The Montmarte Investigation-Claude Izner

The Montmarte Investigation

Claude Izner

Minotaur, Sep 14 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312383763

In 1891 Paris at an outing of the C. Bontemps Boarding School, Elisa borrows Iris’ red shoes to run away with twenty-one years old Gaston.  Some time later on Montmartre, a female body is found; her face burned with acid so it is unrecognizable; the corpse is barefoot.  A red shoe is delivered to the the Bookshop owned by Victor Legris and Kenji Mori.

When Kenji recognizes the shoe as one he gave to his goddaughter Iiris, he assumes logically and mournfully she is the dead victim until he learns from her she lent them to her friend.  Victor follows Kenji to the school and once he catches up with what the shoe denotes he insures Iris is safe as ahe may have been the intended target.  Gaston’s body is found in a wine cask on the wharf.  Having solved two cases (see The Disappearance at Père-Lachaise and Murder on the Eiffel Tower), Victor fancies himself a detective so he is determined to solve the case before his rival police Iinspector Lecacheur can.  When Elisa’s mother is also murdered, the three killings appear linked to a cold case in Lyon, but why and who is the avenger remains unknown.

This is an exhilarating French historical mystery that gives armchair detectives a taste of late nineteenth century Paris when cabarets and wine houses were the rage.  Real historical figures add to the atmosphere while anchoring the time and place of the storyline.  Secrets from the past prove either deadly or joyful as Victor investigates the serial murders linked to a cold case.

Harriet Klausner

When Blood Calls-J.K. Beck

When Blood Calls

J.K. Beck

Bantam, Aug 31 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780440245773

Manhattan-based government attorney Sara Constantine is euphoric following her win in court.  She celebrates her victory by spending a heated one night stand with stranger, Lucius Dragos; who is at the tavern because Braddock, who he will kill later that night, is there.  Sara is rewarded with a promotion to Division 6; whose lawyers prosecute vampires, werewolves, hellhounds and demons.

To her chagrin, fate deflates her enthusiasm when she is assigned to argue the government’s case against alleged killer Lucius Dragos.  He likes Sara and not just because of the great sex.  She somehow abates his demon.  He argues she needs to take the blindfold off as he insists justice is not a blind legal adherence to the law because where evil deserves death; while she insists the law is the law even as she wonders if the man she prosecutes and loves is a vampire.

Ignoring conflict of interest based on the Judge Scalia defense of not recusing In Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia Supreme Court case, this is a fascinating legal thriller inside an urban fantasy setting with a touch of romance.  Though there is plenty of action in the first Shadow Keepers thriller, the story line is owned by the lead couple who debate justice.  Readers will believe the Beck universe is real while pondering the same questions that disturb dedicated prosecutor Sara.  If someone murders a serial killer they may be legally a criminal but morally are they delivering justice to an amoral ergo inhuman predator?  That is the essence of Lucius’ argument as he insists he killed a malevolence that deserved death, but as Sara (and the audience) ponders should he be judge, jury and executioner as a seemingly vigilante.  Their falling in love enhances the legal vs. moral argument.

Harriet Klausner

Coronets And Steel-Sherwood Smith

Coronets And Steel

Sherwood Smith

Daw, Sep 7 2010, $24.95

ISBN: 9780756406424

Bored Los Angeles graduate student Kim Murray’s French only speaking grandmere is ill.  As grandmere recovers from the debilitating fever, she remains mute; but encourages strongly for Kim to travel to Europe to learn her family’s genealogy.  Before leaving the States, her grandma gave her minuscule bits of information about their heritage, but refuses to go into any depth.

After Paris proved fruitless, she reaches Vienna lacking information as to where to start so she visits a genealogist.   Kim goes on a tour when she notices what looks like a ghost.  Soon after that, a suave male treats her like an old friend he has not seen in a while although she swears she never met this sophisticate before.   She and this Alec go for drinks, but when she awakens she is on a train though she is unsure how she got on it.  However, the biggest shock of all is to learn she looks so much like missing cousin Ruli, they could have been twins.  Alec wants her to pretend to be Ruli so he can find her. 

Told by the third generation American, this is an exciting at times jocular but always action-packed thriller as Kim digs up her roots in Europe.  Fast-paced, fans will enjoy the heroine’s European adventure as she is 200 proof American believing she can do anything while also being facetious and irreverent when she is drugged, abducted, and confronting family ghosts.  This is her tale as the rest of the cast supports her escapades as a young brash American trashes her kidnapper and taunts the spirits that haunt her and her family.

Harriet Klausner

Noise-Darin Bradley

Noise

Darin Bradley

Spectra (Random House), Aug 31 2010, $14.00

ISBN: 9780553386226

When the country converts from analog to digital, Salvage broadcasts underground stations in the lower frequency airwaves.  It tells the populace what to do to survive in the face of the collapsing society and the words are bound in the Book.  In the college town of Slade, Texas, best friends Hiram and Adam collect the wisdom of the Salvage so they can be ready when the collapse of American civilization occurs.

The predicted Event happens leaving America rudderless as the country declares bankruptcy and the government loses all control.  The Narrator calls himself Hiram and Adam renames himself Levi.  They gather other people amongst the homeless of the dead society to go to Amaranth.  It is an isolated place where they will be safe. Other groups join them on the bloody journey to the Promised Land.

Reminiscent of the Lord of the Flies merged with Deliverance, Noise is a deep look at civilization spinning out of control into anarchy before leading to a rebirth.  The cast is solid with plenty of violence and gore. This makes the aftermath effort to get to Amaranth feel plausible.  Darin Bradley writes an entertaining futuristic cautionary thriller as out of the death of America rises the Phoenix of a new order.

Harriet Klausner

The Road Through Wonderland-Dawn Schiller

The Road Through Wonderland

Dawn Schiller

Medallion, Aug 1 2010, $15.95

ISBN: 9781605420837

Her father was career military so Dawn Schiller spent her childhood moving from post to post.  A road trip from the east Coast to the Glendale, California led to the teen meeting thirtyish married “King of Porn” star John Holmes.  Only fifteen and ignored by her dad, Holmes becomes a father figure to Dawn.  He and his wife Sharon allow Dawn to move in with them.  Cocaine and other drugs changed the relationships as Holmes turned violent and forced Dawn into prostitution.  Barely surviving the gruesome 1981 Wonderland murders, she ran away turning her “mentor” over to the police.

The movie Wonderland was a gritty look at Dawn Schiller’s teenage years leading to horrific murders.  However, her memoir is even grittier and darker as the author goes much deeper in describing her early life.  Not an easy read though well written as the horror will last in the audience’s mind long after finishing the book.  Stunned readers will appreciate Ms. Schiller’s autobiography warning parents and other adults that discarding children leaves them vulnerable to a Pied Piper who showers them with deadly interest (think of the DC Snipers).

Harriet Klausner

More Church Folks-Michele Andrea Bowen

More Church Folks

Michele Andrea Bowen

Grand Central, Jul 28 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780446577762

In 1986 at the Gospel United Church, older flock members remember the two-decade plus old scandal at the Triennial General Conference (see Church Folk) as another meeting is about to convene.  At this church meeting, bishops are elected to fill vacancies.  Senior Bishop Percy Jennings wants good Christian males to sit in these critical seats.  Bishop Jennings believes Pastors Theophilus Simmons and Eddie Tate are ideal individuals who would make super Bishops.  He needs at least one of them to gain a seat if he is to clean the church of its avarice embezzlers who cannot spell Bible.

Bishop Jennings learns something nasty is occurring in Mozambique.  He assigns Pastor Tate’s mentee Pastor Denzelle Flowers to investigate.  Denzelle’s day job supervisor is elated that his ordained minister FBI agent Flowers is going to Africa to look into drug smuggling.  Pastor Flowers soon discovers a scheme to sell illegal sexual enhancement drugs to Bishop Jennings’ prime adversary’s mentee Pastor Sonny Washington; they plan to extort the votes of those caught in an adulterous scandal.

The return to the Church Folks environs is a terrific insightful tale that once again reflects on the religious leaders being a microcosm of the larger society.  Some care about the spiritual and other needs of their flock while some of the leadership care about themselves as Michele Andrea Bowen makes a strong case that just because you’re a bishop or pastor does not mean you are holier than the congregation.  Although the ensemble cast can be overwhelming for the reader as well as church officials, with interesting FBI intrigue enhancing the thriller, fans will relish this exciting entry as the avarice and the nurturing battle for the souls of the congregation with motives wider than the chasm between heaven and hell.

Harriet Klausner

A Child Changes Everything-Stella MacLean

A Child Changes Everything

Stella MacLean

Harlequin SuperRomance, Aug 10 2010

ISBN: 9780373716555

In Durham, North Carolina nurse Lisa Clarke buries her adopted mother only to learn from the estate lawyer Tank Tweedsdale that her biological mom Carolyn Lewis is alive; she thought the woman who birthed her died in a car accident.  Tank hires Lisa’s former boyfriend Mason Stephens to find her mom, which he does. 

Lisa heads to Florida where her mom resides in Palmetto Bayside Nursing Home.  Her older sister Anne Marie is in jail charged with trafficking.  Needing to prove her sister’s innocence, Lisa hires Mason and an attorney to do that.  She takes her three year old niece Katie and mom back home with her.  Mason is stunned with how good a caretaker Lisa is as she rejected children leading to their breakup.  However, his former wife Sara plans to leave for the other coast with their son putting him on the spot of choosing east with his Lisa or west with his offspring Peter.

This is an enjoyable family drama with a second chance at love subplot.  Lisa matures as she takes charge of her newly found biological family.  Although Mason is a better sleuth than boyfriend material, fans will enjoy this fine contemporary.

Harriet Klausner

This Cowboy’s Son-Mary Sullivan

This Cowboy’s Son

Mary Sullivan

Harlequin SuperRomance, Aug 10 2010, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373716531

Five years ago Matt Long and Jenny Sterling made love, but he left immediately afterward; fleeing from Big Sky Country.  She became pregnant and raises her son Jesse.  However, the single mom is engaged to marry Angus Kinsey, who Matt reveres like a father figure.

Returning to Ordinary, Montana and owing Angus, Matt obtains work on his Circle K ranch where his boss is Jenny.  She pulls no punches when she immediately informs her former lover that her son is his too.  They remain attracted to each other, but she knows he will leave soon and he fears he agrees with her.  When Angus ends their engagement, Matt has no excuse as he loves mother and son, but does he have the guts to forge a family with them?

Although men finding out they sired a child years after the kid is born is not new, a secondary romance adds depth to the contemporary romance.  The lead male has issues but maturity and a need to do the right thing with his woman and their son supersede all else.  Although Angus makes it easier with his transgression, fans will enjoy this entertaining second chance at love.

Harriet Klausner

A Little Consequence-Amy Knupp

A Little Consequence

Amy Knupp

Harlequin SuperRomance, Aug 10 2010, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373716524

Heiress Selena Jarboe is upset with her brother who plans to return to the warbecause she worries for those she loves performing dangerous duty.  Unable to cope she runs away to her Texas beach house. There she meets firefighter Evan Drake.  They are attracted instantly to one another and have the best night of sex either ever had; so good and long his roommate did a four in the morning run not to disturb the couple.

Selena becomes pregnant and does the right thing by informing Evan although she wants nothing from him.  He plans to be there for their child as he never had a father growing up; he also wants to be there for Selena even after he learns she is wealthy and can buy anything she needs.  As they fall in love, each must stop running from the demons that haunt them if they are to make it as a cohesive family raising a child together.

The key to the second super Texas Firefighters contemporary romance (see Playing with Fire) is Selena who struggles between her love and admiration for Evan vs. her fear of his dangerous work.  Evan is a super counterpart to Selena, but her phobic like trepidations brings freshness to a strong romance.

Harriet Klaunser

Desperate Deeds-Dee Davis

Desperate Deeds

Dee Davis

Forever, Aug 2 2010, $6.99

ISBN: 9780446542029

Daughter of a highly regarded General, Tyler Hanson served in the Army before accepting an assignment as the munitions officer for American Tactical Intelligence Command (A-Tac).  She heads a mission that surprises her military team as “outsiders” even army brats with military experience are never assigned to this type of mission let alone lead it.  The transport turns ugly with two of her subordinates dead and a key nanotechnological nuclear weapon stolen.

British MI-5′s Intelligent Agent Owen Wakefield interrogates Tyler to learn what went wrong on the mission starting with why Tyler’s father assigned the lead to her.  They team up in an effort to regain what was purloined and bring military justice to the assassins.  As they follow clues, the pair uncovers a dirty nuclear bomb plot with all roads leading back to her dad with one noted exception that Tyler betrayed her unit.

The latest A-Tac romantic suspense (see Dangerous Desires and Dark Deceptions) is a terrific military thriller in which the several mysteries make for a strong tale.  In some ways the well-written romance takes a back seat to the intrigue.  Readers will appreciate Dee Davis excellent entry in her strong series.

Harriet Klausner