Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel-Boris Akunin

Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel

Boris Akunin

Random House, Aug 11 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780812975154

St. Petersburg’s Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod is outraged with the behavior of Sister Pelagia; he questions whether she should be allowed to wear the veil.  Not long after her censuring, Sister Palagia is sailing on the steamboat Sturgeon when someone kills Manuila, the messianic leader of the Jewish sect Foundlings.  Though she knows she should keep her opinions to herself she offers advice to the Inspector Dolinin.

Not long after Manuila was murdered, someone tries to kill Sister Palagia several times before she flees Russia and heads to the Holy land where she continues to investigate the homicide on board the Sturgeon.  While she is in Palestine, back in Russia friends and foes debate the merit of Sister Pelagia who continues her sleuthing instead of doing her sisterly duties as befitting a bride of Jesus.

The third Sister Pelagia amateur sleuth (see SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG and SISTER PELAGIA AND THE BLACK MONK) is a super historical although there is a lot less detecting than in the previous entries.  The story line is fast-paced as the heroine has to get out of “Dodge” (at least St. Petersburg) because she is unable to investigate freely why someone wants her dead and the church leadership wants her banished.  Her adventures in the Holy Land continue as Sister Palagia cannot resist a mystery.  Fans of the saga will relish Boris Akunin third late nineteenth century thriller as Tsarist Russia and Palestine come alive though the beleaguered nun’s eyes.

Harriet Klausner

My Soul To Take-Rachel Vincent

My Soul To Take

Rachel Vincent

Harlequin Teen, Aug 2009, $9.99

ISBN: 9780373210039

Though underage, Kaylee Cavanaugh sneaks into the Taboo club for people eighteen and over thanks to the voluptuous statuesque Marshall sisters.  The teen feels great especially when Eastlake High School hottie Nash Hudson dances with her instead of beautiful Emma.  However, abruptly she senses someone is about to die and when that happens to her she has a deep need to scream at the top of her lungs.  Nash calms her down, but a humiliated Kaylee cannot understand what is happening to her; as this is not the first time she had this deep urge.

She tells Nash that a nearby strawberry blond is “darker” than everyone else and will soon die.  The next day she is dead.  Nash explains to Kaylee that banshees love to scream when someone is about to die and she is a banshee.  He also explains who he is or at least his species.  They begin dating and the kisses have Kaylee screaming louder than a banshee.  However, the pair also has to stop a serial killer as the grim reaper seems t be focused on Eastlake High School.  Of course there is still trig.

The “second” Soul Screamers teen urban fantasy (see My Soul to Lose novella prequel that can be downloaded for free from the net) is a fun tale starring a bewildered heroine and the hunk who helps her adjust thanks to his soothing voice while also displaying his attraction to her.  Fast-paced from the opening club scene and filled with twists, fans will enjoy Rachel Vincent’s strong entry due to Kaylee who saves a soul and a life, falls in love, but has to study for her history exam.

Harriet Klausner

What A Dragon Should Know-G.A. Aiken

What A Dragon Should Know

G.A. Aiken

Zebra, Sep 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9781420103755

As the third born dragon son Gwenvael the Handsome knows his family thinks he is a fool though the women fall all over him.  Thus he is taken aback when his seven months pregnant sister-in-law Queen Annwyl assigns him to a key mission.   Because of her delicate condition, she cannot travel to negotiate a treaty with the Northlanders and the Beast; she orders him to go in her place; especially after his crack that she is big.  Gwenvael would do anything for Annwyl, so he agrees.  He revels in her confidence in him but accepts the mission mostly to escape her wrath and her husband his older brother Fearghus the Destroyer and his adopted sister Izzy the muscle queen before they beat his face into a bloody pulp for upsetting the pregnant queen.

He arrives at his destination only to learn that the most feared warrior in the world the Beast is a brilliant human female Dagmar Reinholdt, whose ingenious plots have protected her father the warlord Reinholdt and their people.  An even bigger shock than learning who the Beast is (to Gwenvael the Handsome) is that Dagmar with her glasses and plain robes on seems to ignore his beauty; women jump his bones and scales not scorn him.  Instead to his greatest shock, she appreciates his intelligence, a first for a dragon who lives by his charm and looks.  As Gwenvael tries to win Dagmar’s heart, treachery from within threatens both their families.

This is a super hysterical romantic fantasy starring a sly vainglorious dragon and a clever fraudulent human falling in love though she verbally rips off a few pounds of scales from his skin.  Fans will laugh loudly at the gender war as Dagmar takes the handsome out of Gwenvael and Gwenvael takes the beast out of Dagmar.  G.A. Aiken has written a tremendous irreverent tale that amusingly turns sexually changes Beauty and the Beast.

Harriet Klausner

The Strangely Beautiful Tale Of Miss Percy Parker-Leanna Renee Hieber

The Strangely Beautiful Tale Of Miss Percy Parker

Leanna Renee Hieber

Leisure, Sep 2009, $6.99

ISBN: 9780843962963

In 1888 an albino with hair as white as snow and living in London, reticent Miss Percy Parker has a special gift when it comes to communicating in languages and a skill to see the future through visions.  Though a female and extremely timid at that, Professor Alexi Rychman has invited Percy to study at the Athens Academy; serendipitously hidden in plain sight in the big city; he sees her as powerful and passionate while she sees herself as frightened and different

Percy is a super student grasping her studies rather quickly and easily; everything that is except math.  Professor Rychman is not just proud of the best pupil at the academy, he has plans for Miss Percy Parker when he deems her ready to join his secret organization (too secret to even mention their name) struggling to keep the world from destruction from the likes of Ripper.  The Professor underestimates Miss Percy who begins to uncover what is going on inside the Athens Academy and also inside their respective hearts.

This is a terrific Victorian urban romantic fantasy with a nod to My Fair Lady that will hook the audience from the moment Alexi invites the uncanny Percy to attend the Academy.  Although Percy overbites with her self-deprecating commentaries about being different, fans will relish alongside Alexi her adventures against the paranormal like Ripper and with teaching the professor that love is the most powerful magic under heaven to battle those from hell.

Harriet Klausner

The Sword Of The Lady-S.M. Stirling

The Sword Of The Lady

S.M. Stirling

Roc, Sep 2009, $25.95

ISBN: 9780451462909

Rudi Mackenzie continues his dangerous trek across what was once the United States in his quest to learn more about the Change that crippled the superpower turning the world into literally a darker neo Dark Ages in which electricity ceased.  His goal is to go the source in Nantucket.  Along the way, he has made friends, several of whom are traveling with him, and many enemies.

He attains his destination only to find a stranger world that makes what he seen before seem normal.  Nantucket Island is totally woodland with no more than two hundred confused people who insist they come from other eras, but somehow were transported to the center of the Change.  Nothing makes sense to the wary and weary Rudi as Nantucket offers no answers that he can fathom.  However, there is one house made of stone still standing.  Still searching for clues to what caused the Change over two decades ago; Rudi enters and immediately is drawn to a sword that he picks up as if the weapon was calling him.  What he thought he knew will be sliced and diced forever.

The third Change post apocalyptic thriller (see SUNRISE LANDS and THE SCOURGE OF GOD) continues Rudi and company’s trek across the battered dying land trying to come back to life two plus decades later.  The troupe has reached their destination, but Nantucket is nothing like what they or the audience expected when they set out; for that matter the trip across the country was also filled with inexplicable unexpected happenings as the gods intruded along the way.  Although it is imperative to have recently at least read THE SCOURGE OF GOD, fans will enjoy this excellent epic that will stun the reader with the direction S.M. Stirling spins as Rudi has come a long way to grab the sword and apparently has a long way still to go.

Harriet Klausner

The Palace of Strange Girls-Sallie Day

The Palace of Strange Girls

Sallie Day

Grand Central, Sep 2009, $13.99

ISBN 9780446545860

In 1959 in England, the Singleton family of four goes on vacation at the seaside town of Blackpool.  There the father, WWII vet Jack has a difficult decision to make between job offers as manager of Prospect Mill or being a union representative. He conceals his concerns from his demanding wife, Ruth who wants them to buy a new house.  His sixteen year old daughter Helen hopes to find a boyfriend soon, but believes to do this she needs the latest fashion and freedom from her mom’s strict control.  His other child seven year old Beth has health issues having just been released from the hospital, but just wants some free time to enjoy the shore, fill in her “I-Spy” book as she tracks everyone and most important escape from her demanding mother’s diligence.

This is an enjoyable historical family drama that stars four fully developed characters; all with differing needs and desires that come to a head during the four day vacation.  The interrelationships ring true though the solutions at the end of the Singleton family vacation seem to quick and unlikely.  Ironically the father and the two kids blame all on the mom due to her demanding manner though she uses her martinet orders to hide her fears from her loved ones.  Fans will enjoy Sallie Day’s fine trip back to 1959 England.

Harriet Klausner

A Quiet Belief in Angels-R.J. Ellory

A Quiet Belief in Angels

R.J. Ellory

Overlook, Sep 2009, $24.95

ISBN 9781590202500

In 1939 in Augusta Falls, Georgia, someone rapes and murders a twelve year old child.  The classmates are stunned but especially affected is Joseph Vaughan.  When he turns fifteen raised by his widow mom, he remains haunted by the incident and violent death in general.  He persuades other boys his age to form the Guardians to prevent future assaults.

Over the next few years, the Guardians fail to stop brutal attacks as kids are abducted.  A depressed Vaughan leaves Georgia relocating to Brooklyn, where he hopes to make it with his other goal to become a writer.  However, a murder in the Big Apple ties back to Augusta Falls bringing him full circle.

Although there are too many minor subplots over complicating a fabulous character study of a seemingly OCD youth; A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS is a terrific tale of a Georgian fixated for decades with brutal killings especially by serial killers.  Fans will appreciate how deep author RJ Ellory takes the reader inside the mind of Joseph without slowing down the narrative.  He is the key holding the tale together as the focus of the story line.  As a as a senior citizen he connects the deadly dots between New York and Georgia but even then Mr. Ellory continues digging through the layers of the soul of his beleaguered frustrated hero.  This is a super look at a caring person struggling with his inability to prevent violence.

Harriet Klausner

The Scoop-Fern Michaels

The Scoop

Fern Michaels

Kensington, Sep 2009, $13.95

ISBN 9780758227188

In Charleston, South Carolina the four sexagenarian BFFs gather for the funeral of the millionaire husband of one of them Teresa Amelia “Toots” Loudenberry; this is her eighth spouse she has buried.  She informs her buddies that the mourning period will be one week before they dash to Hollywood.

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder centerfold Ida, overweight Mavis accompanied everywhere by Coco the Chihuahua and smoker Sophie agree to go with her to California.  Toots plans to buy the near bankrupt tabloid the Informer where her daughter Abby Simpson works as a reporter.  . However, the ten million dollar deal collapses when newspaper publisher Rodwell Archibald Godfrey III takes the money and runs to the Cayman Islands. V

THE SCOOP is a zany over the top of the Hollywood Hills starring the Golden Girls who go after Godfrey.  Each of the four musketeers is different, while the ringleader is Toots.  The story line is amusing and irrelevant as even the opening funeral services affirm nothing is sacred in life when it comes to eternity.  Fans will enjoy this madcap comedic tale as the escapades keep on coming when the four BFFs go after their man.

Harriet Klausner

Devil’s Trill-Gerald Elias

Devil’s Trill

Gerald Elias

Minotaur, Aug 2009, $25.99

ISBN 9780312541811

Every thirteen years the Grimsley Competition is held for prodigies under thirteen years of age at Carnegie Hall.  The winner receives money, appearances with the New York Symphonic and use of the renowned seventeenth century Piccolino valued at $8 million for a Carnegie Hall performance.

Blind Daniel Jacobus was once a losing participant, but since feels strongly that the competition and similar music venues destroy the gifted young.  Child prodigy Kamryn Vander is this year’s winner, but to the shock of the members if the Music Arts Project responsible for the gala, someone stole the revered Piccolino, the only known three-quarter-size Stradivarius.  The police blame Daniel, who was at the scene of the crime when the locked door was opened and found empty and has voiced a loud motive to end the competition by breaking the violin.  Encouraged by insurance investigator friend Nathanial, grumpy Daniel accompanied by his current student Yumi, whose green eyes are his vision, searches for the missing Piccolino.  Murder has the almost maestro and his protégé  fleeing to Japan before they become the second act of the killer.

This is a super amateur sleuth tale with a musical twist as Daniel with the help of Yumi tries to track down the missing Piccolino.  Fans will enjoy the blind teacher turned detective as the almost famous but now infamous Daniel understands the irony of his predicament; he wanted to end the competition that he feels harms children yet now must find the instrument that is the prize of the contest if he is to prove his innocence.  Fans will enjoy his profound cantankerous view of the state of classical music in this engaging mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Hell’s Kitchen Homicide-Charles Kipp

Hell’s Kitchen Homicide

Charles Kipp

Scribner, Sep 15 2009,

ISBN: 9781439127902

The corpse is found in Hell’s Kitchen overlooking the Hudson.  NYPD Detectives Conor Bard and Ralph Kurtz have the lead though the latter is retiring in a week.  The corpse is criminal defense attorney Walter Lawton with mob ties, who has freed many obvious felons from incarceration.

The obvious prime suspect is the victim’s wife Holly who will inherit millions.  The cops learn her lover is a professional hit man running a Brooklyn kennel Salvatore Zeffel and they fish the murder weapon a 22 out of the river; Sal’s choice of guns.  The case takes several spins with almost all having an Albanian connection, but none quite making sense.  Adding to Bard’s confusion is four women in his life: his boss who never leaves the station; his former lover who is seeing jealous Captain Reynolds; Holly who calls him all the time, and Albanian visitor Monica who he calls.  He is attracted to the latter two while he wants Reynolds off his back as the case seems to go nowhere.

This is a terrific New York police procedural as nothing is quite what it seems.  The banter between the partners is fun and Conor’s female problems add depth to him, but it is the whodunit that makes this an entertaining tale.  Every clue leads to the Albanian community in the Bronx, but every step forward also leads to a seemingly dead end.  Sub-genre fans will enjoy this fast-paced thriller as the streets of Manhattan seem dirtier than usual.

Harriet Klausner