I Have Rebecca Tope Covered!

I mentioned recently that I've been weeding my to-be-read shelves. That means I've come in close contact with all the books I want to read. Yes, I'm ruing the fact that there will never be enough hours in the day to do everything that I want to do and read everything that I want to read, but at least my memory has been strongly jogged about what's on those shelves.

I thought I'd give it another good thwack by choosing to compare two covers of one of Rebecca Tope's mysteries that take place in the beautiful Cotswolds area of England. The covers are very similar, but if you look closely, I think you'll see that each one sets a slightly different tone. Let's take a look!

Yes, I'm doing something a bit different this time. Both covers are on the UK editions of the book. The one on the right is the original, and the one on the left is the reprint.

Both are light on blurbs, and I do love that about UK covers. In the reprint, Allison & Busby got rid of the blurb from an area news source (hope it didn't go out of business!) and exchanged it for one that's a little more atmospheric and descriptive of the book itself.

The dominant color on the original is brown. I feel as though I'm making the approach to the bridge to cross over it and up into the village. The village itself is in bright sunlight, and with the cheery red flowers and warm, rosy colors of the bricks, the village seems welcoming.

The reprint cover is done in shades of blue. Yes, I'm still on the other side of a bridge looking at a village, but the light seems to be fading from the sky. There are shadows. The stone cottages look cold and unfriendly, and the road into the village goes down. Those buildings look as though they're huddling together on the other side of that bridge... almost as if they don't want me there. Cooler colors, shadows, secrets-- or that's the way my mind runs.

If you're reading a murder mystery, I think there should be some shadows and secrets and a bit of an unwelcoming feeling, don't you? That's why I prefer the reprint cover on the left. Not only do I think it's visually more appealing, I think it suits the book better.

What say all of you? Which cover do you prefer-- the reprint on the left or the original on the right? Is it too close to call, or do they both leave you cold? Inquiring minds would love to know!

The Ambleside Alibi by Rebecca Tope

First Line: The flowers fell short of Simmy's usual standards by some distance.

Persimmon ("Simmy") Brown is slowly adjusting to life in Windermere, and she's enjoying running her very own florist's shop. But one small bouquet delivered to an elderly woman brings all sorts of secrets to light. 

When another elderly woman is found murdered, Simmy is drawn right into the investigation when a suspect lists her as his alibi. The more she uncovers about her neighbors the less clear the motive becomes, but Simmy has to hurry-- the killer is dead serious about keeping those secrets buried.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. Rebecca Tope always does a splendid job of bringing the Lake District of England to life, and she's given her main character a fine secondary cast.  Simmy is a very likeable woman with an unhappy past, and her two assistants in the shop, Ben and Melanie, are fun young people who bring their own interests and quirks into these murder investigations. This second entry also gives us a closer look at Simmy's parents, Angie and Russell.

The Ambleside Alibi was bowling along at an "A" pace when-- completely out of the blue-- Simmy has one of those TSTL moments. You've heard of those, haven't you? Too Stupid To Live? When the heroine does something so incredibly dumb that you just can't believe it. Well, that happens here, and if I didn't make such an effort not to give away the plots in my reviews, I'd be more than happy to tell you all about it... but I can't. All I can say is that I was so disgusted, I could've thrown the book against the wall-- except that it was on my Kindle, and I wasn't about to pitch a fast ball with that. 

There are grave consequences to TSTL moments. So grave that I seriously doubt that I'll read any more books in this series. 

Simmy, how could you?
  

The Ambleside Alibi by Rebecca Tope

eISBN: 9780062397263

HarperCollins © 2015

eBook, 323 pages

Cozy Mystery, #2 Lake District Mystery

Rating: D

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

I've Got Rebecca Tope Covered!

Here I am, a novice cover critic, back with another book to take a look at. Since I read a fair amount of UK crime fiction, I have to be careful when buying books. If the author is published in both the U.S. and the U.K., chances are the same book will have two different covers (and one edition will have a lot of extra U's...). 

This can make book buying a hazardous endeavor, and yes, I have purchased duplicate titles because of it. I used to think it was a conspiracy, but then I trained myself to shop with a list and dropped the paranoia talk. But I still find the differences in covers intriguing. 

Join me in perusing this week's covers!

This time, I'm taking a look at Rebecca Tope's The Ambleside Alibi, the second in her Lake District mysteries featuring florist Persimmon ("Simmy") Brown. It's just been released here in the U.S. as an eBook by Witness Impulse.

Two completely different covers, aren't they? 

The UK cover seems to be focusing on the book's setting-- the beautiful Lake District of England. From the color of the foliage surrounding that rushing stream, I would think it's autumn. 

On the other hand, the US cover focuses on Simmy's profession as florist with that bright pink carnation lying on those weathered floorboards, almost-- but not quite-- covering up that blood stain. 

Having been to the Lake District, I have a fondness for the UK cover, but I have to admit that I don't think it's the most striking of the two covers. No, I think I'd give the US cover the edge on this one. I like the font used for the author's name and title, and that bright pink carnation pops on that field of grey. My only quibble with it is that it's... generic... in a way that the UK cover isn't.

If both of these were faced out on the shelf as I walked past, unless I zeroed in on the author's name, I would walk right past the UK cover, while the bright pink flower on the US cover would definitely make me slow down. Notice I didn't say stop? Because unless I saw that blood stain or noticed the author's name, I might think it's women's fiction-- a genre I tend to avoid. Could be the publisher is trying to catch the female eye, eh?

What about you? Which book cover appeals to you the most? The UK cover or the US cover? Inquiring minds would love to know!

The Windermere Witness by Rebecca Tope

First Line: What a day for a wedding!

Persimmon "Simmy" Brown has moved to the Lake District, near to her parents who run a bed-and-breakfast. Simmy's new florist shop is doing well, especially with large orders like the one she's delivering for the wedding of a millionaire's daughter. 

What should be a joyous occasion turns to tragedy when the bride's brother is murdered and his body found in the lake. Since she was one of the last people to see and speak to the young man, Simmy becomes involved with the grief-stricken family. The more time she spends with these people, the more secrets about them she learns, and when tragedy strikes yet again, Simmy is right in the middle of the investigation.

One of the very first things I learned about Simmy Brown is how tender-hearted she is. Still reeling from tragedies in her own life, she's throwing herself into her new business. Her part-time employee isn't the best fit for a florist shop, but Simmy sees the best in the young girl and doesn't look for a replacement. She also gets embroiled with the bride's family much too easily. Whenever they want to speak to her, she just can't seem to say no. Instead, she drops everything to see what they need from her. It's almost impossible not to like someone who sees the best in people and who is always willing to help-- especially when she's not doing so blindly. No, Simmy has a good head on her shoulders, and she does know how to use it.

I also learned a great deal about what goes into the running of a florist shop. Not just irritating customers, but flower ordering, wedding planning, and how to brainstorm ideas for new arrangements and display windows for the shop. Tope comes nowhere near to overwhelming the storyline with these facts, and since I'd never given any thought to this particular type of business, I found it very interesting.

The cast of secondary characters in The Windermere Witness is a strong one. Simmy's parents-- especially her mother-- are a bit eccentric, and readers can learn a bit about the bed-and-breakfast business as well. Simmy's part-time employee begins as an irritating young woman but with more shading given to her character, she becomes an important part of the cast. The winner to me, however, was seventeen-year-old Ben. Ben is intelligent, funny, and full of ideas. Simmy seems to be just the person to bring out the best in Ben, and I definitely want to see more of him.

As for the mystery itself, I have to admit that I was flummoxed. The main pool of suspects consisted of members of the wedding party, and they acted so strangely that I spent most of my time trying to figure them out, and I never did get around to trying to pin down the identity of the killer.

The lovely setting of England's Lake District, a strong cast of characters, and a puzzling mystery all lead me to look forward to Simmy Brown's next adventure! 

The Windermere Witness by Rebecca Tope

eISBN: 9780062397249 

Witness Impulse © 2015

eBook, 352 pages

Cozy Mystery, #1 Lake District mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.


======

Just a note about the publisher. William Morrow/HarperCollins now has the Witness Impulse imprint for thriller and suspense eBooks at extremely reasonable prices. One of the things they seem to be doing is making several excellent British authors available here in the U.S.-- authors like Rebecca Tope, Stephen Booth, Francis Fyfield, and Aline Templeton. Normally I have to order these books from the UK, so I'm absolutely thrilled to see them available as eBooks here!

 

September 2014 New Mystery Releases!

I'm not ready for summer to be over yet, so I'm glad the heat lingers here in Phoenix. (Perfectly suited to this climate, aren't I?) I've been out in the pool all summer with a succession of tall, cold drinks and books so good that they make me lose track of time. If Denis and I ever win the lottery and get this pool heated, my toes would undoubtedly be permanently webbed!

As usual I've been keeping track of crime fiction that will be released throughout the month of September. I'm sharing my list of my top dozen picks along with all the information you'll need to find them at your favorite book procurement locations. Book synopses are courtesy of Amazon. Happy Reading!

=== September 1 ===

Title: The Edison Effect

Author: Bernadette Pajer 

#4 in the Professor Benjamin Bradshaw historical mystery series set in early 1900s Seattle, Washington
ISBN: 9781464202520
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Paperback, 250 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "Inventor Thomas Alva Edison is also a ruthless businessman, intent on furthering his patents and General Electric and beating rivals like Nikola Tesla and Westinghouse. Edison has agents in place in Seattle but he’s come himself in pursuit of a mysterious invention lost in 1901 in Elliott Bay. When Edison asks for information, few refuse. But not University of Washington Professor Benjamin Bradshaw who’s earned a reputation as a private investigator where science—electricity—is concerned. Bradshaw hopes that the lost device, one conceived in anger by an anarchist and harnessed for murder, will elude Edison’s hired divers. _x000D_ Soon, one December morning, 1903, the Bon Marché’s Department Store electrician is found dead in the Men’s Wear Window clutching a festoon of Edison’s new holiday lights. Bradshaw believes Edison had set a dangerous game in motion. Motives multiply as the dead man’s secrets surface alongside rivalries at the Bon Marché. Bradshaw, his sleuthing partner Henry Pratt, and the Seattle PD’s Detective O’Brien pursue leads, but none spark Bradshaw’s intuition. His heart is not in the investigation but in a courtship that will force him to defy his Catholic faith or lose his beloved, Missouri. Then a crossroads in the case forces him to face his personal fears and his first professional failure. Whatever the outcomes, his life is about to change…."

=== September 2 ===

Title: Marked Down for Murder

Author: Josie Belle (AKA Jenn McKinlay)

#4 in the Good Buy Girls cozy series set in Virginia
ISBN: 9780425271360
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Mass Market Paperback, 272 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "Between spending Valentine’s Day with her sweetheart, Sam, and shopping upcoming Presidents’ Day sales with the Good Buy Girls, everything is coming up roses and bargains for Maggie Gerber. But when the mother of Maggie’s nemesis comes to town, things stop looking so rosy. Summer’s mom is hoping to set her spoiled daughter up with Sam, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make the match happen.

When Maggie heads to her romantic rival’s house to put a stop to the scheming, she discovers Summer standing over a dead body—holding a weapon. As much as Maggie would love to see Summer get her just desserts, she can’t shake the feeling that the meddling menace is, in fact, innocent. Now Maggie and the Good Buy Girls will have to sort through racks of suspects to find a killer—or Summer will wind up getting a truly raw deal…"

Title: Night of the White Buffalo
Author: Margaret Coel
#18 in the Wind River series set in Wyoming
ISBN: 9780425264652
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Hardcover, 304 pages

Synopsis: "A mysterious penitent confesses to murder, and then flees the confessional before Father John can identify him. Two months later, Vicky discovers rancher Dennis Carey shot dead in his truck along Blue Sky Highway. With the tragic news comes the exposure of an astonishing secret: the most sacred creature in Native American mythology, a white buffalo calf, was recently born on Carey’s ranch.

Making national headlines, the miraculous animal draws a flood of pilgrims to the reservation, frustrating an already difficult investigation. As visitors throw the reservation into turmoil, Vicky and Father John try to unravel the strange events surrounding both Carey’s murder and the recent disappearances of three cowboys from his ranch.

It could be coincidence, given the nomadic life of the cowboy trade, but when one of them fails to appear in court to testify on an assault charge, Vicky wonders if Arnie Walkfast and his Arapaho buddies are guilty of more than just assault. And at the back of Father John’s mind is the voice from the man in the confessional: I killed a man…"

Title: The Wolfe Widow
Author: Victoria Abbott
#3 in the Book Collector cozy series set in New York state
ISBN: 9780425255308
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Synopsis: "As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted—and Jordan is thankful just to be alive…

Vera Van Alst doesn’t normally receive visitors without appointment, but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer.

It seems Muriel has designs on Vera’s money and property—not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it’s up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press." 

Title: The Low Road
Author: A.D. Scott
#5 in the Highland Gazette historical series set in 1950s Scotland
ISBN: 9781476756165
Publisher: Atria Books
Paperback, 336 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "The fifth gripping and beautifully written entry in A. D. Scott’s mystery series finds star journalist John McAllister caught up in the razor-gang warfare of 1950s Glasgow.

A. D. Scott’s extraordinary mystery novels have been called “beautifully written and atmospheric” (New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen), “a visit with an old friend in front of a fireplace” (Suspense Magazine), and “must-reads” (Booklist).

John McAllister has come to a crossroads, torn between the stability of his life in the Highlands and the thrill of working as a renowned journalist in Glasgow at a national daily newspaper. Can he accept that this exciting new phase is over? That it is time to settle down?

Before he knows it, McAllister is in the midst of a fast-paced hunt for his good friend Jimmy McPhee, who is involved in a blood feud with a murderous razor gang. With a fiercely ambitious young crime reporter, he tracks down Jimmy, but the gang finds them. Only when another violent clash breaks out do they have the chance to escape. Soon McAllister finds himself in danger of losing everything he holds dear—his mother, his fiancée, his friends, his integrity, and his life.

And Joanne Ross, recovering from horrific injuries, senses McAllister’s ambivalence about their forthcoming marriage, and she knows she can only wait for him to return to her.

From the wilderness of the Highlands to the desolation of Glasgow’s slums, book five in Scott’s mystery series is a portrait of extremes: between city and glen; between the rule of law and the laws of the streets; between safe, enduring love and unreasoning passion."

=== September 4 ===

Title: Sinking Suspicions

Author: Sara Sue Hoklotubbe 

#3 in the Sadie Walela series set in Oklahoma

ISBN: 9780816531073

Publisher: University of Arizona Press

Paperback, 224 pages

Synopsis: "Suspicions run high when murder mixes with identity theft in the latest installment of the popular Sadie Walela mystery series set in Cherokee Country. No sooner does Sadie embark on an unexpected business trip to the beautiful island of Maui, when her long-time neighbor, Buck Skinner, a full-blood Cherokee and World War II veteran, goes missing and becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a petty identity thief.

Iconic lawman Lance Smith joins a community-wide search, but Buck is nowhere to be found. As evidence mounts against her old friend, Sadie rushes to return home to help—only to be delayed by an island-wide earthquake and her own sinking suspicions.

A diverse cast of characters weave together a breathless story of murder, thievery, and the toll of war on the human spirit. In her effort to restore balance to her neighbor’s life, Sadie not only uncovers the truth, but unravels much more than a murder."

=== September 15 ===

Title: Darkness, Darkness

Author: John Harvey

#13 in the Charlie Resnick police procedural series set in England

ISBN: 9781605986166

Publisher: Pegasus

Hardcover, 352 pages

Synopsis: "Thirty years ago, the British Miners’ Strike threatened to tear england apart, turning neighbor against neighbor, husband against wife, father against son—enmities which still smolder.

Charlie Resnick, recently promoted to Detective Inspector and ambivalent, at best, about some of the police tactics used in the Strike, had run an surveillance-gathering unit at the heart of the dispute.

Now, in virtual retirement, the discovery of the body of a young woman who disappeared during the Strike brings Resnick back to the front line to assist in the investigation into the woman’s murder—forcing him to confront his past—in what will assuredly be his last case . . . as well as John’s Harvey’s final Charlie Resnick novel."

Title: The Coniston Case

Author: Rebecca Tope

#3 in the "Simmy" Brown series set in the Lake District of England

ISBN: 9780749016159

Publisher: Allison and Busby

Hardcover, 352 pages

Synopsis: "Simmy is busy at her flower shop in the run up to Valentine’s Day. She has a number of anonymous messages and flowers to deliver around the Lake District, but finds these messages are not welcome upon delivery.

One recipient, Mr. Hayter, has been reported missing and the other, Tim Braithwaite, is reported dead. Meanwhile, Simmy’s friend Kathy has come to stay. She has been worried about her daughter, Joanne, who has fallen in love with her university tutor. Kathy confronts Baz and finds he hides a sinister side, which leads to trouble."

=== September 16 ===

Title: The Stone Wife

Author: Peter Lovesey

#14 in the Peter Diamond police procedural series set in Bath, England

ISBN: 9781616953935

Publisher: Soho Press

Hardcover, 368 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "At a Bath auction house, a large slab of carved stone is up for sale. At the height of what turns into very competitive bidding, there is a hold-up attempt by three masked robbers. They shoot and kill the highest bidder, a professor who has recognized the female figure carved in the stone as Chaucer’s Wife of Bath. The masked would-be thieves flee, leaving the stone behind.

Peter Diamond and his team are assigned to investigate, and the stone is moved into Diamond’s office so he can research its origins. The carving causes such difficulties that he starts to think it has jinxed him. Meanwhile, as Diamond’s leads take him to Chaucer’s house in Somerset, his intrepid colleague Ingeborg goes undercover to try to track down the source of the handgun used in the murder."

=== September 23 ===

Title: Silent Murders

Author: Mary Miley

#2 in the Roaring Twenties historical mystery series

ISBN: 9781250051370

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Hardcover, 320 pages

Synopsis: "Vaudeville actress Leah Randall took on her most daring role ever when she impersonated missing heiress Jessie Carr in order to claim Jessie’s inheritance in The Impersonator. Now that the dust has settled around that tumultuous time in her life, Leah has adopted Jessie’s name as her own and moved to Hollywood, where she's taken a modest but steady job in the silent film industry.

Jessie’s thrilled when Bruno Heilmann, a movie studio bigwig, invites her to a party. She’s even more delighted to run into a face from her past at that party. But the following day, Jessie learns that sometime in the wee hours of the morning both her old friend and Bruno Heilmann were brutally murdered. She’s devastated, but with her skill as an actress, access to the wardrobes and resources of a film studio, and a face not yet famous enough to be recognized, Jessie is uniquely positioned to dig into the circumstances surrounding these deaths. But will doing so put her own life directly in the path of a murderer?"

Title: To Dwell in Darkness

Author: Deborah Crombie

#16 in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James police procedural series set in England

ISBN:  9780062271600

Publisher: William Morrow

Hardcover, 336 pages

Synopsis: "Recently transferred to the London borough of Camden from Scotland Yard headquarters, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his new murder investigation team are called to a deadly bombing at historic St. Pancras Station. By fortunate coincidence, Melody Talbot, Gemma's trusted colleague, witnesses the explosion. The victim was taking part in an organized protest, yet the other group members swear the young man only meant to set off a smoke bomb. As Kincaid begins to gather the facts, he finds every piece of the puzzle yields an unexpected pattern, including the disappearance of a mysterious bystander.

The bombing isn't the only mystery troubling Kincaid. He's still questioning the reasons behind his transfer, and when his former boss—who's been avoiding him—is attacked, those suspicions deepen. With the help of his former sergeant, Doug Cullen, Melody Talbot, and Gemma, Kincaid begins to untangle the truth. But what he discovers will leave him questioning his belief in the job that has shaped his life and his values—and remind him just how vulnerable his precious family is."

=== September 24 ===

Title: Bright Hopes

Author: Annette Mahon

#5 in the St. Rose Quilting Bee cozy series set in Arizona

ISBN: 9781432829506

Publisher: Five Star

Hardcover, 310 pages

Synopsis: "Loud explosions are ruining sleep for hundreds of Scottsdale residents in the hot July nights, including members of the St. Rose Quilting Bee. Things become serious when Maggie's police officer son is injured by one of the blasts. Then a church member dies when an explosion topples a roof onto the lounge chair where he lies sleeping. The women think bored teenagers may be playing with fireworks, but Edie is thinking terrorists. The others scoff, until a bomb at a power substation throws the entire neighborhood into darkness. Suddenly terrorism is a real possibility."

For me, this is a really good mix of favorite authors and intriguing new ones. I can't wait to dig in-- and I hope I've managed to list a title or two that made it to your own Gotta Get lists!

Death in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope

First Line: That October was much as usual-- blowy, damp, mild, the leaves still green on the boughs, the sheep fat-bottomed and clean with their new fleece, complacent from the attentions of the tup.

House sitting in the Cotswolds hasn't turned out exactly as Thea Osborne planned. After becoming entangled in murder investigations during her first two jobs, she's more than happy to spend a quiet week with Detective Inspector Phil Hollis and their dogs to nurture their developing relationship. Even meeting Ariadne, Phil's prickly childhood friend who lives across the street, can't tarnish Thea's happiness.

But the house sitter on vacation must have been born under an unlucky star. Ariadne finds the body of her friend laid out like a sacrificial victim in Notgrove Barrow, and the two women are repeatedly thrown together as they conduct their own investigation. It doesn't take long for them to discover that several people in the beautiful little village have secrets, but which one would kill to keep theirs hidden?

One of the things I enjoy about this series is "visiting" all these lovely little villages in the Cotswolds in England. The villages actually exist; the author has just taken artistic license with the people, the houses and the businesses. Despite the necessary changes, the reader is able to learn about the area, and the setting adds a great deal of flavor to each book. (In Death in the Cotswolds, I learned more about sheep, about spinning and dyeing wool, and about the care and feeding of a pig, among other things.)

Tope tries something a little different in this third book in the series. The story is told from the point of view of Ariadne, not Thea. This is tricky-- and it doesn't always work-- but Ariadne is so eccentric, so prickly, that I found her side of things fascinating. She tells us about herself, from childhood to the present, and she certainly isn't shy about voicing her opinions. In addition, the author's turning Ariadne into the storyteller means that we get to see Thea Osborne from a completely different perspective-- and one that isn't always flattering. As the two women find themselves spending more and more time together, it's interesting to see how Ariadne's opinion of Thea changes. Moreover, all the time these two women are searching for a killer, Ariadne also begins learning some home truths about herself. She's a complex and ultimately sympathetic character that I hope to see in future books.

Speaking of complex, the plot itself certainly fills that bill. Tope plants clues all along the way, and I don't know if I was enjoying Ariadne and her interactions with Thea too much or what because I saw the clues and refused to admit where they were leading. That'll teach me! Hopefully I'll remember this lesson learned when I pick up the next book in the series!

Death in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope

ISBN: 9780749080648 

Allison and Busby © 2008

Mass Market Paperback, 382 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #3 Thea Osborne mystery

Rating: A

Source: Paperback Swap 

May 2014 New Mystery Releases!

While many of you folks are finally experiencing spring, the Sonoran Desert is already beginning to slip into our two-part summer. Yes, that's right-- the Sonoran Desert really has five seasons, the normal four plus an extra summer because monsoon season differs so much from the blazingly hot and dry May and June. Don't cry for me, I love the heat, and (both) summers are my optimal times to devour books!

Here are my picks for new mysteries being released in May. They're sorted by release dates and contain all the information you'll need to find them at all your favorite "book procurement locations." Book synopses are courtesy of Amazon. Happy Reading!

=== May 1 ===

Title: The Shroud Maker

Author: Kate Ellis

#18 in the Wesley Peterson police procedural series set in South Devon, England 

ISBN: 9780749958046

Publisher: Piatkus Books

Hardcover, 368 pages

Synopsis: "A year after the mysterious disappearance of Jenny Bercival, DI Wesley Peterson is called in when the body of a strangled woman is found floating out to sea in a dinghy. The discovery mars the festivities of the Palkin Festival, held each year to celebrate the life of John Palkin, a 14th century Mayor of Tradmouth who made his fortune from trade and piracy. Now it seems like death and mystery have returned to haunt the town. Could there be a link between the two women? One missing, one brutally murdered? And is there a connection to a fantasy website called Shipworld which features Palkin as a supernatural hero with a sinister, faceless nemesis called the Shroud Maker? When archaeologist Neil Watson makes a grim discovery on the site of Palkin's warehouse, it looks as if history might have inspired the killer. And it is only by delving into the past that Wesley comes to learn a truth that will bring mortal danger in its wake."

Title: Red Man Down

Author: Elizabeth Gunn

#5 in the Sarah Burke police procedural series set in Tucson, Arizona

ISBN: 9780727883674

Publisher: Severn House Publishers

Hardcover, 192 pages

Synopsis: "Sarah Burke's Saturday off is interrupted when she is called to a shooting – a rookie cop has been involved in a shootout with a criminal stealing copper wire from a warehouse. When the criminal in question turns out to be ex-cop and Red Man Ed Lacey, Sarah is shocked. The evidence suggests he wanted the cop to shoot him. But why?

Sarah and her team delve into Ed’s life, and soon decide to re-open an investigation into three deaths. The more they investigate, the more obstacles they encounter – particularly from the family, who quickly close ranks. What are they hiding?"  

=== May 6 ===

Title: Death of a Mad Hatter

Author: Jenn McKinlay

#2 in the Hat Shop cozy series set in London, England

ISBN: 9780425258903

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Synopsis: "Scarlett Parker and her British cousin, Vivian Tremont, are hard at work at Mim’s Whims—their ladies’ hat shop on London’s chic Portobello Road—to create hats for an Alice in Wonderland themed afternoon tea, a fund-raiser for a local children’s hospital. It seems like a wonderfully whimsical way to pass the hat, and Scarlett and Viv are delighted to outfit the Grisby family, the hosts who are hoping to raise enough money to name a new hospital wing after their patriarch.

Unfortunately, the Grisby heir will not live to see it—he’s been poisoned. When traces of the poison are found on the hat Scarlett and Viv made for him, the police become curiouser and curiouser about their involvement. Now the ladies need to don their thinking caps and find the tea party crasher who’s mad enough to kill at the drop of a hat…"

Title: Doing It at the Dixie Dew

Author: Ruth Moose

Debut cozy set in Littleboro, North Carolina

ISBN: 9781250046383

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Hardcover, 256 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "When Beth McKenzie returns to her hometown and attempts to turn an old Southern mansion into a bed and breakfast called The Dixie Dew, her first guest is murdered. Three days later a young priest who looks better in tennis whites than cleric black is found strangled in his chapel. The whole town of Littleboro is turned upside down, inside out, and Ossie Delbardo, the town cop whose job heretofore mainly involved controlling football traffic on Friday nights, is not cut out to solve the murders. Beth fears her newly opened B&B is in danger of failing. She’s even more worried that she is Ossie’s number one suspect. Aided by her friend from high school and trusty handyman, she sets out to discover the truth of the murders.

Littleboro has its share of characters, some of which are helpful and others misleading. There's Crazy Reba who lives in a tree, bathes in any bathtub she finds empty, and Dumpster dives; Verna, the town know-it-all and affectionate owner of Robert Redford, a huge white rabbit; and Miss Tempie Merritt, music teacher and organist who always wears hat, gloves, and lace-trimmed white socks. When Beth herself is attacked, there’s no more time for baking muffins and stenciling pineapples on the porch. She’s in a race to uncover her neighbors’ secrets before her hometown becomes her burial ground."

Title: Invisible City

Author: Julia Dahl

#1 in the Rebekah Roberts series set in New York City

ISBN: 9781250043399  

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Hardcover, 304 pages

Synopsis: "Just months after Rebekah Roberts was born, her mother, an Hasidic Jew from Brooklyn, abandoned her Christian boyfriend and newborn baby to return to her religion. Neither Rebekah nor her father have heard from her since. Now a recent college graduate, Rebekah has moved to New York City to follow her dream of becoming a big-city reporter. But she’s also drawn to the idea of being closer to her mother, who might still be living in the Hasidic community in Brooklyn.

Then Rebekah is called to cover the story of a murdered Hasidic woman. Rebekah’s shocked to learn that, because of the NYPD’s habit of kowtowing to the powerful ultra-Orthodox community, not only will the woman be buried without an autopsy, her killer may get away with murder. Rebekah can’t let the story end there. But getting to the truth won’t be easy—even as she immerses herself in the cloistered world where her mother grew up, it's clear that she's not welcome, and everyone she meets has a secret to keep from an outsider."

=== May 13 ===

Title: Any Other Name

Author: Craig Johnson

#10 in the Sheriff Walt Longmire police procedural series set in Absaroka County, Wyoming

ISBN:  9780670026463

Publisher: Viking

Hardcover, 336 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "Sheriff Walt Longmire had already rounded up a sizable posse of devoted readers when the A&E television series Longmire sent the Wyoming lawman’s popularity skyrocketing. Now, with three consecutive New York Times bestsellers to his name and the second season of Longmire reaching an average of 5.4 million viewers per episode, Craig Johnson is reaching a fan base that is both fiercely loyal and ever growing.

In Any Other Name, Walt is sinking into high-plains winter discontent when his former boss, Lucian Conally, asks him to take on a mercy case in an adjacent county. Detective Gerald Holman is dead and Lucian wants to know what drove his old friend to take his own life. With the clock ticking on the birth of his first grandchild, Walt learns that the by-the-book detective might have suppressed evidence concerning three missing women. Digging deeper, Walt uncovers an incriminating secret so dark that it threatens to claim other lives even before the sheriff can serve justice—Wyoming style."

Title: Fatal Enquiry

Author: Will Thomas

#6 in the Barker and Llewelyn PI historical series set in late Victorian England

ISBN:  9781250041043

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Hardcover, 304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "Brimming with wit, atmosphere, and unforgettable characters, FATAL ENQUIRY reintroduces private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his assistant, Thomas Llewellyn, and their unforgettable world of Victorian London.

Some years ago, Cyrus Barker matched wits with Sebastian Nightwine, an aristocrat and sociopath, and in exposing his evil, sent Nightwine fleeing to hide from justice somewhere in the far corners of the earth. The last thing Barker ever expected was to encounter Nightwine again—but the British government, believing they need Nightwine’s help, has granted him immunity for his past crimes, and brought him back to London. Nightwine, however, has more on his mind than redemption—and as Barker and Llewellyn set out to uncover and thwart Nightwine’s real scheme, they find themselves in the gravest danger of their lives."

Title: Murder at Honeychurch Hall

Author: Hannah Dennison

#1 in the Kat Standford cozy series set in Devon, England

ISBN: 9781250007797

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Hardcover, 304 pages

Synopsis: "Kat Stanford is just days away from starting her dream antique business with her newly widowed mother Iris when she gets a huge shock. Iris has recklessly purchased a dilapidated carriage house at Honeychurch Hall, an isolated country estate located several hundred miles from London. 


Yet it seems that Iris isn’t the only one with surprises at Honeychurch Hall. Behind the crumbling façade, the inhabitants of the stately mansion are a lively group of eccentrics to be sure—both upstairs and downstairs —and they all have more than their fair share of skeletons in the closet. 


When the nanny goes missing, and Vera, the loyal housekeeper ends up dead in the grotto, suspicions abound. Throw in a feisty, octogenarian countess, a precocious seven year old who is obsessed with the famous fighter pilot called Biggles, and a treasure trove of antiques, and there is more than one motive for murder. 


As Iris’s past comes back to haunt her, Kat realizes she hardly knows her mother at all. A when the bodies start piling up, it is up to Kat to unravel the tangled truth behind the murders at Honeychurch Hall."

=== May 15 ===

Title: Trouble in the Cotswolds

Author: Rebecca Tope

#12 in the Thea Osborne series set in the Cotswolds in England

ISBN:  9780749014438

Publisher: Allison and Busby

Hardcover, 288 pages

Synopsis: "Thea Osborne hopes to spend a quiet Christmas house-sitting in the picturesque village of Stanton. Walks in the local countryside with the dogs are all the excitement she wants. Her arrival at the village coincides with the funeral of Douglas Callender and the murder of his girlfriend the following day.

Thea finds herself thrust into the middle of another Police investigation as she unwraps motives and scandals across the village. The arrival of Drew Slocombe is the best present Thea could receive. Amid the bleak winter of Stanton and the murderous scandal, Thea is determined that she will survive the festive season.

Thea’s interest is stirred but the onset of flu looks to prevent any sleuthing. However, when two people show up brutally murdered the following afternoon, even when battling a fever Thea finds herself thrust into the middle of yet another Police investigation. With the Callendar family linked to most of the village Stanton is bursting with motives for the murders including jealousy, closures of footpaths and secret animal testing. Thea turns to local resident Dennis Ireland for safety but Dennis, as with the other villagers, may not be as safe as first appears and Thea wonders who she can trust to help her survive the festive season." 

=== May 20 ===

Title: The Devil's Workshop

Author: Alex Grecian

#3 in the Murder Squad historical police procedural series set in late Victorian England

ISBN: 9780399166433

Publisher: Putnam

Hardcover, 400 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "London, 1890. Four vicious murderers have escaped from prison, part of a plan gone terribly wrong, and now it is up to Walter Day, Nevil Hammersmith, and the rest of Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad to hunt down the convicts before the men can resume their bloody spree. But they might already be too late. The killers have retribution in mind, and one of them is heading straight toward a member of the Murder Squad, and his family.

And that isn’t even the worst of it. During the escape, the killers have stumbled upon the location of another notorious murderer, one thought gone for good but now prepared to join forces with them.

Jack the Ripper is loose in London once more."

=== May 21 ===

Title: Nursing Homes Are Murder

Author: Mike Befeler

#6 in the Paul Jacobson Geezer-Lit series set in Hawaii

ISBN: 9781432828165

Publisher: Five Star

Hardcover

Synopsis: "Paul Jacobson, who suffers from short-term memory loss, becomes an undercover resident at a nursing home to help the Honolulu police track down a sexual assault perpetrator.
The police give Paul the names of three persons-of-interest and Paul begins investigating. None of the three appear suspicious.

Things go downhill when the woman who had been assaulted is found murdered.

Paul meets interesting residents, including a woman with synesthesia, a woman who eats soap, and a woman who races wheelchairs.

After another sexual assault, someone tries to smother Paul.

Interrupting a third attempted sexual assault, Paul figures out who the culprit is.
The bad guy tries to abduct Paul at gunpoint, but Paul escapes when a resident in an electric wheelchair runs into the bad guy."

=== May 22 ===

Title: The Killing Club

Author: Paul Finch

#3 in the DS Mark "Heck" Heckenburg of Scotland Yard's Serial Crimes Unit series set in England

ISBN: 9780007551255

Publisher: Avon

Paperback, 400 pages

Synopsis: "Get hooked on Heck: the maverick detective who knows no boundaries. The perfect read for fans of Stuart Macbride and Luther. DS Mark 'Heck' Heckenburg is used to bloodbaths. But nothing can prepare him for this. Heck's most dangerous case to date is open again. Two years ago, he put the ringleader of The Nice Guys Club - a vicious rape and murder gang - behind bars. But Heck knows that this depraved organisation stretches far beyond UK shores. When brutal murders start happening across the country, it's clear that the Nice Guys are at work again. Their victims are killed in cold blood, in broad daylight, and by any means necessary. And Heck knows it won't be long before they come for him. Brace yourself as you turn the pages of a living nightmare. Welcome to The Killing Club."

=== May 29 ===

Title: Sundance

Author: David Fuller

Standalone Historical mystery set in the USA at the turn of the twentieth century

ISBN:  9781594632457

Publisher: Riverhead

Hardcover, 352 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books

Synopsis: "Legend has it that bank robber Harry Longbaugh and his partner Robert Parker were killed in a shootout in Bolivia. That was the supposed end of the Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy.

Sundance tells a different story. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Longbaugh is very much alive, though serving in a Wyoming prison under an alias.

When he is released in 1913, Longbaugh reenters a changed world. Horses are being replaced by automobiles. Gas lamps are giving way to electric lights. Workers fight for safety, and women for the vote. What hasn’t changed are Longbaugh’s ingenuity, his deadly aim, and his love for his wife, Etta Place.

It’s been two years since Etta stopped visiting him, and, determined to find her, Longbaugh follows her trail to New York City. Confounded by the city’s immensity, energy, chaos, and crowds, he learns that his wife was very different from the woman he thought he knew. Longbaugh finds himself in a tense game of cat and mouse, racing against time before the legend of the Sundance Kid catches up to destroy him.

By turns suspenseful, rollicking, and poignant, Sundance is the story of a man dogged by his own past, seeking his true place in this new world. "

This is what I call a Jackpot Month. There's nothing like watching a mature woman dance around the house clutching a book to her bosom like I did when I received an unsolicited copy of Craig Johnson's newest book, Any Other Name. (I'm so glad Denis wasn't home that afternoon-- video may have been made available!) I was just as thrilled to see another of my favorites, Will Thomas, appear with a long overdue book in his Barker and Llewelyn series. Stay tuned because I'll have five copies of Fatal Enquiry to give away during the week of its release! Then there's two more additions to favorite series... if I were a grasshopper, I wouldn't know which way to jump. As it is, I'm a simple human "bean" who can only read and concentrate on one book at a time....

What new mysteries are you looking forward to in May? Did any of these titles tickle your fancy? Which ones? Inquiring minds want to know!