Tell Me, Pretty Maiden

by Rhys Bowen

We readers have been following the adventures of Molly Murphy, an extraordinary Irish immigrant to New York City in the early 1900's. Forced to flee Ireland, she arrives penniless. Unwilling to succumb to the drudgery of being a maid, or working in the sweat shops, definitely not interested in being kept in a brothel, she happens upon a job with a private detective. When he dies tragically, she just keeps on as a detective. Her Irish luck brings continuing success to her career.

This time she is dealing with multiple cases. A malignant ghost haunting a theater, a background check of a prospective groom, and an investigation of a robbery. In the robbery, the evidence is overwhelming against a young man, a nephew of a friend, who is missing. Can she find him and prove his innocence? Not to mention it, Molly found a young girl lying in the snow, catatonic. Molly takes her in, determined to discover what terrible trauma has robbed her of speech. Then there is Molly’s boyfriend, Daniel Sullivan, who continues to brood over his unjust dismissal from the police force and keeps treating her without respect for her independent nature. For Molly won’t be shoved into the prison of being what society expects women of that era to be.

My major complaint about this story is the author attempted to keep the reader in the dark, by keeping Molly clueless on things she should have questioned or figured out. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much a mystery to me what had happened and I found it irritating that Molly wasn’t smart enough to have a clue. Despite that weakness, I enjoyed the characters and the setting very much. This time we get to see backstage at the theater and the insides of the horrid insane asylum and meet the famous Nelly Bly. Hopefully next time out, the author will allow Molly to show her native brilliance. And please get Daniel over his depression, he broods way too much, not to mention his male chauvinistic behavior is really irritating. He either needs to grow up or Molly needs to kick him out.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

TELL ME, PRETTY MAIDEN, A Molly Murphy Mystery
Rhys Bowen
St. Martin’s Minotaur 2008
ISBN 13: 978-0-312-34943-1

What is ISBN?

ISBN, what is it? When I noticed a book listing an ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 number, I found myself asking what was going on.

So I did a little investigation. In 2007, they switched from an ISBN-10 to an ISBN-13, but recommended that books published in the transition period carry both.

But what is an ISBN? It stands for International Standard Book Number. Supposedly every book, professionally published, has been given a unique 10 digit ISBN, since the system started in 1970. Now that has been changed to 13 digits. Why? To better conform with the 13 digit EAN code, which is a bar code for all products.

So what does the code mean?
For example: ISBN# 978-81-7525766-0
978 - Is the EAN code for books.
81 - Is group code, such as identifying it as an English speaking country.
7525 - Identifies the publisher. A publisher may have more than one code.
766- Product number.
0 - Check sum. This number is arrived at by following a complex mathematical formula. You multiply all the numbers by a predetermined amount, add together the totals, and divide them by 11 or 10 depending if it is 10 or 13 ISBN. The number that remains is then added to the check sum number to equal 11 or 10. This is supposed to assure that there are no errors when typing numbers so that no invalid ISBN are issued.

So now you and I know a little bit more.

The Right Hand of Amon

by Lauren Haney

From the time I was a teenager, I have been fascinated by ancient Egypt. One of my all time favorite series is Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peter. I was very pleased when I found the Lord Meron series by Lynda S. Robinson and sorely disappointed when it ended after six books. Now I have found Lauren Haney series about Lieutenant Bak, commander of the Medjay police during reign of Queen Maatkare Hatshepsut.

THE RIGHT HAND OF AMON is a beautiful mystery, the kind where the characters and clues are unfolded slowly and with exquisite precision against a backdrop that is at both exotic and yet realistically familiar. She has brought ancient Egypt alive with great skill.

My only regret is that there are only eight books in the series. From what I read, her publisher dropped the series and she hasn’t found a new publisher. One can only hope she does, for if the rest are as good as THE RIGHT HAND OF AMON, it is a series worth owning, one that shouldn’t be dropped because it is midlist. I better stop before I start a rant. If you enjoy mysteries and Egypt, this is definitely a book you want to read.

THE RIGHT HAND OF AMON
By Lauren Haney
Avon Books Inc
1997

Reviewed by Linda Suzane October 18, 2008

Savannah's Secret

By Marie Held

SAVANNAH'S SECRET is a romantic spy thriller. And thrilling it is. Reporter Serena Watson begins researching the mysterious destruction of an old mansion, the Peck House, in Savannah, Georgia. Curious about the strange lack of information about the explosion, she initiates a title search. Suddenly someone breaks in to her apartment, then a stranger bumps into her, someone who claims to know her, yet won't explain how. Brent warms her that she must stop her investigation. When it seems that there are men watching her, she reluctantly agrees. For Brent makes her feel safe and protected, and she finds herself definitely drawn to him. Then Brent steals all her notes and disappears without telling her what is going on. Angry, she goes on with her investigation and into life-threatening-danger.

This is a better spy thriller than a romance, if only because the romance follows my least favorite plotline. The conflict results from neither party bothering to communicate, when one simple question or an honest answer would have resolved the issues. Brent thinks he is protecting Serena by not telling her what is going on. Wrong! Serena assumes that Missy is Brent's girlfriend. Wrong! Brent assumes Serena is still in love with her ex-boyfriend, Randall. Wrong! Neither one will let the other know that they love one another and so suffer. While there are many fans who enjoy this romantic formula, I find myself frustrated at the characters for not speaking out.

I also found Serena a little too weak for a reporter. She let her father and Brent keep her in the dark too much. I know this is what I would classify as a sweet romance, with a very young heroine, but again I would prefer a stronger heroine.

Those of you who are fond of the old fashioned, sweet romance will love SAVANNAH'S SECRET. Marie Held has turned her first novel into a wonderful blend of romance and spy thriller. She has made a good beginning.

Offshore Threat

by Nancy A. Lindley-Gauthier

Happy, an odd child, often misunderstood, in love with the sea.

Ollie, standing at the moment where one life must end and another begin.

Corwin, a Coast Guard Commander, charged with homeland security, whose biggest problem isn’t foreign terrorists but among his own ranks.

When the body of a young girl bound in chains is discovered stuffed in a culvert, the “chain” of events entangles the lives of these three.

This is old fashioned suspense at its very best.

Whether well researched or personal experience, the author brings a strong sense of reality to this complex tale. The work of the Coast Guard, which deals with national security, checking incoming shipping, and protecting the safety of boaters makes an interesting background. But it was the richness of details, such as the thrill of sailing through a raging storm, the smell of the sea, the waves brushing against the sand, and a child’s joy of simple things like a gull on the wing, that makes this book special.

OFFSHORE THREAT
by Nancy A. Lindley-Gauthier
Wings ePress Inc.
ISBN 978-1-59705-352-5 eBook

Available from Wings ePress http://www.wings-press.com

Learn more about Nancy at her website www.amomentincrime.com

Reviewed by Linda Suzane August 15, 2008

Maze of Secrets

By Norma Seely

I was lucky enough to spent a “cozy” Sunday with Norma Seely’s great mystery MAZE OF SECRETS. It has everything a lover of the Cozy could want, gardens, tea, cats, and an intrepid older detective, Imajean.

Imajean is a gardener extraordinary whose passion is restoring the Rosewood mansion and the adjacent gardens to their original glory. Reclaiming gardens from over-grown blackberry and brambles is hard enough, but when those around her hide old truths, it makes her all the more determined to find the maze supposedly hidden on the property. Then Imajean’s friend and Rosewood’s director is found lying dead at the bottom of a set of secret stairs.

There is a cast of wonderful quirky characters. According to the author, “Every great detective needs a devil’s advocate.” Imajean has that and a great husband, too, in Glenn. Then there is the bridge play sheriff. And Rosewood’s Board of Directors, one who is definitely a thief, and one who is probably a murderer. The author obviously loves gardening and is an expert at Northwest gardening. She knows more than just the names of the Oregon’s native plants, she makes the gardens vividly real, whether it is the sun-dappled shade garden or the heavenly scent of the rose bower. She has made Rosewood and its gardens come alive. I almost expect to
find them listed on the Register of Historic Homes and Gardens.

Don’t miss MAZE OF SECRETS!

MAZE OF SECRETS
By Norma Seely
Wings ePress Inc.
ISBN 978-1-59705-344-0 eBook
ISBN 978-1-59705-691-5 Trade Paperback

Order it direct from Wings ePress

Reviewed by Linda Suzane July 30, 2008

Ancient Secrets

By Billie Williams

I had the opportunity to read an early, unedited version of Billie A. Williams, ANCIENT SECRETS. Even in that form, despite the typos and wandering plotline, it shone. The author has a true poetic flair with language as well as a talent to tell a dramatic story. ANCIENT SECRETS revolves around a necklace, mysterious beads of power, whose origins Daringer must discover before they can destroy him and his whole family. A mystery and puzzle worthy of Indiana Jones. A story that like Indiana Jones leads us from the ivy covered halls of a Michigan University to deepest darkest Africa and takes us readers on a wild ride. Don’t miss this exciting adventure.

ANCIENT SECRETS
By Billie A. Williams
Wings ePress Inc.
ISBN 978-1-59705-396-9 eBook
ISBN 978-1-59705-647-2 POD
ANCIENT SECRETS available at Amazon.com, Fictionwise.com, or buy direct at discount from www.Wings-Press.com

To learn more about Billie visit her website at www.BillieWilliams.com