“A Sunless Sea: A William Monk Novel” by Anne Perry / Monday, October 8, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is A Sunless Sea: A William Monk Novel by Anne Perry.

For the brutal murder of one woman, an innocent woman may hang.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Real. That’s the word I would use to describe Anne Perry’s newest novel, “A Sunless Sea.”

The astonishingly consistent author of at least 66 novels, Anne Perry is a staple of many Victorian London mystery fans and the experience of this novel explains why. This is not just a novel; it is a world.

Perry’s use of the River Police is fresh and unique and brings an unusual literary device into play, opening the stage for new characters, settings, dangers, and points-of-view which are intriguing from the first page and carry nonstop throughout the book.

The story centers around the murder of a middle-aged “prostitute” (used loosely in the nineteenth century definition of any kept woman who has intercourse outside of marriage) and is reminiscent of other “sentimental” literature such as “Oliver Twist” and “Mary Barton,” though in context we are more in the world of “Jack the Ripper.” It would be so easy in the context of the novel to go overboard on the gruesome, but instead, Perry chooses it to make it human. The plot brings forth an interesting perspective that I rarely see and that is when the police detective arrests a person who by all accounts is guilty, but the detective doubts her guilt, but must arrest her anyway. That doesn’t keep him – even though his duty is to prosecute – from also attempting to exonerate. Perry handles that complex balance deftly. The beginning was incredible: I was there. Perry explores the delicacy and brutality with equal sensitivity, not only in the portrayal of the victim, but in the relationships of the other characters including Monk (the series’ main character), his wife Hester, their friend Oliver Rathbone, and the turmoil between Rathbone and his wife Margaret.

The characters are believable including the examination of old conflicts between characters. One does not need to read the previous books in the series to become immersed in this one. Perry references previous incidents in the series without being obtrusive. The personal stories transcend all genres. Every page is full of conflict and honest, empathetic emotions.

The dialogue is straight on. The dialogue and accents are so clear I could hear the characters talking in different voices in my head. It is amazing when a writer can pull that off.

Greed, the love of money, and the disrespect of human life outside of one’s own family or personal interests are powerful motivators. Prior to this novel, I was not familiar with the Opium Wars, which are referenced throughout the novel. Taking a diversion and researching that subject on my own, I was struck with the similarity of the greed associated with that and events in our own times. I won’t be specific in my own conclusions, but will allow you to draw your own parallels. Seeing this, though, and comparing it in the context of my own time, gave Perry’s novel a contemporary context and parallel-significance for me, making it all too real.

“A Sunless Sea” is an enthralling story that will weigh on your mind even when you are not reading. The characters are real, their world is real, and I felt a part of them. I hated coming to the last page. Good thing this is a serial because at the end of the book, I was dying for more. Complex characters, elaborate plot, pristine pacing, and unusual environs all make this one of the most flawless mysteries in the Victorian historical genre.

“Many people appeared different in public from the way they might be in private, in the darkness of a backstreet far from where they lived.” Perry doesn’t just write these words, she shows us. In setting and tone, Dickens (one of my favorite and most influential authors of all time) would be proud. Few mystery authors have captivated my interest or imagination as has Anne Perry.

From Amazon:

“Anne Perry’s spellbinding Victorian mysteries, especially those featuring William Monk, have enthralled readers for a generation. The Plain Dealer calls Monk “a marvelously dark, brooding creation” – and, true to form, this new Perry masterpiece is as deceptively deep and twisty as the Thames.

As commander of the River Police, Monk is accustomed to violent death, but the mutilated female body found on Limehouse Pier one chilly December morning moves him with horror and pity. The victim’s name is Zenia Gadney. Her waterfront neighbors can tell him little – only that the same unknown gentleman had visited her once a month for many years. She must be a prostitute, but – described as quiet and kempt – she doesn’t appear to be a fallen woman.

What sinister secrets could have made poor Zenia worth killing? And why does the government keep interfering in Monk’s investigation?

While the public cries out for blood, Monk, his spirited wife, Hester, and their brilliant barrister friend, Oliver Rathbone, search for answers. From dank waterfront alleys to London’s fabulously wealthy West End, the three trail an ice-blooded murderer toward the unbelievable, possibly unprovable truth – and ultimately engage their adversaries in an electric courtroom duel. But unless they can work a miracle, a monumental evil will go unpunished and an innocent person will hang.

Anne Perry has never worn her literary colors with greater distinction than in A Sunless Sea, a heart-pounding novel of intrigue and suspense in which Monk is driven to make the hardest decision of his life.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Hiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin Mystery” by M.C. Beaton / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is Hiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M.C.Beaton.

Snakes, snakes, everywhere, snakes!

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

It was raining last night and I thought, as I listened to the rain patter against the window glass, that it was time for a good cozy. And what could have been more perfect than M.C. Beaton’s latest novel, “Hiss and Hers” about someone killing off the locals with deadly English adders? Listening to the rain and reading the novel, I began to think I was seeing snakes crawling along the shadows of the baseboards. For those not familiar with the series, Agatha Raisin owns a detective agency. The agency does everything from finding missing cats to solving murders that, of course, the police cannot solve. In this installment, Agatha decides to take a sabbatical from the detective agency to pursue the domestic life and hopefully find a husband. When the object of her love dies, then she is back in the grind, trying to discover the culprit, which – as it should – puts her and the rest of her meddling staff in danger, and thus the novel unfolds. As mysteries would have it, the gardener (George) was not what he had appeared to be and that adds more conflict to the mix. I felt for the main character, Ms. Raisin. She is an mature woman and has developed feelings, which dually makes her giddy and embarrassed, as well as adorable and embarrassing. Love has left her blind and after the murder, she realizes just how nearsighted she actually is. Plot-wise, it’s “Murder She Wrote” but not with your expected Jessica Fletcher. Agatha is not the stereotypical up-and-up detective: she’s hot headed, sometimes crass, impulsive, tactless, co-dependent, desperate, unscrupulous, dysfunctional, and sometimes her activities might even be illegal. But she is human. You may not like her at all times, but you know her as well as yourself. There is something to be said for character honesty and something that you don’t always find in the perfect heroes and heroines of most cozy fare. The points-of-view bounce around in James Patterson terseness. Little time is wasted. As with most cozies, there is a great deal of “coincidence,” but that’s part of the genre. It’s to be read for fun. At times, the police are a bit incompetent and fudging on procedure, but then – if they weren’t – the detective agency wouldn’t have much to do other than find stray cats. There are some good scenes. The one with Agatha getting the box of chocolates being one of my visual favorites and a scene in the graveyard will have you laughing. A line of Agatha’s sums up her strategy aptly: “I haven’t the resources of the police, so I usually just blunder about until something breaks.” If you want a cozy to tear apart to see how to put one back together again, then this one is perfect for a look under the hood. M.C. Beaton has written at least 32 novels, many bestselling, under the M.C. Beaton pseudonym alone (not counting those books written under her at least 7 other pseudonyms). She is obviously – like Ms. Agatha – doing something right. If cozy is your genre, learn from the best.

From Amazon:

“If only the bossy, beloved Agatha Raisin were as lucky at finding the right man as she is at catching killers in M. C. Beaton’s New York Times bestselling mystery series

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of everyone’s favorite sleuth, M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin is as feisty as ever – armed with her famous wit and biting sense of humor. This time, though, there’s some biting of a whole other sort going on. Agatha has fallen head over heels in love – again. This time, she has her eye on the local gardener, George Marston, but so do other women in their little Cotswold village. Shamelessly determined, Agatha will do anything to get her man – including footing the bill for a charity ball just for the chance to dance with him. And then George doesn’t even show up. Only partly deterred, Agatha goes looking for him, and finds his dead body in a compost heap. Murder is definitely afoot, but this killer chose no ordinary weapon: A poisonous snake delivered the fatal strike.

Rising to the occasion, Agatha rallies her little detective agency to find the killer, only to learn that George had quite a complicated love life. But murderously complicated? Well, if she can’t have George, at least Agatha can have the satisfaction of confronting the other women and solving the crime. With Hiss & Hers, once again, “M. C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery” (The New York Times Book Review) in the irresistible adventures of the irrepressible Agatha.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Ritual Bath” by Faye Kellerman / Friday, September 28, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman.

A woman is brutally raped at a remote, sheltered religious institution.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

From 1986, this book started the Faye Kellerman phenomenon. Taking place at a remote, sheltered yeshiva (Jewish educational institution) community in the Hollywood Hills area of California (Jewtown as the police call it), a young bride-to-be leaving the ritual bath (the mikva) is brutally raped. Hard-boiled detective Peter Decker of the LAPD (a Jew by birth, but a Baptist by adoptive parents) arrives to find a community of noncooperative witnesses focused more on Jewish religious law than catching the actual criminal. It becomes frustrating for Decker to say the least. Full of information and conflict on many levels. A great crime-solving mystery with believable character dynamics between the cop and the deeply religious Jewish woman who heads the facility, the only person willing to assist him, and possibly the next crime victim. You’ll finish the book knowing much more than you ever thought you would about Jewish tradition and ritual; it’s one of those books in which you will gain even more from a subsequent reading. I dare you to read this one and not want to follow it up with all 19 books currently in the series.

From Amazon:

“Detective Peter Decker of the LAPD is stunned when he gets the report. Someone has shattered the sanctuary of a remote yeshiva community in the California hills with an unimaginable crime. One of the women was brutally raped as she returned from the mikvah, the bathhouse where the cleansing ritual is performed.

The crime was called in by Rina Lazarus, and Decker is relieved to discover that she is a calm and intelligent witness. She is also the only one in the sheltered community willing to speak of this unspeakable violation. As Rina tries to steer Decker through the maze of religious laws, the two grow closer. But before they get to the bottom of this horrendous crime, revelations come to light that are so shocking, they threaten to come between the hard-nosed cop and the deeply religious woman with whom he has become irrevocably linked.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“No Sale” by Patrick Conrad / Thursday, September 27, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is No Sale by Patrick Conrad.

A serial killer is loose in 1998 and taking his cues from old movies.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Wow. Having just read this, I’m dumbfounded. Incredible. From the first page two things happened: I was pulled in and I was stumped. This is a grand mystery in the finest of forms, complicated and solid. The story jumps right in with the investigation into the death of American film noir professor Victor Cox’s wife. The prose is fast and clipped. Descriptions of the characters and their world are truly visual. “…touching up her lipstick in the reflection of her knife blade.” Or when a suspect asks, “Do I look like a serial killer?” then the other character’s reply, “You look too normal not to look like one.” After putting away the book, I still saw the characters and their world, hauntingly, like my own memories of an old movie. And why not? Conrad is one of Belgium’s most famous thriller writers and filmmakers. You can visualize why his works translate so easily to the screen (his previous novel “Limousine” is being made into a film with Kelsey Grammar, to be released this year). I loved the lines: When told that his wife is dead, the husband replies, “Shelley has been dead for years.” And later, “Once again there is a woman in the house, which smells of love and coffee.” I can feel that. It hits me viscerally. As a character says, “It’s not easy to strip naked before complete strangers,” but that’s exactly what these characters do. Point by point, their exterior coverings are removed showing their strengths and their foibles. “Shall I drop you home?” the detective asks his girlfriend (who is a hooker) when he has to leave on a call. “No,” she replies to him, “The weather’s fine. I’ll walk and maybe pull a few tricks.” I read that and thought that I shouldn’t find that so believable and yet, in context of the characters, every word Conrad writes, rings true. It is a mystery novel, true, but it is more than that. It is a psychological thriller. There is a love scene that is both erotic and as maturely touching as anything anyone could write in any genre. I felt the character – I felt myself being there and feeling what he was feeling – in every word. The plot goes back and forth. Just when I thought I knew the killer, I immediately began to doubt myself. It plays like a Hitchcock film itself. Looking deeper, it is a study of the fallibility of memory, even of one’s own life, and how even our own regrets and pains can be nothing more than our own fictionalizations. It is this underlying current that elevates it. Brilliantly translated from the Dutch by Jonathan Lynn (incidentally, this is Lynn’s first book translation and he has done a smashing job) this is a “must read.” “No Sale” is the winner of Belgium’s Diamanten Kogel (Diamond Bullet). It is only a matter of time before you will also see this one in theaters, as well. But I wouldn’t wait. Read the book from Bitter Lemon Press.

From Amazon:

“For Victor Cox, a professor of film history, the Hollywood films noirs of the 1940s and 1950s are more real than his daily life. When his wife is found drowned, Cox is the first murder suspect. He falls in love with a student who looks like the 1920s film star Louise Brooks, but she disappears at a Belgian seaside resort. Smeared in lipstick in their hotel room are the words “No Sale,” the same words Elizabeth Taylor wrote on a mirror in Butterfield 8. Subsequently, a series of gruesome killings of young women, all modeled on violent deaths in films that he knows and loves, lead the police back to Cox, who starts to doubt his own sanity and innocence.

With its stylish writing, pointed references to cinema classics, and blend of horror and humor, this is a powerful psychological thriller. It won the Diamond Bullet Award, the Edgar Award for Belgium.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join our Facebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Blades of Winter” by G.T. Almasi / Monday, September 24, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is Blades of Winter by G.T. Almasi.

Move over James Bond. There’s a new girl in town, 19 and unstoppable.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Today’s Book of the Day is non-stop action and fits solidly in the alternate history subgenre of science fiction. The first line was enough to hook me and also make me chuckle: “Nothing pisses me off more than being shot at while I’m eating.” Half action story, half comic book tale this book reveals an alternate U.S. history set in our time, but with changes, such when we kicked Castro out of Cuba and made it a state. Don’t worry that the history is not matching our own. You’ll get history lessons along the way clarifying why things are as they are.

The story is set in the world that goes on without our knowledge (much like our real spy world). We go along happily in our little lives; these people are working behind the scenes so we can do just that. “Shadowstorm” is a covert war being fought by agents of the four super-powers of this novelistic world (set nearly identical to our own, but not quite and with not quite the same history of events). The story’s protagonist is a nineteen year old modified super woman with every imaginable gadget and prosthetic limb abilities you can imagine. Professionally, she is following in her father’s footsteps and in this book’s assignment she literally follows where he went before he disappeared. The story question becomes, “Will she find her father who appears to still be alive.” Between her personality and her equipment, she is a mythic spy and an invincible soldier. Her Eyes-Up Display tells her micro-second to micro-second everything about her inner body functioning and exterior world happenings so she can adjust or alter for maximum kill power. Emotions, if needed, are available from a hormone injection she self-administers simply by a quick command. This allows her to be collected in all situations. Like when she is hanging on the back of a car that goes down a set of stairs. While I would be dying of fear, she remarks, “This maniac is a really lousy driver!” Or when she’s chasing a bad guy? “It’s like cowboys and Indians. I let out a war whoop and pound up the stairway.” Realistic? Not really. Fun? Yes. Laugh out loud because some of the character’s lines completely catch me off-guard? You bet. For those seeking more realistic spy fiction, this might be a little too James Bond for them. No matter what situation the main character finds herself in, she seems to have some sort of gadget to solve the problem. You can complain about “writer’s convenience,” but with stories such as this, you either accept it or you don’t.

The action is nonstop. As I read it, I was reminded in style, not content, of some of my son’s video games: This happens, this choice is made, new enemies appear, clear them out, fight several of these, defeat the Boss, the go to the next level. It has that same kind of feel. The storytelling is a bit like the movie “The Matrix.” Remember when the bullets start flying around in slow motion? That’s what it’s like here. Except instead of just the slow motion bullets, we get the inner commentary from the main character about what is happening, info we need to know, or how certain technology works that the main character throws into motion. I was intrigued at how well these interjections worked without really slowing the forward motion of any of the scenes. Normally if a character jumped off the Eiffel Tower after a villain with no parachute, there would be a sense of panic. Not with this girl. She has enough time as she goes over the rail to turn around and shoot a V for Victory sign at the tourists in case any of them happen to have their cameras focused on that spot at that particular time. After a while, you get used to this sort of thing and think nothing of it. That’s how the novel flows. You’re not going to find “literature” here. You’re going to read this (if you like this sort of thing) for the action, the imagination, the fun – all the reasons that some of us grew up hooked on pulp fiction, those old dusty books that I still have gently stacked on my bookshelves. Because the story is moving so fast and there is so much thrown at you at once, you almost miss the brutality of the violence. But it is there. And a great deal of it. In fact, that’s just about all there is. But even while things are falling apart or the end looks near, the main character is cool and calm throughout.

Younger readers would find an immediate hero in the same way that I thought I was “The Bionic Man,” except her covert operations are much more intense. When I say “younger,” I’m unfortunately not talking about preteens (who would have loved this book), but the language and violence are too intense for that age group, the legal drug taking and excessive alcohol use also not recommended. However, it is still a coming of age story that latter teens and sci-fi fans will enjoy.

This is the first book in the series. “Hammer of Angels,” the sequel, is already scheduled to be released at the first of next year. I”m looking forward to it.

From Amazon:

“In one of the most exciting debuts in years, G. T. Almasi has fused the intricate cat-and-mouse games of a John le Carré novel with the brash style of comic book superheroes to create a kick-ass alternate history that reimagines the Cold War as a clash of spies with biological, chemical, and technological enhancements.

Nineteen-year-old Alix Nico, a self-described “million-dollar murder machine,” is a rising star in ExOps, a covert-action agency that aggressively shields the United States from its three great enemies: the Soviet Union, Greater Germany, and the Nationalist Republic of China. Rather than risk another all-out war, the four superpowers have poured their resources into creating superspies known as Levels.

Alix is one of the hottest young American Levels. That’s no surprise: Her dad was America’s top Level before he was captured and killed eight years ago. But when an impulsive decision explodes—literally—in her face, Alix uncovers a conspiracy that pushes her to her limits and could upset the global balance of power forever.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Absent One” by Jussi Alder-Olsen / Friday, September 21, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is The Absent One by Jussi Alder-Olsen.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

“The Absent One” is my first introduction to Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen and only the second of his books to be published in English. He is a bestseller in Europe. His books hit the bestseller list and stay there. The two books in print in English are both “Department Q” novels, with “The Absent One” being the second in the series. I haven’t read the first book so I can’t compare this to the other, but not having read the first one didn’t harm the storytelling of this one in the least. This is easily a strong – very strong – standalone. This is a cold case story, around 25 years old. The story locks you in like quicksand. It’s hard to pull yourself away. There are concurrent stories playing out which gives the novel the feel of a thriller movie. This happens here, then something else happens there, all converging towards the ultimate climax. There is little mystery. You watch the chess game being played out. Several angles are taking place all at the same time: the police are trying to find the killers, the killers are trying to find the person who can betray them, and someone the killers betrayed is trying to get revenge by killing the killers. Some characters you just frankly want to die (and very painfully). Definitely a demographic span from the sadistically rich to the impoverished, homeless opportunists; these are ruthless people all around. The storytelling is tight. Personal conflicts and biases are introduced subtlety, but obviously definitely planned in every section. The imagery has been carefully chosen, setting the tone. For example, I love the slithering factor of one character where she doesn’t just change clothes (or disguises). She will “slough her skin” instead. From this, you sense her reptilian characteristics. These types of visual descriptions give the novel a texture that just telling us alone does not. However, they are not overdone. This is not a “literary” novel by any means (saying that as a compliment), but one well-paced and composed reminding me of a great recipe: just enough spice to make it pleasurable, but not overdone. Having read the book, I’m a new fan of this writer.

From Amazon:

“New York Times bestseller Jussi Adler-Olsen returns with the second book in his electrifying Department Q series.

In The Keeper of Lost Causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen introduced Detective Carl Mørck, a deeply flawed, brilliant detective newly assigned to run Department Q, the home of Copenhagen’s coldest cases. The result wasn’t what Mørck – or readers – expected, but by the opening of Adler-Olsen’s shocking, fast-paced follow-up, Mørck is satisfied with the notion of picking up long-cold leads. So he’s naturally intrigued when a closed case lands on his desk: A brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier, and one of the suspects – part of a group of privileged boarding-school students – confessed and was convicted.

But once Mørck reopens the files, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Looking into the supposedly solved case leads him to Kimmie, a woman living on the streets, stealing to survive. Kimmie has mastered evading the police, but now they aren’t the only ones looking for her. Because Kimmie has secrets that certain influential individuals would kill to keep buried . . . as well as one of her own that could turn everything on its head.

Every bit as pulse-pounding as the book that launched the series, The Absent One delivers further proof that Jussi Adler-Olsen is one of the world’s premier thriller writers.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“St. Petersburg Noir” Edited by Julia Goumen & Natalia Smirnova / Thursday, September 20, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is St. Petersburg Noir Edited by Julia Goumen.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

ST. PETERSBURG NOIR / Julia Goumen & Natalia Smirnova, editors

The short story collection, “St. Petersburg Noir,” was an absorbing trip for me. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you completely why without taking the fun away for you. A short story is a one-punch treatise so if someone gives away what the story is really about, especially if it falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, or thriller (as these short stories do), they’ve given away the goods. There’ll be no spoilers here. I will say this anthology of Russian short stories is a riveting collection. An insightful “tour” of St. Petersburg. And a spellbinding introduction to Russian literature and perspective. I like the idea of taking in the literary flavor of different areas and find this whole series of “noir” books from Akashic Books intriguing. These stories are grown indigenously and give such a regional flavor that I feel I’ve been to the places in this series and know them as I know my own. Some of these stories were so interesting, the voices so clear, that I looked up the authors hoping to find more of their books in English, but alas, I’ll have to wait until some translator takes mercy. Until then, we have “St. Petersburg Noir.”

From Amazon:

“The Russian soul is well suited to a style defined by dark, hard-edged moodiness in underground settings. With St. Petersburg, the tsar’s ‘Window on Europe,; we get European-style existential angst as well – not to mention the scary sociopolitical realities of the new Russia … For all sophisticated crime fiction readers.” – Library Journal

Fourteen uniformly strong stories in this outstanding noir anthology devoted to Russia’s second city, St. Petersburg. With its rich if often tragic history, deep literary traditions, inspiring landscape, famous architecture, and an aging population stuffed into overcrowded ‘kommunalkas’ amid a post-Soviet decline and soaring crime rates, the city provides an ideal backdrop for crime fiction …The diversity of these skillfully crafted tales testifies to the vigor of contemporary Russian writing.” – Publishers Weekly

Original stories by: Lena Eltang, Sergei Nosov, Alexander Kudriavstev, Andrei Kivinov, Julia Belomlinsky, Natalia Kurchatova, Kseniya Venglinskaya, Evgeniy Kogan, Anton Chizh, Konstantin Gavrilov, Vladimir Berezin, Andrei Rubanov, and others.

Natalia Smirnova was born in 1978 in Moscow, Russia. In 2006 she co-founded the Goumen & Smirnova Literary Agency with Julia Goumen, representing Russian authors worldwide. She and Goumen were also the co-editors of Moscow Noir.

Julia Goumen was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1977. With a PhD in English, she has been working in publishing since 2001, and since 2006 has run the Goumen & Smirnoval Literary Agency with Natalia Smirnova.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Riddle of the Sands” by Erskine Childers / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS / Erskine Childers (1903) – Google for info, notably http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riddle_of_the_Sands.

While in my “classics” state of mind before going back to some contemporary fare, “The Riddle of the Sands” by Erskine Childers (1903) is considered by many to be the first influential British spy novel. It was very popular prior to World War I and, when published, it was an instant bestseller. It is a thriller about two men who are on a “yachting holiday” who come upon a fleet of German warships assembling to invade England. The story might sound dull and possibly overused, but that’s only because there have been so many dull and overused stories based upon the concept. Go with the original. From a writer’s perspective, the reality of the book is heightened by the details. It’s a great study just to see how Childers makes what I would probably write as boring nautical terms so captivating. Interestingly, this is Childers one and only novel. A little history: how does fiction influence reality? Answer: A lot. We can all probably think of several examples. In this case, none other than Winston Churchill himself said that “The Riddle of the Sands” was the major reason that the British decided to establish three new naval bases (Rosyth, Scapa Flow, and Invergordon) in the North Sea to protect itself from possible invasion from Germany. When the war broke out, writer Childers, because of his military knowledge and imagination was given a naval seat in Parliament! What eventually happened to Childers, the English patriot who helped England prepare for and defend itself against Germany? He was executed by a firing squad in 1922 as a traitor by the British government for his part in the evolving belief that Ireland should be self-ruling. Interestingly enough, his son would later become the fourth President of Ireland. Before his execution (which hastily happened before his appeal had a chance to be ruled upon), Childers shook hands with each of the members of the firing squad. When it was time for them to pull the trigger, he remarked as his last words, “Take a step or two forward, lads. It will be easier that way.” Certainly a colorful character and a wonderful writer. “The Riddle of the Sands” is definitely something that any “invasion” thriller writer should be familiar with.

From Amazon:

“While on a sailing trip in the Baltic Sea, two young adventurers-turned-spies uncover a secret German plot to invade England. Written by Childers—who served in the Royal Navy during World War I—as a wake-up call to the British government to attend to its North Sea defenses, The Riddle of the Sandsaccomplished that task and has been considered a classic of espionage literature ever since, praised as much for its nautical action as for its suspenseful spycraft.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Thirty-Nine Steps” by John Buchan / Thursday, September 13, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan (1915).

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Today’s Killer Nashville Book of the Day is one of those classics all thriller writers should be familiar with because, whether you know it or not, you have been influenced by it. “The Thirty-Nine Steps” was first published in 1915 and has had several incarnations in film and television, including a film in 1935 by Alfred Hitchcock (which is considered the best film made from the book), while I consider a 1978 film by Don Sharp to be the closest to the book in terms of adaptation. Like many older classics, this book first appeared as a serial, in this case in Blackwood’s Magazine, which published stories that heavily influenced the later writings of writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, and the Bronte sisters. “The Thirty-Nine Steps” is the first book in a series of five to feature character Richard Hannay. The novel is set in 1914. The first World War is about to begin and there is a German plot to murder the Greek Premier and steal Britain’s plans for the war. Hannay learns this from a spy named Scudder right before Scudder is murdered. Hannay now knows the secret that can get him killed, but also a secret that could have a drastic impact on all of Europe (note the high stakes). Unfortunately, Hannay is a suspect in the murder of Scudder so Hannay cannot simply go to the authorities for help. He becomes a fugitive, running from both the good guys and the bad while at the same time trying to prevent the looming doom. And, thus, the chase begins. The importance of this book (other than that it is a good book regardless) is that this book marked one of the earliest uses of the “fleeing hero” and “high stakes” devices that have been used many times since. Interestingly enough, Buchan – who published many successful books – considered himself an amateur writer. He was a politician by trade (1st Baron Tweedsmuir) and remained so all his life until he died in office in 1940. Writing was something that he did on the side for fun. Since the initial publication of “The Thirty-Nine Steps,” it has been a major influence on spy novels either directly or indirectly ever since its initial release.

From Amazon:

“Considered by many to be one of the greatest adventure novels of all time, “The Thirty-Nine Steps” is John Buchan’s most successful work. Set during the First World War, it is the story of Richard Hannay, an ordinary gentleman who finds himself mixed up in a plot to undermine the British war effort. A fugitive from the law, Hannay must race against time to try and stop the plot. “The Thirty-Nine Steps” is an exciting adventure of mystery and espionage that will thrill and delight readers both young and old.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Dead Stars” by Bruce Wagner / Wednesday, September 12, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is Dead Stars by Bruce Wagner.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

This novel is all over the place, but it all comes down to this: Fame. More of it. Lack of it. Slipping of it. More superficial inner-character diatribes I have never read, yet sadly, the writing is truth. The characters started out as funny absurd to me because they were so real and ridiculous – laugh out loud funny – but by the end of the book, I was ready to strangle them all. The world of tweets and that people actually care about tweets has near ruined several generations. Unequivocally, these characters are screwed up. There is no redeeming social value. There are some touching paragraphs especially towards the end, but the pot roast is still the pot roast. This novel is a horror story, but as real as a 20/20 interview. Both the interior and relational conversations are as superficial and vacuous as the din of the mall food court, but brilliantly written. As I went deeper into this book I wondered what I had done wrong in my life: I felt I had lived poorly, died, and found myself in purgatory inside the mind of a “Teen Beat” reader. It made my head implode and as I read, I felt myself consciously blinking trying to process. When Kancer is cool because you spell it with a K (instead of a C) and can tweet it for ratings, you know there is something amiss in the shallow world of starlets and their followers. It was like reading a year’s supply of “Star,” “Us,” and “People” magazine all in one sitting. When I reached the last page, I wanted to get up and take a shower.

What’s in here? Let’s see… Superficial, jealous, lying parental relationships. Hollywood namedropping. Teens who don’t know how to write complete sentences become parents and are so excited that the news calls for a celebration of 4 or 5 Percs and “let’s f—” and see if we can poke the baby in the eyeball. A wannabe screenwriter living with his mother waiting for her to die. A 12-year-old Hollywood kid with more money that Chase trying to track his deserting mother down online. A famous actor dreaming of a comeback. The wife of a famous actor who is a famous prima donna because of the famous actor. The daughter of a well-respected famous actor who sees her career in porn as a future to the legitimate world. A pregnant teen famous for scandalous nude photos when she was a baby who leaves her has-been-famous-and-wants-to-be-famous-again-Sears-portraiture mother and runs off with her loser porn-addicted boyfriend where they both live with an “American Idol” contestant disqualified for making up a fake sob-story-past. These are joined by the pregnant teen’s brother who is famous for taking pictures of famous women getting out of cars without panties and selling them to websites. An obsession with “Glee.” Internet access to the absurd. Porn websites. The public’s obsession with celebrity skin and other inanities of fame. It sounds absurd, but it is a pop culture, tabloid, no-attention-span-immediate-gratification, angry harangue crash course. It’s the GIGO demographic: garbage in garbage out. Bruce Wagner has put a lot of work into this. And fun. There’s no way he could write some of the lines and not be sitting there laughing out loud. But I can feel the sweat.

It is satire at its finest, but the kind of satire that simply holds up the mirror to this population and let’s them hang themselves. There is nothing moralistic, preachy, high handed, or manipulative about how Wagner does this. The guy is just writing it as he sees it. Wagner hits the characters dead center. The stream-of-consciousness inside these characters’ minds is straight out of any supermarket tabloid. It is rapid-fire. The voices are right-on and distinct, which is a major accomplishment considering they are from the same morphic sub-culture. Wagner’s strength is in writing the stream-of-consciousness, MTV-five-second attention span associated so much with this crowd, and turning that prose into independent voices and full dysfunctional families. This is a long book, possibly too long. However, as I read it, the character interactions move along quickly. It is when we are inside a particular character’s head that things tend to circle around on itself. Therein is the conflict between economy and realism. The road taken produces a more pointed effect. Circle, circle, but never arrive. It reminds me when Homer Simpson had a thought. Wait. Wait. “Peanuts.”

I can’t see this novel playing well in middle-America, but it is important because of its characterizations and I will speak from experience, once you get this story and these characters in your mind, there is absolutely no way to get them out. No amount of Lysol will do it. It is reflective of our country’s obsession with fame to the point of absurdity. It will make you laugh. It will make you angry. It will make you want to pistol whip somebody.

Language and subject matter probably won’t appeal to many of the readers on this list. For those whose sensitivities are easily blasted, this is porn taking a look at porn. “Fifty Shades of Grey” might want to pass itself off as a pig in a suit, but this is what it is. There is no preamble. Right from the get-go we are f—ing.

What is wrong with this book is that everything is right. There are too many people in the world like this. He’s not making fun of Hollywood. He’s not making fun of the tabloid newsstand. No, he’s making fun of what America has become. Facebook, text, and tweet that, twit. It’s partly the vanity and vacuousness of Beverly Hills, but even more so, it is a mirror image of the culture that worships them.

How close to reality is it? My son was selling magazines this week for his school. There was a 1 page offering for science and history. They’ve discontinued the literature section except for certain literary magazines which are nothing more than hi-brow navel-gazing. There were several pages for sports (essentially J-Lo in the body of PacMan Jones). And the rest of the 40-50 page catalog was basically glamour and star-chasing with cleavage and “secret tips” galore. This is for an elementary magazine sale fundraiser. But we all know that if my son went door-to-door with a one-sheet of intellectual fare, he would sell nothing. The point of Wagner’s novel is well-made and, unfortunately for those who seek a more erudite world, you’re not helping. No matter what we like to think of as traditional values, the question comes down to this: Will doing a sex tape or posing nude make us famous when we have no other talent or redeeming value to offer? And if we are not doing the tape or posing, will we be enablers by looking or talking about it to our friends? Do we talk about the personal lives of stars as though we know them? Therein is the rub of this book because in this culture, there really is only one answer.

From Amazon:

“Dead Stars is Bruce Wagner’s (I’m Losing You) most lavish and remarkable translation yet of the national zeitgeist: post-privacy porn culture, a Kardashianworld of rapid-cycling, disposable narrative where reality-show triumph is the new American narcotic.

At age thirteen, Telma is famous as the world’s youngest breast cancer survivor until threatened with obscurity by a four-year-old Canadian who’s just undergone a mastectomy … Reeyonna believes that auditioning for pregnant-teen porn online will help fulfill her dream of befriending Jennifer Lawrence and Kanye West … Biggie, the neurologically impaired adolescent son of a billionaire, spends his days Google Map-searching his mother-who abandoned home and family for a new love … Jacquie, a photographer once celebrated for taking arty nudes of her young daughter, is broke and working at Sears Family Portrait Boutique … Tom-Tom, a singer/drug dealer thrown off the third season of “American Idol” for concocting a hard-luck story, is hell-bent on creating her own TV series in the Hollywood Hills, peopled by other reality-show losers … Jerzy, her sometime lover, is a speed-freak paparazzo who “specializes” in capturing images of dying movie and television stars … And Oscar-winning Michael Douglas searches for meaning in his time of remission. While his wife, Catherine, guest-stars on “Glee”, the actor plans a bold, artistic, go-for-broke move: to star in and direct a remake of Bob Fosse’s “All That Jazz”…

There is nothing quite like a Bruce Wagner novel. His prose is captivating and exuberant, and surprises with profound truths on spirituality, human nature, and redemption. Dead Stars moves forward with the inexorable force of a tsunami, sweeping everyone in its fateful path. With its mix of imaginary and real-life characters, it is certain to be the most challenging, knowing, and controversial book of the year.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Yellow Birds” by Kevin Powers / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

This is a book that will change the way you look at war and what an appropriate book to release on 9/11. It is the fictional story of Private John Bartle who enlisted in the U.S. Army with the patriotic goal of fighting the war in Iraq. It is a novel written from experience by Iraq veteran Kevin Powers. When I opened the book, I did not know exactly what to expect. A traditional U.S. Army marching song immediately set the tone for “The Yellow Birds.” I can’t repeat the words here, but for those who have never served in the military suffice it to say it would shock your mother and, in the case of this novel, the words are prophetic as the novel unfolds in two concurrent storylines telling us what happened to one character and what another character did that was so bad. It is a beautifully written book and the comparison between home (as the main character knew it before the war), the war itself, and the main character’s view of home after the war is pure poetry. It encompasses a surreality of war that those of us who have never been can never know. Powerful. Emotional. Real. Disturbing. Phrases such as “Murph’s always going to be eighteen, and he’s always going to be dead” and “We were grooms before a marriage” stick in your head once you see the context. I felt the fear and confusion in the prose as 18-year-old idealistic kids dressed as U.S. soldiers were expected to handle atrocities with no preparation led by other kids while the commanders stayed behind in their control centers talking to the press about patriotism. There is a parental toll and the concerned requests of a parent (“Promise that you’ll bring him home to me”) becomes a death sentence. Having lived through the Vietnam War before this current incarnation, I would have to agree that “the world makes liars of us all,” that “there is a sharp distinction between what we remembered, what was told, and what was true.” Each line is poetry, the passion of life, the inevitability of death. As the kid soldiers are losing their minds, I could not help but grow angry at the posturing and attitude of those safely behind the lines of fire, the brass shows for the press, and the duplicitousness hidden behind the ruse of nationalism. Having had family members and close friends who have fought and served, I recognized those returning home, coming back to civilian life, constantly grabbing for the rifle between their legs that was no longer there, the isolation of coming home, the guilt of being alive. At times, the novel became unpleasant and I wanted to stop reading and spare myself, yet I could not, as my mind filled with the mental picture of the barbaric animals we were sent to fight and the impulsive, lost animals we created in our own jingoistic zeal. “I could not tell what was true and what I had invented but I wanted it to stop,” the main character says. I could not agree more. It is not about doing what is honorable or right, for even the best intentions in this novel do not go unpunished. I’ve heard it claimed that the wars in my lifetime have been about freedom and I know there are past wars that have, but I challenge anyone to read this book and tell me where freedom fits into this narrative. For those writers who wish to write honestly about war, this is the first book in some time that gives an honest portrayal. For those political loyalists, warhawks, and La-Z-Boy commanders ardent on sending other people’s kids off to war, this should be required reading. Like “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “The Red Badge of Courage” before it, I predict a long-life for this book for it is one that is not easily forgotten.

From Amazon:

“A novel written by a veteran of the war in Iraq, The Yellow Birds is the harrowing story of two young soldiers trying to stay alive.

“The war tried to kill us in the spring.” So begins this powerful account of friendship and loss. In Al Tafar, Iraq, twenty-one-year old Private Bartle and eighteen-year-old Private Murphy cling to life as their platoon launches a bloody battle for the city. Bound together since basic training when Bartle makes a promise to bring Murphy safely home, the two have been dropped into a war neither is prepared for.

In the endless days that follow, the two young soldiers do everything to protect each other from the forces that press in on every side: the insurgents, physical fatigue, and the mental stress that comes from constant danger. As reality begins to blur into a hazy nightmare, Murphy becomes increasingly unmoored from the world around him and Bartle takes actions he could never have imagined.

With profound emotional insight, especially into the effects of a hidden war on mothers and families at home, The Yellow Birds is a groundbreaking novel that is destined to become a classic.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“What You Wish For” by Janet Dawson / Monday, September 10, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is “What You Wish For” by Janet Dawson.

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Lindsey Page’s world is about to change: her estranged daughter comes home, her friends are not what she thought they were, and a Salvadorian woman she meets is about to wreck her world.

I usually speed-read novels, but this is one that I had to take slowly. Not because it was hard to read, but because this is a novel that required me to think. This is a novel you want to savor as much for the context of the story, as for the story itself.

It’s plot driven. Things happen. But underneath it all is an undercurrent of themes and motifs. The story provides a powerful contrast between the affluence of San Francisco and the jungles of El Salvador, from which the conflict emerges.

The spine of the story is based on the atrocious 1981 massacre that took place in El Mozote, El Salvador (one of the defining black eyes of the Reagan administration and the failing credibility of American journalism). El Mozote is masked in “What You Wish For” as a fictional town, but the parallel is clearly there. Men are murdered. Women and children are raped and murdered. The most adorable children are kidnapped and sold. Happy Americans thinking they are doing good adopt the children. The U.S. political system covers up the atrocity. Conservative newspapers protect their treasured politicians. Certain American businesses thrive. More families are murdered. The cycle repeats. All, it seems, because we like to drink coffee. And then one day, a Salvadorian refugee in the U.S. sees a boy who looks like her kidnapped son…

The entire book is about conflict: them and us, differing politics, San Francisco then and now, the haves and the have-nots, justice and injustice, giving as a parent versus holding back, on and on. Told through multiple flashbacks, the story spans from 1970s to present and covers many a hotbed subject.

If you like your stories delicate with a touch of cream and sugar, this one is not for you. “What You Wish For” is as black and sometimes bitter as it can get.

From the publisher:

“History professor Lindsey Page has a quiet, well-ordered life, but it’s about to get complicated. Her daughter, with whom she has a troubled relationship, shows up on her doorstep. The immigrant woman Lindsey is interviewing for a book asks her for help in reclaiming the son taken from her during a massacre in her Salvadoran village. And her closest friends, the three women Lindsey has known since their college days in Berkeley where they witnessed the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, are hiding secrets that will forever change those friendships. Lindsey must grapple with questions of family identity, nature vs. nurture, truth in wartime, the ethics of power for latter-day robber barons in the US and Central America, and the law of unforeseen consequences. Moving back and forth from the 1970s to the present, from the San Francisco Bay Area to El Salvador this sprawling saga follows Lindsey, her friends, and family through tumultuous political, social, and cultural changes and choices.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose” by Susan Wittig Albert / Friday, September 7, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

"The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose" by Susan Wittig Albert

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Susan Wittig Albert is a long-time writer of historicals from various time periods. Her latest series,“The Darling Dahlias” is set in the South (Alabama) in the 1930s during the Great Depression with“Confederate Rose” being third in the series. There are two puzzles to be solved (along with deciphering the odd behavior of several residents of the town). The first puzzle is the accusation of theft against one of the members of the Dahlia Garden Club. The second is the unraveling of a secret code found sewn inside an heirloom pillow. The antics of the townsfolk are never-ending and provide constant activity, action, and amusement. I love the wistful references to products and companies long gone (or still standing) that I personally remember from conversations of people around my childhood or experienced myself (having eaten many bowls of Post Toasties with my own grandmother listening to whatever was on her old Philco radio, for example). Albert’s attention to historical detail bring the mystery to life with a believable plot along and more-than-plausible Southern gentle-ladies (being from the South, I recognize them as some of my aunts and cousins). It is fast-paced and a delightful, nostalgic novel that aptly reproduces life in 1930s Depression-era Alabama. If “cozy” is your genre, then this one should be at the top of your list to read.

From the publisher:

“National bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert returns to the small town of Darling, Alabama, in the 1930s – and the Darling Dahlias, the ladies of a garden club who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty solving mysteries…

Just in time for the Confederate Day celebration, the Darling Dahlias are ready to plant Confederate roses along the fence of the town cemetery. Of course, Miss Dorothy Rogers, club member and town librarian, would be quick to point out the plant is in fact a hibiscus.

The Confederate rose is not the only thing that is not what it first appears to be in this small Southern town. Earle Scroggins, the county treasurer, has got the sheriff thinking that Scroggins’ employee Verna Tidwell (also the Darling Dahlias’ trusted treasurer) is behind a missing $15,000. But Darling Dahlias president Liz Lacy is determined to prove Verna is not a thief.

Meanwhile Miss Rogers has discovered her own mystery – what appears to be a secret code embroidered under the cover of a pillow, the only possession she has from her grandmother. She enlists the help of a local newspaperman, who begins to suspect the family heirloom may have larger significance.

With missing money, secret codes, and the very strange behavior of one resident, Darling, Alabama, on the eve of Confederate Day, is anything but a sleepy little town…

Includes Southern-Style Depression-Era Recipes”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Death in Breslau” by Marek Krajewski / Thursday, September 6, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Why Clay Stafford chose this book: 

Author Marek Krajewski’s set of four crime novels featuring Counsellor Eberhard Mock have been translated into 14 languages. To my knowledge, this first book in the series is the first release of any in the U.S. proper.

In the novel, the city of Breslau (which later became Wroc’law after WWII) is swarming with Gestapo in 1933 and the Nazis are sliding their fingers into all things law enforcement, political, and Jewish. The story plays forth and back between this time and around 1945. The novel first caught my attention because it opens in Dresden, Germany. Having just produced and directed a documentary inclusive of WWII and the Jewish victimization that evolved in Dresden specifically (www.oneofthemiracles.com), I know the book represents the time period more than accurately, though at times emblematically, which of course good literature always does. The story is as dark as it can get. If it were a movie, it would be in black-and-white or, at the very least, muted. Color would do it injustice.

Silesia is an area seeped in antiquity going back to historical developments as early as the fourth century BC when the Celts settled into the area and then Germanic tribes arrived in the first century. Throughout history, It has been an ethnic boiler pot, constantly evolving. Here the reader can watch the continued evolution of the region that took place in the mid twentieth century with the infiltration of the German Nazis as well as follow a murderer’s motive going back even farther into history.

The writing style is direct and clipped, reminding me a bit of Hemingway writing in a different genre.

There is a rape and murder, scorpions and spies, lots of scorpions and spies. There are surprises such as the solving of the case and then the realization that the case is not solved and a trail of clues leading back through time as only a European narrative has the ability to do.

The novel has a hedonistic feel throughout reflecting the time period. The characters are making do with occupational / wartime self-preservation and pleasures amidst a world they cannot control. From beginning to end, the book feels sinister and, because the characters do not know what is ahead, self-indulgent (not from the author, but from the characters). It is an excellent study of symbolism and allegory as author Krajewski suffuses characters and locations with traits symptomatic as well as literal.

In the midst of the darkness, there were some moments that made me laugh aloud, sometimes inappropriately with the same off-beat sense of humor embedded in the main character Counsellor Eberhard Mock.

Danusia Stok did a great job translating the work. Kudos to her.

On a side note, but adding to the ambiance (book and wine collectors will follow me here), the book jacket and the physical pages have a different texture to them, which you won’t get in a Kindle version. Each touch of my finger turning pages emphasized the layers of the novel. The cover of the book is black and feels like velvet, the pages course. I don’t know enough about the printing process to know what Melville International Crime did to achieve this end, but I loved it.

If you like your mysteries challenging and possibly high-brow, I recommend the book. It’s not typical American fare and certainly something to stretch the literary boxes we sometimes place ourselves within in both literature and genre fiction.

From the publisher:

“Introducing one of the most stylish and moody historic detective series ever: The Inspector Eberhard Mock Quartet

Occupied Breslau, 1933: Two young women are found murdered on a train, scorpions writhing on their bodies, an indecipherable note in an apparently oriental language nearby …Police Inspector Eberhard Mock’s weekly assignation with two ladies of the night is interrupted as he is called to investigate.

But uncovering the truth is no straightforward matter in Breslau. The city is in the grip of the Gestapo, and has become a place where spies are everywhere, corrupt ministers torture confessions from Jewish merchants, and Freemasons guard their secrets with blackmail and violence.

And as Mock and his young assistant Herbert Anwaldt plunge into the city’s squalid underbelly the case takes on a dark twist of the occult when the mysterious note seems to indicate a ritual killing with roots in the Crusades …”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Garment of Shadows” by Laurie R. King / Wednesday, September 5, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

This is not your traditional Sherlock Holmes. In the latest novel featuring Mary Russell and her husband, the famous Mr. Holmes, we find ourselves in the midst of an impending war in historical Morocco between Spain, France, and several interior tribal clans and warlords. I started reading and had to go downstairs for a moment and get a cup of coffee (sorry, not Arabic, all I had was South American, but bitter of course with no sugar) and then settled in for an all night reading fest. This was my first time reading Laurie R. King’s work and I was intrigued to see Holmes as a settled man. The relationship between his wife and him is subtle, yet longing and solid. I loved the nuances of their relationship. It’s an erudite book, as one would expect featuring Holmes, and very well-researched. The details are tremendous. The story centers around a kidnapping, which Russell and her husband must solve and, of course, their sleuthing puts them in danger. There is much parallel in this book to what is going on in the world today and, if you are a follower of history, you’ll see it immediately: Tribal factions tearing at the Middle East’s seams, outside influence confusing priorities with their own self-interest, religious leaders vying against political foes, a subterfuge smokescreen of God (or Allah) and country when the real focus is behind-the-scenes exploitation of natural resources. It’s history repeating itself. “How often the fate of nations comes down to personalities,” the book states. “A nugget of truth often sleeps, deep in a tangled web of lies.” I love a book that makes me think while at the same time having fun and caring about the characters. This book does just that and for those who love historical fiction, it doesn’t get any better.

From the publisher:

“Laurie R. King’s New York Times bestselling novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, comprise one of today’s most acclaimed mystery series. Now, in their newest and most thrilling adventure, the couple is separated by a shocking circumstance in a perilous part of the world, each racing against time to prevent an explosive catastrophe that could clothe them both in shrouds.

In a strange room in Morocco, Mary Russell is trying to solve a pressing mystery: Who am I? She has awakened with shadows in her mind, blood on her hands, and soldiers pounding on the door. Out in the hivelike streets, she discovers herself strangely adept in the skills of the underworld, escaping through alleys and rooftops, picking pockets and locks. She is clothed like a man, and armed only with her wits and a scrap of paper containing a mysterious Arabic phrase. Overhead, warplanes pass ominously north.

Meanwhile, Holmes is pulled by two old friends and a distant relation into the growing war between France, Spain, and the Rif Revolt led by Emir Abd el-Krim – who may be a Robin Hood or a power mad tribesman. The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez, and Holmes badly wants the wisdom and courage of his wife, whom he’s learned, to his horror, has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her, and Russell searches for herself, each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before it’s too late for them, for Africa, and for the peace of Europe.

With the dazzling mix of period detail and contemporary pace that is her hallmark, Laurie R. King continues the stunningly suspenseful series that Lee Child called the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.“

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Three-Day Affair” by Michael Kardos / Tuesday, September 4, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

“The Three-Day Affair” by Michael Kardos

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Debut author Michael Kardos should be having a grand day today. Not only does he have a new book release today, but the book is riveting and I have no doubt he and his publisher both know it. No question, they have a good idea where this book is going. From the very first page, Kardos had me. The writing is so natural that I read the first page of the preface three times trying to determine if this was an author forward or part of the book. Rarely do you read such naturalistic prose. As the book continues, it doesn’t let up. Suspenseful from the start and told through the point-of-view of a sympathetic everyday guy who finds himself in a situation he could not have foreseen, this thriller will kidnap you all the way to the bitter end. I’m not disclosing here what the book is about, you can read that in the blurbs. What I would like to recommend is that you buy this book and read it. Set aside a time where you won’t be disturbed. You will not be able to put it down.

From Amazon:

“The first debut novel from the newly relaunched Mysterious Press introduces a phenomenal new voice in the realm of crime fiction.

Will, Jeffrey, and Nolan are lifelong friends. Each have gone their separate ways as adults, living their own lives while forging their own careers. They have no reason to believe anything extraordinary will befall them. Until one shocking moment changes everything…

Will is a part-time drummer who spends the rest of his time in recording studios. He has lived a sheltered existence. Then one night Jeffrey attempts to rob a convenience store, drags a young woman into Will’s car, and shouts a single word: “Drive!” Shaken and confused, Will obeys.

Suddenly three ordinary men find themselves completely out of their element, holding a young girl hostage without the slightest idea of what to do next. They are already guilty of kidnapping and robbery; it is only a matter of time before they find out just what else they’re capable of. For these four people, three days will decide their fate – between freedom and prison, innocence and guilt…and life and death. In the tradition of Scott Smith’s classic A Simple Plan, THE THREE-DAY AFFAIR marks the emergence of a truly talented new crime writer.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Hocus” by Jan Burke / Friday, August 31, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

“Hocus” by Jan Burke

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Here’s a little dip into the past: In Jan Burke’s 2003 “Hocus,” reporter Irene Kelly’s husband (Det. Frank Harriman) has been kidnapped and she has only 3 days to get him back. What does she have to do? Save her husband by solving another crime. It’s fast-paced, believable, good manipulation of past and present, and a nice introduction to an author I think you’ll like if you are not already familiar. To my knowledge, available only in paperback.

From Amazon:

“For reporter Irene Kelly it’s a terrifying investigation — because it’s so personal. Her husband, Detective Frank Harriman, has been kidnapped by terrorists who call themselves Hocus — deadly manipulators who give Irene three days to meet their demands before killing their hostage. But Irene’s biggest shock is yet to come — as she uncovers her husband’s history, and learns of a horrific crime committed a decade earlier. As seconds slip away, Irene willingly steps into a trap set by two madmen with a score to settle. And when she does, someone is going to pay for the sins of the past.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“A Cup Full of Midnight” by Jaden Terrell / Friday, August 24, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Today’s featured book is A Cup Full of Midnight by Jaden Terrell.

Buy From Amazon and Support Killer Nashville

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

Beth Terrell, executive director for Killer Nashville, knows first-hand I’m blatantly anti-nepotistic. In fact, I’m harder on family and friends than I am on anybody. So when I choose a book of the day by Jaden Terrell (Beth’s pseudonym), she knows it means something. You should, as well. Beth turns a story like no other. Her latest book, “A Cup Full of Midnight” is no exception. In this second installment of PI Jared McKean, the tough detective takes on the world of the goth. It’s a fascinating, well-researched journey and one I know you’re not going to want to miss.

From Amazon:

“At thirty-six, private detective Jared McKean is coming to terms with his unjust dismissal from the Nashville Murder Squad and an unwanted divorce from a woman he still loves. Jared is a natural horseman and horse rescuer whose son has Down Syndrome, whose best friend is dying of AIDS, and whose teenage nephew, Josh, has fallen under the influence of a dangerous fringe of the Goth subculture. When the fringe group’s leader – a mind-manipulating sociopath who consideres himself a vampire – is found butchered and posed across a pentagram, Josh is the number one suspect. Jared will need all his skills as a private investigator and former homicide detective to match wits with the most terrifying killer he has ever seen. When he learns that Josh is next on the killer’s list, Jared will risk his reputation, his family, and his life in a desperate attempt to save the boy he loves like a son.

“If there’s anything Terrell can’t do, you wouldn’t know it from reading A Cup Full of Midnight. This is a riveting, deeply felt novel with a terrific mystery at its core.” – Timothy Hallinan, author of the critically acclaimed Poke Rafferty Bangkok thrillers.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“The Headmaster’s Wager” by Vincent Lam / Wednesday, August 22, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

“Headmaster’s Wager” by Vincent Lam

Why I chose this book:

People aren’t who they appear to be. That’s the consensus of this debut novel by Canadian author (and full-time physician) Vincent Lam whose interwoven short-story collection “Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures” first got my attention back in 2007 [hint: read it, too]). But, back to this book: The main character in “The Headmaster’s Wager,” Percival Chen, is chocked-full of foibles. You’ll not like him, then you will. But what you will find is a man trying to make do with what he has to work with in his war-torn Saigon of the 1960s. In a world such as ours, with countries lost in war, it’s beneficial to me to be reminded of the individuals locked in lands of turmoil. Sometimes, like the character in this novel, one just has to do what it takes. I chose this book, not because it is a mystery or thriller, but because it’s just good. It’s one of those books you read and walk away from, carrying it with you and thinking about it. Chen’s story of love, ultimate betrayal, and personal sacrifice is unforgettable. I love Chen’s pursuit of something that matters, when what he is really trying to do is fill the hollowness that his choices in life (and life itself, to be fair) have dealt him. 2007 to 2012 is a long time between books. I’m looking forward to when Lam gives up his day job in the ER to chase his novel career full time. :) Vincent Lam is definitely an author to watch.

From Amazon:

“A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one man’s loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage. Percival Chen is the headmaster of the most respected English academy in 1960s Saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a forever-changing list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. Fiercely proud of his Chinese heritage, he is quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country, though he also harbors a weakness for gambling haunts and the women who frequent them. He devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls around him, but when his only son gets in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities, Percival faces the limits of his connections and wealth and is forced to send him away. In the loneliness that follows, Percival finds solace in Jacqueline, a beautiful woman of mixed French and Vietnamese heritage whom he is able to confide in. But Percival’s new-found happiness is precarious, and as the complexities of war encroach further into his world, he must confront the tragedy of all he has refused to see. Graced with intriguingly flawed but wonderfully human characters moving through a richly drawn historical landscape, The Headmaster’s Wager is an unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice.”

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

“Stealing from the Dead” by A.J. Zerries / Tuesday, August 21, 2012 / Reviewed by Clay Stafford

Why Clay Stafford chose this book:

An old woman dies in her New York apartment. The apartment reveals little – in fact – too little. Detective Greta Strasser can’t leave it alone until she discovers a conspiracy that spans New York to Los Angeles on to Germany, Switzerland, and the Middle East. What started with the apparent natural death of an old woman in a New York apartment becomes a terrorist conspiracy and an attempt to steal millions of dollars from German Holocaust survivors. In a twist, to catch the killer, the detective is forced to impersonate the assassin she is attempting to apprehend. For the person who wakes up in the morning wondering about the meaning of his/her life, Zerries’ Strasser becomes an identifiable character. The story is a fast-moving police procedural with plenty of surprises, based upon a real-life believable scenario. A little trivia: Al and Jean Zerries (husband and wife) tag team together to form A. J. Zerries.

From Amazon:

“In Stealing from the Dead, detective Greta Strasser uncovers a brutal plot to steal millions from Holocaust survivors and fuel a vast terrorist conspiracy. Between 1933 and 1945, thousands of Jewish people deposited their money in Swiss bank accounts, hoping that they or their family might survive the Holocaust. However, when the survivors returned to reclaim their money, the banks claimed that the accounts never existed. Now, decades later, NYPD detective Greta Strasser, investigating the death of an elderly Jewish woman, stumbles onto a conspiracy that stretches from New York and Los Angeles to Germany, from Switzerland to the Middle East. Greta, recruited by a special task force, follows a trail of ruthless murders. The conspirators have hired an assassin to kill the people on the Claims Resolution Tribunal list. Greta, hell-bent on stopping the senseless deaths and enormous theft of funds, goes undercover to prevent the next murder, even though it means impersonating the assassin she hunts. With all the tension and excitement that fueled The Lost Van Gogh, A. J. Zerries has written another novel of enormous excitement and constantly building suspense.”

“A first-rate story about a NYPD cop who won’t quit no matter what obstacles are put in her way, or who puts them there. First-rate.” – David Hagberg, New York Times bestselling author of Abyss

If you want to make your own comments on this selection, we would love to hear from you. Join ourFacebook Killer Nashville group page or our blog and join in the discussion.

Remember that these books are listed at a discount through Amazon. You also don’t have to purchase the version that is featured here. Many of these books are available in multiple formats: e–book, hardcover, softcover, and audio. Enjoy!

– Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville