REVIEW: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

LauraD's review of Faefever (Fever Series, Book 3) by Karen Marie Moning
Urban fantasy hardcover released by Delacorte Press 16 Sep 08

I confess to having never been a big fan of Karen Marie Moning's paranormal romance novels. Thanks to a great heroine and an enigmatic hero(?), however, I am all on board with her Fever Series, and have been impatiently waiting for book three. Read more

Tags: 2008, Delacorte Press, Faefever, Fever Series, Grade B, Hardcover, Karen Marie Moning, LauraD, Mystery Fiction, Paranormal, Review, September 2008, Urban Fantasy

REVIEW: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

LauraD's review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (The Millennium Series, Book 1) by Stieg Larsson (translation by Reg Keeland)
Mystery Fiction hardcover released by Knopf 16 Sep 08

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has had major buzz for quite awhile. The story behind it could be a novel itself - Swedish reporter writes several mystery novels for fun at home after work, gets published, and then dies tragically young of a heart attack. TGWTDT has topped European bestseller lists, won an award at home in Sweden, and totally deserves the hype.  Read more

Tags: 2008, Grade A, Knopf, LauraD, Millennium Series, Mystery Fiction, Reg Keeland, Review, September 2008, Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

REVIEW: The Laughter of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters

Devon’s review of The Laughter of Dead Kings (Vicky Bliss, No. 6) by Elizabeth Peters
Mystery released by William Morrow 26 Aug 08

Recently, I wrote of my excitement upon discovering this book had been published. Finally, after fourteen years, I would find out what had become of my beloved Vicky and John. This series of slightly slapstick adventures, set in the world of art and antiquities, had been a favorite comfort read since I was a tween. I lucked into it at work, intercepting the new release cart as it came down from Technical Services. Hoorah! I eagerly sat down to this entertaining, convoluted, and rather stale novel. Read more

Tags: 2008, Devon, Elizabeth Peters, Grade C, Mystery Fiction, Review, September 2008, The Laughter of Dead Kings, Vicky Bliss Series, William Morrow

QQ REVIEW: Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

Connie's Quick Quack review of Sweetheart (The Beauty Killer, Book 2) by Chelsea Cain
Mystery thriller hardcover released by St. Martin's Minotaur 2 Sep 08

Archie is back, and addicted to pain pills, when another girl is found in the park where Gretchen's first victim was discovered. He's managed to get back with Debbie and is not visiting Gretchen when this victim is found. Then, Archie is forced to see Gretchen again when she is attacked in the prison where she was incarcerated at the end of Book 1. Read more

Tags: 2008, Chelsea Cain, Connie, Grade A, Mystery Fiction, Quick Quack, Review, September 2008, St. Martin's Minotaur, Sweetheart, The Beauty Killer series, Thriller

REVIEW: Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner

Wendy the Super Librarian's review of Murder on the Eiffel Tower (A Victor Legris Mystery) by Claude Izner
Historical mystery hardcover released by St. Martin's Minotaur 2 Sep 08

While the United States is a publishing powerhouse, there are plenty of books published overseas that might never find an American distributor. Case in point, Claude Izner's debut historical mystery set in late 19th century Paris was first published in 2003 and is just now seeing the light of day in the U.S in 2008. Given that historical romances haven't exactly been breaking the mold with fresh, original locales, I find historical mysteries to be a refreshing change of pace when I get burnt out from reading about English dukes or American cowboys. However, while Murder on the Eiffel Tower cleansed my palate when it came to the locale, I can't say the book was entirely successful for me. Read more

Tags: 2008, Claude Izner, Fiction, Grade C, Historical, Murder on the Eiffel Tower, Mystery Fiction, Review, September 2008, St. Martin's, Victor Legris series, Wendy The Super Librarian

REVIEW: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Shannon C.'s review of Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Contemporary mystery/thriller fiction released by Doubleday 20 Jul 04

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I unearthed Darkly Dreaming Dexter from the depths of the TBR. I'd heard some great things about the book -- if you're into heroic sociopaths working for the side of justice and the law -- but it took a specific mood for me to really get into this book, and even after I've read it, I'm not sure I'll be going out of my way to read the rest of the series. Read more

Tags: 2008, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dexter Morgan series, Doubleday, Grade C, Jeff Lindsay, July 2004, Mystery Fiction, Review, ShannonC, Thriller

Review: Bloody Mary by J.A. Konrath

Shannon C.'s review of Bloody Mary: Jacqueline Daniels Mysteries, Book 2 by J.A. Konrath
Mystery fiction released by Hyperion 16 Jun 05

Even though I'm still not a big mystery fan, I really enjoy J.A. Konrath's Jack Daniels books. They are by turns funny and dark, and even though if I think about the books too long I am left feeling depressed, I still keep reading because tough-as-nails police lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is a character I've come to really root for. Read more

Tags: 2008, Bloody Mary, Grade B, Hyperion, JA Konrath, Jacqueline Daniels mysteries, June 2005, Mystery Fiction, Review, ShannonC

Review: Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

Liviania's review of Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 14) by Janet Evanovich
Contemporary mystery released by St. Martin's 17 Jun 08

I knew the seventeenth of June would be a good day because it was the street date of Jane Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum mystery. Evanovich has been on my auto buy list for years and there she will remain. She possesses excellent comedic timing and an appreciation for the absurd. Despite being the fourteenth novel in the series, Fearless Fourteen is accessible to newcomers. Some paragraphs describing the importance of various characters in the beginning may bore returning readers.

Read more

Tags: Fearless Fourteen, Grade B, Janet Evanovich, June 2008, Liviania, Mystery Fiction, Review, St. Martin's, Stephanie Plum Series

REVIEW: Whiskey Sour by JA Konrath

Shannon C.'s review of Whiskey Sour: a Jacqueline Daniels Mystery by JA Konrath
Mystery fiction released by Hyperion 2 Jun 04

I'm not a big mystery reader, but I've been consciously trying to pick up books I normally wouldn't. JA Konrath's first Jack Daniels mystery isn't one I'd have grabbed on my own, but a review I read somewhere made me intrigued enough to pick up this book. I'm glad I did. Read more

Tags: 2008, Fiction, Grade B, Hyperion, JA Konrath, Jacqueline Daniels mysteries, June 2004, Mystery Fiction, Review, ShannonC, TWRVolI, Whiskey Sour