Three years ago the Tanner sisters, fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma, vanished.
Emma's car, containing her purse and keys, was found at the beach - but all of Cass's personal belongings were still in the house. What could have happened?
FBI Agent Leo Strauss heads the investigation.....
.....assisted by forensic psychologist, Dr. Abby Winter.
Dr. Winter senses that's something's 'off' about the girls' family - especially the mother (Mrs. Martin).
The psychologist wants to look more closely at the parents, but is discouraged by Strauss - who has other ideas about the case. In any case, the girls aren't found.
Now, three years after her disappearance, Cass shows up at her family's front door - and Agent Strauss and Dr. Winter are back on the case with the full force of the FBI.
Cass tells a harrowing story. She says a married couple named Bill and Lucy held the girls prisoner on an island. Cass explains that a boatman named Rick periodically brought supplies - food, clothing, books, DVDs, and so on.....and that the island house had a satellite dish and television.
With long and careful planning Cass was able to escape, and is now desperate for the authorities to find Emma.
Cass goes on to say that Bill and Lucy treated the girls (more or less) like 'family': they all ate together, played board games, did chores, etc. Moreover the girls were homeschooled and not sexually abused. However, they were not allowed to leave! Luckily, Cass was eventually able to get away.
When questioned, Cass tells the FBI how she and Emma came to be on the island, describes the location/geography of the isle as best she can, details all aspects of life on the island, and works with a sketch artist to draw the suspects. The FBI goes full out to try to identify the perps, find the island, and rescue Emma.
The book is told from the alternating points of view of Cass and Dr. Winter. In Cass's chapters - which take the form of an 'internal monologue' - she talks about growing up in her family, the twisted interactions among family members, and how this affected herself and Emma.
In Dr. Winter's chapters, the psychologist (and Agent Strauss) go over Cass's story, and the doctor decides that some parts sound sketchy.
Dr. Winter also concludes that Cass's mom has narcissistic personality disorder, which means that - to maintain her feelings of superiority - Mrs. Martin is compelled to manipulate and control everyone around her. This makes for an extremely toxic family dynamic.
The story has an array of additional characters, including: Mr. Tanner - the girls' biological father; Witt - Mr. Tanner's son from a previous marriage; Mr. Martin - the girls stepfather; Hunter - Mr. Martin's son from a previous marriage; and Lisa - the school guidance counselor. All of them play an important part in the story. Let's just say, the book's conglomeration of attractive females and various males.....spells trouble.
The book held my attention and I was immersed in Cass's stories about what she and Emma experienced growing up, and what happened to them on the island. I was also intrigued by Mrs. Martin's mental illness, and dismayed to see how far she'd go to preserve her inflated - and precarious - self-esteem. In the story, Dr. Winter notes that girls who grow up with a narcissistic mother tend to repeat the destructive behavior, and I wondered if Cass and Emma were irretrievably damaged. There are some surprising elements in the book, and I liked these twists.
On the downside, I think that Cass is too knowledgeable, cunning, and sophisticated for a girl with her life experience - and I sometimes had a hard time suspending disbelief. The story's conclusion also struck me as a bit unlikely.
All in all I think the book is an okay psychological thriller. It's very cinematic (IMO) and could probably be adapted into a good movie. I'd recommend the book to fans of psychological dramas.
Rating: 3 stars
In this first book in 'An Agent to the Paws' cozy mystery series, an unpleasant loudmouth is murdered.
*****
When famous Broadway director Les McMaster is auditioning dogs for the role of Sandy in 'Annie', Kay Powell - a talent agent for animals - has just the pooch for the job.
Her client Bruno, a shaggy brown dog who looks like a hairy ottoman - is friendly, follows directions, and can cry on demand. Bruno is having a fine tryout - and would be a shoo-in for the job - if only his owner would shut his mouth.
Trent Barclay and his wife Louise adopted Bruno from a shelter, trained him, and have plans for his show business career. Trent - an obnoxious loudmouth who thinks he knows best - interrupts Bruno's audition, calls McMaster a hack, and says he's a bad director.
Thus, when Bruno gets the job his contract states that Trent and Louise can't attend Bruno's rehearsals. Kay doesn't mind since she'd just as soon handle Bruno's career herself - and has the experience to do it. Kay's parents, Jay and El, were performers at a Catskill resort - and Kay joined their act when she was four (Jay, Kay, and El.....get it. LOL) . Kay sang, danced, and did skits with her parents until she went off to college.
Kay then went to law school to learn about contracts, and started her career as an animal agent. Meanwhile, Jay and El took their act onto cruise ships, where they traveled and had fun while getting paid.
Jay and El are between gigs right now, and staying at Kay's house in Scarborough, N.J. To pass the time, Jay is producing a revue for the Scarborough Senior Center, and he and his wife are auditioning the elderly talent in Kay's living room. This is pretty hilarious.
To add to the foofaraw at Kay's place are her two dogs, Steve the dachshund and Eydie, the rescue greyhound - both of whom have big, endearing personalities....and a fondness for liver treats.
The day after Bruno's audition, Kay wakes up to shocking news. Trent Barclay has been found stabbed to death in his kitchen - with his face in Bruno's water bowl. Detective Alana Rodriguez of the NYPD - who's so stiff 'you couldn't get her to move a facial muscle without dynamite' - shows up at Kay's house to ask about the kerfuffle during Bruno's tryout.
Before long Lt. Rodriguez recruits Kay - asking the agent to sniff around the theater people and report anything suspicious. Rodriguez actually gets a 'threefer', because Jay and El want to be amateur sleuths as well. The trio of Powells get up to all kinds of mischief while they're investigating (can you say breaking and entering).
As the murderer is being sought, odd things start to happen. People keep trying to abduct Bruno.....and Kay gets threatening messages to hand over the dog. The agent has no intention of losing her client, and there's some desperate behavior on the part of Bruno's would-be abductors. Bruno gets to spend some time at Kay's house, where he becomes best friends with Steve and is (mostly) ignored by haughty Eydie.
Many secrets come to light before the murderer is exposed in a dramatic climax where Bruno shows his mettle.
The book is chock full of humorous scenes and zingy remarks that made me laugh. There's also an array of interesting characters, including:
- Sam Gibson, the owner of Cool Beans Coffee Shop. This potential romantic interest for Kay gives her free coffee and muffins, helpful advice, and dog-walking assistance when needed.
-Akra Levy, Les's ubiquitous assistant. Akra seemed to be 'seven hundred clones' because she's everywhere Les needs all the time - clipboard in hand.
-Consuelo, Kay's 'manager/assistant/entire staff' - who organizes Kay within an inch of her life. Consuelo is angling to be an animal agent herself.
-Diego (Dee), Consuelo's 22-year-old son, whose common sense provides vital clues to the mysteries in the story.
-Maisie, a macaw Kay took in lieu of payment. Maisie - 'a diva and a brat' - resides in Kay's office, and wants everyone to go away and leave her alone.
One of my favorite lines in the book is when Consuelo tells Kay, "You have an appointment with that parakeet at eleven-thirty, then a phone call with the bear cub and a callback for the calico cat." Ha ha ha
I enjoyed this well-written, cozy mystery and highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (E.J. Copperman) and the publisher (St. Martin's Press) for a copy of the book.
Rating: 4 stars
In this 6th book in the 'Big Mike' cozy mystery series, a detested movie director is murdered. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Hollywood hotshots descend on the town of Empty Creek, Arizona to film a Western and the townsfolk - many of whom are extras - are excited.
But soon after filming begins the very unpopular director, C.D. Masterly, is murdered in a most bizarre fashion.
Penelope Warren, former marine and current owner of a bookstore - and her cat Big Mike - help the sheriff's department investigate.
Big Mike isn't that great of a sleuth, but he's entertaining as he inadvertently uses the computer and inserts himself into the movie.
After Masterly's death a new director is hired and while the movie is being filmed the investigators and Penelope question lots of people, formulate several theories, and run into a lot of dead ends.
Meanwhile there must be something in the air in Empty Creek because there are scads of romantic relationships with plenty of fun (not graphic) hijinks. This makes up a good portion of the book.
Eventually the mystery is solved in a (to me) surprise twist. There were a lot of characters in the story - including Masterly's many girlfriends, the movie cast, the film crew, writers, townsfolk, investigators, etc. - and I had some trouble remembering who was who.
All in all I'd recommend the book as an entertaining light mystery.
Rating: 3 stars
This is the last book in Anne George's 'Southern Sisters' cozy mystery series, written shortly before the author died. The books feature two sisters in their 60s who live Birmingham, Alabama and occasionally stumble over dead bodies. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but it's fun to start at the beginning and see what the women get up to over time.
The older sister, Mary Alice Crane (nicknamed Sister), is a flamboyant force of nature - 6 feet tall, 250 lbs - who's been married three times to rich, much older men. Mary Alice had a child with each husband before he died.....and left her buckets of money.
Mary Alice recently got engaged to Sheriff Virgil Stuckey, and is happily planning her nuptials and honeymoon. To the dismay of her wedding party, Mary Alice has chosen the colors magenta and sunflower for her festivities....and their dresses.
The younger sister, Patricia Anne Holloway (nicknamed Mouse), is a prim, retired English teacher - 5 feet tall and slim - married to her childhood sweetheart, Fred.
The Holloways have three children and recently found out that their daughter Haley - who's currently living in Poland with her husband - is expecting a baby girl. Thus there's much excitement in the family.
In "Murder Boogies With Elvis", the murder victim is an Elvis impersonator.
Early in the story Mary Alice, Virgil, Patricia Anne, and Fred are attending a benefit show at the Alabama Theatre - to raise money for the repair of Birmingham's 'Vulcan' statue. The show's grand finale features a long row of Elvis impersonators frolicking like the Radio City Rockettes. As the impersonators sashay to the front of the stage, one of them stumbles and falls into the orchestra pit. Turns out he was stabbed in the back with a knife.
The victim is identified as Griffin Mooncloth, but nobody seems to know who he is or how he came to be in the Elvis chorus line. As it happens, Virgil's son Buddy and his son-in-law Larry are also Elvis impersonators, and were on either side of Mooncloth when he fell. In fact, Larry says he saw a figure behind Mooncloth, but wasn't wearing his glasses - and can't identify the person. This apparently spooks someone, because Larry is attacked and falls into a coma.
Patricia Anne and Mary Alice don't try to get involved in the murder inquiry until the murder weapon that killed Mooncloth - a switchblade - shows up in Mouse's purse in a restaurant.
Patricia Anne is arrested by her former student, who's now a cop. Of course Patricia Anne is soon released - and the cop begs her not to tell his mother. LOL
After Mouse's arrest the sisters take a real interest in the case - and 'investigate' as they go about their day to day business. The gals go to lunch with friends; look at wedding dress catalogues (Sister and her brother-in-law Fred oddly bond over this task....ha ha ha); visit Larry and his family in the hospital; gossip with friends, neighbors and acquaintances; and so on. The amateur sleuths identify a number of possible suspects, and there are some surprising twists before the killer is identified.
The 'mystery' is the core element of these books, but most of the reading pleasure comes from the characters, their lives, and their colorful cohorts. Patricia Anne and Fred exchange affectionate banter - and have tasty meals purchased at the Piggly Wiggly Supermarket; Mary Alice has an over-the-top glamazon wardrobe (including purple boots) and a boisterous personality to match; the Hollowells dog, Woofer, gets lots of walks and adores his Igloo doghouse; Sister's cat Bubba invariably lies - unmoving - on a heating pad on the kitchen counter (Mouse periodically checks for signs of life); Patricia Anne is babysitting Haley's cat, Muffin, who loves to cuddle with Woofer (much to his chagrin); Mary Alice's daughter plans to have artificial insemination (like her sister in a previous book) - and Mary Alice laments that this 'isn't the usual conduit'; and more. There's always a lot going on with these ladies.
Anne George is missed by her fans, but luckily we still have her written works. If you crave cozy southern mysteries, this series will fit the bill. In case you're interested, the first book in the series is Murder on a Girls' Night Out.
Rating: 3.5 stars
In this 8th book in the 'Abe Lieberman' series the detective has a lot going on in his professional and personal life. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is a bonus.
*****
Detective Abe Lieberman ('the rabbi')......
.....and his partner Detective Bill Hanrahan ('Father Murphy'), veteran cops of the Chicago Police Department, are friends as well as partners.
As the book opens, though, they're working on different investigations - several of which unfold during the course of the story.
At the start of the book Lieberman is in Yuma, Arizona, tasked with bringing killer-for-hire Connie Glover back to Chicago.
As Lieberman and a local cop are escorting Connie through the airport, an elderly janitor steps up and shoots the hitman. The janitor, shot by the Yuma cop and hospitalized, admits to accepting money to kill Connie. Trying to find out who ordered the hit, Lieberman finds clues that lead him back to Chicago.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, a gang of young roughnecks has been on a tear - beating, raping, and killing. One of their rape victims is the wife of Detective Sergeant Hugh Morton, a respected black police officer.
Hanrahan, and his temporary partner Detective Bill O'Neil - an irritating big-mouthed racist - need to catch the hooligans before Morton exercises frontier justice and ruins his career.
At the same time, a mob war threatens to break out between local Chinese.....
......and Puerto Rican gangs.
Tensions were already high between the gangs and - after a Chinese thug is thrown out a window - things threaten to go ballistic. Lieberman, who has an odd friendship with the leader of the Latin gang, tries to broker a truce with the help of a Chinese 'godfather.'
And in the category 'inexplicable nutcases', Wayne Czerbiak, a seemingly mild-mannered sign painter.....
.....decides to shoot country singer Lee Cole Carter.
Czerbiak announces his plans quite freely, but people think he's talking about photography....until they don't.
Lieberman and Hanrahan also have a lot going on their personal lives. Lieberman and his wife Bess are the guardians of their grandkids and are planning (and paying for) their grandson's upcoming bar mitzvah. This requires a good deal of preparation as well as some tense interaction with their daughter Lisa - a troubled gal who's flown in for the event.
And Hanrahan and his new Chinese wife, Iris Chen Hanrahan, are expecting a baby. This disturbs Iris's cousin, a member of the Falun Gong, who wants to prevent the birth of this ethnically mixed ('mongrel') baby. The determined Falun Gong member starts his campaign with harassing phone calls to Iris, which doesn't sit well with a lot of people.
Lieberman and Hanrahan, as always, spend some time in Maish Lieberman's delicatessen, eating delicious food and kibitzing with the 'alter cockers', a group of old men who have an opinion about everything.
All in all, a very pleasant visit with Lieberman and Hanrahan, who go about their business skillfully and without undue drama. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to mystery fans. You can't go wrong with Stuart Kaminsky, a respected author of several acclaimed detective series.
Rating: 4 stars
