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W Is for Wonderful
The only bad thing about the arrival of Sue Grafton’s W Is for Wasted is the anxiety that arises because there are only three letters left in the alphabet. What’s she going to do with Kinsey Millhone after the series reaches Z? Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson W IS FOR WASTED. By Sue Grafton. Random…
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Reality’s out; hilarity’s in
Bob Moyer knows a delightfully crazy crime novel when he reads one, and he’s just read the latest zany book by Carl Hiaasen. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer BAD MONKEY. By Carl Hiaasen. Alfred A. Knopf. 336 pages. $26.95 Take a severed arm, recently owned by a man suspected of massive Medicare fraud. Toss it…
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New battles, old murders
Charles Todd, the mother-son writing team that’s had considerable success with the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries set after World War I, is back with another novel in their newer series starring Bess Crawford, a nurse in that Great War. Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson A QUESTION OF HONOR. By Charles Todd. William Morrow. 309 pages.…
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The magic is in the writing
Steve Wishnevsky takes a look at what happens when J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame tries writing a detective novel. He likes what he sees. Reviewed by Stephen Wishnevsky THE CUCKOO’S CALLING. By J.K. Rowling, writing as Robert Galbraith. Mulholland Books. 464 pages. Struggling London Private Investigator Cormoran Strike has more going against him than…
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Mystery in Paris, in fine fashion
When Bob Moyer isn’t traveling in physical terms, he’s traveling through his reading. Here, he visits Paris by way of a charming mystery. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer MURDER BELOW MONTPARNASSE. By Cara Black. SOHO Crime. 336 pages. $25.95. Cara Black has carved a comfortable niche out of the soft-boiled genre. She rambles around Paris, concocting…
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At least, it’s witty
The esteemed reviewer, actor, haikuist and petanquer (I’m sure I’m leaving some important role out) Bob Moyer has resurfaced after a summer on the road. Here he takes a look at the latest offering in a long-running series. Reviewed by Robert Moyer GUILT. By Jonathan Kellerman. Ballantine Books. 378 pages. $28. Jonathan Kellerman’s detecting duo,…
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Stephanie Plum meets Monk? Well, not exactly…
The only drawback to taking this book to the beach or on an airplane is that it moves along so quickly and enjoyably, you’ll find yourself at the end before you want to be there! Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE HEIST. By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. Bantam. 295 pages. $28. You could say…
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Into the viper’s nest
Rarely is a history lesson as entertaining as in the Maggie Hope World War II novels. Here’s a review of the latest one, No. 3 in the series. Review by Linda C. Brinson HIS MAJESTY’S HOPE. By Susan Elia MacNeal. Bantam Trade Paperback Original. 354 pages. $15. Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope novels just keep…
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For a great escape, try Dan Brown’s latest
Here’s a great vacation book, whether you listen to it, as I did, while driving, or read the print version. I enjoyed Dan Brown’s blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, especially, but I’ve somehow missed a couple of his other efforts. Judging from some reviews I’ve read of The Lost Symbol, missing that one might have…