Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

February 9, 2025

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

Dorothy Gentleman, detective on the Fairweather, an interstellar cruise ship, wakes up in a body that doesn't belong to her. Normally finding oneself in a new body isn't that unusual on the ship, since that is one of the services offered: eternal reincarnations, at least until they reach their final destiny. But Dorothy's mind was supposed to be resting for a few years in the ship's library between incarnations, and she certainly didn't ask to be transferred into THIS body. The ship's AI appears to be on a drunken bender, so it's up to Dorothy to figure out on her own what is going on.

First book in a new noir sci-fi mystery series, although some readers feel it has a cozy setting, on an interstellar cruise ship on a millennia-long voyage to a new destination after leaving Old Earth. All of the passengers live out their lives, die, and are brought back to life in a new body. The science makes sense, like a magnetic storm erasing some of the files where a person's permanent memories are kept. Who doesn't love a cocktail drinking auntie who solves mysteries? Fun setting, fun characters, fun premise. There is even some P. G. Wodehouse-esque humor, with Dorothy's nephew having a boyfriend who strongly reminded me of Jeeves. Recommended for readers who enjoy Becky Chambers' quirky novels.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Now THIS looks like a fun cruise ship!

The Second Murderer by Denise Mina

January 31, 2025

The Second Murderer by Denise Mina

While ruminating on a recent case that seems too neat, private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by a nasty millionaire to find (or maybe not find) his missing daughter.

So 1930s! So noir! So fun! This has all the hallmarks of traditional noir: a hard boiled detective who lives by his own code of honor, perpetually short of cash and down on his luck, a job he knows he shouldn't take, women that he should walk away from (or better yet, run), the gritty underbelly of the big city, plenty of wisecracks and slang. But most notably, without the misogyny found in noir mysteries of the Golden Age, probably because the author is female. Who doesn't love a good noir story? Even Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: the Next Generation fantasized about being a noir private eye. Scott Brick narrates the audiobook - I could listen to him read the phone book. Recommended for fans of noir mysteries.

The noir detective at his gritty best

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

August 2, 2024

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

Quirke is a pathologist and a functioning alcoholic in Dublin in the 1950s. Late one night, drunk after a holiday party with the hospital staff, he stumbles into the morgue to find a new body has arrived, a very young woman who supposedly died from a pulmonary embolism. After is brother-in-law, a well-known OB-GYN, falsifies the dead woman's records, Quirke is determined to get to the bottom of the case, unaware that he is exposing himself to powerful outside forces that don't want him digging into the girl's death.

A literary mystery set in Dublin by the Booker prize winning author John Banville. Examines Irish cultural and societal values in the 1950s, including family, religion, and the laws of the time. Christine Falls is the name of the dead girl, not a location. The setting, overall darkness, the brushes with the underworld, the complex plotting, and the main character Quirke will remind you of noir fiction. Recommended for readers who enjoy the complex plotting of Stuart Turton and Stieg Larsson.

Typical morgue in the 1950s

The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke

March 10, 2024

The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke

Lt. Dave Robicheaux has a lot of demons chasing him: his wife Nicole left him for a wealthy oilman, he is a recovering alcoholic, his memories of Vietnam, his troubles with the police brass, his Catholic upbringing, his partner Clete who has his own marital and alcohol troubles plus a hair trigger temper and involvement in some not quite legal dealings. When Robicheaux becomes involved with the murder case of a young prostitute, he unexpectedly finds himself involved with drugs, South American drug lords, and arms smugglers, yet he persists according to his own code of honor. At the same time, he realizes that he has reached a crossroads in his life.

After reading Burke's outstanding historical novel Flags on the Bayou, I realized that I had never read any of his Dave Robicheaux series. Robicheaux is a flawed yet honorable hero. The writing is gritty and violent, with lush descriptions of New Orleans (especially the food). There are some disturbing racial epithets that were unfortunately common during the 1980s. The plot is somewhat dated but the character study of Dave is outstanding and sets up the rest of the series. The audio version is really good. Recommended for fans of hard-boiled mysteries or noir fiction.

New Orleans' French Quarter

The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo

January 5, 2023

The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo

The United States and the rest of the superpowers lost the Falklands conflict after Argentine developed a psychopigment weapon of mass destruction called Deepest Blue. Psychopigments alter human emotions positively or negatively. Kay Curtida is a Latinx detective with the Psychopigment Enforcement Agency, tasked with tracking down black market distributors of psychopigments in the sleepy town of Daly City just outside the ruins of San Francisco. When an old friend visits Daly City and drops hints about a ring selling fake Sunshine Yellow. Sunshine Yellow is an antidepressant pigment that most people take just to get through their day. The fake yellow pigment, called Shamshine Yellow, mixes the real pigment with Slate Gray, a major depressive.

This was a really creative and clever take on a dystopian society. The characters are well-written and engaging but the plot was very complicated and at times I had a hard time figuring out what was going on and keeping all the characters and their affiliations straight. The names of some of the pigments are clever: Ginger Curiosity, Cool Teal, Lavender Hope. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Razzmatazz by Christopher Moore

June 10, 2022

Razzmatazz by Christopher Moore

The characters from Christopher Moore's Noir are back for a new adventure. In post World War II San Francisco, Sammy Two-Toes Tiffin, his pals from Cookie's Coffee, and his girlfriend Stilton (aka The Cheese) are following new pursuits. Sammy and Eddie are trying to open a driving school while saving Eddie's uncle's opium den from falling into the hands of a vicious gangster. Stilton and her gal pals from the welding crew are especially up to something mysterious at night, after they get done slinging hash at their daytime gigs. Plus there is a new head of SFPD vice who is cracking down on activities like Mabel and the girls from her brothel going up to the state hospital for the annual Christmas party, like they do every December. There might also be a dragon who is waking up from a long sleep, ready to wreak havoc on the city.

This is a really fun sequel to Noir. There is so much happening that there's no way to describe it and do it justice. How can you not love a book where the highest compliment a man can give a woman is to call her a stand-up dame? Fast, funny, zany.

What Cookie's Coffee must have been like in 1940's San Francisco

The Deadliest Sin by Jeri Westerson

March 9, 2022

The Deadliest Sin by Jeri Westerson

London 1399 - At the Boar's Head tavern, where they are relaxing over a mug of ale and catching up on the political gossip, Crispin Guest and Jack Tucker are summoned to a London priory. Two nuns have been murdered in a manner that suggest the Seven Deadly Sins. Meanwhile, Crispin's old friend Henry Bolingbroke, now Duke of Lancaster, has returned to England to overthrow his cousin Richard II and take the throne. Will Crispin back the king or will he join Duke Henry's forces and commit treason - again?

This is the last of the Crispin Guest books, and I'm so sad. Westerson does wind in the threads of Crispin's story in a good way. Hopefully the author will have a new series for Crispin's fans - maybe Jack will become the Tracker 2.0?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Coronation of Henry IV (I don't know which one is Crispin)

Spiteful Bones by Jeri Westerson

February 3, 2022

Spiteful Bones by Jeri Westerson

London 1398 - Lawyer Nigellus Cobmartin and his companion John Rykener take on the task of restoring Nigellus' family's manor in London. When workmen unearth a skeleton from one of the walls, holding a family relic that vanished 20 year earlier, Nigellus calls in their friend Crispin Guest for help. Who do the bones belong to, and how did they end up in the wall with the relic?

This is the 14th book in the Crispin Guest series, and the author has announced that there will be one more book to finish the series. Over the course of fourteen books, Crispin has gone from traitor to tracker, from loner to family patriarch with his found family with Jack and Isabel Tucker and their children. He also has a relationship with his natural son with Philippa Walcote. 

I'm not looking forward to the end of the Crispin Guest mysteries. Maybe Jack will take over and become the Tracker 2.0?

Sword of Shadows by Jeri Westerson

January 6. 2022

Sword of Shadows by Jeri Westerson

London 1396 - When Crispin Guest and his apprentice Jack Tucker visit a swordsmith's shop, they run into a Cornish artefact hunter. He tells Crispin that he has a map that he is convinced will lead him to Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur, and he persuades Crispin to help him find the sword. Traveling to Cornwall, Crispin unexpectedly meets an old flame who is also hunting for the sword. But when first one body turns up, and then a second one, the treasure hunt becomes the search for a killer.

Crispin's stories always focus on relics, but this time, he is seeking a historic artefact, rather than a religious relic. As always, there are plenty of twists and turns. His old girlfriend is trouble on two legs, and if Crispin was smart, he would run the other way. The local villagers are suspicious of Crispin's group, and also of the druids who live in the forest and practice the old religion. #13 in the Crispin Guest series.

Excalibur, King Arthur's mythical sword in the stone

Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham

December 30, 2021

Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham

Stan Carlisle is a young carnival worker, on his way up in the world. He hooks up with Zeena, another carnival worker who has a mind reading act, and learns how to fool an audience. He leaves the carnival with Molly, a girl who has an act with the circus freak show, and together they develop a mind-reading stage act that does reasonably well. When he realizes how much money people will pay to contact their loved ones in the next world, Stan morphs into the Reverend Stanton Carlisle, spiritualist and medium. His church contacts lead him to an unscrupulous psychologist named Lilith, who helps him gain access to wealthy and powerful men. But he takes his act one step too far and his life begins to spiral out of control, until it comes full circle and he returns to the carnival life where the story began.

Dark, disturbing, atmospheric, bleak, with great characters. The 2021 movie adaptation is well done.

Carnival sideshow

Traitor's Codex by Jeri Westerson

December 7, 2021

Traitor's Codex by Jeri Westerson

Crispin Guest, aka the Tracker of London, is enjoying an ale at the Boar's Tusk, his favorite tavern, when a stranger drops a package on his table, with a remark that Crispin will know what to do with it. When he opens the packet, Crispin finds an ancient text written in an unknown language. He inquires of a priest friend, who directs him toward the secret Jewish community in London. A hidden rabbi tells him that the book is the gospel of Judas, a forbidden gospel account that challenges the foundations of Christianity. The rabbi is later found dead, and Crispin discovers that a lot of people want the book, mainly to destroy it.

This is #12 in the Crispin Guest series. Like previous books, the characters, history, and atmosphere of 14th century London draw the reader in immediately. Judaism was forbidden in England, yet there was a thriving community who practiced their religion in secret, much as Catholics continued to follow their religion after it was outlawed in the 16th century. The Gospel of Judas does exist, although most traditional biblical scholars dispute its authenticity - naturally, it offers a different slant than orthodox Christianity does. If you're interested in different views of Jesus, you may want to try The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, which tells the story of Jesus from the viewpoint of his wife (yes, at the time Jesus lived, as a Jewish man, he would have been expected to marry) or The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin (written from the viewpoint of the Virgin Mary, Jesus' mother).

As in all the Crispin Guest books, there are a number of different threads that come together at the end. Highly recommended.

An example of a 14th century codex

The Gospel of Judas does exist, although some scholars dispute its authenticity

Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon

September 12, 2022

Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon

Will Bear (one of his many aliases) has lived off the grid for most of his adult life. He is a 50 year old man who basically does not exist: he doesn't have a regular job, home address, telephone, credit card, bank account, or even a Social Security number. All transactions are cash. He does jobs for a shady organization, mostly delivery cargoes, both human and inanimate, and he regularly doses himself with a variety of legal and illegal drugs. His closest relationship is with his rescue dog, Flip, who suffers from PTSD (so does Will). He is on a job to drop off a prisoner in Utah when he starts receiving calls on his many burner phones from a woman who claims to be his biological daughter. He tries to get rid of her but she persists, although he can't figure out how she found him or continues to trace him. But the more she talks to him, the more he believes that they are caught up in a much larger conspiracy.

Futuristic, dystopian, wonderfully paranoid, full of dark humor, and noir-ish. Will isn't a traditional noir hero, more of an antihero: he does questionable work, he gets involved with women he should avoid, he lives by his own code of ethics, he is loyal to his friends, he lives in a dark world. I enjoyed this offbeat novel very much (and yes, the dog is okay at the end of the book). I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had the perfect stoned-out hippie intonation.

Dystopia artwork (hero frequently has a dog in dystopian fiction)

The Deepest Grave by Jeri Westerson

October 13, 2021

The Deepest Grave by Jeri Westerson

There is something strange going on at St. Modwen's church in London. Someone or something has been disturbing the graves in the churchyard. The terrified priest calls Crispin Guest, the Tracker, to the scene to investigate. Crispin suspects that it's the living rather than the departed who are to blame for the trouble. At the same time, his former lover Philippa needs his help. Her seven year old son Christopher has been accused of murder and attempting to steal a relic from a neighbor. Crispin needs to prove the boy's innocence before the sheriffs hang him (yes, in the 14th century, children were executed if convicted of a serious crime).

This is the 11th book in the Crispin Guest mysteries and it is one of the best. Old characters return, there are a pair of new sheriffs who are a good contrast to each other, and Crispin finds himself the patriarch of his household as he approaches the ripe old age of 40, with Jack and his wife Isabel and their growing brood of children (who adore Crispin).

St. Modwen or Modwenna

Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

September 21, 2021

Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Maite is a secretary bored with her job. She is addicted to romance comics and largely ignores the political climate outside her window. When her glamorous neighbor Leonora disappears, Maite searches for her and finds herself being drawn into Leonora's world of student protests and dissidents. At the same time, a mob enforcer named Elvis is also looking for Leonora, but for different reasons.

As much as I like the author's two previous novels, this one was disappointing. It was very slow moving and the characters were uninteresting. It did have a great cover - very noir-ish.

Season of Blood by Jeri Westerson

August 26, 2021

Season of Blood by Jeri Westerson

England 1390 - Disaster has occurred at Hailes Abbey: their most precious relic, a vial of Jesus' blood, has vanished from the locked cabinet where it was kept. The relic's power was to take liquid form when touched by the innocent and the worthy, and remain in powder form for sinners and the unrepentent. Relics were important revenue sources for churches, monasteries, and other religious houses, since the faithful came to venerate the relics and leave a donation for the privilege.

Following the relic's disappearance, two monks are found murdered. Crispin Guest is summoned to locate the relic and solve the mystery surrounding the monks. He finds the relic and attempts to return it, but it keeps finding its way back to him. In addition, the monks at Hailes Abbey are in dispute with the monks at Westminster  Abbey regarding who is the rightful owner of the relic. Crispin becomes involved with a beautiful and dangerous woman (he should really steer clear of them) while trying to prevent a former adversary from being charged with murder. Crispin must sort through the tangled layers to find the truth.

Another great entry in the Crispin Guest series, this one with Crispin trying to help the monks at an abbey as well as one of the former sheriffs who enjoyed plaguing him in the past. Jack Tucker and his wife Isabel are prominently featured, as well as their growing brood (who adore Crispin). Crispin finds himself unexpectedly assuming the role of patriarch in their lively household.

An example of a reliquary containing a saint's blood

A Maiden Weeping by Jeri Westerson

July 25, 2021

A Maiden Weeping by Jeri Westerson

After a night of drunken sex, Crispin Guest wakes up in a strange bed with a dead young woman. Although the sheriffs are suspicious, they take Crispin's statement and let him go. But when more women turn up dead in similar circumstances, Crispin finds himself in prison as the only suspect. It's up to his apprentice Jack Tucker to solve the crime. But fortunately Jack has some friends to help him: Nigel, a young lawyer; Isabel Langton, the fetching niece of Eleanor and Gilbert of the Boar's Tusk tavern; and John Rykener, their cross-dressing friend who goes by Eleanor the seamstress at times. 

There is a missing relic, too. What happened to the Tears of the Virgin relic? Is it real? Why do so many people want to find it?

Jack takes the lead in this installment of the Crispin Guest series. Not only does he solve the mystery and free Crispin, he meets a pretty young woman. It's bittersweet to see our Jack growing up - it seems like only a few books ago that he was a homeless street kid who wormed his way into Crispin's care.

Love this series! This is book #9, and the stories never disappoint.

A medieval prison cell

The Silence of Stones by Jeri Westerson

May 19, 2021

The Silence of Stones by Jeri Westerson

London 1388 - when the Stone of Destiny is stolen from Westminster Abbey during a festival service, Crispin Guest (aka The Tracker) witnesses the theft, as do hundreds of other Londoners. King Richard II's popularity has been declining drastically over the past two years due to high taxes and defeat in war. He can ill-afford more bad publicity. Although he hates Crispin for his part in a treasonous plot, he enlists Crispin's aid to find the missing Stone. To make sure Crispin does his best, the king holds Crispin's apprentice Jack Tucker hostage. Crispin has three days to find the Stone before Parliament convenes, or the king will hang Jack.

This is #8 in the Crispin Guest series and a very good mystery. Jack plays a larger part than in previous books and shows himself to be a clever young man. Richard II is depicted as not only a poor ruler, but a shitty human being. Great research, atmospheric, blends historical and political facts and people with fiction seamlessly.

The Stone of Scone, which the Stone of Destiny is based on

Richard II (he became king as a child - although he is in his 20's during this book)

Blood Lance by Jeri Westerson

April 5, 2021

Blood Lance by Jeri Westerson

Returning home late one night, Crispin Guest (dishonored knight, aka The Tracker) sees someone fall from one of the buildings on London Bridge. He attempts to save the man but is too late - he is already dead. Crispin learns that the man was an armorer with a shop on London Bridge. The death is ruled a suicide but the man's family is dissatisfied with the verdict and so is Crispin.

In a twist of events, a friend of Crispin's from his former life as a knight was one of the armorer's clients and has been promised a relic that would make him unbeatable in battle. The knight suspects that the relic is the Spear of Longinus that was used to pierce Christ's side at the crucifixion. But a number of other people are also interested in locating the relic, including Crispin's old friend Geoffrey Chaucer, who seems to know a lot more about the Spear than the average person would.

This is the fifth Crispin Guest book. Crispin is a traditional noir detective set during the Middle Ages: he is honorable and lives by his own code, he is always broke so he takes cases that he probably shouldn't because he needs the cash, and there is always a damsel in distress that he falls for. I love the descriptions of medieval London and life in the Middle Ages, especially for those living in the Shambles area.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys mysteries set in the Middle Ages.

The shops on London Bridge in the Middle Ages

Dublin Noir edited by Ken Bruen

March 17, 2020

Dublin Noir edited by Ken Bruen

A collection of short stories by noir and mystery writers all centered around the city of Dublin.  The quality of the stories varies, but tend to be of higher quality than many collections.  Part of the noir series from Akashic Books.

This is a short review because it's not possible to review each individual story.  Because it's noir, the overall flavor tends to be darker than the average mystery collection.  Many of the stories deal with revenge for a past misdeed, but some are just about psychopaths who like to murder people (go figure).  There is some black humor (which is very Irish), particularly in the first story by Eoin Colfer.

I hope anyone who is reading this is staying well and taking precautions.  I'm at work but I know a lot of people are working from home or their places of employment have been closed by executive order.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and stay healthy!

The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka

January 8, 2020

The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka

Fifteen years ago, Sarah Cook disappeared on the same night that her parents were brutally murdered.  Her boyfriend at the time was quickly arrested and convicted of the crime, and has been on Death Row ever since.  Now a date has been set for his execution.  His sister, convinced of his innocence, wants to make one last attempt to find Sarah, believing that she holds the answers to what happened on that long ago night.  Believing she has seen Sarah in the area, she hires private investigator Roxane Weary to try to locate the woman that she is sure is the missing Sarah.  Roxane takes on the case, needing the money, but already pretty convinced that the police got the right guy, although she soon realizes that there is more to the story.  But Roxane has troubles of her own, dealing with her father’s death in the only way she knows how, by looking at the world through the bottom of a whiskey bottle.

This is quite a decent thriller with a number of plot turns and a flawed detective who lives a messy life.  Roxane herself fits the mold of the noir detective nicely:  she’s always broke, so she takes on cases that she knows she shouldn’t; she has a cool old car; she is attracted to lovers that she knows she should stay the hell away from; she drinks way too much; she hides from her feelings, refusing to deal with the emotional issues looming in her life; she doesn’t take care of herself; she gets stopped by the police frequently since she skitters on the edge of the law in her work.  It’s fast-paced, a quick read, and will keep you turning the pages.