Crime Fiction | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

PAST CRIMES by Glen Erik Hamilton

May 15, 2016

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Book 1 in the Van Shaw Series

“Come home, if you can.”

Van Shaw might have chosen to ignore his grandfather if Dono hadn’t added the latter part of the request. And if he wasn’t already laid up recuperating from a recent surgery. The request is an odd one considering the two men haven’t spoken in a decade, but the fact that Dono reached out to begin with leads Van to believe it must be serious.

Unfortunately, Van arrives in town and at his grandfather’s house just moments after the old man has been shot and left for dead. Before he can even connect with 911, the police have arrived and it’s only a neighbor’s confirmation that Van appeared after the shots were fired that saves him from becoming a suspect. Dono has always been into shady business but nothing that would have him gunned down in his own home. And with his grandfather laid up in a coma, it’s up to Van to find out exactly who has it in for the old criminal.

Glen Erik Hamilton’s debut is the start of a brand new series featuring a kick ass hero.

Van Shaw is an ex criminal himself, trained at his grandfather’s knee from a very early age. But Van left that life way behind him the day he joined the military. His leaving was prompted by circumstances that also caused the two men to break any and all contact, circumstances the author lays out through a series of flashbacks outlining Van’s life with Dono.

Van dons the hat of amateur investigator, using the skills and connections Dono himself passed on, at the risk of angering the local authorities but (of course) turns out to be much better equipped for breaking Dono’s case than anyone else. It makes for fabulous reading and is sure to be a hit for readers looking for another Reacher-esque hero/antihero to follow.

5/16 Becky LeJeune

PAST CRIMES by Glen Erik Hamilton. William Morrow; Reprint edition (February 23, 2016). ISBN: 978-0062344564. 448p.

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THE GIRL I USED TO BE by April Henry

May 13, 2016

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Olivia was only three years old when her mother was murdered. Now, fourteen years later, she only remembers what she’s been told about the incident: High school sweethearts Naomi Benson and Terry Weeks, twenty and twenty-one respectively, took their three-year-old out to hunt for a Christmas tree. All three and Terry’s truck were reported missing when they failed to return home. One day later, the toddler was identified as a girl found three hours away, abandoned at a local Wal-Mart. Another three weeks passed before Naomi’s body was discovered and Terry’s truck was found in an airport parking lot.

Of course the running theory was that Terry murdered his girlfriend and left his daughter before escaping. But new evidence proves that wasn’t the case. As the only witness, Olivia has always wondered if the truth about that day might be hidden somewhere in the depths of her own memory. And now she’s determined to find out. But the killer who once spared her isn’t likely to do so again.

April Henry has made quite a name for herself in teen mysteries. But Henry was a name on my radar long before she broke onto the teen scene thanks to her Claire Montrose series. It was a series I quite enjoyed (I can’t see a vanity plate without it coming to mind.) so I was understandably excited to sink my teeth into her latest teen release. And I was not disappointed.

Olivia, born Ariel, is an emancipated minor who’s long lived with the knowledge that her father murdered her mother and then ran for the hills. But that belief is shaken when Terry Weeks’s remains are discovered fourteen years after the crime in question took place. The guilt of knowing she was so wrong in her assumptions about her father prompts Olivia to attend his funeral and face the people who knew him best. And in doing so she realizes that she can anonymously dig into the case on her own.

As with any amateur investigation, especially one so close to the heroine in question, the killer does eventually catch wind. This of course leaves Olivia vulnerable to a killer whose face she can’t remember in spite of the fact that random memories of her childhood have started to return.

The Girl I Used to Be is a quick read that’s absolutely packed with suspense. It’s an excellent addition to the genre (and a fantastic return to her work for this older fan).

5/16 Becky LeJeune

THE GIRL I USED TO BE by April Henry. Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (May 3, 2016). ISBN: 978-1627793322. 240p.

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WALLEYE JUNCTION by Karin Salvalaggio

May 10, 2016

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Macy Greeley Mysteries, Book 3

In this third entry in the fine Macy Greeley mystery series, a kidnapping/murder in the small town of Walleye Junction, Montana, keeps state-police detective Macy occupied.

Controversial radio talk-show host Philip Long is kidnapped, then murdered with Macy’s own gun, making this case clearly personal. Long had been angering the growing number of right-wing militias in the area, so they are the prime suspects until the two alleged kidnappers turn up dead of heroin overdoses.

The local authorities are satisfied that the case is solved, but Macy is not convinced; the kidnappers’ bodies had been moved, and their son is on the lam. Macy leaves her kids with her mother so she can concentrate on investigating in the small town.

Meanwhile, Long’s daughter, Emma, returns to Walleye Junction after a long, troubled absence, and suddenly prescription-painkiller abuse becomes an issue in the town

This is another complex thriller that drives much of its appeal from the author’s ability to evoke the small-town Montana setting; C.J. Box and Archer Mayor fans will feel right at home here.

5/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

WALLEYE JUNCTION by Karin Salvalaggio. Minotaur Books (May 10, 2016). ISBN 978-1250078926. 336p.

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WILDE LAKE by Laura Lippman

May 9, 2016

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Laura Lippman, why do you make us wait so long for new books? I know you have a toddler, and I know I’m being totally selfish, but I read this new one in one night and could just cry thinking about how long it will be before you give us another. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d go back and reread your entire series, but there are just too many new books to read.

Anyway, Wilde Lake is another stunning novel from one of my favorite authors. Lippman has left Tess Monaghan for another book (I hope?) and this standalone is set in a small town called, Wilde Lake. A town much like the one Lippman lived in through her own high school years.

Lu Brant has just beaten out her incumbent boss for the state attorney’s job in Howard County, Maryland. She is settling in when a murder case falls into her lap. There are very few murders in this suburb, but Brant is determined to win this one. A homeless man is accused of beating a woman to death in her own home, and while they cannot find a motive, his diminished mental capacity may be cause enough, while not being severe enough to plea out on insanity.

The book is written in alternate chapters of the present day case and Lu’s coming of age in the 1980’s. She lost her mother a week after her birth, and was raised by her state attorney father and much older brother, AJ. This is a very close family so when secrets start to come out, we realize even the closest of families may have skeletons in the closet. Lu’s view of events as she was growing up take a decided turn as an adult with a much different perspective.

Somewhat reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, (and I don’t say that lightly,) this is a deeply compelling story with themes of family, secrets, murder, mental illness, truth and justice. And one of the best books I’ve read this year.

5/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

WILDE LAKE by Laura Lippman. William Morrow (May 3, 2016). ISBN 978-0062083456. 368p.

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CITY OF THE LOST by Kelley Armstrong

May 7, 2016

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Casey Duncan Novels, Book 1

Casey and her college boyfriend, a mobster’s son, are mugged and he takes off, leaving her to get beaten within an inch of her life. When she is sufficiently recovered, she kills the boyfriend and is never caught.

In an ironic twist, Casey becomes a cop, quickly moving up the ladder to homicide detective. Her only personal relationships are with a bartender she’s using for sex, and her friend Diana, who she protects from a crazy, abusive ex-husband. +

The mobster finds Casey and Diana’s ex shows up and things get ugly. In desperation, they decide to try and get into Rockton, an invisible town in the Yukon where people go to disappear. They apply and are accepted as there has been a murder in town, and a good detective would be an asset. There are more gruesome murders, and in a town this small, everyone is suspect.

Rockton is completely off the grid – no electricity, running water, or Internet, and is ruled by martial law. I’ve read a couple of books with towns reminiscent of Rockton, most notably The Pines by Blake Crouch and more recently, Make Me by Lee Child, so I was expecting this to go in a much darker, different direction than it took. Not that this was light reading by any means.

At heart this is a blood-soaked locked room mystery on steroids; lots of tension and enough twists make this an all nighter.

5/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

CITY OF THE LOST by Kelley Armstrong. Minotaur Books (May 3, 2016). ISBN 978-1250092144. 416p.

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THE LAST MILE by David Baldacci

May 6, 2016

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Amos Decker series

In his novel Memory Man, David Baldacci created one of the most original detectives in fiction. Due to an accident, Amos Decker cannot forget anything. He can take part in a situation, or read something and can call up the incident anytime with a total remembrance of every detail involved.

In The Last Mile, Decker joins an FBI special task force with the mission of looking into older cases, bringing up the facts and finding additional evidence in order to solve the case. On joining the task force, Decker arrives with an interest in looking at a situation involving Melvin Mars, a convict on death row with his execution pending shortly. Amos is struck by the similarity between Mars’ case and his own personal experience. Both have had their families murdered and both have had someone come forward years after the crimes and confess to the killings.

Another commonality is that both Mars and Decker were talented football players in their youth with both having their careers cut short by the tragedies befalling them. In the case of Melvin Mars, he was charged with and convicted of the murders of his parents and sentenced to death.

Decker and his group pick up the case when another death row inmate comes forward and confesses to the Mars’ family killings. The confession has the potential to get Melvin out of prison and return him to society. Cementing Decker’s belief that there is a lot more than first appears is the disappearance and probable kidnapping of one of the members of his team.

Baldacci’s portrait of Amos Decker is striking in itself. Decker comes into the task force about 100 pounds overweight. One of the other members, who might appear as a love interest in future books, talks Amos into going on a strict diet and his agonies in following it will be familiar to all of us that have gone on one. The medical causes for Decker’s extraordinary memory have been researched and explained for the reader’s information about the man.

There are stops and starts in going forward on the case, and insight into the intricate world of playing football. Descriptions of the characters involved, especially those of Decker and Mars, make them into very real people going through a traumatic situation.

The twists and turns provide a rollercoaster ride for the reader, making this one of the better whodunnits in a long time. Extremely well done novel and providing definite interest in looking for the next book in this series.

5/16 Paul Lane

THE LAST MILE by David Baldacci. Grand Central Publishing (April 19, 2016). ISBN 978-1455586455. 432p.

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REDEMPTION ROAD by John Hart

May 2, 2016

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I’ve often said that I think Michael Connelly is the finest crime fiction writing working today. John Hart is a close second, if not on par with Connelly. Connelly writes series, and Hart writes stand alones, but both write truly excellent books with well plotted stories, tension that keeps the pages turning, and protagonists that we can’t help rooting for. But most importantly, they write antagonists that are never one dimensional but rather fully realized individuals, and despite how depraved or heinous their acts, we are still able to see them as human beings, a most difficult feat.

Hart has written a compelling page turner, yet somehow manages to find the balance between rocketing suspense and creative imagery.

Adrian Wall is a cop superstar – great looking, charismatic and caring. Until he’s convicted of murder. A cop in prison is never a good thing, but Wall’s experience is grimmer than most. Thirteen years later, he is released early for good behavior but as he stops at a bar outside the prison to phone for a cab, the young teenage son of his alleged murder victim appears in the bar, gun in hand. The bartender manages to shoot the kid before he can kill Wall, but that’s just the beginning of Wall’s problems. The next day, a woman is murdered in an eerily similar manner to his convicted crime.

Detective Elizabeth Black is a woman with a lot of baggage. She’s had a major crush on Wall since she was 17 years old and he saved her life. In fact, it was because of Wall that she became a cop, disappointing her minister father. Black is the only one who never thought him guilty of the murder, so when he’s the chief suspect in this new murder, she wants to help.

Meanwhile, Black answers a call about a young woman screaming. She answers the call by herself, and finds Channing tied to the bed. She manages to free her, and kills both of the men who had kidnapped and raped the young woman. This turns into a racially charged killing as the men are both black, and were shot 18 times. Black soon finds herself suspended from the force and under suspicion of torturing and killing these men.

Than another body is found at the same location as Wall’s supposed other victims.

This is a multi-layered novel, and all of the characters have difficult choices to make as they try and find their own redemption.

I stayed up late into the night to finish this truly excellent, profoundly moving book. It is sure to be on my best books of 2016 list. Don’t miss it.

5/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

REDEMPTION ROAD by John Hart. Thomas Dunne Books (May 3, 2016). ISBN 978-0312380366. 432p.

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THAT DARKNESS by Lisa Black

April 27, 2016

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This is the first book of a new series featuring Cleveland forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner and homicide detective Jack Renner, but this is not your typical detective story.

Gardiner is a complete forensic nerd with no real personal life outside of her job. She has become obsessed with the victims of several murders, all of whom were shot point blank in the back of the head, yet are seemingly unrelated. By using tapings – pieces of tape pressed against victim’s clothing that pick up threads, dust and fibers – she has literally picked up enough clues to find the place where all the murders took place.

And just in case you think that sounds far fetched, Black has worked as a forensic scientist at the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, where she analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now she is a latent print examiner and CSI for the Cape Coral Police Department in Florida, working mostly with fingerprints and crime scenes. In other words, she knows her stuff.

Renner is a vigilante cop turned serial killer, but he only kills people who need killing, somewhat reminiscent of the Dexter books by Jeff Lindsay. But Renner is no sadist; he kills quickly and cleanly in his quest for the justice often denied by the legal system.

While Gardiner is not a cop, she works hand in hand with the police as she narrows in on the killer. The surprising ending is sure to keep readers coming back for more.

4/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THAT DARKNESS by Lisa Black. Kensington (April 26, 2016). ISBN 978-1496701886. 336p.

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IT TAKES ONE by Kate Kessler

April 26, 2016

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Audrey Harte is a successful Los Angeles criminal psychologist working with children and appearing on a television series called “When Kids Kill.” She hasn’t returned to Edgeport, Maine in several years, moving as far away from her past as possible.

Growing up in the small town left some serious scars – Audrey’s best friend Maggie was sexually abused by her father, and no one would help. The teenage girls took matters into their own hands and killed him. Maggie was sent for psychiatric help and Audrey was sent to a girl’s juvenile facility, where she was mentored by the psychologist in charge, who led Audrey to her career.

Returning home to her alcoholic father, her bitter sister, her estrangement with Maggie, not to mention Jake, the heartbreak of her life, is extremely stressful. A day later, Maggie is dead, Audrey is the prime suspect, and the tension really starts building.

Jake has become extremely successful and owns a good chunk of the town, but is still single. He and Audrey are wary of one another, but after Maggie’s death, they work together to try and clear Audrey’s name and more importantly, find the killer. Along the way, Audrey mends fences with the town and Jake.

An intriguing mystery and terrific characters make this a compelling read, sure to appeal to Nancy Pickard or Lisa Unger fans. First book of a series.

4/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

IT TAKES ONE by Kate Kessler. Redhook (April 26, 2016). ISBN 978-0316302500. 416p.

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POISONOUS by Allison Brennan

April 20, 2016

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Max Revere Novels (Book 3)

Max Revere is an investigative reporter who specializes in cold cases. She is tenacious, speaks her mind without a filter, is a trust fund kid, and always seeks the truth. I could be friends with her.

Max has a lot of baggage from her childhood with a mother who abandoned her and no father, but luckily she was raised by her wealthy grandparents. Her relationships are difficult at best. Her boyfriend Nick, and her best friend/bodyguard David are both in similar situations with child custody issues, and Max just doesn’t get it.

When Max receives a letter from Tommy, a young man who is a bit slow, she wants to help. He tells her that his sister was killed and no one was arrested, and his stepmother thinks he did it and has banished him from the family. Max can relate and decides to take the case.

The local cops haven’t been able to ascertain whether or not Ivy was killed, committed suicide or just fell off the cliff where her body was found. Ivy was a cyber bully who had tormented a classmate into suicide, so not a very sympathetic victim even though she was a teen. Yet somehow Max does empathize, and with her resources, is determined to ferret out the truth.

This is a good look at the whole teen online social networking nightmare that every parent has to deal with nowadays, only this time with devastating results. A really good story, well developed characters and enough twists to keep me up half the night makes this another excellent entry into this terrific series.

04/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

POISONOUS by Allison Brennan. Minotaur Books (April 12, 2016). ISBN 978-1250066848. 368p.

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