Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery

Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery by Sue Anger 276 pages

 

It’s May 1923. Jake Parson and his Labrador retriever, Pilot, have pulled into the port of Beaufort, North Carolina. He is only a week late, and he is eager to see his brother, Wade, who is waiting for him. Upon his arrival, he learns that Wade left a week ago aboard his boat, but never made it to his next port. There are no signs of him in Beaufort except that his dog, Yawg, is there. Jake knows something is wrong; Wade would never leave Yawg behind. Jake begins to do some investigating around town, talking to anyone who knew him.

 

Beneath the surface of Beaufort, things are not what they seem. The idyllic coastal town harbors some big secrets. Jake, a World War I veteran suffering from shellshock, discovers rum-running and smuggling are the biggest trades in the area.

 

As he meets the town’s inhabitants, Jake is drawn to jazz musician Nell Guthrie. Unfortunately, Nell is already engaged, but the two do become good friends. Bottom line is that Jake learns that “local rum runners are piloting small boats in the open ocean to collect illegal booze from ships traveling the “Whiskey Road,” that stretches from Nassau to New York City’s Rum Row.”

 

This novel was more about the booze than it was about finding Wade. He was a secondary plot point. Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery gets 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

 

 

Miss Aldridge Regrets

 

Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare 368 pages

Lena Aldridge isn’t happy with her life. She thought she would be a big star by now. Instead, she’s singing in a dump in London’s Soho. Her father, Alfie, just died, and her married lover has left her. She’s lucky to have the gig she has, mostly thanks to her best friend, Maggie, whose husband, Tommy Scarsdale, owns the joint.

But tonight isn’t Tommy’s night. He dies right in front of the stage, right in the middle of Lena’s set. This isn’t the first murder that has happened, which make Lena skittish.

A stranger appears, saying that his boss owes Alfie a favor. He offers Lena a chance to star on Broadway and a first-class ticket on the Queen Mary. Lena weighs her options, and figuring she has nothing to lose, she jumps at the opportunity.

Author Hare does a fabulous job in creating the period details and the luxuries Lena enjoyed on the ship. Luxuries she has never known in her twenty-six years. Heck, she even had to borrow clothes from Maggie just to fit in.

On Lena’s first night, she learns that her tablemates are the Abernathy’s. Each member of the family is stereotypical of their role. It got old quick! It’s more important than ever the Lena keeps her mixed-race identity a secret.

Wandering around the ship in search of what Lena isn’t quite sure. She meets one of the bandleaders, Will. There is mutual attraction, but Lena must be very, very careful. Will is African American, and mixed couples in 1936 are exactly welcome in either race. Lena believes that the Abernathy’s would rather have her thrown overboard as shark food rather than sit at the same table with her.

When the Abernathy patriarch dies, murdered it seems, Lena is more frightened than ever.

“Miss Aldridge Regrets” is hailed as being an Agatha-Christie like murder mystery. I don’t see t. To me the pace was slow, tension was low, and the characters were so stereotypical, Christie would be embarrassed. I did love the period details and that pushes “Miss Aldridge Regrets” to 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Bewitched, Bothered and Dead

Bewitched, Bothered and Dead (Book 13 in the Rat Pack Mystery series) by Robert J. Randisi 281 pages

I was so excited when I learned a new Rat Pack Mystery was coming out. I ordered it, waited impatiently for it to arrive, devoured it, and LOVED it!

I’m gonna tell y’all upfront that if y’all haven’t read any of these mysteries and if you loved the Rat Pack, y’all will love these books as much as I do.

In this outing, it’s 1966. Things are starting to change in Sin City. Gazillionaire Howard Hughes is back in Vegas, looking to make some hefty purchases. Hughes was thwarted once before, but now he is on a mission. Of course, readers never see him; he is that elusive loner who has others do his bidding.

The Sands pit boss Eddie Gianelli, known as Eddie G. around town, was instrumental in stopping Hughes earlier and now Vegas is counting on him to stop him again. The Sands manager, Jack Entratter, assign Eddie G the job of convincing the other casinos not to sell. Hughes already has the Desert Inn in his pocket. When Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin hear of what’s happening, the fly to the Strip to help.

Eddie G. is grateful for the help, as he has another big problem. Danny Thomas has confided to him that the three people whom he had trusted to run St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis has stolen a hefty sum of money. One of them is in Vegas. Eddie G. knows he needs help so he brings his backup in from Brooklyn, Jerry, and his good friend Danny, a local PI.

These characters have stayed with me over the years, which is highly unusual. Reading these books is like visiting old friends; I look forward to visiting with them and tagging along on each  new adventure. Sit back, relax, have a drink, and tag along for the ride. And, as Frank would say, ring-a-ding ding.

The only problem with these books is that they are over to fast, and I have to wait a year or more for the next visit. “Bewitched, Bothered and Dead” received 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

The Unveiling of Polly Forrest

 “The Unveiling of Polly Forrest” by Charlotte Whitney 310 pages  

Readers get ready to block off some to when you start reading this historical mystery! Definitely a page-turner. 

Polly Wolcott is only twenty years old when she marries the much older Sam Forrest. She marries him because she doesn’t want move from rural Michigan to Connecticut to help her mother take care of her grandmother.  And, it doesn’t hurt that Sam appears to be wealthy. He has his own thriving farm. 

But it is 1934; the Great Depression has gripped America. Even Sam is affected. Crops and farm animal’s prices are at the lowest anyone has even seen. Then Sam is killed in a freak farm accident that is brutal. Polly isn’t mature enough to, nor does she want to, take over the farm by herself. So what will happen? 

Author Whitney’s novel is narrated by three individuals: Polly, Polly’s sister Sarah, and Sarah’s husband, the local preacher Reverend Wesley Johnson.  Three distinct voices in short chapters that tell the story from all three points of view. 

In the beginning, Polly is not accused of murdering Sam. After all it does appear to be an accident. However, the Sheriff’s Office is looking into his death. He and his deputy question Polly, Sarah and Wesley for what seems like an eternity. The novel is set from February 7 to December 25, 1934. The questions last through the summer. 

The two strangers claiming to be White House Police show up at Polly’s door, demanding answers to their questions and thoroughly search the house and all the outbuildings. Seems like Sam was involved in some pretty shady dealings that left me reading the pages as fast as I could.  

During the course of the story, Polly’s unveiling comes in many ways---from her views and days as a flighty young woman to a more wizened, experienced woman. I thoroughly enjoyed this who-dun-it set in the glories of rural Michigan and the hardships of farm life. “The Unveiling of Polly Forrest” is a thrilling read and receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Bone Rattler

Bone Rattler 

Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison, 456 pages

I was interested in this series and wanted to start with the first title. There are 6 books currently in this series, known as the Duncan McCallum series. I found this book a bit too dense for my current attention span, but I really don't think it was the author's fault. I think I just couldn't focus on the mystery as Duncan McCallum worked to solve it.

The events take place on a convict ship to the New World and upon arriving in the New World. Duncan McCallum is being shipped from Scotland to the New World against his will. He is forced into solving a series of murders on the ship and on land and is desperately trying to find the actual culprit; not just pin the murders on any available Scot as his captors suggest.

There were parts of this story I enjoyed quite a bit: descriptions of the French and Indian War, along with McCallum's evolving attitude towards Indians, from abject terror as he considers them all violent at the beginning to slowly coming to respect them as individuals and not savages. A few of the earth-shattering revelations with characters and events I anticipated - I'm not sure if the reader was meant to catch on to these so quickly or if I was a good guesser (I'm usually not so I'm assuming it's the former). And because my focus just wasn't there for this book, I had a difficult time following the thread of the mystery as McCallum spoke to a multitude of characters and made quick conclusions from just one line of dialogue. I'm purposefully choosing a lighter book to follow this one, as I think that's about all I can handle at the moment. I won't write off this entire series and will give the second book, "Eye of the Raven" a chance in the future.

Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders

 Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen    320 pages

When I read a mystery, I don’t often try to figure out who-dun-it.  For me, it’s more fun to be as surprised…or shocked…as the other characters in the story.  This one had me guessing until Poppy figured it out. The clues were there along, foreshadowing the name of killer, but I missed it completely.

It’s summer 1942. The English village of Little Buffenden has mostly felt the war in the availability of food, gasoline, etc. They havne’t been subjected to bombings like the Londoners have, but the town is on high alert. Especially since the Redfern family home and adjoining farmland have been confiscated by the War Office. The Americans have come to help the British win the war and the farmland has been converted into an airstrip.

As Little Buffenden’s  Air Raid Warden, Poppy and her little dog, Bess, have the night shift. As Poppy and Bess, joined by Sid, who was 4F, make their rounds reminding their neighbors about the proper utilization of blackout curtains.

The village is split 50-50 on how they feel about the arrival of the Americans. The young women are excited to see young men their age, as all the eligible men in Little Buffenden are fighting at the front. The shopkeepers, especially the pub owners, are glad to have the men spending their money.

Then, Doreen turns up dead, found in the middle of the night in the churchyard. Speculation runs high that one of the Americans is to blame. A few weeks later, Ivy Wantage is also killed.  The villagers are on edge, and they begin to fight amongst themselves over speculation of who is too blame. Surely, not one of them as the murders only after the Americans arrived.

Poppy begins her own investigation , learning the secrets the villagers want to stay hidden---like the unliked Audrey who is also attacked, and the villager who has found a way to sneak onto the airbase.

There is an enormous cast lis. Almost too many to keep track of…who is a suspect and who can be discounted is a chore. But still I enjoyed this Book 1 in a new series (A Woman of WWII Mystery).  “Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders”  receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

I Only Have Lies for You

I Only Have Lies for You by Robert J. Randisi   324 pages

This is the eleventh book in the Rat Pack Mystery Series. I have really enjoyed the previous ten, and I’m already anxiously awaiting the arrival of Number 12. 

It’s 1965. Eddie G, one of the Sands Hotel’s pit bosses, has come to be known as the “go-to guy” when it comes to getting celebrities out of trouble. Thanks to all the help he’s provided, he can call the Rat Pack---Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Bishop and Lawford, his pallies.

Frank calls Eddie on behalf of his friend, television superstar Jackie Gleason. Frank even sends his private plane to take Eddie to Miami to confer with “The Great One.” All he can learn from Jackie is that somebody has been tailing Jackie’s sweetheart, Marilyn Taylor, sister of the famous June Taylor (and her dancers that were always a hit on Jackie’s shows.).” Before readers can turn too many pages, the bodies are piling up, and without more info, Eddie isn’t sure if he can help, and it appears that Eddie maybe on the receiving end of murder.

The usual cast of characters populates the pages. Jerry from Brooklyn, who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes and is on a diet. Danny, Eddie’s private dick pal who does some snooping back in Vegas. Jack who is the Sands’ head honcho.

I do love these tales, and I’m worried that Randid may be coming to the end of the series. Eddie makes a statement in the last third of the book that he is “getting tired of this.”  I sure hope Eddie isn’t considering retiring.

The story is predictable, but I knew that going in. For me, the fun of the read is the guys, Eddie and Jerry, not to mention all the glitz and glamor from the days when Vegas was cool. The biggest problem that I have is that Randisi has changed publishers. The guy on the cover’s left is supposed to be Frank Sinatra, but it sure doesn’t look like him. Then there is the lack of any kind of proofing reading. YIKES!  For those reasons,  “I Only Have Lies for You” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Lady Jayne Disappears

Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano  416 pages

Aurelie Harcourt was raised in Shepton Mallet Prison, a debtor’s prison; it was the only home she had ever remember having. Now that her father has died, she is thrust, alone, upon the world.

Luckily for her, she is aware if some relatives, her father’s sister and her family, who reluctantly take her in. She isn’t welcome and feels it from the moment she arrives. But Aurelie harbors a deep secret.

During his years in prison, her father took up writing. When he died unexpectedly, he was in the middle of a novel that was serialized. London is enamored with Nathaniel Droll, and cannot wait for each installment. Aurelie is left to finish the story. 

Keeping her secret isn’t easy. She must find a way to post the manuscripts to the publisher. As she begins to include details that only the family would recognize, they begin to believe that a traitor is in their midst.

What’s most intriguing in that the novel is that it is about her own mother’s disappearance, virtually creating a story-within-a-story. Politano has an easy, breezy style that makes this a fun read, but it also distracts from the emotional depth that I should have felt as a reader. Therefore,

Lady Jayne Disappears receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Death of Lake Michigan

Death on Lake Michigan by Steven Arnett  224 pages 

I must admit, that when I agreed to read this book, I didn’t realize that it was the same author who penned “The Summer of Robert Byron.” That book was in desperate need of an editor.

I am happy to report that this mystery novel is much, much, much better, although the title could use some creativity.

It’s the summer of 1973. Reporter Mike O’Brien is sent to cover the story of a body washed ashore on the shore of Lake Michigan, a resort town.  The body is easily identified as that of a local drug dealer named Rich Mallon. And while the identification is easy, the cause of death also easy, the motive fairly obvious, but who did it is quite the mystery.

Mike becomes obsessed with finding Rich’s killer, although it seems that he didn’t think much of Rich while he as life.  The murder gets Mike’s blood roiling, much like it did when he as a star reporter and crusader for the Michigan State News when he as in college.

The writing is much, much better the “The Summer of Robert Bryon.” There isn’t as much poor grammar and syntax, although it does creep up from time to time. It was an easy read and quite satisfactory as a murder mystery. The back over claims it’s a bit of a romance too, but I had to look hard for that. Therefore, Death on Lake Michigan receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Floating Lady Murder: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Book 2 of 3)

The Floating Lady Murder: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Book 2 of 3) by Daniel Stashower  256 pages

I wasn’t impressed with Book 1 in The Harry Houdini Mysteries, but this one is much, much better. The Floating Lady is a magic trick that is at the heart of this wonderful novel.

Again, the story is narrated by Harry’s younger brother, Dash, and is set a few years around the turn-of-the-century New York City. The book starts out in the same manner as Book 1: Harry has been dead for many years and Dash is an old man. On the anniversary of Harry’s death, reporters show up at his door, wanting to glean insight into the infamous magician. Dash vacillates between each story to tell, which will garner the biggest story, and which is the freshest. He decides on the Floating Lady murder. He’s never talked about it before and as all the players, except himself, are dead, Dash feels he can finally tell the story.

Harry hasn’t quite made a name for himself---yet. He and his wife, Bess, are struggling financially and live with his mother on East 69^th Street. Dash is somewhat better economically, but barely.

A world re-known magician, Harry Kellar (not a fictional person), is hiring for his show. He’s working on a new illusion in which a woman floats through the air, high into the dome of Belasco Theater. It is to be the highlight of his career, as this illusion has never been successfully performed.  

Kellar is worried about spies from other magic shows and hires the brothers as they would be able to spot a would-be theft more than someone who does not know the art of illusion. Lots of intrigue follows, most notably the escape of Boris the Lion.

The illusion really goes by two names in the novel, The Levitation of Princess Karnac or the Floating Lady. That doesn’t cause any confusion. On opening night, before a packed house, high-wire artist Francesca Moore falls seventy feet from the top of the dome. Seemingly a tragic accident, the coroner soon discovers that Miss Moore did not die on impact. In fact she had water in her lungs and had drowned.

Harry and Dash take it upon themselves to find the real killer. The two have several adventures that make for a great read. Stashower makes one faux pas that jumped off the page at me. On Page 10, he mentions magic performed on television shows. Even if Dash’s narration is near the end of his life in 1945, magic on television would be commonplace.

The Floating Lady Murder is much better than Book One, The Dime Museum Murders. It’s more of a page-turner than its predecessor.  I give Book Two 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

No Comfort for the Lost: A Mystery of Old San Francisco

No Comfort for the Lost: A Mystery of Old San Francisco by Nancy Herrimann  384 pages

This is the first novel in the “A Mystery of Old San Francisco.” Author Herrimann introduces readers to his two main protagonists. First is Crimea veteran Celia Davies. She came to the States with her husband, Patrick, who promptly signed onto to a sailing vessel and has disappeared.

Celia, a recent immigrant from Great Britain, feels for the Chinese immigrants who often live in squalor. She opens a free clinic for the prostitutes, funded by her late uncle. She lives in the uncle’s house with her half-Chinese niece and an opinionated housekeeper. I believe the housekeeper was designed as comedic relief, but it missed the point.

When one of her patients, and a women Celia considered a friend, is found dumped in the Bay, Celia vows to find justice for Li Sha. She works, often to his dismay and in opposition of, with Detective Nicholas Greaves. Celia is more often than not, getting in way and continues to find herself in dangerous situations that could prove fatal to both herself and Nick.

No Comfort the Lost takes place in 1867. Herrimann does an excellent job in providing atmospheric details without cluttering the book with unimportant information. For me, the book lacked tension. I never felt that Celia and her entourage were in any real danger. I also felt that many of the situations were the same, just located in a different part of the city.

I did like how Herriman tackled immigration---most of San Francisco hated the Chinese and were ready to revolt, burning Chinatown and sending the foreigners packing. Give readers a look at how foreigners were viewed a hundred and fifty plus years ago.

I give No Comfort the Lost 3 out of 5 stars.

The Dime Museum Murders

  

The Dime Museum Murders: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Book 1 of 3) by Daniel Stashower   256 pages

I loved the way this story opened: It’s Halloween. Every year reporters track down the now forty-nine-year-old Dash Hardeen, younger brother of Erich Weiss, more commonly known as Harry Houdini, to interview him about his brother. Harry is already dead. Dash loves the attention that the night and the new reporters bring. It makes him feel close to Harry again.

The reporter, Jack Matthews, asks his questions; the same ones that all other reporters before him have asked, especially on Halloween. Matthews picks up a heavy gold medallion and asked Dash about it. Dash tells him that it is “a memento from the very first time that Harry Houdini ever died.” Now he really has Matthews’ attention, and Matthews wants to hear more. It’s a long story, Dash tells him, and then real story begins.

It’s 1897 in New York. Harry is still trying to make it. He has small name recognition but isn’t yet the superstar he is to become. To make ends meet, Harry and his beloved wife, Bess, are working the dime museum, or a ten-in-one. The patron pays a dime and gets to see ten acts, each act lasting three minutes.

Across the city, toy tycoon Branford Wintour is murdered in a locked room. The police call on Harry to help them solve the case. At least that’s what Harry believes. What the police really want is or Harry to identify a priceless and, some thought forgotten, automation. Although the police discourage the brothers, they continue to investigate.

The novel is well written. Not the page-turner I was hoping for, but it has a nice steady pace. Author Stashower does an excellent job in showing what an ego-manic, jerk of a personality that Houdini was. Dash is the more, much, much, much more likable character. I enjoyed reading about the magic and how hard Harry worked at becoming Houdini. I was also fascinated by the automations and the toy story that the brothers’ mentors ran.

There is a major flaw with this book: The title indicates that the murders take place where Harry and Bess perform. They don’t.  

I give The Dime Museum Murders: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Book 1 of 3) 3 out of 5 stars.