Just Another Dead Author by Katarina Bivald

JUST ANOTHER DEAD AUTHOR by Katarina Bivald (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend) follows Swedish writer Berit Gardner after her initial adventures in The Murders in Great Diddling. She is now in France as a guest speaker at a writers’ conference. Once again, Berit utilizes her powers of observation and analysis to unconventionally aid the local police in solving a murder. The dead author is John Wright, a distinctly unpleasant character who has managed to offend or alienate most people, resulting in plenty of suspects amongst the speakers and guests at the conference. To further complicate the investigation, they are all writers (“basically in training to become liars”) and therefore prone to flights of imagination: “…used to bending the truth to suit their needs and wishes. An intoxicating habit of playing God, of being able to control reality, change it, stretch it according to their own ideas and wishes.” Secrets and surprises are rampant in this entertaining tale in which Bivald deftly employs humor and Berit’s refreshing perspective on the writing life: “When writing is at its best, it lets us imagine things and play like a child … see the world with the wide eyed fascination of a child, talk to imaginary friends inside our head, travel all over the world without leaving our chair, befriend dragons, find love, save the world.” A Reading Group Guide and notes from a Conversation with the Author are included.

Murder in Pitigliano by Camilla Trinchieri

MURDER IN PITIGLIANO by Camilla Trinchieri is book five in a series and a recommended summer mystery read by The Washington Post. The main character is Nico Doyle, a retired American detective who has been rebuilding his life in Italy when 7-year-old Cilia asks him to save her father (Saviero), a fugitive accused of murder. Nico (and his faithful dog named One Wag/Rocco) cannot resist the little girl’s pleas and team up with the local police to look into the murder of Saviero’s business partner. There are a myriad of suspects and motives (necessitating a multi-page cast of characters) and the investigation drags out. It is interspersed with descriptions of food and cooking as well as the dog’s many antics. This was the first title I had read in this series and it worked as a stand-alone. The similarities to Walker’s Inspector Bruno series, however, were many: European setting, emphasis on food (and wine), pampered canine companion, romantic interest, collegiality with the local police and residents and I think that Walker provides a more succinct, engaging mystery.

An Enemy in the Village by Martin Walker

AN ENEMY IN THE VILLAGE by Martin Walker is book 18 in the Bruno, Chief of Police series. This mystery is set in St. Denis, a small village in the Périgord (Dordogne) region of France, a little over two hours southwest of Paris by train. Walker recently appeared at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, DC and commented then on the way Bruno seems to have entered into the hearts of readers around the world. His own affection for Bruno and his many fictional friends (like the mayor, the riding school director, local author, and the doctor) and their families is evident, too; Walker describes this special camaraderie as having “taken on a life of its own which I feel particularly delighted about.” AN ENEMY IN THE VILLAGE has Bruno investigating the apparent suicide of Monique, a local entrepreneur in the real estate and hospitality field. There is also a new romantic interest, Laura, who shares Bruno's interests, especially in basset hounds. And whiffs of internal corruption between the cops and gendarmes, bolstered by the Greens contributing to a misinformation campaign which could harm Bruno. Always full of twisty mysteries, sumptuous food and wine, and adventure in a European setting, be sure to look for titles in this excellent series.

A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith

A CASE OF MICE AND MURDER by Sally Smith is book one in The Trials of Gabriel Ward mystery series (a second book is coming in November). This story is truly charming and delightful; it is set in the Temple area, a tradition-bound center of London's legal world (the year is 1901). Smith introduces readers to an unassuming and unwilling sleuth, Gabriel Ward, a well-regarded barrister but a recluse who finds himself investigating a judge’s death while being drawn into the problems of the lower classes, including a scullery maid and a homeless man. Gabriel Ward also has a challenging task of defending a publisher against a young woman who claims to have authored the best-selling Millie the Temple Church Mouse. And, all the while he must skirt the politics as rival lawyers jostle to succeed the murdered judge. In her promising debut, Smith interweaves the storylines, builds suspense, and develops affection for her characters, especially Sir Gabriel who says he “just tried to remember all that I knew from my books and to apply psychology to the facts; It is the only way I can think of to be a detective.”

Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King

KNAVE OF DIAMONDS by Laurie R. King is the 19th book in the well-regarded Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mystery series which began over thirty years ago with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. This may be one of the best yet – it certainly is an engaging tale. Three main characters – Russell, Holmes, and Mary’s sometimes criminal uncle Jake – share the adventures and narration duties. The story is set in 1925, but hinges on the still publicly unsolved theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in 1907. Readers soon learn that both Holmes and Jake have an emotional stake in that event and it’s entertaining to see them “dance” around each other as they contemplate teaming up to find the jewels, all while looking out for Mary (who is more than capable of taking care of herself). I hope Uncle Jake returns for more mysteries and recommend KNAVE OF DIAMONDS and the entire series to mystery fans. An author’s note references the actual theft and provides additional background on historical figures who appear in the novel. A fun, quick read with bursts of Irish affability.

A Cyclist's Guide to Villains & Vines by Ann Claire

A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO VILLAINS & VINES by Ann Claire (A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants) finds the head of Oui Cycle, Sadie Greene, leading a group of older cyclists (the Silver Spinners) in Alsace. Nothing is ever easy for Sadie as a body is discovered and several members of the group are considered prime suspects. The local gendarmes are not big fans of Sadie and her group (pointing out that they have broken into a private residence, recreated a murder scene without police involvement, and confessed to murder), but luckily romantic interest (and police officer) Jacques Laurent arrives to run interference. These stories, while rather improbable, are light and amusing with some touristy background on French regions, foods, and wines. The mystery itself was puzzling and no doubt Sadie will soon be embroiled in another.

Mrs Hudson and the Capricorn Incident

MRS HUDSON AND THE CAPRICORN INCIDENT by Martin Davies is Book 7 in the series; Others include Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose and Mrs Hudson and the Christmas Canary. Davies follows a similar pattern with Mrs. Hudson and the housemaid, Flotsam, integral to solving a case while righting other wrongs along the way. In this case, there is to be a royal wedding, but both bride and groom have gone missing, and an international crisis is brewing. Simultaneously, the amusing socialite Miss Peters is upset about people who are being swindled and she, too, contributes to a solution by leveraging her many connections. Flotsam’s quiet bravery and Mrs. Hudson’s clever, careful thinking are very much on display. As Flotsam says, “It seemed utterly impossible that Mrs Hudson should know so much … when everyone else knew so little, but of course Mrs Hudson did have a habit of knowing things that no one else knew, so although I was bewildered, I wasn't perhaps as astonished as you might expect.” Enjoy this light, entertaining mystery.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly

RESURRECTION WALK (Nov. 2023) by Michael Connelly is a Lincoln Lawyer story featuring Mickey Haller and his half-brother, Harry Bosch, a retired LAPD cop. They have recently combined forces to establish an Innocence Project of sorts, identifying and helping to free wrongly accused individuals. Here, they take the case of Lucinda Sanz, a young mother and former wife of a sheriff’s deputy she was found guilty of murdering. Was it all a frame-up? Bosch, Haller, and his team ultimately believe so and repeatedly run into roadblocks as they try to convince a judge to allow new technological evidence on behalf of their client. RESURRECTION WALK received starred reviews from Booklist (“The Lincoln Lawyer TV series should propel readers to this latest Connelly novel.”) and Kirkus (“Connelly never lets you forget, from his title onward, the life-or-death issues behind every move in the game.”). At one point, Haller reflects, “but nothing could ever beat the resurrection walk--when the manacles come off and the last metal doors slide open like the gates of heaven, and a man or woman declared innocent walks into the waiting arms of family, resurrected in life and the law. There is no better feeling in the world than being with that family and knowing you were the one who made it so.”

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

THE GREY WOLF by Louise Penny is number 19 in the Inspector Gamache mystery series set in Three Pines, Quebec. The title comes from a tale about a Cree elder who referred to two wolves who war inside each of us. One is strong and compassionate, wise and courageous, the forgiving Grey Wolf; the other, the Black Wolf, is vengeful, unforgiving, cruel, cunning and brutal. And once again, Gamache faces evil – this time related to a threat to the infrastructure and an environmental challenge: “How lucky he'd been. To be of a generation that believed it would last forever. The forests and clean rivers, the fresh air. His was the last generation, as it turned out.” Jean Guy and Isabelle are stalwart aides as they seek to prevent terrorism and to root out treachery and corruption, travelling to homeless shelters, remote monasteries, and the Vatican itself. In her Acknowledgements, Penny provides an eloquent summary: “The Gamache books are proudly crime novels, … but at their core they are about community. Acceptance. Belonging. Courage. The books are about the triumph of love and the power of friendship about trying to do better. Progress, not perfection.” THE GREY WOLF received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly (“one of the series’ best”). I was sorry to learn that Book People had run out of copies when I visited, but it appears they have restocked and they conveniently list ALL of the titles in this excellent series. Note: number 20, The Black Wolf, is scheduled for 2025!

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Bradley

WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST by Alan Bradley is the newest Flavia de Luce Novel (Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and many more; for example, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches). Once again Bradley’s opinionated and daring young detective sets out to solve a murder while proving that her housekeeper, Mrs. Mullet, is innocent. Flavia has been described as a combination between Eloise and Sherlock Holmes; she certainly loves her chemistry experiments and clever wordplay. Her internal dialogues are such fun; for examples “I know how suspicious minds work because that's how my mind works. It is not always easy being blessed with a superior brain.” Or, more seriously, “For the first time in ages, I wanted to cry. I wanted to have a good old-fashioned wail: a healthy old heartbreaking howl. But why bother when there was no one here to hear it?” As Flavia ages and her sisters develop their own lives, it appears that her younger (and often annoying) cousin, Undine, may take a larger role in investigating and in perpetuating the sometimes naïve innocence and lucky thinking needed to beat the local inspector to the true perpetuators. Dogger, loyal servant and dear friend to Flavia, is indispensable, too, in helping unravel motives in the death of Major Greyleigh, formerly a public hangman. This series offers readers a charming and humorous scramble of mystery and introspection. A LibraryReads September 2024 Hall of Fame selection, WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST received a starred review from Booklist (“an endlessly entertaining amateur young sleuth who has much to teach her elders”). 

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

THE LAST WORD by Elly Griffiths is the fourth in a series involving detective Harbinder Kaur (start with the first, Stranger Diaries for a great read). Once again, Kaur suggests involving private detectives Natalka (energetic and Ukrainian-born) and Edwin (in his eighties, but still a great contributor) with help from Natalka’s boyfriend, Benedict who runs a coffee stand. Readers will come to know the personalities and motives of each of these three as they look into the death of a local romance writer. Turns out that there seem to be several writers who died recently and they are linked to Battle House where Edwin and Benedict register for a writers’ retreat seminar as they continue sleuthing. THE LAST WORD is a fun read with plenty of twists. And some of the best comments are cultural references like, “It's the same with Duolingo, which he started during lockdown. … he's not going to lose his streak.”  THE LAST WORD received starred reviews from Booklist (“Griffiths is one of the most engaging writers in the business.”) and Library Journal (“satisfyingly twisty cozy”). Enjoy!

Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz

CLOSE TO DEATH by Anthony Horowitz is book 5 in the series featuring Detective Daniel Hawthorne with Horowitz himself as a rather bumbling sidekick character. The first few chapters, though, introduce readers to the inhabitants of Riverview Close, a small, gated community off of Petersham Road in Richmond-upon-Thames. There’s a doctor, Tom Beresford and his jewelry-designing wife, Gemma; the dentist, Roderick Browne and invalid Felicity; two older women, May Winslow and Phyllis Moore; a retired barrister, Andrew Pennington; and a chess champion and his second wife, Adam and Teri Strauss. They have amicably shared the neighborhood for years until new residents, Giles Kenworthy and Lynda, and their two sons, disrupt the peace with loud music, inconsiderate parking, skateboarding, and a proposal for a swimming pool! The ensuing sudden death of a neighbor is a case which Hawthorne investigated years ago and Horowitz is determined to turn it into a book despite warnings that it did not turn out well or as expected. Au contraire, this tale is one of the best in the series with the environs and the characters brought vividly to life. There are plenty of twists and turns including a locked room mystery of sorts. CLOSE TO DEATH received starred reviews from both Booklist (“Kudos to anyone who can figure this one out!”) and Kirkus (“[contains a] string of surprises the real-life author has planted like so many explosive devices”). As Horowitz opines, “anyway, you know perfectly well that there's more to a novel - even a crime novel - than violent death. It's all about character and atmosphere and language.” Excellent!