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To Love and Die in Dallas by Mary Elizabeth Goldman

Publisher: Forge Books  ISBN-10: 0765309343

Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Readre

Back in the turbulent 60s a group of Dallas teens shared friendship and romance, loyalty and betrayal, and more than one deadly secret that would follow them into the new millennium.  And so when one of the group members, now the wife of a wealthy U.S. senator, is found brutally murdered, it's difficult to determine if her death had to do with the past, or was rather the result of her husband's temper once more getting out of hand.  But when another member of the group is killed, and a journal exposing some nasty secrets is discovered, the startling truth behind what was and what is will at last be revealed, forever changing those who remain.

At times reading like a script from the old TV show Dallas, this uneven tale of Dallas in the 60s and the upper echelon of Dallas today, while interesting enough, all too often seems to have a bit too much going on and one too many unpleasant characters to really make it an enjoyable read throughout.  That being said, there are some great red herrings, some wild, unexpected turns, and one bang up of an ending that might make it worth it for those who like their stories quick, scandalous, and shocking.

The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Publishers:  Little, Brown,  ISBN: 0316117366 

Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan, New Mystery Reader

I think it’s high time that I stop reading James Patterson. He is causing a real headache. 

Yup, you heard me right- the reason for my headache is James Patterson. He writes such page turning, captivating books such that we are glued to the pages. The chapters are short and that with each chapter I began to say (lie) to myself -“one more chapter and then I shall stop.” The result is that THE QUICKIE kept me awake till about 2:30 in the morning and I had to get up for work at morning 6:30 am.  And with hardly four hours sleep, I got a severe, burning headache. And YOU Mr. James Patterson are responsible for this. And so I have a request, from here on out don’t write anymore spine-chilling, suspense works. Make the books as dull as possible. I don’t want to lose anymore sleep.

This time round the author successfully blends two age old mystery plot formulae- ‘the scorned woman in seek of revenge’ (Hell hath less fury than a woman scorned) and the plot of ‘being in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ But in the hands of Patterson and Ledwidge, the plot line gets a dose of freshness, a unique treatment and narrative style such that we are glued to the pages. Lauren Stillwill has the perfect life, but things suddenly change when she spots her husband in some ‘compromising circumstances’, and from that day on, Stillwill is on the warpath to seek revenge.   But her idea to level the score turns deadly when she witnesses a horrible and evil crime, an event that leads her to realize something new, more than the gore, dread, and horrific-ness associated with murder- there is also an element of fun.

What follows is Patterson at his best, and mark my words- this is a thriller which every Patterson fan has been waiting for since…..well last months’ 6^th TARGET.

New England White by Stephen L. Carter

Publisher: Knopf  ISBN-10: 0375413626

Reviewed by Dana King, New Mystery Reader

New England White is Stephen L. Carter’s second novel, following by four years his successful The Emperor of Ocean Park. It’s a compelling read, as Carter unveils a multi-layered plot that constantly keeps the reader wondering where he’s going. It’s also a thought-provoking look inside America’s black upper class, and of some of the conflicts that arise between old black money, and new.

Lemaster Carlyle is a Barbadian immigrant who worked his way up from nothing to become president of a fictional Ivy League college in an unnamed New England state that waddles like Connecticut and quacks like Connecticut. (Carter, a law professor at Yale, is an adherent to the Ed McBain School of Fictional Locations.) His wife, Julia, is the assistant dean of the Divinity School, and can trace her family wealth back at least to the nineteenth century. Lemaster misses a turn on a snowy road one evening and discovers the body of Kellen Zant, an economics professor, seducer of Wilt Chamberlain proportions, and all-around troublemaker.

A brutal murder in a quiet college town is news enough. Law enforcement’s willingness to write it off as a robbery gone bad is too much for the Director of Campus Safety, Bruce Vallely, to swallow. Bruce begins his own investigation, which involves him spending increasing time with Julia Carlyle, who was Zant’s lover long before she met Lemaster.

This is Julia’s book, but her involvement in discovering the truth about Zant’s murder is no more interesting than watching her evolution from elitist snob into someone who is at least walking the walk when it comes to helping those less fortunate. Early in the book, her most sympathetic quality is that she’s not Lemaster, who is a soulless paragons of rectitude, leaving even those closest to him unsure whether an act of kindness springs from his heart, or from his sense of duty.

Zant suspected something might happen to him, so he left clues that Julia, and Julia alone, would be able to decipher in order to complete his current project, the unraveling of a thirty-year murder coverup that could ruin a president, or a senator running for president. Or not. All that Zant knew for sure was that the mystery surrounded the two college roommates, not that they were directly involved. The name of a third roommate raises the personal stakes for Julia: Lemaster Carlyle.

The premise is fascinating, the characters are detailed (almost too much so), and the writing is expert. There are problems, the most prominent of which has been a fly in the ointment of American mystery fiction since The DaVinci Code. The clues Zant left behind are so obscure that lucidity bordering on clairvoyance is required for Julia to find them. Divining each clue’s meaning is another Chinese puzzle. Fortunately, she’s up to every challenge. Good thing, too, because one slip would break the string and end any hope of solving the mystery.

There are other issues. Once robbery replaces premeditation as the cause of Zant’s murder, the official investigation appears to stop. Robbery or not, the murder of a prominent black economist in a quiet college town would provoke media attention. Any cover-up would have Al Sharpton camping out on the steps of City Hall. Yet the only perceived involvement of law enforcement is for Vallely’s old partner to keep warning him off.

There is a constant undercurrent of tension in how Julia’s family and social club friends view Lemaster, and how Julia and Lemaster view anyone not at the same level of blackness as themselves. Whites are inherently mistrusted, as few, if any, can have a word or deed not tinged by prejudice. Even those who may not be overtly prejudiced feel compelled to mention they have nothing against minorities, which is, of course, code meaning they do. Running to a suburban house just ahead of a killer, Julia frantically awakens a white female homeowner, who refuses to open the door, peeking through the curtain to ensure the “darksome intruder” has left. Julia then thinks of throwing rocks through a window or two, in the hopes someone will summon the police with complaints of a “marauding Negro.”

New England White will make anyone think, and it should make everyone uncomfortable. Carter doesn’t play favorites. The upper strata of black society is seen as no less snobbish and condescending than their white counterparts. The description of the tension between the townies and those affiliated with the university is dead on, and his characters are true to their motivations. It is those motivations that are troubling. If Carter’s perception of the deep-rooted mistrust between the races is accurate, there’s not much to hope for along the lines of reconciliation any time soon.

Carter’s book is not for everyone. Those who like their mysteries without social overtones inextricably tied up in it will find it slow going. Carter’s digressions into backstory sometimes place a character’s response a page removed from the question. The racial ruminations are sometimes heavy-handed. New England White may be better served as a discussion book, not as much for itself, but as a gateway into the racial and political questions it raises.

New England White as Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan

The Literary Elite often spurn thrillers and mysteries, in particular legal thrillers. True, the legal thriller has taken a leap in contemporary mystery writing and every third lawyer is writing a ‘bestselling legal thriller’ work. It is true that the market is also filled with legal thrillers. But once in a while, although rarely, comes a work that transcends the genre of mystery and thriller writing- and classifies itself into the realm of hardcore literature- one that would satisfy both the elite literati and the ordinary connoisseur of good mysteries. New England White is one such book.

NEW ENGLAND WHITE is the story of Lemaster and Julia Carlyle, two renowned and scholarly academicians in a leading university in America- Lemaster is the President of the University while Julia is a deputy dean. Incidentally, if you raking your to find where you have heard about these characters before- it is in the author’s previous bestseller, the 2002 novel, THE EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK (minor roles). And if you think the unnamed University featured in NEW ENGLAND WHITE reminds you of Yale or Harvard, you are not the only one- Prof. Carter, the author, is a leading professor of law at Yale Law School.

The Carlyle couple belongs to the “black upper middle class” of America. To the outsider, they are a well knit family- with 2 daughters. Lemaster is good friends with the President of United States and a venerated person both in and outside the campus. But beneath the façade lies a dark story. And when a fellow academician and ex-lover of Julia, Kellen Zant is found murdered, the veneer breaks. Julia decides to conduct her own investigation- and dons the role of a Miss Marple, - albeit a more young, but less spunky Miss Marple. Julia’s investigation opens a whole new can of worms. It seems that Zant’s murder is linked to another murder which took place about 30 years back- a 17 year old girl named Gina, a daughter of an academician was also found murdered, and although the accused was caught and killed while trying to flee, new facts begin to throw new light on the closed murder case. It seems that Zant had some knowledge regarding the murder, and it seems that Zant was killed for you-know-what.

With clean deftness, and with a powerful narrative drive, the author takes us through this complex murder mystery culminating in a grand finish. The highlight of the work is of course the subtle plot of the difficulties and adjustments an “upper middle class black” has to face in a predominantly white society- and therein lays the social message the author tries to drive home. Julia it seems is the true heroine of the work. 

A great book- and I just have one complaint- 5 years gap is too much a long time between two novels. And Mr. Carter if you reading this, I look forward to your next novel in 2009…yup 2009.

The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham

Publisher: Doubleday  ISBN-10: 0385517904

Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader

It's been 8 long years since Ali Barba, a Sikh detective in London, has spoken with her  once best friend Cate, their friendship having ended on a bitter note after an unforgivable betrayal by Ali.  But now Cate has contacted Ali, begging her to show up at a class reunion, her request sounding ominous and urgent.  But the renewal of their friendship is short-lived, when Cate, now pregnant, and her husband are struck down by a car in what appears to be an accident.  And when it's discovered that Cate's pregnancy was faked, it's the memory of her last haunting plea for help concerning a dangerous threat to her baby that brings Ali into an unauthorized investigation that will span many countries, reveal a conspiracy of greed, and just might get her killed.   

Fans of Robotham's previous outings will not be disappointed in this stellar addition to the series.  Once again, he provides the reader with outstandingly realistic and in-depth characterizations, ones that not only prove his amazing ability to truly understand gender and ethnic differences, but also demonstrate his sincere and compassionate respect for those differences.  And with a provocative plot full of suspense, humanity, poignancy, and intelligence, he not only gives readers an imaginative glimpse into a diverse world, he also leaves them pondering the overwhelming and lasting impacts, along with the sometimes unanticipated consequences, that are intrinsically tied to the deep need for friendship and family.  Highly, highly recommended, this is one author who just gets better with each outing, making this easily one of the top hits this year.

The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum

Publisher: Harcourt  ISBN-10: 0151011826

Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader

Gunder Jomann, a quiet and unassuming man, has lived his 50 plus years in a lonely, yet mildly contented fashion.  But when one day while looking through a travel book, he surprises himself and all who know him with his sudden notion to travel to India to find a wife, a task which ultimately proves unexpectedly easy.  But on the day his new wife is scheduled to arrive, his plans to receive her are thrown to the wind when his sister nearly dies in an auto accident.  And when his stranded bride is later found dead, the victim of a brutal murder, an investigation is launched that will forever change the village where she died.

In this somewhat terse and "just the facts ma'am" tale of murder in a small Norwegian village, Fossum somehow manages to create a barren and lonely world filled with characters of such unrealized lives and passions that some readers may find themselves feeling unexpectedly haunted in ways not easy to identify.  There are no explosive moments in this elusive story, no moments of "ah ha!", and with an ending that whispers instead of bangs, the perplexity at the emotion it draws is only deepened.  Ultimately, this is one you'll have to read for yourself, your own conclusions may surprise you.

The Death List by Paul Johnston

Publisher: Mira  ISBN-10: 0778324818

Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader

When crime writer Matt Wells begins receiving emails from an adoring fan during a dry spell in his career, it seems to be just what he needs to boost his sagging ego and so he's more than willing to begin a friendly correspondence with the fan.  It doesn't take long, however, for the emails to turn dark and ominous, and when bodies begin to turn up, their manner of death strikingly similar to the victims in Matt's books, Matt is shocked to find himself suddenly engaged in a deadly game with a madman.  And as the killer begins to strike closer and closer to home, Matt will find himself willing to do anything to protect his loved ones, even as he becomes the prime suspect in a string of death's that might just end with his own.

Even though we've all most likely have seen this storyline before, it remains a premise that still has some juice in it.  But while Johnston attacks it with gusto, the question of import is if there's enough originality in his version to carry this familiar plot to a successful completion.  Struggling writers, or anyone in the field of book publishing, will certainly get a kick out of his somewhat sardonic look at this dog-eat-dog world, and readers will no doubt enjoy the insights of what goes on behind the curtains, but still, is this enough? 

Maybe so, but it will take a bit of imagination for some readers to accept some of the scenes as realistic, and, unfortunately, more than a bit of patience to feel any kind of compassion for this self-pitying character who tends to wallow in his discontent.  But if you can get past that, there's a decent amount of thrills and chills here to make it worthwhile.

Restitution by Lee Vance

Publisher: Knopf  ISBN-10: 030726632X

Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader

At first blush, it might seem that Wall Street wizard Peter Tyler has it made with his ever increasing wealth, powerful career, and beautiful wife, but after having spent the last several years achieving stunning success in the financial world, he's paid the price with a marriage that is slowly crumbling.  And so when his wife is suddenly and brutally murdered, it's the evidence of his crumbling marriage and a one night stand that make him the primary suspect. 

Dismissed from his job, shunned by his peers, and with the threat of arrest hanging over his head, Peter has no choice but to find out who really killed his wife.  And the closer he gets to the truth, the closer he comes to unraveling an act of revenge that reaches so far into the past and is so encompassing and deadly that he will begin to doubt everything and everyone he once believed in.  

It would seem much too easy in a novel such as this to sacrifice character development for the excitement of a well-devised plot but, fortunately, Vance avoids that pitfall and creates a main character that, while at first may not always be easy to like, slowly grows into someone you might like to get to know better.  Remarkably, Vance's debut thriller reads as if written by one who has been doing this for awhile; his sense of timing, his flawed but redeemable characters, his convincing detail of the financial world, and his ability to create exceedingly high levels of tension all combine flawlessly in a tale that easily place him as a writer to watch.  This debut come highly recommended and we look forward to the next.

Innocence by David Hosp

Publisher: Warner Books  ISBN 978 0 446 58014 4

Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader

“Ripped from today’s headlines!” is a favourite promotional bleat of film producers.  In the case of “Innocence”, the claim is close to truth; the book can be read as a dramatized version of several recent front-page stories.

A policewoman is brutally killed in Boston, and a Salvadoran man is arrested and accused of her murder despite his solid alibi.  Fifteen years later he’s still in jail when young lawyer Mark Dobson convinces former colleague Scott Finn to reopen the case.  With the aid of policeman Tom Kozlowski, Finn investigates.

Despite his initial misgivings about getting involved, Finn soon begins to realise that the young lawyer’s claim that Vincente Salazar was framed has some substance.  Before the investigation gets very far, Dobson is murdered.  Finn realises there’s a lot more involved in the Salazar case than a couple of lazy cops looking for a quick conviction: there’s an organized crime connection that has more tentacles than an octopus.  Finn and Kozlowski soon find out that the case could be injurious to their health, and the only way out of danger is to go further into danger in search of the answers.

There’s a subplot to the book which should satisfy anyone who’s ever felt outraged by seeing someone get rich through shady practices; the reader will wonder if the Slocum divorce case has any real roots in the author’s experiences as a trial lawyer.

“Innocence” is a disquieting book.  As much as you tell yourself it’s a work of fiction, you can feel a bedrock of fact under it.  Author Hosp works with the New England Innocence project, and at the end of the book there’s a chapter about some real-life cases of wrongful convictions.  Reading these leaves you with mixed feelings: you are appalled that such miscarriages happened; you wonder how many more innocent people are in jail; and you are grateful that people like Hosp are out there working for Justice for no better reason than that it is the right thing to do.  But, most of all, you might just wonder how many of those men executed in Texas, or anywhere else, might have been innocent.

Dead Connection by Alafair Burke

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.  ISBN-10: 0805077855

Reviewed by Stephanie Padilla, New Mystery Reader

For Interview With Alafair Burke

When a young woman is found murdered in a NY alley, renegade homicide detective Flann McIlroy is the only one who connects her death to that of another young woman precisely a year previous - both sharing many familiar traits- the most important being that both had ties to an online dating service.  And so pulling a few strings he brings in Ellie Hatcher to help investigate, a young detective who shares some of the physical traits of the women killed and one who just might make the perfect bait to lure the killer out of hiding. 

To Ellie this case involving a potential serial killer hits close to home, her own father having killed himself after being unable to track one down years before in a suicide that Ellie has always believed was really a murder.  And so as the murder count rises, Ellie is driven even further to find the answers, even if it means putting herself in the line of fire from a threat that might be closer than knows.

In her latest, Burke takes a break from her legal series to offer up a tale of electrifying suspense that features such a compelling and laudable new heroine that dedicated fans of old might feel a bit guilty about when demanding an encore.  Ellie, just a little more jaded and a little rougher around the edges than Burke's other wonderfully drawn heroine Samantha Kincaid, adds some bite and urgency to this highly readable plot, both of which combine seamlessly to propel the reader forward at a rapid fire pace.  After completing this wonderfully thrilling new tale, readers will no doubt want more of the same, and so will be delighted to hear that it is indeed in the works.

The Ever-Running Man by Marcia Muller

Publisher: Warner Books  ISBN  978 0 446 58242 1

Reviewed by Karen Treanor, New Mystery Reader

Unlike my other favourite tough girl, Kinsey Millhone, who lives forever in mid-80’s Santa Theresa, Sharon McCone moves through time and space and is a different person now to what she was in earlier books.

Happily married and settled—sort of—with Hy Ripinski, Sharon takes on a new job with the security firm Hy works for.  This turns out to be a less than brilliant idea.  The running man of the title is an elusive bomber, and only a few days into the job, Sharon narrowly avoids being blown up herself.  This make the job personal: nothing would shake Sharon off the running man’s trail now.

When somebody’s bombing your offices, it’s likely that somebody has a grudge against your company.  Sharon begins to investigate the partners in Renshaw and Kessell International and turns up some dark deeds in their collective pasts.  Worse, her husband seems to have been involved.   The Hy Ripinski Sharon finds in Renshaw and Kessell’s previous shady dealings is hard to reconcile with the man she married. 

Sharon soon realises that this is one case she must get to the bottom of; otherwise her marriage might be the next victim of the even-running man.  There’s already been one romantic bust-up due to this investigation; Sharon doesn’t want to get involved in another.

There’s plenty of tension in this story as well as some interesting revelations about Hy which go towards explaining how he became the man he now is.  A keeper for McCone fans.

New Mystery Reader Magazine  editor@newmysteryreader.com