The Brownstone on E. 83^rd

Houses of Crime, #1

by

Jenny Dandy

Clever game of wits pitting one imposter against another.

The Brownstone on E. 83^rd is the first book in author Jenny Dandy’s thrilling new crime fiction series, House of Crime, and starts things off with a clever matching of wits between two players, neither of whom is showing their true face. FBI Special Agent Frank Jankowski has been working on a difficult and major drug case for so long his supervisor is ready to pull the plug on the whole operation. But when he takes a different approach, new information leads him to the home of wealthy widowed socialite Isabelle Anderson. He goes undercover, presenting himself to Isabelle’s crowd as new money relocating to New York from the Midwest, hoping to get the goods on the head of the drug organization through her. Unbeknownst to him or her crowd, Isabelle is almost destitute and supports herself by conning rich suitors and wealthy friends into supporting her lifestyle through blackmail or donating to her fraudulent foundation. She sees Frank, now Peter Franks, as her next mark. In between the two is Veronica “Ronnie” Charles, a young female thief who often poses as a male and is living on the streets until the wily Isabelle takes her under her wing to act as her butler and help support her illusion of wealth. Each has a stake in the outcome of their game, and no one knows who will come out on top. 

Frank is midway through his career with the FBI, and the drug case he’s been working on has gone stagnant quite a while back. Breaking this case and finally reeling in the heads of the drug operation would go a long way to reviving his reputation at work. He’s staked everything on his job, losing his wife to his long hours and dedication in the process. His only daughter, addicted to the opioids prescribed to her when she was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver, has run away from the rehab facility where she was undergoing withdrawal and treatment. She’s hiding somewhere in the city, and Frank’s frantic about finding her before she does more damage to herself. 

Isabelle has her own troubles, desperately scrambling to keep body and soul together without revealing her financial straits to her circle of society. I found her relationship with Veronica (Ron) disturbing, and every time the opportunity arose, I wished Ron would abandon ship and get away. 

The plot progresses play-by-play, punctuated by some surprising twists and turns or outside influences that cross over into the long con. The tension builds steadily, and the suspense of who is going to make a mistake always looms a breath away. If you’re wondering who is unaware they were holding their breath during this story, wonder no more; it would be you, the reader. 

I recommend THE BROWNSTONE ON E. 83^RD to readers of crime fiction and thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Muzzle the Black Dog

by

Mike Cobb

Is the mysterious stranger whom Jack Pate welcomed into his home an arsonist or a figment of Jack’s imagination?

Muzzle the Black Dog is a new psychological thriller by veteran author Mike Cobb that opens a door into one man’s struggle to regain control of his life. After the breakup of his marriage, Dr. Jack Pate sells his dental practice and moves to a secluded cabin in the North Carolina woods, steadily distancing himself from everyone he loves, including his wife and two young children who are now three hours away, along with his elderly, infirm parents. So, a knock at the door after midnight on a cold January evening is completely unexpected and definitely cause for alarm. The mysterious stranger claims to be a friend there to help Jack; at least he knows Jack’s name and has intimate knowledge of Jack’s life, but is steadfastly unforthcoming in regard to exactly who he is or why Jack needs his help. But when an arson fire in the vicinity draws a visit from a sheriff’s deputy canvassing the area cabins, the man just as mysteriously disappears. As the fires continue, so does the deputy’s interest in Jack, and soon, he looks like their number one suspect. Jack must pull himself together and track down his visitor, who Jack believes is the real culprit before the deputy decides they have a case against him. 

Jack Pate is a likable guy, but readers will slowly come to realize he’s struggling with some serious mental health issues and wondering if he’s at all reliable as the narrator of his story; he clearly does need help. He’s seemingly mesmerized by the man who refuses to give him a straight answer about anything, preferring instead to spout literary references and tantalizing hints about Jack’s past and warnings of his future. Still, Jack is amazingly patient as he waits for his guest to come clean regarding his late-night visit, disappearing acts, and close-held secrets. As Jack questions what he’s gotten himself into, so did I. Was Jack the perpetrator behind the fires who the deputy seems to think he is? 

The story unfolds in multiple timelines from the past and the present date of 2004, but the activities during each era are distinctly different and easy to keep separate. The plot moves quickly, with Jack first delving into his visitor’s identity and coming up with more questions than answers. The novel is on the shorter side and can easily be read in one sitting, a good thing since I certainly didn’t want to put it down once I started. The secrets that are slowly revealed make the resolution of the story all the more startling. 

I recommend MUZZLE THE BLACK DOG to readers of historical, literary, and crime fiction, as well as psychological thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

The Horned Women

A Contemporary Retelling of an Irish fairy tale

The Castle in Kilkenney, #1

by

Chrisy Matheson

Eerie introduction to the Robinson family, Americans relocated to Ireland.

The Horned Women is the first book in author Christy Matheson’s The Castle in KilKenney series, contemporary retellings of some of Ireland’s most well-known fairy tales. When Maura divorced her cheating husband, Roy, she not only gained full custody of their two small children and an ancient castle in Ireland but, out of the blue, his teenage son and daughter from a previous marriage also applied to the judge to live with her as well. Soon, Maura finds herself a divorced mother of four living in her dream setting, although the dilapidated Irish castle requires some work to bring it up to standards, hopefully at Roy’s expense. As the merged family settles in, there are some bumps along the way, especially with spoiled teenager Kaylee, who appears to have been completely ignored by her parents for most of her young life. 

After the children are in bed, Maura turns to needlework for relaxation. One evening, a strange old woman with a single horn growing from her forehead barges into the great room uninvited and, without a word, begins carding wool. She is joined one after another by eleven more old women, each with one more horn than the one that came before her, all with evil intentions in mind. Using her wits and knowledge of Irish folklore and with the much-needed assistance from a surprising source, she must figure out a way to banish the horned women from the castle for good and protect all her children. 

The young family and how they are adapting to each other and their new life without their father is the heart of this story. Maura loves her own children, Oona and Oliver, but until the divorce, she had little interaction with the older two, which makes their request to the judge all the more unexpected. It seems their father and mother are real pieces of work, intent on their own desires, leaving their two children to grow up alone and unwanted. Despite this, Aiden is quickly growing into a kind, considerate young man; however, Kaylee, the daughter, has suffered from the lack of parental love and affection, something Aiden may have recognized and prompted his unusual request. The mystical intrusion of the fairy tale into Maura’s present time reveals how she’s gradually come to love the older two like her own. 

I recommend THE HORNED WOMEN to readers who enjoy scary fairy tale retellings.

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Vacations Can Be Murder

A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England

(Volume One)

by

Dawn M. Barclay

A fun, informative, and useful guide to true crime persons, places, and events in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The first volume of Dawn M. Barclay’s Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England appears to be a pretty comprehensive and useful tool to devise any number of trips to the country’s northeast for a true crime-themed holiday. Focusing on the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, the author provides background information on the region’s dark, criminal past, both recent events and those from long-forgotten eras, renowned and little-known outside the area. 

The author offers suggestions for places to stay, haunted restaurants, true crime or ghost tours in the vicinities, and related places to visit while in the area, such as cemeteries, courthouses, jails, and prisons. However, one of the most valuable resources is the suggested itineraries with maps from someone who’s already made the trips to help travelers get the most out of their trip to the area, a wonderful asset whether you’re familiar with the area or not. One of my favorite sections for each state, though, is the list of books featuring the different highlighted stories, so you can read more in-depth about those that interest you most before you go. The book is so well done; I hope the author continues to create many more guides that target different areas of the country. 

I recommend VACATIONS CAN BE MURDER to true crime fans who would like to plan a trip to see some of the more notable locations of past crimes. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

by

Grace Lin

Imaginative merging of modern-day adventure and Chinese folktales for a warm and wonderful children’s story.

In The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon, author Grace Lin uses a fascinating combination of Chinese folktales to create a fresh and exciting children’s adventure story featuring a young stone lion cub named Jin, Lulu, a little lost girl, and an ancient dragon trapped in the body of a worm. Jin must overcome his fear of getting in trouble and his guilt of being in the wrong to save his stone spirit family and the Gonshi community when he causes the Sacred Sphere his father safeguards to roll out of their world and into that of the humans. 

The main character, Jin, is much like his human counterparts of the same age: interested in his own pursuits, pleasures, and interests, many times inconveniencing his parents and others due to being thoughtless or irresponsible. He’s disinterested and dismissive of his father’s stories of the past, responsibilities, or parental instructions until he finds himself accidentally shut out of his world and stuck in the human one, where he finds he longs to return to his family once again. When he discovers the damage the loss of the Sacred Sphere puts in motion, he must gather his courage and sacrifice his own desires to make things right again. His gradual growth and understanding of his choices are a poignant tale, one that even young children will recognize and consider. 

Jin is assisted in his journey by Lulu, a young girl trying to reunite with her mother, who is also undergoing her own revelations. Worm, the dragon trapped in this tiny, unassuming form, is probably the most fanciful of all the creatures in the book and has some of the best lines as he reveals his story and joins with the young ones to reset the balance in the world before it is too late. 

With its magical setting, mythical creatures, and suspenseful plot, I recommend THE GATE, THE GIRL, AND THE DRAGON to upper-elementary and middle-grade readers and for reading aloud to include younger listeners. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.