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Candace Fox: Crimson Lake
Lake of Tears In Crimson Lake, former detective Ted Conkaffey does his best to remain unnoticed. Charged with the sexual assault of a young girl, no one believes he is innocent when the charges are dropped due to insufficient evidence. Depressed at losing the right to visit his daughter, Conkaffey meets with…
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Michael Pronko: The Moving Blade
Feeling Tokyo Michael Pronko contacted me out the of the blue one day, and it was the best kind of surprise. The second book of his Tokyo Mystery series, The Moving Blade was released September 30, and if you have an interest in Japanese culture in a crime fiction setting, give this serious consideration.…
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George Pelecanos: The Man Who Came Uptown
Freedom of Words What George Pelecanos can do so effortlessly is put us in motion, inserting us into the story in progress, and stepping us out at the last page, feeling that the lives therein continue. The Man Who Came Uptown is a book that creates this perpetual motion and is Pelecanos at his…
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Nick Kolakowski: Boise Longpig Hunting Club
In their sights Jake Halligan is a bounty hunter in Idaho. Money can be tight, but he and his ex-wife are about to remarry, so things are looking up. It’s not the only anomaly in his life, his sister Frankie is a black-market arms dealer and one tough woman. Arriving home from visiting neighbours,…
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Laird Barron: Blood Standard
Ready, set, go! One thing very important to know about Isaiah Coleridge, you never hurt the innocent. Children, elderly, mentally challenged, animals. Don’t ever kick a dog around him. As a contract killer and enforcer for the mafia, that’s valuable information. Forced to relocate after a situation gone bad in Alaska, he’s now in upstate…
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Thomas Pluck: Bad Boy Boogie
Darkness aired The town bully and budding psychopath was killed by 17-year old Jay Desmarteaux. Everyone knew he deserved it, but only one person went to prison for it. Twenty-five years later and out on early release, the town and its hierarchy don’t want Desmarteaux around. Not a surprise really, but why have Papa…
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Reed Farrell Coleman: Where it Hurts
Sleep walker If he had his druthers, retired cop Gus Murphy would not be a courtesy van driver for a cheap hotel, he wouldn’t be divorced, and his son wouldn’t be dead. But life is a shell game and one’s own way is not always on the table. Murphy’s life is a list…
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From the Archives – Michael J. Clark: Clean Sweep
Escape A prostitute with a ledger she shouldn’t have. The man who wants it back, and the hunters he sets against her. One man, Pastor Tommy Bosco, who can help her disappear. Considering that one of the hitmen is his father and the woman was once responsible for putting him in prison, Bosco wonders if…
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William Lashner: A Filthy Business
A writer & a psychopath Walk into a bar A man who searches may find himself, but won’t necessarily like the result. Phil Kubiak is a fixer on the wrong side of the law. He does what he’s told as much as he can. Always the outlier, Kubiak can’t help deviating from instructions. On the…
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Review of 2017: June Lorraine Roberts
The ‘Amazing Brit” Vic Watson has kindly allowed me the last word prior to her 2017 Annual Review
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Melissa Scrivner Love: Lola
Gal next door Lola is one capable woman. Smart enough, that everyone believes her boyfriend Garcia heads the Crenshaw Six. She has the ruthless intelligence to lead from behind. The Six are a small gang who’ve carved out a niche in their South Central LA neighbourhood. They come up against forces darker than themselves when events…
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Ron Corbett: Ragged Lake
Confluence Like a fire gone to ground, Ragged Lake is slow and steady. For those who like their crime fiction dark, it’s well worth the immersion. Atmospheric, strained and striking, descriptions of the area bring you deep into Northern Divide country. Frank Yakabuski is the detective on the case of a family found murdered…
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Winner – Zero Avenue
Finally! The winner of Zero Avenue by Dietrich Kalteis is: R. Gelpi – Maine, USA ECW Press is shipping a copy to the address provided Many thanks to those who followed Murder in Common I hope you all find new books to enjoy Interested? Check out the review of Zero Avenue ~ June Lorraine…
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Lev D Lewis: Jellyfish
Disgraced lawyer PI extraordinaire* Frank Bale is the private investigator of his dreams. *Dream being the operative. The world sees one version, beaten and broke. He sees a South London Marlowe and Chandler. He’s mouthy and can’t keep his dick in his pants. We start with a woman whose husband wants a divorce and…
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William Shaw: The Birdwatcher
Flight and landing Sergeant Bill South is a neighbourhood copper. He takes stolen property reports, attends neighbourhood meetings and addresses the needs of the community. When the body of his next door neighbour Bob Reyner is discovered, South is stunned by the brutality of the act. They were birdwatching enthusiasts and quietly companionable, but South…