The Sinners All Bow by Kate Winkler Dawson

First Line: Catharine Read Arnold Williams was a fearless woman.

 

When Sarah Maria Cornell was found dead on a small New England farm in the winter of 1832, her death was considered a suicide. But when certain details of her past and a secret correspondence with a popular local Methodist minister were uncovered, people began to wonder if Sarah's death could actually be murder. 

 

Writer Catharine Reed Arnold Williams was determined to uncover the truth and wrote what many believe to be the first American true-crime book. The murder divided the country and inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, but the reverend was not convicted.

True-crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson set a goal to finish Williams' work. Using modern investigative techniques, Dawson fills in the gaps of Williams' research to find the truth.

~

Having read previous books by Dawson, I know she's a master at picking fascinating topics, and-- of course-- I have memories of reading Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter in high school. (I didn't like his writing style, but the story certainly stuck with me.) I've also been known to dive into true crime now and again, so... there's no way I could've ignored The Sinners All Bow.

Dawson's research brings to light a murder victim who preferred the autonomy of millwork and refused to settle down with a husband and children. Her research also brought to light questions about author Catharine Williams. Yes, she was the first author to advocate for the crime victim, but could everything she wrote be trusted to be fact? 

 

Dawson's deep dive into the history of the times and the backgrounds of the major players (Sarah Maria Cornell, Catharine Williams, Reverend Ephraim Avery) brings to light some fascinating facts-- including ones that prove we haven't changed all that much in two hundred years.  

The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne

by Kate Winkler Dawson

eISBN: 9780593713624

G.P. Putnam's Sons © 2025

320 pages

Non-Fiction

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

 

First Line: The crow waits until the guilty one disappears, then he flies down the hallway.

 

Alfred Smettle is not your average hotel owner. He's also a devotee of all things Alfred Hitchcock. Smettle's Hitchcock Hotel, a sprawling Victorian house in New Hampshire's White Mountains ("You bought the Psycho House!") offers guests round-the-clock film screenings, movie props and memorabilia in every room, and an aviary filled with fifty crows. 

To celebrate the hotel's first anniversary, Smettle invited his former best friends from his college Film Club for a reunion, although he hasn't spoken to them in sixteen years. Not after what happened.

What better group to appreciate Smettle's creation or to help him finish it? And never forget: no Hitchcock set is complete without a body.

~

Being an Alfred Hitchcock fan, I couldn't resist Stephanie Wrobel's The Hitchcock Hotel, and for the most part, it delivers the goods. The plot twists, the unfolding of the backstory, the Hitchcock tie-ins... all of these make this book fun to read.

So does the cast of characters. We get to hear from them all-- Alfred, Zoe, Grace, Samira, TJ, and Julius. Even the elderly housekeeper, Danny. Each time we hear from the characters, another piece is added to the puzzle. I may not have liked any of the characters, but the story was still fun-- and I couldn't believe that I didn't figure out what was going on!

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

eISBN: 9780593547120

Berkley © 2024

eBook, 352 pages

 

Thriller, Standalone

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

First Line: The front door opened, and I heard the stamp of the FBI agent's feet on the doormat.

When an FBI agent came knocking on bookseller Malcolm Kershaw's door, he had no idea that a blog post he wrote years ago was about to come back to haunt him. Titled "Eight Perfect Murders," the post listed his picks of the mystery genre's most unsolvable murders-- those that are almost impossible to crack-- and now there's someone who's using that list to kill people. To make matters even worse, the killer is watching Malcolm's every move, and he knows way too much about Mal's personal life, including secrets that have never been told to anyone. To protect himself, Mal has no choice but to do some investigating of his own.

The voice of Malcolm Kershaw in Peter Swanson's Eight Perfect Murders won me over immediately even though it's crystal clear within the first few sentences that he's an unreliable narrator. (He even admits it.) Furthermore, he's the owner of a bookstore specializing in mysteries, and he doesn't read the genre. Interesting, eh? So the more readers fall under Mal's spell, the more they wonder just how much they can trust what he's telling them.

The city of Boston came alive for me as I read, and I loved all the literary and mystery allusions. By about the halfway mark, if readers stop and think about it, the identity of the killer is rather obvious, but I found myself not wanting to think about it and just let the story take me along for a very enjoyable ride.

One of my favorite passages in the book is this: "Books are time travel. True readers all know this. But books don't just take you back to the time in which they were written; they can take you back to different versions of yourself." I've found this to be true. If you're in the mood for a damaged main character with a compelling voice who will draw you into the world of books and mysteries and killers on the loose, pick up a copy of Eight Perfect Murders. It's a good'un, and I'm hoping to hear from Mal Kershaw again.

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

ISBN: 9780062838209

William Morrow © 2020

Hardcover, 288 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Malcolm Kershaw

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen.

 

Little Comfort by Edwin Hill

First Line: All Hester Thursby wanted was a single day to herself, and today was going to be that day-- even if it killed her.

Hester Thursby is a librarian at the Widener Library at Harvard. She uses her research skills to run a little side business in which she locates missing persons. Usually, she's reuniting long-ago prom dates or adopted children and birth parents, but when she agrees to locate Lila Blaine's long-lost brother Sam, she finds herself in very unfamiliar territory.

Sam has no desire to be found. For over twelve years, he and his friend Gabe have traveled the country, reinventing themselves as they go. Sam has a taste for the good life, and he's learned how trusting lonely, rich people can be. When he meets fabulously wealthy Wendy Richards in Boston, Sam is convinced he's finally found his ticket to the big time and all the wonderful things he's always known he's deserved.

As Hester's research has her closing in on the two, she unknowingly puts herself in danger. While Gabe has pinned his hopes of a normal life on Hester, Sam wants her out of the way-- and Gabe has always done whatever Sam wants.

Hester Thursby is a character that I want to know more about. Not only is she a member of my favorite profession, she's a quarter of an inch away from little person status (and sick to death of the assumptions people make about her because of her diminutive size. She lives with Morgan, whose twin sister dumped her three-year-old daughter Kate on them and then disappeared. Since Morgan's twin is also Hester's best friend, Hester's been dealing with the situation willingly, even taking a leave of absence from the library-- but Morgan isn't pulling his weight when it comes to childcare, and Hester desperately needs a break.

Besides his main character, I also liked Hill's pacing of the story and the mystery itself, which I found downright creepy in places. There is a surprisingly bloodless dismemberment (which may please some readers), and the three-year-old Kate has to be the best-behaved child on the planet. Hester also displayed a disheartening lack of awareness, taking risks with not only her own life but with little Kate's as well. I'm hoping that Hester's next investigation will be less daunting-- especially if she continues to bring Kate along with her. It would be nice to see her in the library, too.

My favorite part of Little Comfort concerned the "bad guys." Sam and Gabe were such obvious choices that it made me smile when Hester agreed with me on the identity of the real villain of the piece. Edwin Hill's debut novel is well worth reading in order to discover just whom that person is. Give it a try.

Little Comfort by Edwin Hill

ISBN: 9781496715906

Kensington Books © 2018

Hardcover, 343 pages

Thriller/Suspense, #1 Hester Thursby mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Amazon Vine


 

Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett

First Line: The overloaded luggage trolley bumped along the sidewalk, following Tricia Miles like an overgrown puppy.

Tricia isn't sure how her sister Angelica did it, but she managed to win a weekend stay at Stoneham's new bed-and-breakfast, the Sheer Comfort Inn, and she insisted that Tricia come with her. Any thoughts of a relaxing night go right out the window when Tricia discovers the body of Pippa Comfort out in the flower bed. Now Tricia's boyfriend, Chief of Police Grant Baker, won't speak to her because she's involved in the investigation, the dead woman's husband is Tricia's first love who faked his own death twenty years ago, and she has yet to find an assistant to work with her at Haven't Got a Clue. Won't someone cut this bookstore owner some slack?

This is one of those reviews that I find extremely difficult to write, and I'll tell you why. This is the sixth installment of the Booktown series that I've read. I love the setting that Lorna Barrett has created-- a small town in New Hampshire revitalized into a "booktown," filled with store owners who care for one another, help each other out, and work together to think of ways to keep the community thriving. This is a setting in which I could easily live. It also helps that the main character runs a store specializing in crime fiction, and this devoted dog person even likes Tricia's cat.

I also enjoy the author's writing style and sense of humor. She creates intriguing mysteries that keep readers guessing chapter after chapter, peppered with scenes that can make you laugh out loud-- just like she's done here with Murder on the Half Shelf. She also has created characters that I've grown to care about, like the elderly couple Mr. and Mrs. Everett.

However, it's several of those characters that have created a dilemma for me. I can-- and do-- read books that have characters I do not like, and as in real life, I simply deal with them and move on. Many cozy mystery series seem to have that one character you'd just like to smack. The problem occurs when the number of characters you want to smack just keeps growing and growing. Sooner or later I reach a saturation point, and that is what has happened with the Booktown series.

The last sentence of chapter twenty-two pretty much sums up the main character: "And why couldn't Tricia ever get a break?" I have an answer for that: because Tricia spends too much of her time letting people walk all over her and then she whines about it. The main person running roughshod over her is her older sister, Angelica, who has to be one of the most self-absorbed divas in the fictional world. True, Angelica does have the occasional scene when she actually thinks of someone other than herself and comes through for her sister, but these scenes are few and far between. Angelica's on-again off-again main squeeze, Bob Kelly, is not above trying to broker shady deals or cavorting with other women. I can't think of one redeeming quality he's shown. Then there's the police chief who knows Tricia attracts corpses like mud puddles attract little boys, and instead of dealing with the investigation and their relationship in an adult manner, he gets huffy and argumentative. (Don't worry, I'm not going to list all the characters who aggravate me!)

I like this author. She writes solid, enjoyable mysteries that I have enjoyed in the past, and just because I started having problems with this series does not in any size, shape or form mean that you should avoid reading them. However, I've come to the reluctant conclusion that it's time for me to leave Booktown. I'm not happy about it, but there it is. Fortunately Lorna Barrett (AKA L.L. Bartlett and Lorraine Bartlett) has other series that I can enjoy.

Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett

ISBN: 9780425247754

Berkley Prime Crime © 2012

Hardcover, 304 pages

Cozy Mystery, #6 Booktown mystery

Rating: B

Source: Paperback Swap 

Countdown City by Ben H. Winters

First Line: "It's just that he promised," says Martha Milano, pale eyes flashing, cheeks flushed with anxiety.

Detective Hank Palace was out of a job until Martha Milano, a woman from Hank's past, asks him to do something. With the Concord, New Hampshire police force being directed by the U.S. Justice Department, solving crime is a thing of the past. With only 77 days until a gigantic asteroid collides with Earth and ends life as we know it, what officers are left on the force are patrolling the streets in an attempt to keep a lid on any potential rioting and violence. No cell phones, no computers, no electricity... and now Martha Milano wants Hank to find the husband who deserted her. Piecing together what clues he can find, Hank visits a college campus run by anarchists, and then makes his way to the coast-- where anti-immigrant militia members are kept busy fighting off the hordes of refugees headed to the U.S.

The first book in the Last Policeman trilogy deservedly won the 2013 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original. Countdown City follows closely in The Last Policeman's footsteps. While the mystery is a good one-- full of twists, turns, and misdirection-- there are two things that lift Countdown City well above the run-of-the-mill whodunit: Ben H. Winters' vision of a world in its last days, and our vision of one lone man refusing to bow down to the inevitable catastrophe.

Hank Palace is no fool. He knows what's going to happen in 77 days. But he's still going to be the best person he can be. He's still going to try to protect those closest to him. He's still going to keep any promises that he's made. He's made sure that he's got enough dog food left to last his adopted stray, Houdini, through to the end, and since he has such fond memories of his childhood babysitter, he agrees to search for her husband. Hank's the type of guy you want on your side. Not that he's John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, or Arnold Schwarzenegger-- he's not. But he's a good guy who'll always give 110% (and you don't have to worry about him stealing your last bottle of water when you turn your back).

The vision Ben H. Winters has of this nightmare world can chill the blood because so much of it has the ring of truth. In a world where it's rapidly becoming every man for himself, self-proclaimed militia groups would protect "what's ours" by fending off the hundreds and thousands of boats filled with "impact zone" refugees (people who live where the asteroid is going to hit) that are arriving every day. Food, water, drugs, shoes, clothing, even toilet paper would be hoarded and killed for. Millions of people around the world would drop out to accomplish items on their bucket lists. Others would turn to religion, or stick their heads in the sand by joining anti-asteroid conspiracy groups. I'd love to say that Winters has got it wrong, but I've seen too many tweets, too many Facebook status updates, and too much of what passes for news on the internet. Winters doesn't have it wrong.

It would be oh-so-easy for the author's canvas to be two-dimensional, but Winters refuses. He refuses by creating a main character like Hank, and he refuses by adding brushstrokes of light and warmth like this one:

The main branch of the Concord Public Library is open twenty-four hours a day at this point, kept clean and lit by a skeleton crew of librarians and a cadre of volunteers.

A genuinely good man as hero, a mystery in which many of the people aren't whom they seem to be, a fast pace and plenty of action, refreshing flashes of humor, and a spine-chilling vision of a world fast approaching Armageddon. Ben H. Winters has hit it out of the park again.

Countdown City by Ben H. Winters

ISBN: 9781594746260

Quirk Books © 2013

Paperback, 320 pages

Police Procedural, Science Fiction, #2 in The Last Policeman trilogy

Rating: A

Source: the publicist 

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

First Line: I'm staring at the insurance man and he's staring at me, two cold gray eyes behind old-fashioned tortoiseshell frames, and I'm having this awful and inspiring feeling, like holy moly this is real, and I don't know if I'm ready, I really don't.

Young Henry Palace has wanted to be a police detective for as long as he can remember, and this is his first homicide case. He's in charge, but he's the only person in "Hanger Town" who believes Peter Zell was murdered. He's going to have a hard time getting people to believe him, not only because it's his first case, but because he's moved up the promotion ladder very quickly due to several senior officers going bucket.

You see, there's this asteroid called Maia that's about 7 kilometers in diameter, and on October 3, it's going to put an end to this world as we know it. When scientists finally agreed that October 3 was The Date, people began acting very strangely. Millions got religion. Millions "go bucket [list]"-- abandoning their jobs with no warning and taking off to do something they've always wanted to do. Millions of others are committing suicide, and each city seems to have its own preferred method. In Concord, New Hampshire, it's suicide by hanging, which leads to the city being called "Hanger Town." 

Watching this young man piece things together in a society that's falling apart is one of the best reading experiences I've had this year. Most people's attitude towards his behavior is "What's the point in solving murders if we're all going to die soon, anyway?" Those people may have a point, but there's something to Palace's insistence on doing the best job possible, on justice, on doing what's right and good that's downright endearing. He never thought finding a murderer was going to be quite so hard, though: "It's exhausting. People hiding behind the asteroid, like it's an excuse for poor conduct, for miserable and desperate and selfish behavior, everybody ducking in its comet-tail like children in mommy's skirts."

I've been a fan of pre- and post-apocalyptic fiction for years. I love to envision how the author pictures the world unraveling... or how it tries to put itself back together after unbelievable calamity. The best and the worst of human behavior, all within the covers of a book. I can now say that I've read my very first pre-apocalyptic police procedural, and I love it!

I love Ben Winters' vision of the world coming to an end. Of how people behave, of how civilization starts breaking down before the end is even looming in our headlights. But as riveting as the author's vision is, it's the character of young Henry Palace that's the heart and soul of the book. Watching him stumble through his first investigation. Seeing his anguish when he fails to follow his intuition or to put the clues together in time. As I read, I just knew that this young man would be one of the best homicide detectives ever... if it weren't for October 3. All this, and poignancy, too.

I am so glad that this is the first book in a trilogy because I am simply not prepared to let loose of Henry Palace. The next book in this series cannot come soon enough!

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

ISBN: 9781594745768

Quirk Books  ©2012

Paperback, 316 pages

Genre: Police Procedural, Science Fiction, #1 in a trilogy

Rating: A+

Source: Amazon Vine

Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett

Title: Sentenced to Death
Author: Lorna Barrett
ISBN: 9780425241868
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, #5 Booktown mystery
Rating: C+
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: Founder's Day weekend.

The entire town of Stoneham, New Hampshire, has been gearing up for the big Founder's Day celebration, but everything literally goes up in smoke when a freak accident kills one of Tricia Miles' friends right before her eyes.

The Sheriff's Department chalks the entire thing up as an accident, but as Tricia learns bits and pieces of information, she starts thinking that there's a lot more to the story, and sets out to prove her point with potentially fatal results.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and although I did enjoy this book, it is enjoyment with reservations. I found it to be less satisfying than the others in the Booktown series.  The plot and the identity of the murderer felt a bit convoluted and over the top. The main character, Tricia, seems rudderless and looking for a change. Her ex-husband is making overtures, and she can't make up her mind between showing him the Welcome mat or a restraining order.

I hope that Barrett is setting us up for something new and exciting in the next book in the series. I don't think I'm the only one who doesn't care for indecisive main characters.

Sentenced to Death at Amazon.

Sentenced to Death at The Book Depository.

Sentenced to Death at Your Favorite Indie.

Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett

Title: Chapter & Hearse
Author: Lorna Barrett
ISBN: 9780425236017
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, 2010
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, #4 Booktown Mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: The poster on the Cookery's display window had advertised the book signing for at least a month.

Tricia Miles's sister is embarking on a book signing tour for her just-published cookbook when a gas explosion demolishes Stoneham's history bookshop, killing the owner and injuring Bob Kelly, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Angelica's boyfriend. Tricia's never been all that fond of Bob, but when she finds out that he's keeping a very low profile after the tragedy, she knows it's time to do something.

This series continues to get better and better. No longer weighted down by the Wicked Witch of Stoneham, Sheriff Wendy, other characters have become strong and sassy. Tricia's sister, Angelica, has mellowed and isn't the parasite she was at the beginning. And even a dog lover like me can like Tricia's cat, Miss Marple, because she's just a cat. She doesn't talk, she doesn't spell help in the mashed potatoes, she doesn't cough up hairballs, and she doesn't twine around ankles to trip people up.

Tricia is stronger and no longer the complete doormat she was in the first two books. This is a series that can easily become a reading staple-- just like that favorite pair of jeans or that faded sweatshirt-- because the characters are known, loved, and constantly evolving.

Characters that feel like friends combined with interesting plots? The perfect way to spend an afternoon for just as long as Ms. Barrett wants to continue this series.

Buy from Amazon.

Buy from the Book Depository.

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Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett

Title: Bookplate Special
Author: Lorna Barrett
ISBN: 9780425231197
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, 2009
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth, #3 Booktown mystery
Rating: B
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: "Get out of my house!"

Former college roommate Pammy Fredericks has overstayed her welcome in more ways than one. After Tricia discovers that Pammy has stolen one of her checks, forged her signature, and cashed it, Tricia throws her out of the house. That very same day, Pammy is found dead in a trash container behind the café owned by Tricia's sister.

Tricia learns that Pammy had found a diary and was trying to blackmail someone. When she starts getting threatening phone calls linked to Pammy, Tricia decides to do her own investigating. Even though the county sheriff has given the case to a handsome captain, Tricia wants to learn the facts firsthand-- while she's also running her bookstore, helping to plan a wedding, and dealing with her annoying sister.

When I read that the latest Booktown mystery, Chapter & Hearse, had been published, I knew I had to get this book off my TBR shelves and get it read. I enjoy this series, and I don't want to get too far behind in reading it.

The mystery kept me guessing, and I enjoyed the camaraderie of Tricia with her employees and other friends in town. What absolutely tickled me six shades of pink was the non-appearance of Sheriff Wendy Adams. There are certain types of characters that annoy the pudding out of me: the meddling mother who disapproves of her daughter's choice of career and won't rest until said daughter is married, pregnant, and chained to a stove (preferably six-burner and stainless steel); the obnoxious sibling who takes the main character for granted and signs her up for all sorts of things she doesn't want to do; and the law enforcement official who takes an unreasoning dislike to someone and spends all his/her energy trying to pin the crime on the hated person.

Sheriff Wendy was a prime example of the third type of annoying character I listed, and I was sick of her trying to pin everything from crab grass to murder on Tricia. Having a new (and handsome) captain taking over crime solving and also providing a romantic interest is a definite plus.

Unfortunately, there also happens to be an obnoxious sibling in residence. Her name is Angelica, and no matter how wonderfully she cooks, I'd love to ride the woman out of town on a rail. She's constantly taking on work she knows she can't do because she fully expects her sister, Tricia, to do it for her. I suppose all this means that I'm also annoyed at Tricia for being so spineless.

Grow a backbone, Tricia! Learn how to say NO! I'm only saying this because I like you and your investigations so much. There is hope for you, and I'll keep reading and hoping you'll see the light. It is possible to be nice and be able to stand up for yourself, you know! (Oh oh. Please don't tell anyone that I just yelled at a fictional character....)

Buy from Amazon.
Buy from The Book Depository.
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Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett

Title; Bookmarked for Death
Author: Lorna Barrett
ISBN: 9780425226414, Berkley Prime Crime, 2009
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, #2 Booktown mystery
Rating: B-

First Line: Crowded behind a table with her two employees and her guest author, Tricia Miles, owner of the Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore, held the left end of the sheet cake and flashed her most winning smile.

Tricia Miles is celebrating the first anniversary of her bookstore, Haven't Got a Clue in the "booktown" of Stoneham, New Hampshire. She's been doing well, and if it weren't for the fact that her sister runs through employees as though there's an endless supply, everything would be close to perfect. Well... except for the influx of Canada geese which means all the business owners have to go out several times a day to clean goose poo off the sidewalks.

It's quite a coup when Tricia manages to snag reclusive writer Zoë Carter for a book signing, but she has good reason to change her mind when Carter's body is found in the book shop restroom. Once again town sheriff Wendy Adams has an excuse to make Tricia's life miserable, and Tricia knows that the only way she'll be able to re-open Haven't Got a Clue is to conduct her own investigation.

Reading Bookmarked for Death is a good way to spend a pleasant afternoon. There's nothing too complicated going on, and although the characterization is a bit stereotypical, I enjoy these people. Tricia is very likable, I want to choke her sister occasionally, and I sincerely hope that Stoneham gets rid of its sheriff. Wendy Adams is the one character that brings this series down for me.

When I first began to read a high percentage of mysteries, a lot of the books I read were cozies like this. My reading tastes have gradually changed over the years, and now the mysteries I read are mainly police procedurals and darker fare. However, from time to time I enjoy reading something that's not so complicated-- something light and fun. This is one of the wonderful things about mysteries: they cover such a broad spectrum that, no matter your mood, you can find a whodunit that will fill the bill.

When you're in the mood for something light, something with a good sense of humor, try Lorna Barrett's Booktown mystery series. They should hit the spot!