Review of "Framed In Death: A Lt. Eve Dallas Mystery" by J.D. Robb

In this 61st book in the 'Detective Eve Dallas' series, Eve is on the trail of a demented would-be artist.



It's 2061 and people communicate via video links, travel in semi-flying cars, and commit crimes.....just like current times. Lt. Eve Dallas is a capable New York detective married to Irish billionaire Roarke - a handsome devil with wild blue eyes.



As the story opens, a portrait painter in New York City - convinced of his brilliance - is frustrated and enraged by his lack of success. Determined to make an impression on the art world, the thwarted painter conceives a diabolical scheme. He will recreate portraits done by famous artists, with a twist.



For the artist's first project, 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' (1665) by Johannes Vermeer, the painter hires a sex worker - called a Licensed Companion (LC) in 2061 - to pose for him. The painter makes over the LC to look like the girl in Vermeer's painting, takes photos, and begins a portrait. The artist then drugs and kills the LC, and leaves her body in front of an art gallery, posed like Vermeer's painting.



The next day, the artist hires a male LC to pose for him, and makes the man over to look like 'The Blue Boy' (1770) by Thomas Gainsborough. The portraitist repeats the process described above, then leaves the LC's body near the home of an art gallery owner, posed like Gainsborough's painting.



Lt. Eve Dallas and her hippy-dippy partner, Sergeant Delia Peabody - who's a craft artist herself - get the case. The police know the perp won't stop, and they work day and night to catch the killer.





The cops aren't fast enough to stop a third murder though, a woman LC made over to look like 'Self-Portrait In A Straw Hat' (1780s) by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun.



The detectives get a break when a forensic examiner determines the clothing used to dress up the victims are custom-made garments sewn from fabrics authentic to the time periods of the portraits. The tailor-made clothing would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and would have to be made by specialists.



Dallas and Peabody immediately start calling fabric manufacturers and clothing makers to ask if anyone ordered the fabrics or garments on the murder victims.



EVERY MANUFACTURER cites client confidentiality, and Eve and Delia feel thwarted. However billionaire Roarke lends a hand here.



Roarke phones clothiers and says he's giving a costume party, and needs references to choose a clothing maker for himself and his wife. The clothiers name clients who bought costumes that emulate 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' and 'Blue Boy', and this turns out to be more clients than you might think.





Eve and Delia close in on the killer bit by bit, by tracking purchases of materials - fabric, paint, brushes, glue, wigs, etc. - needed for his 'displays'. It turns out the murderer is a spoiled rich boy who thinks he's going to be world famous.

The serial killer theme is grim, but there are light moments in the book as well. For example, Eve discovers someone stole her hidden candy bar, and thinks about coating the next one in laxatives; Eve meets an art gallery owner who's so snooty he 'out-snoots' Roarke's uppity butler Sommerset; and Delia Peabody and her friends show off their newly remodeled house, which Peabody calls "abso-mag"



Once the killer is nabbed Eve and Delia worry about getting him convicted, which makes an interesting finale to the novel.

The novel is engaging, but there are too many interviews with the victims' families, friends, and acquaintances; redundant phone calls to fabric makers, clothing manufactures, and artist supply stores; and excessive talk about the upcoming plea deal or trial. It almost feels like the author didn't have enough of a plot. That said, the mystery would probably appeal to Eve Dallas fans.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Susan Ericksen, who does a fine job, especially with Roarke's Irish accent.

Thanks to Netgalley, J.D. Robb, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Mrs. Plansky Goes Rogue: A Mrs Plansky Adventure" by Spencer Quinn

In the first 'Mrs. Plansky' book, Mrs. Plansky's Revenge, the intrepid retiree pursues swindlers who scammed her out of $9,000. In this second novel in the series, Mrs. Plansky searches for a missing friend.

The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

Background: Seventy-one year old Loretta Plansky is having a pleasant retirement in Punta D'Oro, Florida.



Years ago, Loretta and her husband Norm made millions of dollars with their patented 'Plansky Toaster Knife', which slices and toasts bread simultaneously. After Norm passed, Loretta moved into a pretty little condo, and though Loretta misses Norm terribly, she's enjoying her life - shopping, seeing her friends, playing tennis, etc.



At the moment, Mrs. Plansky's 98-year-old father Chandler Wills Banning - a crotchety old coot who got thrown out of his assisted living home - is residing with Mrs Plansky.



Chandler is flat broke, so Mrs. Plansky was paying for his pricey retirement facility. Now Mrs. Plansky is supporting Chandler in her home, where he has an aide named Lucrecia.



Chandler is also 'romancing' Lucrecia's mother, Clara Dominguez de Soto y Camondo, who frequently stays over.



*****

As the story opens, Mrs. Plansky and her tennis partner, Kev Dinardo. win a mixed doubles match at the New Sunshine Golf and Tennis Club.



After the match, it begins to storm, so Loretta drives Kev and his bicycle home in her SUV, with their tennis trophies clinking in the back.



From Kev's driveway, Mrs. Plansky observes a nice house, the ocean, a strip of white beach, and Kev's white, crimson-trimmed yacht named Lizette. Loretta is admiring the sleek yacht when it bursts into flames, explodes, and is replaced by a ball of fire.



When firefighters arrive, Kev says his insurance will cover the debacle because it was an 'Act of God' - a lightning strike. But Mrs. Plansky didn't see any lightning.

The tennis trophies are forgotten in the mêlée, so Mrs. Plansky drives to Kev's house the next day, to give him his prize. Kev's door is answered by a big man who says he's Mitch from the insurance company.....and that Kev is away.



This is followed by some shady occurrences, and Kev doesn't call or show up. Mrs. Plansky comes to suspect Kev's boat was blown up on purpose, and that Kev is missing. Mrs. Plansky goes to the police, but the detective treats her like a confused old lady with dementia, so Loretta decides to search for Kev herself.



This results in threats to Loretta AND her son Jack, who Loretta now learns was involved in some kind of business with Kev.



Mrs. Plansky isn't your average retiree, and her exploits include breaking into Kev's house (twice); freediving; kayaking; swimming; sneaking around a beer brewery; flying to the Bahamas in a private plane; saving people's lives; and more.



As all this is going on, Mrs. Plansky has to deal with her father's antics, which involve frequent complaints; doing things behind Loretta's back; helping himself to Loretta's things; getting engaged; making himself an engagement party with a band; and more.



Some of the fun parts of the novel are Mrs. Plansky's inner thoughts - like the time she tries to figure out the code for a digital lock; or when she's not sure if the insurance man is called Mitch or Mr. Mitch. Despite Loretta's occasional confusion, she gets to the bottom of things in the end, and her spunk is admirable.



The story has a variety of interesting characters, such as Chandler's lady friends at his old retirement home; a journalist who pilots her own plane; Kev Dinardo's ex-wife; a helpful barefoot fisherman; Loretta's daughter Nina; Nina's new beau Hamish; an alligator named Fairbanks; and more.



This book doesn't have quite the verve of the first Mrs. Plansky novel. Still, it's fun to go on an adventure with Loretta, and I suspect Loretta will have more exploits in the future.



I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Petrea Burchard, who does a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Spencer Quinn, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Spencer Quinn, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Rage: A Police Chief Kate Burkholder Mystery" by Linda Castillo

In this 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series, the Police Chief investigates the murder and dismemberment of an Amish man. The novel provides enough background information to be read as a standalone.

*****

Police Chief Kate Burkholder grew up in an Amish community in Painter's Mill, Ohio but left as a teenager.



After Kate became a law enforcement officer, Painter's Mill offered her a job and she returned to head the police department. Kate's Amish background is advantageous because she speaks Pennsylvania Dutch and is familiar with Amish culture.

Kate is now married to John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The couple's dual law enforcement careers are advantageous, because, when it's appropriate, Tomasetti can provide support for Kate's investigations.



When the dismembered body of 21-year-old Amish landscaper Samuel Yutzy is found on a secluded road, Chief Kate Burkholder hurries to the scene. Puzzled by the bizarre murder, and looking for a motive, Kate talks to Samuel's parents, Orlah and Leona Yutzy.



The Amish are VERY diffident about speaking to outsiders, but Samuel's parents tell Kate that their son was on rumspringa (a period of freedom for Amish youth) and "Like a lot of Amish boys, got to going out and running around like them English youngsters do. Drinking and whatnot."



The Yutzys also say Samuel brought a girl named Cass to dinner - a troublemaker with a painted-up face, tattoos, and woman parts hanging out all over the place, who smoked by the barn. A girl who looked English but sounded Amish. Orlah and Leona Yutzy would be even more shocked to know Cass is a dancer in a gentleman's club.



Kate learns that two of Samuel's best friends are Aaron Shetler, who works at the tire center of a farm store; and Joseph Stoltzfoos - who has a small farm. Kate can't find Aaron at work or at home, and when she locates Joseph, he says he hasn't seen Samuel in months. Joseph says, 'I didn't like the road he was going down. Sammy was partying a lot. Drinking. Smoking dope. Picking up women. Taking them home.'



On top of his other concerns, Samuel was having trouble with a club owner called Carter Brooks. Brooks was suing Samuel, and Brooks' letter of intent to sue states: "I hired Samuel Yutzy, owner of Yutzy's Tree Nursery, to landscape my home at 1923 Marigold Road. I paid $10,569 for a hedge, six shade trees, two ornamental trees and a pavestone walkway....After the job was finished a storm came through and water flooded my basement. An engineer told me landscaper Yutzy did not install a drain as he should have.' Brooks is suing for over $15,000, a huge sum for the Amish youth.

When Kate interviews Brooks, the club owner admits "I think Samuel was an honest guy. I'd have settled for less than the fifteen. It was sort of an ask-for-a lot-get-a little strategy."



All this gives Kate and her team a lot to investigate, and things escalate further when a body is found in a barrel at the bottom of a ravine, and another body is found in the woods. All the deceased are Amish, and Kate comes to suspect drug dealing or some other criminal activity.



Much of the novel is a police procedural where Kate, her deputies, and Tomasetti investigate the multiple killings. As usual, Kate blithely strides into dangerous situations without backup, and gets beat up and almost killed (twice). I've mentioned in previous reviews that this trope is getting old, but I've come to accept it will happen in every book. 😕



It turns out the murders have serious implications for rural Ohio, where urban crime seems to have reared its ugly head.

I always enjoy Kate Burkholder mysteries, but I do have a couple of cavils about this novel.

First, the reason for dismembering Samuel and placing another body in a barrel is not clear. The deceased could just have been left where they were killed. After all, it's not like the murders wouldn't be discovered otherwise in this close Amish community. (It's not Los Angeles after all.)



Second, the story takes place at the height of summer, and Kate CONSTANTLY describes her discomfort: "I was sweating profusely beneath my uniform"; "Despite the sweat dripping down my back, I motion toward the leg that Glock discovered"; "I'm standing outside the crime scene tape, sweating like a sieve beneath my Tyvek suit"; "I'm sweating profusely as I slip the second pair of gloves over the first"; and much more. I can empathize, but the perspiration talk seems to be overdone.



On the upside, Castillo's Amish mysteries are always off-the-beaten-track and engaging. In addition, it's nice to get a glimpse of Kate and Tomasetti at home in their farmhouse, where they enjoy private time, have meals and drinks, and discuss the case. In this book, Tomasetti finds a cat, a Manx, who's now a member of the household - and who might help with the mouse population in the barn.



The book will appeal to readers who like Amish mysteries, especially Kate Burkholder fans.

Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Castillo, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book

Rating: 3.5 stars