reverts to the ugly violence and lives destroyed, but that didn't stop me from turning pages.

Linda Castillo can be counted on for a captivating plot and the reader is assured of a thrilling read. Although this is a series, the author provides more than enough repetition to remind the reader of the things they need to know. A few chapters labeled 2008 fill in the backstory proving more clues. And, as always, a highlight of the book is the translated Amish phrases and cultural details.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES (2020)

A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES
by Ian Rankin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will be singing.
About the dark times.
– Bertolt Brecht, The Svenborg Poems

Detective Inspector John Rebus has aged over the thirty some years since Knotts and Crosses was published, the stories mostly set in and around Edinburgh. Now retired and forced to move (downstairs) because of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), he is still as sharp and opinionated as ever.

FIRST LINE: "Siobhan Clarke walked through the emptied flat."

THE STORY: The phone call no parent wants to get comes at 5 a.m. His daughter is worried because her partner has been gone for two days. Then she confesses she has been having an affair. Against better judgement, Rebus leaves Edinburgh and heads North to help. On his long drive to Naver, he listens to a CD Siobhan made him called 'Songs for Dark Times'.

 

At the same time DI Siobhan Clarke, Rebus's protegee, and DI Malcolm Fox are beginning a new investigation into a murder in Edinburgh.

 

Unexpectedly there are parallels and connections between the two investigations.

 

WHAT I THOUGHT: I'm embarrassed to be late to the party having heard of Scottish author Ian Rankin but never having read him (or even watched the series). Now I have a glimpse of what I've missed: literate writing, fully drawn characters, interesting locations, a clever plot, a compelling conflict, and a satisfactory conclusion.

 

Alternating narratives have often annoyed me, but Rankin is a master. Refocusing is quick and like a duet, both stories have equal importance. To my mind, there is nothing more fascinating than following along as two intelligent people cleverly solve a puzzle.

 

A couple of other observations: Rankin provides details which make the world come alive for the readers; I began to notice that the end of Rebus' chapters seems to deserve a drum (ba-dum-bum) roll; and as DI Clark gets close to a solution, I could physically feel an increase in urgency in the writing.

 

The information on Camps during World War II, which held both British and then Germans (and others) at one time or another, was interesting especially since some of the German inmates chose to stay behind after the war. 

 

Besides the historical references, allusions to current happenings makes the book timely. My mantra is I want to read something that surprises me and that allows me to grow in understanding. It's all here.  

 

BOTTOM LINE: In Rankin's deft hand, details are filled in so new readers (like me) are not confused and regular series readers are not bored. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

 

DISCLAIMER: A copy of A Song for the Dark Times was provided to me by Little, Brown and Company /Net Galley for an honest review.

 

Hardcover:  336 pages 

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 13, 2020)
ISBN-10: 031647925X

ISBN-13: 978-0316479257

THE AUTHOR: Ian Rankin is a #1 international bestselling author. Winner of an Edgar Award and the recipient of a Gold Dagger for fiction and the Chandler-Fulbright Award, he lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and their two sons.

 

OUTSIDER (2020)

Outsider (Kate Burkholder #12) by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On a day when summer heat and humidity has finally arrived, reading a story where everyone is snowed in seems the perfect choice to cool off. And if you haven't been following the series, book #12 in the Kate Burkholder series can be read as a standalone.

Starting with a bang, the story is off and running. A policewoman from the big city, who can't think of any place safe to run from dirty cops, seeks out her old friend Police Chief Kate Burkholder, who runs the Police Department in Painters Mill, a tiny community in northwest Ohio where many residents are Amish. Kate herself grew up Amish but left the order.

In a massive snowstorm on a back road in Painters Mill, the wounded Gina crashes her car. An Amish family out for a sleigh ride comes across the damaged half buried car and begins a search for the driver. Helping those in need is the Amish way.

FIRST LINE: "She'd always known they would come for her."

WHAT I THOUGHT: The first Kate Burkholder story I discovered was Her Last Breath #5 (Jul 17, 2015). The I quickly devoured Sworn to Silence #1 (July 21, 2015) and Pray for Silence #2 (July 26, 2015). Then I stopped because I found the crimes against the Amish, especially the young women, too overwhelming. But because the series is so popular, I decided to try again. I'm glad I did. Although violence and death occur, there is more than enough life and happiness to balance the story. The reader knows just enough of what is coming to anxiously keep turning the page.

All the characters are well-established so that you care what happens to them with, of course, the exception of the villains.

Although the narrative shifts from third person to first person, it is done seamlessly. There were red herrings along the way that added to the tension.

One of the delightful things about this series is the author's inclusion of Amish language and customs.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.This entry filled in a lot of backstory for Kate and how she left her Amish family and became a police officer in Columbus. The ending ensures there will be a #13 entry in the series!

Disclaimer: A copy of Outsider was provided to me by Minotaur Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 7, 2020)
ISBN-10: 125014289X
ISBN-13: 978-1250142894

Originally from Ohio where her Amish thrillers are set, Linda Castillo knew from an early age that she wanted to be a writer--and penned her first novel at the age of thirteen.  She's published thirty books for three New York publishing houses and won numerous industry awards, including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, the Golden Heart, the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and a nomination for the prestigious Rita. (from her website)

ANGELS BURNING (2016)

Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 2014 I read my first Tawni O'Dell. After just a few pages of One of Us, I wondered why I had never heard of her before. Then I learned that her first published book Back Roads had been an Oprah Book Club selection.

THE STORY: A fifty year old mine fire forced residents to abandon Campbell's Run years earlier. Now someone has tried to hide the body of a teenage girl in one of the fiery surface holes.

Fifty year old Chief of Police Dove (named after the soap) Carnahan narrates how the gruesome death of Cami Truly affects the nearby small town of Buchanan, Pennsylvania and its residents. The investigation brings unwelcome memories of the murder and trial of Dove's mother when she was a teenager. Complicating her life are a relationship with Police Detective Nolan Greely and unexpected family problems.

WHAT I THOUGHT: First of all, any author who can work Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets into a story using it as a paint color has my undying allegiance. And I've always been fascinated by the ghost town of  Centralia, Pennsylvania on which Campbell's Run is based. Beyond that, I marked a number of quotes - some touching and some funny like this one, "My ability to arouse passion in men who arouse nothing is me is the stuff of legends."

Family secrets, lies, and people trying to escape their roots in rural Pennsylvania are recurring themes in O'Dell's stories. In Angels Burning she has created another compelling psychological thriller, with memorable characters. You don't doubt she knows these people. It's the details that make the story resonate. Unsettling issues are handled well which makes the reader feel safe.

There were several compelling story lines that weren't actually wrapped up which led me to suspect (and later verify) that there will be more adventures for Dove!

FIRST SENTENCE: "The last time I was this close to Rudy Mayfield he was leaning across the seat of his dad's truck trying to grope my recently ripened breasts."

BOTTOM LINE: A highly recommended literate mystery.

DISCLAIMER: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review. Also have to admit I grew up and lived many years in Pennsylvania and that it will always be my home.

Title: Angels Burning

Author: Tawni O'Dell

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating:4 out of 5 stars

No. of Pages: 288 pages

Copyright: January 5, 2016

ISBN-10: 1501132547

ISBN-13: 978-1501132544

Tawni O’Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including Back Roads, which was an Oprah’s Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. She is also a contributor to several anthologies, including Becoming Myself: Reflections on Growing Up Female. Her works have been published in more than forty countries. (from Amazon)

DEVIL'S BRIDGE (2015)

Devil's Bridge by Linda Fairstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's been a little more than a year since I read Linda Fairstein's Terminal City (2014). Before that I had read Dark Angel (2013).  My reaction each time is the same. The best part of her books is New York City and the historical details she works into the story.

In Devil's Bridge, Fairstein continues her winning formula with this 17th entry in the Alexandra Cooper series. This time her focus is the Manhattan waterfront, the Statue of Liberty, the George Washington Bridge, and Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse.

Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper specialized in crimes against women and children. The plot is a disappearance and how it is solved. What's interesting for this outing is the story is told from Detective Mike Chapman's point of view as he scrambles to find Coop. Friends for many years, they have recently settled into a more intimate relationship.

It takes a long time before the historical information starts showing up, which is my favorite part. Unfortunately I don't care for the characters very much and that includes Alexandra Cooper. I have noted before that she is treated like a child and this story perpetuates that notion. Perhaps it's time for me to move on, but rest assured that those who love this series will be anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Bottom Line: If you are not already a fan of this series, you might try one of the earlier books in the series first.

Title: Devil's Bridge
Author: Linda Fairstein
Genre: Police Procedural/Thriller
Publisher: Dutton
ISBN - 10: 0525953892
ISBN - 13: 978-0525953890
No. of Pages: 384 pages
Copyright: August 11, 2015
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Linda Fairstein Linda Fairstein was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney's office in Manhattan for more than two decades and is America's foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Her Alexandra Cooper novels are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard. (Amazon)

THE SECRET PLACE (2014)

The Secret Place by Tana French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been reading Tana French since receiving an ARC of In the Woods back in 2007. It went on to win the 2008 Edgar for best first novel by an American author among other awards. Since then I have highly anticipated each new entry in the Dublin Murder Squad series.

Unlike many series, you don't have to read these titles in order. Each one is unique but all are chain-linked by a lesser character from one book being elevated to center stage in another. Each one introduces a different way of life. In the Woods (2007) was haunting, The Likeness (2008) seductive, and the Faithful Place (2010) holds a mirror up to the past as does Broken Harbor (2012).

Available beginning September 2, 2014 French's most recent title is The Secret Place (2014) and once again she has taken us somewhere unexpected.

A master at mixing police procedural with psychological thriller, French sets this tale at an exclusive girls' boarding school in Dublin where a year earlier a young man from the neighboring boy's school has been violently murdered. This 'locked room' mystery focuses on eight young women who could be responsible. French carefully draws each suspect in ways that keep the reader guessing until the end. Her ear for how teens communicate seems very real.

The story takes place during one very long day for two newbie detectives trying to make the grade. Alternating chapters reveal significant events with reminders of how long Chris Harper has left to live making sure the reader is never lost.

With complex issues of friendship and loyalty, this literate mystery will keep you turning pages past your bedtime.

Bottom Line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Title: The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad Series)
Author: Tana French
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Viking Adult
No. of Pages: 464 pages
ISBN: 0670026328
Copyright: September 2, 2014
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Amazon

"Tana French grew up in Ireland, Italy, the US and Malawi, and has lived in Dublin since 1990. She trained as a professional actress at Trinity College, Dublin, and has worked in theatre, film and voiceover." (from the author's website)

TERMINAL CITY (2014)

Terminal City by Linda Fairstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's been a year since I read Linda Fairstein's Dark Angel and my reaction is the same. The best part of her books is New York City and the historical details she works into the story. In Terminal City, Fairstein continues her winning formula in this 16th entry in the Alexandra Cooper series.

The plot is interesting and the procedural information is fascinating. What I don't like is the way Alexandra Cooper, an assistant district attorney specializing in crimes against women and children, is treated like a child. Perhaps the portrayal is an accurate picture of how women are viewed in her field, but I find it discomfiting to see her demeaned even by those that supposedly care for her.

Bottom Line: If you love mysteries and are curious about NYC's Grand Central Terminal, by all means consider reading this book.

Title: Terminal City
Author: Linda Fairstein
Genre: Police Procedural/Thriller
Publisher: Dutton Adult
ISBN: 0525953884
No. of Pages: 384 pages
Copyright: June 17, 2014
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Linda Fairstein is an American author and former prosecutor focusing on crimes of violence against women and children. Wikipedia

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THE BURNING (MAEVE KERRIGAN #1) (2010)

The Burning:  by Jane Casey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're a fan of UK-based mysteries and thrillers (think Tana French), the discovery of Jane Casey is a delightful surprise! The Burning is the first in a series of several books featuring Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan, all now available in the United States.

From the intense opening when we fear for the life of a young woman, the author cleverly constructs a story that is part police procedural and part psychological thriller.

A serial killer dubbed 'The Burning Man' is responsible for four violent deaths in London. The police are scrambling for clues to stop the reign of terror against single young women.

When Rebecca Haworth's body is discovered, D.C. Kerrigan suspects a copycat murder and sets about learning all she can about the young woman's life.

Alternately told by D.C. Kerrigan and Louise, Rebecca's best friend, some other literary tricks to flesh out the story. Fast-paced, intelligently written, with characters you care about, Jane Casey has been added to my list of favorite authors. (I just requested The Reckoning, book #2 from my local library.)

Bottom Line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Title: The Burning
Author: Jane Casey
Genre: Police Procedural/Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Minotaur
ISBN: 1250006600
No. of Pages: 368 pages
Copyright: August 30, 2011 (American Edition)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

JANE CASEY was born and raised in Dublin. She is a graduate of Oxford with a masters in philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. Her first book, The Missing, was published by Ebury Press in February 2010. It was shortlisted for the Irish Crime Book of the Year. This was quickly followed by The Burning (November 2010), The Reckoning (July 2011), The Last Girl (2013), and The Stranger You Know (2014). She lives in London with her husband James Norman, a criminal barrister, and their son. (Wikipedia)