Hallmark and PBS Fall line up

As PBS/Masterpiece Mystery winds down for the summer, I am looking ahead to what is coming up in the Fall. I am also checking in on the Hallmark Mystery channel. I haven't looked at them in awhile. If you are like me, even if you have two books going or several mystery shows going, you are looking for the next read or watch.

PBS Masterpiece:

I loved this season of Professor T, (shocking ending) and DI Ray (good wrap up). I do hope they are returning for another season. Grantchester has two more episodes to go here in the US. We are having to get used to another new Vicar (I just got used to Will). But I love so many of the long term cast and characters and the stories are so good, I will keep on watching.

Here is what Fall looks like according to the PBS Masterpiece website.

Vandervalk -Season 4 begins September 15, 9 p.m. CST. There isn't any info about how many episodes etc. yet.

Moonflower Murders 9/15/24 - 10/20/24 8 p.m. CST Six episodes (clap clap)

This is the sequel to The Magpie Murders.

"Susan Ryeland has left publishing and is living in Crete with her long-time boyfriend, Andreas. But her idyll is disturbed by the shadow of a murder committed at a British country hotel eight years ago. Alan Conway visited the hotel and wrote a novel based on what happened there. Cecily Treherne, the young woman who helps run the hotel, read the book and believed the wrong man had been arrested. Now she has disappeared. Can Susan uncover the secret hidden in the book and find Cecily before it is too late? Moonflower Murders is based on the bestselling novel by Anthony Horowitz."

The Marlow Murder Club 10/27/24 8 pm. CST Four episodes

An all-new adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s novel The Marlow Murder Club is coming to MASTERPIECE on PBS on October 27, 2024, 9/8c. The thrilling, four part series stars Samantha Bond who is joined by Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew.

Samantha Bond (Downton Abbey, Home Fires) takes the lead as Judith Potts, alongside Jo Martin (Doctor Who, Back to Life) as Suzie Harris, Cara Horgan (The Sandman, Traitors) as Becks Starling and Natalie Dew (Sandylands, The Capture) as DS Tanika Malik. Steve Barron (The Durrells in Corfu, Mrs Sidhu Investigates) is set to direct.

Author and writer Robert Thorogood said: “After over a decade of working on Death in Paradise, I’m thrilled to be creating a brand-new murder mystery series for TV. I can’t wait for audiences to join Judith, Becks and Suzie on their adventures as they solve a series of fiendishly puzzling murders.”

There are three books in the series. Here is the blurb about book one - The Marlow Murder Club.

"To solve an impossible murder, you need an impossible hero…

Judith Potts is seventy-seven years old and blissfully happy. She lives on her own in a faded mansion just outside Marlow, there’s no man in her life to tell her what to do or how much whisky to drink, and to keep herself busy she sets crosswords for The Times newspaper.

One evening, while out swimming in the Thames, Judith witnesses a brutal murder. The local police don’t believe her story, so she decides to investigate for herself, and is soon joined in her quest by Suzie, a salt-of-the-earth dog-walker, and Becks, the prim and proper wife of the local Vicar.

Together, they are the Marlow Murder Club.

When another body turns up, they realise they have a real-life serial killer on their hands. And the puzzle they set out to solve has become a trap from which they might never escape." 

I have not read this series, but looking forward to watching this.

Hallmark Mystery Movies:

Here are new movies on the updated Hallmark Mystery channel.

Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder: replay 8/2/24 4 pm. This was originally shown earlier this month and the replay is 8/2/24.

"A cryptic call about a planned jewelry heist draws a Detroit Free Press tipline operator, Maddie Moore, into a dangerous homicide case alongside a newly promoted detective. Starring Holland Roden and Chris McNally."

About Jazz Ramsey: A K-9 Mystery 8/2/24 8/2/24 8 pm

"When Jazz Ramsey and her crime detection dog Zeus stumble upon an old crime scene, the K9 trainer, her star pup, and ex-boyfriend and lead detective Nick are thrown into the investigation. Starring Rachel Skarsten and Corey Sevier.

Signed Sealed and Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters 8/2/24

"The POstables are back identifying the intended recipients of a trio of dead letters which have a surprising, personal impact on all of them. Stars Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson and Rhiannon Fish." 

Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement 8/23/24

"When advice columnist Nelly finds her childhood friend Dahlia's boyfriend dead, she joins detective Hogan to help find the killer. However, as suspicions creep in, Dahlia becomes a prime suspect. Starring Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith."

Looks good to me. Get your DVR's ready!

Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton

Hi all! My thoughts go out to all those people in Southeast Texas that are without power thanks to Beryl, in this typical 90's heat. The hurricane took a turn so we did not even get any rain from it.

For out July Mystery Book Club, we read:

Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton

About: "Detective Elise King investigates a man's disappearance in a seaside town where the locals and weekenders are at odds with each other in this rich and captivating new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Widow.

Elise King is a successful and ambitious detective--or she was before a medical leave left her unsure if she'd ever return to work. She now spends most days watching the growing tensions in her small seaside town of Ebbing--the weekenders renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes.

Elise can only guess what really happens behind closed doors. But Dee Eastwood, her house cleaner, often knows. She's an invisible presence in many of the houses in town, but she sees and hears everything.

The conflicts boil over when a newcomer wants to put the town on the map with a giant music festival, and two teenagers overdose on drugs. When a man disappears the first night of the festival, Elise is drawn back into her detective work and starts digging for answers. Ebbing is a small town, but it's full of secrets and hidden connections that run deeper and darker than Elise could have ever imagined."

 

A favorite line from this book: "When did you decide he was missing, Elise said quietly, Pauline shrugged, "When he didn't come back."

I really enjoyed this book. I found that line wryly funny and was a good insight into Pauline, who is the wife of the missing local - Charlie. 

I really liked Elise. She is a detective, on leave with after being diagnosed with cancer and then receiving treatment. She decides that a move to a small quiet town by the sea, where she can sit and gaze at the water is just what she needs to heal, physically and mentally. I like her neighbor, Ronnie who is a good neighbor to Elise and as the story moves along, a wannabe detective.

As you can guess, Elise gets slowly enticed into the investigation of the missing local, Charlie. Dee is the housekeeper to everyone in town and a bit of a gossip. The same night Charlie disappears, two teenagers overdose. Elise can't hlep but officially return to work to help with the investigation. A coworker who Elise was involved with romantically, Hugh, makes a short appearance. So many suspects as in all good mysteries set in a small English village - many people with agendas.

The end is very fast paced and entertaining. 

What did the MBC members think? All but a few liked the book. One person had an interesting comparison to an English zany comedy with so many characters doing so many kooky, absurd things. I agreed. lol Those that didn't like it, said they didn't like that the time frame changes; present, two days ago, a week before etc. But they clarified they just don't like that style and actually after hearing so many positives, said they may revisit the book and/or try book two.

I was happy to find out that that that there is a book two coming out August 15, 2024 - Talking to Strangers. (Thanks to Kay who is quicker than I to find out these things,) 

I definitely recommend this book.

Find out more about Fiona Barton and her other books at:

https://www.fionabartonauthor.com/

Review: One Wrong Word

One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent fast paced thriller!
I listened to this as an audio book and really enjoyed it.

About: "One wrong word can ruin your life. And no one knows that better than savvy crisis management expert Arden Ward. Problem is, she's now forced to handle a shocking crisis of her own. Unfairly accused of having an affair with a powerful client, Arden’s life and dreams are about to crash and burn. Then, Arden is given an ultimatum. She has just two weeks to save her career and her reputation.

Is Cordelia Bannister the answer to her prayers?

Cordelia needs Arden’s help for her husband Ned, a Boston real estate mogul. Though he was recently acquitted in a fatal drunk driving accident, his reputation is ruined, and the fallout is devastating not only to the Bannisters' lives, but the lives of their two adorable children.

Arden devotes her skill and determination—and maybe her final days on the job—to helping this shattered family, but soon, revelations begin to emerge about what really happened the night of the accident. And then—another car crash throws Ned back into the spotlight.

This case is Arden’s final chance to protect her own future and clear her name. But the more she tries to untangle the truth, the more she’s haunted by one disturbing question—what if she’s also protecting a killer?

Gossip. Lies. Rumors. Words like that can hurt you. And Arden knows the reality. Sometimes one wrong word can kill.

The story begins with Arden being "let go" by her boss Warren because an important client thinks Arden is having an affair with her husband. But to help Arden out, he will give her one more assignment and a great reference. She is to help Ned and his wife Cordelia to get back in the good graces of society after Ned is found not guilty of a hit and wrong. Arden agrees.

Then begins the desperate texts from Cordelia, the casual behavior of Ned and another hit and run. This time Ned's attorney is seriously injured and may not survive. Is Ned actually guilty and his has committed another crime and why? Arden takes Ned and his two children to Ned's mother (he is not to drive). There she and his son are followed and scared out of their wits in the woods near the house. Who is following her? People she thought were on the same side as her, begin acting strange and very suspicious. While you might think you know what is going on, there is so much more. You will be very surprised at the ending. There are definitely some out loud "what???" moments.

I found myself hoping this was going to be a series with more stories about Arden.

I highly recommend it and this author. (And yes Hank Phillip Ryan, I read the acknowledgements. 😊 )

About the author: https://hankphillippiryan.com/

"HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller” and “master of suspense.” She’s the only author to win the Agatha in four categories: Best First, Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best Non-Fiction. Her newest is the page-turning standalone thriller One Wrong Word—a twisty non-stop story of gaslighting, manipulation, and murder. David Baldacci says, “A story with all the goods… Buckle up and read.” B.A. Paris says, “A gripping rollercoaster of a read… This is Hank at her very best!” And James Patterson says, “If you’re looking for riveting suspense that keeps you up late—in One Wrong Word you get your wish.”

Hank is a founder of MWA University, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of First Chapter Fun and The Back Room. Visit Hank online at HankPhillippiRyan.com, on Twitter @HankPRyan, on Instagram @hankpryan and Facebook at HankPhillippiRyanAuthor."       

View all my reviews

Review: Under the Paper Moon

Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of film noir and historical fiction/WWII era so this book interested me from the beginning.

About: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Thin Man ’s Nick and Nora Charles in this intrigue-filled debut from film and television writer Shaina Steinberg, as two former spies who shared more than just missions during WWII reunite in 1948 Los Angeles. Can they let go of heartbreak long enough to team up for one last operation?

A tightly-plotted, emotionally rich postwar mystery for fans of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn and The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor, as well as readers of mysteries by Ashley Weaver, Allison Montclair, and Jacqueline Winspear.

It’s 1942, and as far as her father knows, Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, is working as a translator in London. In truth, Evelyn—daring, beautiful, and as adept with a rifle as she is in five languages—has joined the Office of Strategic Services as a spy. Her goal is to find her brother, who is being held as a POW in a Nazi labor camp. Through one high-risk mission after another she is paired with the reckless and rebellious Nick Gallagher, growing ever close to him until the war’s end brings with it an act of deep betrayal.

Six years later, Evelyn is back home in Los Angeles, working as a private investigator. The war was supposed to change everything, yet Evelyn, contemplating marriage to her childhood sweetheart, feels stifled by convention. Then the suspected cheating husband she’s tailing is murdered, and suddenly Evelyn is back in Nick’s orbit again.

Teaming up for a final mission, Evelyn and Nick begin to uncover the true nature of her case— and realize that the war has followed them home. For beyond the public horrors waged by nations there are countless secret, desperate acts that still reverberate on both continents, and threaten everything Evelyn holds dear... "

Evelyn is a strong woman defying the norm in for women in the 1940's. As WWII ended and is to return to daily life, she finds she isn't interested in the usual spot in society for a woman and continues her "spy" lifestyle as a private detective. She is living with her father who owns a major corporation that makes aircraft. Her current case to spy on a woman's husband that she suspects is having an affair, starts the ball rolling back to her life in WWII. She finds Nick, who she thought she left in Germany, is working for LAPD and is working security for the same man Evelyn is trailing. Also Carl another "co-spy" from the war is a policeman. They web starts to tangle all their lives back together. Meanwhile, Evelyn has been dating James, a "regular guy", with money, a good family and is set on marrying Evelyn and turning her into a socialite housewife. Things really heat up as the story goes and things become dangerous for all. All of the twists unravel at the end making for a really good read.

I was happy to see that this is book one of three! This book sets the characters and the stage for the next two books. I look forward to reading them.

About Shaina Steinberg: "Originally from Chicago, Shaina Steinberg graduated from Vassar College with a BA in English Literature.  During and after college, she traveled extensively, including living abroad in Scotland and working in Colorado as a horse wrangler.  She received her master’s degree from New York University where she studied the representation of war in art and literature, culminating in a thesis on photojournalism and the Vietnam anti-war movement.

Shaina began her career working on Malcolm In The Middle, before joining the WB show Everwood.  At the end of the series, she moved on to Cold Case, Bionic Woman and the Starz show Spartacus.  She also wrote two episodes of Chase for NBC.

Additionally, Shaina has developed pitches, pilots and features with companies such as Temple Hill, Endgame Entertainment, Fremantle, eOne, Blondie Girl, Josephson Entertainment and Alcon.  She was named to the Young and Hungry List in 2013 and to the WriteHer List in 2017. 

Her most recent project, Bride Hard starring Rebel Wilson, was shot in Georgia in July 2023

I won this book and voluntarily provided this review.

View all my reviews

Mystery Award Winners and Nominees

I wanted to share a few of the mystery books that our Mystery Book Club read for our June meeting. These are books that either have won an award or are nominated for an award this year. We all choose a book or books from this list and share at the meeting. Sounds strange? Everyone actually loves it and looks forward to the list we compile for easy reference.

Have you seen this website? Stop You're Killing Me 

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/

In the index on the left of the website, you will see Book Awards. There are several categories of mysteries. You will find five or six books that have been nominated for the sub categories such as best contemporary, best historical, best first novel for example. Good way to find your next book.

Here are some of the books our book club members read and recommended. I have inserted a few of the cover pictures but not all. 

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamoshita: Nominated for and Anthony Best First Mystery and a Barry Best First Novel

The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman: Nominated for a Mary Higgins Clark award.

It's One of us by J.T. Ellison: Nominated for Thriller Best Novel award

The Drift by C.J. Tudor: Nominated for Thriller Best Novel

An Honest Man by Michael Koryta: nominated for an Edgar Best Mystery

The River We Remember by William Krueger Kent: nominated for an Edgar Best Mystery

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon: nominated for an Anthony Best First Novel and Agatha Best First Novel

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman: nominated for Anthony Best Mystery

A Stolen Child by Sarah Stewart Taylor: nominated for Sue Grafton Memorial Award

An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo: nominated for an Edgar and a Sue Grafton Memorial Award

I Heard a Fly Buzz By When I Died by Amanda Flower: nominated for an Agatha Best Historical

The Mystery of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey: winner of an Agatha Best Historical award

There are many more which you can find at Stop You're Killing Me. Each book listed has a link so you can go read more about the books. Lots to look at. Have fun with it.

Currently reading: Under The Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg and One Wrong Word by Hank Phillipi Ryan.

I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died by Amanda Flower

 Gosh I didn't realize it has been a month since I posted here. Not a very good blogger lately. Had a lot going on in May and June and time flew by. (oh, not meant to be a pun)

I wanted to show you what I got in my Strand Bookstore subscription box this week.

You always get two books with the quarterly subscription, a bonus item and a snack. I am excited about these two books. I have two Book Buddies that have read The Bones of the Story and liked it. I have heard of The Unwedding and have looked at it a couple of times. Looks good. The bonus is a small personal fan. (Need that in Texas) Where's the snack you say? Chocolate bar. Which was melty so I put it in the fridge (don't want to waste chocolate) and then I ate it. 

Our June Mystery Book Club read books that won Awards or were nominated for awards this year. 

My book that I  read was I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died (Emily Dickinson Mystery #2) by Amanda Flower. Yes, that Emily Dickinson. 

This book was nominated for an Agatha Best Historical Novel award. The first Emily Dickinson mystery, Because I Could Not Stop For Death, won an Agatha for Best Historical Novel in 2023.

About: 

"When a literary icon stays with the Dickinson family, Emily and her housemaid Willa find themselves embroiled in a shocking murder in this new mystery from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

August 1856. The Dickinson family is comfortably settled in their homestead on Main Street. Emily’s brother, Austin Dickinson, and his new wife are delighted when famous thinker and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to Amherst to speak at a local literary society and decides he and his young secretary, Luther Howard, will stay with the newlyweds. Emily has been a longtime admirer of Emerson’s writing and is thrilled at the chance to meet her idol. She is determined to impress him with her quick wit, and if she can gather the courage, a poem. Willa Noble, the second maid in the Dickinson home and Emily's friend, encourages her to speak to the famous but stern man. But his secretary, Luther, intrigues Willa more because of his clear fondness for the Dickinson sisters.

Willa does not know if Luther truly cares for one of the Dickinson girls or if he just sees marrying one of them as a way to raise himself up in society. After a few days in his company, Willa starts to believe it’s the latter. Miss Lavinia, Emily’s sister, appears to be enchanted by Luther; a fact that bothers Emily greatly. However, Emily’s fears are squashed when Luther turns up dead in the Dickinson’s garden. It seems that he was poisoned. Emerson, aghast at the death of his secretary, demands answers. Emily and Willa set out to find them in order to save the Dickinson family reputation and stop a cold-blooded fiend from killing again."

In the books, Emily considers Willa, the maid, more of a friend than a maid. They are about the same age, Willa is smart and independent. Emily looks to Willa to talk things out, be her escort when going out of the house and assist in solving this latest mystery.

Besides being a good mystery, I like the Emily Dickinson books for their historical aspect. I have always like biographies, especially about people that lived in the 1800's, early 1900's. Even as a child. 

When comparing the information about the Dickinson family, to Wikipedia, it is accurate. Emily, her sister Lavinia, her brother Austin and his wife, Emily's parents. Amanda Flower has captured their personalities also as written down in Emily's biographical information. I also like that the two books capture and discuss issues of the time. 

In this book, one of the topics is immigrants and how they are treated, the prejudice against them. (hmmm sound familiar) In the late 1800's, people were immigrating from Italy and Ireland to name a few. This books shows how people thought they could only do manual labor, drank too much, and couldn't be trusted. Several of the characters are Abolitionists, as was Mr. Dickinson in real life. The Dickinson's are sympathetic to the immigrants and freed slaves of the time, in the book.

The women's issues are another topic. In the book, Emerson tells Emily her poetry is very good, but she should write under a man's name or it will never get published. 

Emily Dickinson's personality and her real life "quirks" are also captured. Willa describes observing Emily staring and going into herself more and more. She does not socialize or seem interested in finding a husband. The title of the book, A Fly Buzzed by When I Died, is the informal title of a poem Emily wrote on her deathbed. 

Amanda Flower has also written the first in a mystery series with Katherine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers, as the main character. It is called, To Slip the Bonds of Earth.

Amanda and her husband have a farm and have rescued several cats. Two of the most recent rescues are named Willa and Katherine. 

http://www.amandaflower.com/

I plan to write a post with some of the award winners and nominees from our MBC, next.

Where Are the Children Now

Seems like summer has arrived already. I am grateful for the rain we have had so far, and grateful to not have been hit with some of the storms Texas has had.

Our Mystery Book Club continues to go strong. For this month, we read:

Where Are The Children Now by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.and an option to also read  Where Are The Children by Mary Higgins Clark. 

Where Are The Children Now was published in April of 2023. Where Are The Children was published in 1975. I was very interested to see what the differences would be in a book from 1975 vs 2023.

Where Are The Children

About: "Nancy Harmon long ago fled the heartbreak of her first marriage, the macabre deaths of her two little children, and the shocking charges against her. She changed her name, dyed her hair, and left California for the windswept peace of Cape Cod. Now remarried, she has two more beloved children, and the terrible pain has begun to heal -- until the morning when she looks in the backyard for her little boy and girl and finds only one red mitten. She knows that the nightmare is beginning again."

This was Mary Higgins Clark suspense debut novel. "Of the fifty-six bestsellers the “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark published in her lifetime, Where Are the Children? was her biggest, selling millions of copies and forever transforming the genre of suspense fiction."

Where Are The Children Now? 

About: " Now, more than four decades since readers first met Nancy and her children, comes the thrilling sequel to the groundbreaking book that set the stage for future generations of psychological suspense novels. 

A lawyer turned successful podcaster, Melissa has recently married a man whose first wife died tragically, leaving him and their young daughter, Riley, behind. While Melissa and her brother, Mike, help their mom, Nancy, relocate from Cape Cod to the equally idyllic Hamptons, Melissa’s new stepdaughter goes missing. Drawing on the experience of their own abduction, Melissa and Mike race to find Riley to save her from the trauma they still struggle with—or worse."

My thoughts and impressions:

I read the first book, first. Where Are The Children. I probably read it in 1975 also. I read many of Mary Higgins Clark books and really liked them. 

This first book is less than 300 pages and reads very very fast. The suspense starts right away and never stops. The author very successfully keeps you away from who but gives you peeks into where and how. I loved how the author untangles what has happened and how we get to the conclusion, never breaking the tension. I did not have the feeling of "I know who did it."

Where Are The Children Now:

The second book is very good also. We get enough of the backstory about the first book, that you do not need to read book one. But you don't get the feeling of book one, of course. I haven't been able to find out if Mary Higgins Clark had this book outlined, partly written etc. or did she and Alafair Burke take turns writing chapters, or did Alafair Burke take a partially written book and finish it. Nevertheless, they did a good job of building suspense. There where parts that you want to scream at a couple of the characters and say " Hey look at that.!"

The differences; the suspense built up slower, and I almost couldn't believe this would happen again to the same family. I did have a pretty good feeling of who was involved at some point, but it was more of " I think so and so, no...maybe not...Oh yes I think so." But there were other aspects I was quite surprised with.

In the end, I liked book one Where Are The Children the best. Not that I didn't like Where Are The Children Now. Book one just really had me on the edge of my seat quicker and through the entire book. It flowed slightly differently.

As I said, this was our May Mystery Book Club selection(s). Only about a third of the members were able to read book one also, six or seven people. But all seemed to like book one best.  Almost everyone else liked book two. We all liked Nancy, the mother from book one, role in this book. The story hit a little too close to home for a couple of people who have small children I think. There is no graphic violence or descriptions of abuse in either book, by the way.

All in all both were two thumbs up.