Tracer’s Blues by N.C. Hyzy

Tracer’s Blues by N.C. Hyzy. Publisher: Julie Hyzy, July 2011

Bets is introduced in an anthology of three short stories that give you an idea of what life is like for an inexperienced girl trying to establish herself as a PI in Chicago.

She needs help, and though she gets it from an unlikely source, she never seems to rise above the rank of amateur.

The three shorts are “Blue Angel,” “Something Blue,” and “Blue Morning.”

This is a fun read watching Bets takes on small cases and handle the big cases with gusto despite making rookie mistakes. This is an enjoyable collection of short stories with my favorite being “Blue Morning.” I hope we get to see more of Bets Tracer.

N.C. Hyzy is the pseudonym of bestselling author Julie Hyzy.

Contract Pending by Jenna Bennett

Contract Pending by Jenna Bennett is the third book in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Bente Gallagher, June 2011

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Savannah is certainly learning the truth of that statement.

It’s been a month and a half since Rafael Collier left town, and although Savannah knows it would be hideously inappropriate—not to mention supremely stupid—to miss him, she wishes he’d come back soon. His grandmother’s ailing, the nurse he hired to take care of her has disappeared, and somebody is watching the house and following Savannah as she goes about the business of bringing her first real estate transaction to a close.

But when Rafe comes back, things only go from bad to worse. Resident nurse Marquita Johnson is found murdered, and Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is asked to handle the case. It doesn’t take long for her to focus her interest, once again, on Rafe.

Now Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting her old flame Todd’s proposal of marriage, or taking a chance on losing her heart and her life by trying to help Rafe, as the term ‘contract pending’ takes on a whole new meaning.

Savannah is close to closing her first real estate deal when a crisis falls into her lap. With a missing caretaker and her ransacked apartment, the police are once again focusing on Rafe, and he’s not even in town. Things come to a boil for Savannah when she has to make a decision that will forever change her life. This is the best book in this series thus far. Savannah is finally becoming her own woman and going after what she wants and boy did the author deliver on that. This is a great read and I can’t wait for the next book in this appealing and enjoyable series.

Jenna Bennett is the is the pseudonym for Bente Gallagher

Hot Property by Jenna Bennett

Hot Property by Jenna Bennett is the second book in the “Savannah Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Bente Gallagher, May 2011

When Savannah Martin’s fellow Realtor and friend Lila Vaughn is robbed during an open house, Savannah rushes to the rescue with tea and sympathy, or at least a really good lunch and a shoulder to cry on. However, Lila seems more peeved than distraught, and her main gripe is that the sexy robber who tied her to a kitchen chair—for her own good—didn’t follow her suggestion to tie her to the bed instead.

Lila’s description of the man fits Savannah’s old school-mate Rafael Collier to a T. Rafe has recently turned up in Savannah’s life again, and he isn’t above doing a little breaking and entering. Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is of the same opinion, and when Lila turns up dead, tied to her bed and strangled, Rafe becomes a suspect. Now Savannah must get busy finding the real murderer before Detective Grimaldi can arrest the wrong man.

With the recent robberies at open houses, everyone is on alert and when Savannah’s friend is later murdered, the cops suspect that her friend Rafe may be involved and Savannah is determined to prove them wrong. This was a fun and entertaining mystery and I especially enjoyed the tension-filled not-yet romance between Savannah and Rafe. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this likable series.

Jenna Bennett is the is the pseudonym for Bente Gallagher

Fatal Consequence by Marie Force

Fatal Consequence by Marie Force is book #3 in the “Fatal” romantic suspense series. Publisher: Carina Press, July 2011

Politics can be murder…

Lieutenant Sam Holland has no sooner accepted Senator Nick Cappuano’s proposal than she’s back on the job. A woman has been found brutally murdered and evidence points to Henry Lightfeather, a senator and close friend of Nick’s. While Sam investigates, Nick stands by his friend—complicating his own bid for reelection, and causing tension between the couple.

As Sam’s investigation reveals a scandal that rocks the capital, Nick and Sam discover that the biggest threat to their future might be someone from her past.

Sam is up to her elbows in a murder mystery that reeks of political mayhem and her team will pull out all the stops to solve this case. I love this series! This was an excellent read that I could not put down once I started. The mystery kept me guessing and I truly enjoy the relationship between the main characters and their friends and family. With a comfortable feel and engaging dialogue, this character-driven story is the best one yet in this charming and marvelous series.

Lot’s Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan

Lot’s Return to Sodom by Sandra Brannan is the second book in the “Liv Bergen” mystery series. Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press, June 2011

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is no place for button-downed citizens–unless they’re trying to hide a murder.

Sharp-witted Liv Bergen can’t avoid becoming embroiled in murders, it seems. Her family’s hometown of Sturgis, South Dakota, is quickly becoming the Sodom of the Black Hills during the dog days of summer as it hosts the infamous rally of grizzled hard-core motorcycle bikers–half a million of them. Crime comes too close for comfort when Liv must solve the mystery of a beautiful young townie to clear her brother’s name.

Liv witnesses the vile death of another young woman, and during her investigation of both crimes she attracts the uninvited attentions of the menacing leader of Lucifer’s Lot–the baddest of the bad biker gangs. Her quick wit and pragmatic thinking are all that stands between her and certain elimination.

FBI agent Streeter Pierce is back on the trail, working undercover to find the murderer and a shadow criminal called the Crooked Man. When he and Liv cross paths, sparks are flying, literally.

Fans of the amateur sleuth’s adventures will find this second book in the Liv Bergen series–the sequel to In the Belly of Jonah–an even deeper mystery, with greater consequences for their heroine.

When Liv’s brother becomes the prime suspect in the death of his girlfriend, he asks Liv to look into her murder. This was a good read that I found hard to put down. This non-stop, page-turning drama kept me on my toes as I tried to guess who did what to whom. Despite being a bit more descriptive than I like, I enjoyed this tale of intrigue and look forward to the next book in this suspenseful series.

Wined and Died by Cricket McRae

Wined and Died by Cricket McRae is the fifth book in the “Home Crafting” mystery series. Publisher: Midnight Ink, July 2011

Something is brewing in Cadyville, and it’s not only dandelion wine. Sophie Mae is intrigued by a recently discovered cassette recording in which a therapist fearfully contemplates her client’s murderous threats. When the same therapist ends up dead, Sophie Mae is lured into another intoxicating investigation, one that explores the age-old art of mead and wine making.

I don’t know how Sophie Mae does it, but she always finds herself involved in a murder plot. This time, listening to a psychotherapist’s tape brings out the inquisitive nature in Sophie Mae and with her junior sidekick, Erin, Sophie tries to warn the family mentioned on the tape that someone wants one of them dead. When a death occurs after giving her warning, Sophie Mae takes us on her journey to find a killer before someone else dies. What a great read. I especially love the first line that opens this wonderful story with its interesting plot involving mead and wine-making. It was great to see the now-married Sophie Mae, Barr and especially the delightful antics of Erin. With lovable characters, fun conversations and a look into another home crafting project, this was enjoyable and I can’t wait to read the next book in this charming series.

Fallen by Karin Slaughter

Fallen by Karin Slaughter is the third book in the “Georgia” thriller series. Publisher: Delacorte Press, June 2011

There’s no police training stronger than a cop’s instinct. Faith Mitchell’s mother isn’t answering her phone. Her front door is open. There’s a bloodstain above the knob. Her infant daughter is hidden in a shed behind the house. All that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations taught Faith Mitchell goes out the window when she charges into her mother’s house, gun drawn. She sees a man dead in the laundry room. She sees a hostage situation in the bedroom. What she doesn’t see is her mother. . . .

“You know what we’re here for. Hand it over, and we’ll let her go.”

When the hostage situation turns deadly, Faith is left with too many questions, not enough answers. To find her mother, she’ll need the help of her partner, Will Trent, and they’ll both need the help of trauma doctor Sara Linton. But Faith isn’t just a cop anymore—she’s a witness. She’s also a suspect.

The thin blue line hides police corruption, bribery, even murder. Faith will have to go up against the people she respects the most in order to find her mother and bring the truth to light—or bury it forever.

Karin Slaughter’s most exhilarating novel yet is a thrilling journey through the heart and soul, where the personal and the criminal collide, and conflicted loyalties threaten to destroy reputations and ruin lives. It is the work of a master of the thriller at the top of her game, and a whirlwind of unrelenting suspense.

This fast-action, heart-pounding and riveting book kept me deeply engrossed in this book as Faith and friends try to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. The frantic pace at which this well-written story evolved was so exhilarating, that there was no way I was putting this book down until the charged conclusion. This gripping tale of the past coming back to haunt the present was well worth the wait and I look forward to the next book in this thrilling and suspenseful series.

Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo

Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo is the third book in the “Kate Burkholder” thriller series. Publisher: Minotaur Books, June 2011

The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

Oh My! When Kate is called upon a gruesome scene, she feels connected to the children left behind. When it appears that the parents were murdered, Kate vows to find their murderer, this while dealing with a rash of hate crimes towards the Amish. I was fully immersed in this fast-action, page-turning and suspenseful drama that was hard to put down. A strong and conflicted heroine and riveting plot kept me guessing in this spine-tingling murder mystery and I blown away when the killer was revealed, especially since I did not see this one coming. This was an excellent thriller.

Lottawatah Twister by Evelyn David

Lottawatah Twister by Evelyn David is the sixth book in the “Brianna Sullivan” mystery series. July 2011

In Lottawatah Twister, a powerful tornado wreaks destruction on everything in its path and stirs up some unsettled ghosts. It’s up to Brianna to figure out whodunnit before the killer strikes again. Leon, the adorable and digestively-challenged bulldog, is back at the center of the action and more than once saves the day – and the beef jerky. Brianna is forced to answer a question that she’s avoided since the day she arrived in Lottawatah: why is she sticking around? Lottawatah Twister has more twists and turns than a funnel cloud, with humor to make you laugh out loud and a romance that will touch your heart.

When a tornado touches down in town, the laundromat where Brianna worked was destroyed and an unexpected visitor makes their presence known. Brianna uncovers more than she realizes and as she gets closer to exposing the truth, someone wants her out of town, permanently. I really enjoy my visits to Lottawatah, Oklahoma. This evenly-paced and action-filled mystery was so good that I could not put this book down as I quickly turned the pages. You never know who’s going to show up and taunt Brianna into solving the puzzle that will send them *home*. What I like most is that with each story, Brianna learns more about herself and the town she has come to love. I can’t wait to read about the next sightings in this enjoyable series.

Evelyn David is the pseudonym for Marian Edelman Borden and Rhonda Dossett.

Citizen Insane by Karen Cantwell

Citizen Insane by Karen Cantwell is the second book in the “Barbara Marr” murder mystery series. Publisher: Books on the Green, June 2011

If you think PTA meetings are boring, then you haven’t attended one in Barbara Marr’s neighborhood, where MURDER is on the agenda. Always one to stumble into trouble, Barb learns the hard way that a seemingly innocent yearbook scandal is actually part of a more sinister and deadly plot. Join soccer mom and movie lover Barbara Marr in this second laugh-out-loud, chaotic mystery, where high-profile crime and suburban living collide in an unexpected fashion.

What a hilarious and riotous read! All she wanted was her husband back home but instead we are taken on a very funny, side-splitting and amusing caper in the life of Barbara Marr. This cleverly-written, fast-paced and light-hearted mystery is full of laugh-out-loud moments, especially when Barbara is pulled into action. I’m looking forward to the next fun-filled adventure with Barbara and the gang in this entertaining and fun-tastic series.