A Fun Senior Mystery: The Painted Lady by (the late) Peter Abresch

 "The Painted Lady" by Peter Abresch is a mystery about a retired couple (over 62) who travels on vacations called "Elderhostels." I've never heard the term... and learned that in 2009 the 34-year-old educational travel organization changed its name to Exploritas, a combination of the words 'explore' and 'veritas,' to promote their mission of pursuing “adventures in lifelong learning."  As for the book, it was a fun read. Today's blog has my review. 

 My Review:    Main characters James P. Dandy and his girlfriend Dodee Swisher (a semi-retired artist), have joined their retiree tour group of the old Santa Fe Trail starting in Denver and down into New Mexico. The book starts quickly with the death of an Indian medicine woman, who falls from a rooftop. Jim witnesses the fall, and before long a variety of mysterious characters are dogging him. To make matters worse, the medicine woman's image keeps showing up in Dodee's paintings. PAINTED LADY is light-hearted. You can tell the author was in his 60s or so when he wrote it, because he brings the characters to life. The author also does a great job bringing in U.S. western history (I recognized several places he described) throughout. There's also a legendary Mayan artifact, a kidnapping, a crazy bus-car chase, a shootout, with a tinge of the paranormal! It was an enjoyable book and a great find. 

The author wrote quite a few books, mysteries and poetry. He passed in 2021. 

Book Review- The Fixer's Daughter by Hy Conrad: A Gripping, Page Turning Murder Mystery 5 of 5 stars

 I've read all of Hy Conrad's books in the Mr. Monk series and loved them all. Recently, as a fellow author, I was able to connect with him personally, and he gave me the honor of reading and reviewing his brand new mystery book called "The Fixer's Daughter."  This book was so great that I asked him if he'd consider doing a sequel with the characters. You should read it! 

Here's my review:

 The Fixer's Daughter by Hy Conrad: A Gripping, Page Turning Murder Mystery   5 of 5 stars

This book will take you in from the first chapter and make you picture the characters and situations, and keep you wondering about the murder presented off the bat. 

There are complex family dynamics between some of the characters that really play well, and keep you wondering how the lead character, Callie, is going to do what she has to without upsetting her brother and father. Callie, an investigative reporter doesn't stop until she gets to the bottom of the mystery and there's a mystery in a mystery! 

There is so much great material in this book, from how money and society intersect with the law, and real-life dangers presented from the on-line world. It will make you want to read the book in one sitting. 

I hope this becomes a series because the characters are so likeable. Truly a great mystery.   

ABOUT THE BOOK FROM AMAZON: The Fixer's Daughter pits father against daughter in a twisted tale of murder, deadly secrets and family loyalty. Three years ago, Callie McFee accidentally caused her father's political downfall. Once the most influential man in Texas, Buddy McFee resigned from office and became a "fixer", a person who makes big problems go away. 

  When a prominent CEO is caught trying to bury a raped and murdered girl, it looks like an open-and-shut case. But then Buddy steps in. Soon the wealthy suspect develops an alibi and evidence starts disappearing. Callie, an investigative reporter, used to adore her father. He was brilliant but honorable. Now she thinks he may be helping a cold-blooded killer escape justice. And then Callie discovers something even more troubling. The great Buddy McFee, the man protecting all the scandals in the state, is in the early stages of dementia. If this ever goes public, it would destroy his spirit, end his career and probably get him killed. Can Callie go up against her father and expose a ruthless killer? Can she do this and still keep his secret from the world? Or, as she inches closer to the truth, will she wind up getting both of them murdered?

Another Great Mystery: Mr. Monk Gets on Board

Awesome Book!

 The paperback series "Mr. Monk" continues to be entertaining, awesome and fun with (new) writer Hy Conrad. Hy took over for Lee Goldberg who wrote many books in the beginning of the mystery book series based on the TV show. 
  The latest in the series that I just enjoyed,  called "Mr. Monk Gets on Board" came out in paperback in May 2014 (there's a newer one out on my "to read" stack). 
   This is another classic Mr. Monk story involving the OCD detective taking a cruise with Natalie Teeger, his once assistant, now boss of the "Monk and Teeger  P.I." business. This story as it turns out, was one the writer originally pitched for the show, but wasn't made for television because the producers couldn't find a cruise to allow them to "stage a murder or two" because it looked bad for business, even if it was just for television. 

Mr. Monk and Natalie

   Obviously, the story was updated for the book series, in which Natalie graduated from assistant to full-fledged private investigator, and it's classic Monk. The mysterious murder in the beginning is wrapped up somehow (you'll find out) in the cruise that Natalie and Mr. Monk take to promote their new business venture. While on the ship, they also have to solve another murder or two. It will keep you guessing and is totally entertaining in the "Monk" way. 
   Another in the series that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Come to think of it, every book in the series has been that way- and I highly recommend all of them. 
   There are very few mystery books that I keep, but the Mr. Monk series is one, and Murder She Wrote is the other! - Rob

Recommeded Mystery: Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance

J.A Jance is one of my (Rob) favorite mystery writers and the latest in the series of Ali Reynolds mysteries is another winner. I read this book in about 1 1/2 weeks (amidst all the comics and graphic novels, magazines, newspaper, etc. I read) and it's gripping. You really feel for the characters and want to know what's happening with whom.
  Of course, it opens with a murder of a haughty, selfish, snobbish woman, and it's hard to figure out who did it- but it all makes sense. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 
 
THE BOOK SUMMARY: Former reporter Ali Reynolds finds herself working against the police to add up the clues that connect one frightened teenager, two dead bodies, and $300,000 . . . with the body count rising.
    Hired to investigate the grisly murder of a gold-digging divor­cée on behalf of the woman accused of the crime, Ali Reynolds is immediately drawn to the case of the secretive teenager who found the body. A. J. Sanders was in the Camp Verde desert to retrieve a mystery box buried by his absent father—a box that turns out to be filled with hundreds of thousands of dol­lars’ worth of poker chips. When a second body is found in the desert, it seems the three cases are more closely related than anyone could have imagined. Though Ali’s friends in the police department grow increasingly irritated by her involvement, Ali must stop a ruthless killer from claiming another victim . . . before she is lost in this game of deadly stakes.
**to get the book on Amazon-Click here**

Great Mystery! Mr. Monk Gets Even

The Mr. Monk detective TV series that ran for almost a decade in the 2000s spawned a really enjoyable, fun, interesting, fantastic series of books. Authored by Lee Goldberg, who wrote many episodes of the TV series, the books truly embody the characters.  I've read 13 other in the series and "Mr. Monk Gets Even" is just as great as the others. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
  
BOOK SYNOPSIS:  The future is looking bright for Adrian Monk. Natalie is working as a cop in Summit, New Jersey, Monk's brother is a week away from getting married, and Monk has a new assistant, Natalie's daughter—and Monk even has a girlfriend who sells products like paper, etc. made of poop!  Hysterical because Monk is OCD about cleanliness!

   All this change doesn’t keep him from work, though. He’s investigating a string of accidental deaths and suicides that he believes are actually murders. But when Monk’s suspect is killed, he must face the fact that he might be wrong. Have stability and happiness robbed Monk of his mojo?

   Meanwhile, Monk’s imprisoned arch nemesis, the morbidly obese criminal mastermind Dale the Whale, is being transferred from prison to San Francisco General Hospital for an operation. When Dale escapes and all signs point to Captain Stottlemeyer as his accomplice, Monk will have to reboot his detective skills to clear the captain’s name—and prove that he’s still the one and only Monk.
TO ORDER IT: http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Monk-Gets-Even-Goldberg/dp/0451416031

An Enjoyable UK Mystery: Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight

I (Rob) have now read three books in the Victorian Mystery series of "Mrs. Jeffries." Mrs. Jeffries keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon during Victorian England, and she and her fellow co-workers: cook, footman, butler, maids, help their homeowner, the Inspector, solve murders. **It reminds me of the kitchen staff in Downton Abbey, but helping to solve murders. - It was a bit slow for a time, but was an enjoyable read. I recommend the series- especially for Downton Abbey Fans and Mystery lovers!  - Rob 

THE BOOK SUMMARY:  Sir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain with the back of his skull bashed to bits.  The case is complicated by a distinct lack of holiday cheer in the victim’s three argumentative middle-aged daughters and their sullen houseguests.  Even the cranky cat hates everyone. To top it all off, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads, making matters stickier than a plum pudding.  Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her crime-solving staff will give the poor Inspector any chance of sleeping in heavenly peace on Christmas Eve... She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon...and keeps him on his toes. Everyone’s awed by his Scotland Yard successes—but they don’t know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries’ polished detection skills are up to the task...proving that behind every great man there’s a woman—and that a crimesolver’s work is never done.

Another Classic Mr. Monk Novel: Mr. Monk is a Mess

I totally LOVE reading the Mr. Monk series. One of the latest in the series was no disappointment either. If you know and liked the TV show "Mr. Monk" you will LOVE the books, too. The writer is the guy who was the screenwriter for the show. As I was reading there were many times where I laughed out loud at Monk's OCD, germophobia, etc. - More great mysteries within mysteries are solved, and a woman who owns a shop that sells things made of poop is in love with him, all the funnier!  Read it, laugh out loud, and enjoy it! - Rob

BOOK SUMMARY:  Welcome to the series of original mysteries starring Adrian Monk, the brilliant investigator who always knows when something's out of place...
  No one likes to come home to a mess--least of all Monk and Natalie. But when they return from an extended stay in New Jersey, Natalie discovers that somebody has been sleeping in her bed. But this Goldilocks isn't asleep. She's dead. And stuffed under the mattress, investigators find marked money from a Federal sting operation. Now Natalie's life is a real mess, and she needs Monk to help clean it up.  Meanwhile, Monk's brother Ambrose is desperate to find his missing girlfriend, Yuki--but his agoraphobia prevents him from leaving the house. With Monk forced to do double duty, the body count rises, and so do Monk's suspicions about Yuki's dangerous past...