Great book: GRIMM (from the TV show) "Icy Touch"

I (Rob) being the avid reader (I read about a book every 2 weeks if you couldn't tell from all my blog reviews here!) recently decided to take a chance on a paperback novel about the NBC TV series "GRIMM." I just finished reading "GRIMM: The Icy Touch" by John Shirley.
  For those who don't know the TV series, Nick is a Police Officer in Portland, Oregon and a "Grimm," - i.e. a human who can see beasts noted in "Grimm brothers fairy tales" that actually walk the Earth -in human form, but can transform into "beasts" of different nature. (Some are wolves, beavers, reptiles, birds, ogres, trolls, etc.) . His job allows him and and his partner Hank Griffin to respond to weird murder cases (that always involve these beasts -known as Wesen).
  I didn't know what to expect from the book, since Tom and I have only really been watching the TV show for the last year or two (Its been on for several seasons)... but THE BOOK WAS GREAT!  
   In fact, it was fast paced, and kept me wanting to read more. I actually finished it in a little over a week.
If you know the TV show, READ IT!! If you don't know the TV show, but like some science fiction/police stories, READ IT! 
- Rob

SUMMARY: Back in the 19th century a Wesen and a Grimm fight to the death. The Grimm wins, but the Wesen’s son escapes and vows revenge. In the present day, Captain Renard sends Nick and Hank to investigate an international crime cartel named Le Touche Givre (The Icy Touch). They discover this deadly gang is run by Wesen, and is involved in various illegal activities, including forced prostitution and drug pushing. As they close in on the gang, Nick begins to realise that their charismatic and dangerous leader is just as intent on tracking him down…

Great Sci-Fi/paranormal book: Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

I (Rob) just finished reading and enjoying another book in the Harry Dresden files series by Jim Butcher. "Summer knight" is the fourth in series. Harry is a wizard that lives in Chicago, and deals with all kinds of supernatural creatures.  In the world of The Dresden Files, magic is real, along with vampires, demons, spirits, faeries, werewolves, outsiders and other monsters. In this book, the "Summer Knight" of the Summer Faerie kingdom is slain and Harry is tasked with finding out the murder and preventing a major war between the faeries that rule Winter and Summer (yes, there are faerie armies and Queens for those two seasons and they war and win when the seasons shift, then battle again...)
  There are a lot of great supporting characters here, including Harry's friend Billy, who happens to be a werewolf (and

has a bunch of werewolf friends); The book is a page turner. You really get involved in it, and I recommend it. Can't wait to read the next in the series!

ABOUT THE BOOKS:   The books are written as a first person narrative from the perspective of the main character, private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden, as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in modern-day Chicago.  As of 2014, Butcher has written 15 novels set in the "Dresden Files" universe,

ABOUT THE SERIES: 
Although the supernatural is still widely discredited, it is practiced by some members of society. Additionally, large portions of the globe (such as much of Central and South America) are mentioned as being largely under the control of supernatural factions. The White Council is an organization of human wizards, noted to wield significant economic power in the world, along with their supernatural power. Each species in the series (humans, faeries, vampires, etc.) has its own political and societal rules and organizations. The human wizards depend on the White Council, while faeries may belong to either of two Faerie Courts, or none at all. Vampires may belong to any of three vampire courts.
Harry Dresden works as the world's only "consulting wizard," accepting supernatural cases from both human and non-human clients, as well as the Chicago PD's Special Investigation unit.

Great Book: Murder at Hatfield House: An Elizabethan Mystery

Tom and I both read " Murder at Hatfield House: An Elizabethan Mystery" by Amanda Carmack and both thoroughly enjoyed it.  

  This is the first in a series.  I found the series with the second book (which I also enjoyed), so I then bought this one. The setting is Elizabethan England (1558) and the stories center on young Queen Elizabeth and Kate Haywood, a musician in the Queen's court who solves murder mysteries under the direction of the queen. The characters are likeable and the stories are great. The writer gives you a good feel for Elizabethan England, through other supporting characters, dialogue and settings. I've visited a couple of the places cited in the books and it brings it all to life. Amanda Carmack is a great writer who can transport you through time.  Highly recommended for mystery lovers, Tudor period fans!
    BOOK SUMMARY:  1558. Kate Haywood, a simple musician in the employ of a princess, will find herself involved in games of crowns as she sets out to solve the murder of the queen’s envoy....
   England is in tumult under the rule of Queen Mary and her Spanish husband. Confined to house arrest at Hatfield House, young Princess Elizabeth is the country’s greatest hope. Far from court intrigues, Elizabeth finds solace in simple things: the quiet countryside and peaceful recreation, including the melodies of her chief musician and his daughter, Kate Haywood.
   But Kate will prove herself most valuable when an envoy of the queen—sent to flush out heretics in the princess’s household—is found dead on the grounds of Hatfield. Acting as Elizabeth’s eyes and ears, Kate is sent out on the trail of a killer whose mission could destroy her family, friends—and the future of England.

Fascinating Book: My Passport Says Clairvoyant

Our friend Ruthie Larkin, known as the "Beantown Medium" in the Boston area recommended that we read a book about the life of a clairvoyant from Holland named M. B. Dykshoorn called "My Passport Says Clairvoyant."
   The book was amazing.   Mr. Dykshoorn had an amazing ability to see things beyond the visible. The book explains how he struggled with his gift as a child - as people didn't believe him, questioned him, and he was even thought a troublemaker because he could "see" things that happened elsewhere in people's lives. Children today with this gift or a gift of mediumship are also often mistreated or reprimanded when they're simply telling the truth in what they see, hear and feel beyond the realm of the physical. People can learn from this and acknowledge their children's gifts.
    Mr. Dykshoorn worked with police in Europe and America to find missing persons, re-enact murder cases (where he could see what happened to victims from their perspective - including the layout of the rooms they were in when murdered) , and tell people about how their life would turn out.
  (Holland actually stamped his passport "Clairvoyant," - thus the name of the book).
   Mr. Dykshoorn became famous throughout Europe in the late 1940s and 1950s. He and his wife moved to Australia and finally to the U.S. In fact, he was so amazing that he was awarded a police badge in Raleigh, N.C. for helping solve murders.
    What's fascinating is that in the Netherlands, being a psychic was believed and welcomed. Once he moved to Australia and the U.S., people doubted him. However, he persevered and showed them his amazing talent.

    He was a psychic and clairvoyant (That's different from what Rob does- talking with dead people and pets).  He actually cured people of diseases by taking on the symptoms and purging them from himself (I think it has to do with   energy transference).
  He and his wife passed in October 2011 in a fire. Although her father’s gift remained intact until his death, their daughter Helga Dykshoorn said he had difficulty making predictions about those closest to him. For this reason, she said that he could not have foreseen the fire that ravaged his apartment. 
  An article in the NY Times in October, 2011, contained some stories from people Mr. Dykshoorn had met. Here's a paragraph from the article: He had even performed medical miracles, guests were told. One man spoke of the creaky knee that Mr. Dykshoorn had remedied. Then there was the woman with the brain tumor, given 10 years to live, she said, but still plodding along 35 years later. After a visit with Mr. Dykshoorn, she recalled, she returned to her doctors, who were perplexed to learn that the tumor had virtually disappeared. 

  The book "My Passport Says Clairvoyant" and was published in 1974 by Hawthorn Books Inc./New York and authored by Russell H. Felton.  This book is well worth the effort to track down!  

Recommended Book: Mr. Monk Helps Himself

We love the OCD detective from the former TV series Mr. Monk, and the books are equally as great and entertaining as the TV show. In fact, the books continue where the TV series ended. The first 15 in the series were written by Lee Goldberg and were ALL great reads!  I would read them and laugh out loud at Mr. Monk dealing with his many phobias- while uncovering the most bizarre murder mysteries.
  Lee Goldberg retired from writing them and Hy Conrad started in 2013 with his first book "Mr. Monk Helps Himself." Conrad wrote screenplays for the Mr. Monk TV series when it was on the USA Network. This latest book was a great continuation of the series. Although there's less of Monk dealing with his different phobias in this mystery, he still has to deal with his fear of clowns which leads to some entertaining adventures- since a clown was the victim of a murder.
   Of course, I highly recommend it! 
BOOK SUMMARY: Natalie is taking a break from studying for her PI license—the last step to becoming Monk’s full partner. She sneaks off to Half Moon Bay for a retreat run by Miranda Bigley, leader of the Best Possible Me self-help program, but her plans for a relaxing weekend are disrupted when Monk tracks her down to rescue her from the “cult.” Their argument is cut short when Miranda, in full view of everyone, calmly walks to the edge of a cliff and jumps.
    Even though Miranda’s death looks like suicide, Natalie is sure it's murder. But Monk brushes her off to help the SFPD solve the murder of a clown, despite his coulrophobia, aka fear of clowns. As Monk and Natalie begin their independent investigations, they quickly learn that if they want to figure out whodunit, they will have to find a way to become true partners....

Great Mystery for Dog and Mystery lovers; Chet and Bernie: A Fistful of Collars

I (Rob) just finished reading another great mystery for Dog and Mystery lovers;  A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn.
  This is another outstanding Chet and Bernie mystery!  Chet is the best canine narrator ever. Being a dog dad, and a mystery lover- this series offers the best of both worlds in one. This was a great mystery that had you guessing until the end what happened and who was responsible. I love the way Chet goes off on tangents when he's having a thought about something- just as a dog would likely do. The author even makes you really see the world through Chet's eyes, too. It takes an amazing talent to do that. Highly recommended!

THE PLOT:  
Everyone’s favorite detective team returns in a new adventure as canine narrator Chet and his human partner P.I. Bernie Little find that Hollywood has gone to the dogs.
Hoping to bring some Tinseltown money to the Valley, the mayor lures a movie studio to town to shoot their next production, a big-budget Western in the classic tradition. The star is none other than ruggedly handsome --- and notoriously badly behaved --- Thad Perry. When the mayor decides that someone needs to keep an eye on Thad so that he doesn’t get into too much trouble, Bernie and Chet are handpicked for the job. The money is good but something smells fishy, and what should have been a simple matter of babysitting soon gets more complicated --- especially when they discover that Thad has a mysterious connection to the Valley that nobody wants to talk about. What kind of secret could Thad have left behind when he went to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune? The only people who might know the answer have a bad habit of turning up dead before they can talk.
As Bernie’s relationship with his longtime girlfriend Suzie goes long-distance, and Chet’s late-night assignations appear to have resulted in an unexpected dividend, it’s all our two sleuths can do to keep Thad and his motley entourage of yes-men, handlers, and hangers-on in their sights. Worst of all, Thad is a self-proclaimed cat person, and his feline friend Brando has taken an instant dislike to Chet.

Another Great Mystery: Murder She Wrote: Domestic Malice

Being a mystery lover, I (Rob) can honestly say that I have enjoyed every single book in the Murder She Wrote series of mysteries. That's 38 GREAT mysteries. "DOMESTIC MALICE" was yet another.
    I read some of the other reviews, and don't understand the people who didn't enjoy it. Of course it has a "dark theme" because it's about domestic violence... and it's a serious topic that was refreshing in a mystery because it's a serious problem that people constantly hide from. Although I've never experienced it, I know enough about it to understand the story perfectly. The characters were very clear as always. As I read it, I learned to despise the abused victim's mother. The family dynamics and characters made for an interesting story. This is anoth
   I finished the book in 4 days, and given all the blogging, dogging, book promoting and everything else, that's amazing. It was THAT good. In fact, all of the books in the series are that good.  Just get them, read them and re-read them. I've kept all the paperbacks in the series to re-read them. They're written by Donald Bain and Jessica Fletcher (the author goes under the two names so people will know the book's main character).
er great read.

Here's a book summary from Amazon.


Jessica is volunteering at the Cabot Cove women’s shelter when a woman walks in bruised physically and mentally. Her husband is a well-respected businessman in town. Could this paragon of virtue be abusing his wife?

Despite Jessica’s support and advice, the woman refuses to stay at the shelter, press charges, or even report the abuse. But a few days later the entire town is shocked to hear that domestic abuse has turned to murder.

Investigating the crime, Jessica soon discovers that the woman’s family has secrets and lies that go beyond domestic violence—and that the real killer may be hiding behind a wall of silence that could send the wrong person to prison....

Enjoyable Light-reading Book: Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret

I came across a bargain (children's) book and since the title mentioned 2 things we love: dogs and ghosts, I bought it! -It's called "Ghost Dog Secrets" by Peg Kehret.
   It's a good story, written from the perspective of boy who is a middle-school student in a single-parent home. He wants to rescue an abused dog and sees the ghost of a Collie dog near the abused animal. The Collie's ghostly identity is revealed, and the ghost pushes the boy to save the living dog.

   The book touches upon difficult decisions and exemplifies the struggles that everyone deals with to try and to the right thing.
You're never too old to read a good story, even if it says it's written for children.Really enjoyable!

BOOK SUMMARY:  
Each day, sixth-grader Rusty feeds a dog that's left chained in the frigid weather with no shelter, food, or water. When he realizes the dog has been injured, he tries to have Animal Control help - but when that fails, Rusty and his friend Andrew unchain the dog and take it. With the dog in their hideout, the boys face multiple challenges, including Andrew's snoopy sister and the escalating threats of the dog's abusive owner. Even more challenging? The appearance of a ghost dog that appears in Rusty's room, and is trying to lead him to an even deeper secret. .

Great Book: Mr. Monk on the Road!

We love the Mr. Monk TV show, and the novels are just a great. I (Rob) have read most of the novels and have enjoyed every one of them. Most of them are written by Lee Goldberg who actually wrote many TV episodes. Mr. Monk on the Road was great.
  - Hysterical antics from OCD Detective Adrian Monk as he and his assistant Natalie take his brother on a tour of the western U.S. - The catch: his brother Ambrose is afraid of being outside and hadn't left his house in 30 years.  This is another Monk classic!!!



BOOK SUMMARY: Monk's out on the open highway--but crime is a hitchhiker that won't be ignored. 
   With his job secure and his wife's murder finally solved, Adrian Monk is feeling strangely...satisfied. He'd like his agoraphobic brother Ambrose to feel the same way, so Monk puts a secret ingredient in Ambrose's birthday cake: sleeping pills. When Ambrose wakes up, he's in a motor home on the open road with Monk determined to show him the outside world.
But Ambrose isn't the only one struggling to let go. As little crimes pop up along the highway, Monk can't resist getting involved. Now it's up to Monk to stop a murderer from turning their road trip into a highway to hell.

Book (novel) Review: Bel-Air Dead by Stuart Woods

I enjoy mystery novels and decided to try a different author this time so I read Stuart Woods' book "Bel-Air Dead." Its more of a novel than a mystery (although there are a couple of murders in it and some questionable characters). The main character, Stone Barrington, was likeable, and I really got a good feel for the characters. I really enjoyed this book and the storyline and look forward to reading more from this author. I can see why he's been on the New York Times best sellers list.  I won't re-hash the plot, so I'll just let the author's book summary cover that. It's a good summer read. -Rob


BOOK SUMMARY (from the Author's Website: www.stuartwoods.com):
In the Bel-Air district of Los Angeles, one of America’s wealthiest and most star-infested communities, Stone Barrington comes face-to-face with his past...
    A beautiful Bel-Air widow, already one of the wealthiest women in America, needs Stone’s help to become even more cash-rich. At stake is the sale of her investment in—and the resulting dissolution of—Hollywood’s world-famous Centurion Studios. Stone is no stranger to the stylish and lucrative world of Centurion... and he has more than a passing acquaintance with the lady herself.
   But when he arrives in Bel-Air to finalize the sale, the tranquility of that famous neighborhood turns out to be no more than a façade. One of L.A.’s most rapacious power brokers has Centurion and its unique real estate in his sights, and he will not be denied. Stone finds himself dragged into a surprisingly complex and high-stakes game, the kind only the truly rich and dangerously ambitious can play... and survive.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stuart Woods is the author of more than thirty novels including the New York Times-bestselling Stone Barrington and Holly Barker series. An avid sailor and pilot, he lives in New York City, Florida, and Maine.

Book Review: A Fun, Cozy Mystery with Great Characters!

I just finished reading and enjoying a fun "cozy mystery" with some very likeable characters in a great mystery. "Roses
and Daisies and Death, Oh My!" by Penny Cover Petersen is well-worth reading!  I met Penny at a book expo (I was one of the other authors there who was fortunate enough to sit next to her). I could tell that Penny was inspired by the small, historic downtown area of the city we live in. She really paints a great picture of little shops in a small downtown area and the personalities and relationship between two adult sisters that own a shop and adopt a dog they name Malcolm.  It's very easy to visualize the entire story.
   Penny is a great writer and I highly recommend this enjoyable cozy mystery. It left me wanting to know more about the next adventure that Daisy and Rose get involved in!  I hope that Penny writes a sequel soon. - Rob


BOOK SUMMARY: Nothing ruins a peaceful morning walk like finding a blood-spattered body. And Daisy Greene and Rose Forrest, sisters and co-owners of Champagne Taste, really need a peaceful morning walk. They have enough on their minds already. Christmas is right around the corner, business is brisk, and their little antiques district of Old Towne is being plagued with petty thievery and vandalism. Murder is just not in the game plan.
   And if finding bodies lying around walking trails isn't enough to destroy a perfectly good day, Daisy's ex-husband, state trooper Bill Greene, shows up to investigate the murder. Nosy by nature anyway, Daisy takes Bill’s presence as a challenge to find the murderer.
   When Daisy and Rose start asking questions things get hairier. Someone begins stalking them. Daisy receives threatening letters and is brutally attacked.
   Their determination grows when clues lead to a missing priceless diamond and the man Daisy is dating becomes the next victim. With the help of their eccentric mother, Angela, and their hormonally-exuberant dog, Malcolm, they follow the clues to catch a killer.
For more information see: www.pennypetersen.com and http://pennycloverpetersen.blogspot.com 
The book is available in paperback and E-book on Amazon.com
 

2 Great Books!: "Dead Things" and DC Archive: Robin the Boy Wonder

 I just read two great books that are worth looking into.
The first is a novel about a guy that talks to the dead (what a coincidence!), the other is a vintage collection of 1940s stories of Robin the Boy Wonder.  - Rob


"DEAD THINGS" (paperback) by Stephen Blackmoore
ROB'S REVIEW:   As a paranormal investigator I picked up this book just based on the book jacket description. What a find! This was a well-written, fast-moving, gritty novel that I couldn't put down. The main character Eric Carter is almost like a social misift and his abilities to communicate with the dead take the reader through a paranormal romp from the first to last chapter. I'm anxious to read the next installment in this series. I loved the character, and the supporting characters really enhanced the story. I highly recommend this book. 


BOOK SUMMARY: Necromancer is such an 
ugly word, but it's a title Eric Carter is stuck with. He sees ghosts, talks to the dead. He's turned it into a lucrative career putting troublesome spirits to rest, sometimes taking on even more dangerous things. For a fee, of course. When he left LA fifteen years ago, he thought he'd never go back. Too many bad memories. Too many people trying to kill him.
But now his sister's been brutally murdered and Carter wants to find out why. Was it the gangster looking to settle a score? The ghost of a mage he killed the night he left town? Maybe it's the patrion saint of violent death herself, Santa Muerte, who's taken an unusually keen interest in him. Carter's going to find out who did it, and he's going to make them pay.  As long as they don't kill him first.

2)  THE ROBIN ARCHIVES: Volume 1  by DC Comics, Archive Edition
ROB'S REVIEW: I've always loved the Robin character, especially Dick Grayson's positive attitude. Similarly, I loved Chuck Dixon's run on the Robin series from the 1990s through the 2000s. This archive is a great collection of the original Robin's first solo adventures. There are some creative villains, too. A really enjoyable collection, and I'm looking forward to volume 2!


BOOK SUMMARY: Don't miss the first archive edition focusing on the early adventures of Robin, collecting stories from Star-Spangled Comics numbered 65-85 (1947-1948)! Presented here are 21 exciting Golden Age solo adventures of The Boy Wonder featuring the talents of Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Curt Swan, Dick Sprang, Jim Mooney, Win Mortimer and more of comics' finest writers and artists!

A Fun "Haunted Guesthouse Mystery" book!

When a book combines a murder mystery and a woman who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts to help her solve the crime, I have high hopes for liking it, and I wasn't disappointed when I read "Chance of a Ghost" by E.J. Copperman.  
   What a FUN read!  Great characters and an interesting mystery that will keep you reading to the last chapter. It's light-hearted and the characters are realistic (well, some of them if you don't believe in ghosts - which I assure you are real).  I Recommend this for anyone interested in ghosts and mysteries!  Can't wait to get another book in this series! - Rob

BOOK SUMMARY: Even with a blizzard bearing down on New Jersey, Alison can count on at least two guests—Paul and Maxie, the stubborn ghosts who share her shore town inn. Then there’s her widowed mother, who hasn’t just been seeing ghosts, she’s been secretly dating one: Alison’s father. But when he stands her up three times in a row, something’s wrong. Is he a lost soul…or a missing apparition?
   Their only lead is an overdramatic spirit—stage name Lawrence Laurentz—who doesn’t take direction well and won’t talk until they find his killer. Alison will reluctantly play the part of PI, but when the clues take a sinister turn, the writing is on the wall: If Alison can’t keep a level head, this will be her father’s final act—and maybe her own.