The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis and A Book of Bones by John Connolly

At first, I was not sure if I'd be able to read The Good Luck Girls--those girls taken or sold at ten years old to a "Welcome House." On each girl's sixteenth birthday, she is auctioned off before before assuming her role in the brothel.

From description:Westworld meets The Handmaid's Tale in this stunning fantasy adventure from debut author Charlotte Nicole Davis.
Aster, the protectorViolet, the favoriteTansy, the medicMallow, the fighterClementine, the catalyst
THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS
The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. Trapped in a life they would never have chosen.

Clementine, however, on her sixteenth birthday kills the "brag" or client that won her auction.  With the help of Clem's older sister Aster, several of the girls make a break for freedom.  From that point on, the plot becomes an adventure story with Aster in the lead.  Violet, the favorite who had delighted in getting girls in trouble, demands to go with them because she knows where to find Lady Ghost.

The girls must work together to survive and to find the almost mythical Lady Ghost, hoping that she will be able to remove the "favor," the magical tattoo that brands each of them as welcome girls.  Because they are all dustbloods (with the exception of Violet)-- they are all part of a disenfranchised, oppressed element of society,but without the favor, they would not be recognizable as escaped "good luck girls."

Part dystopian, part adventure, part supernatural, part heist...and all about the inequity of a society that subjugates certain members.  While there are flaws--some elements are not explored or explained, the length of the journey isn't mentioned until the end, and other than the madam of the Green Creek Welcome house, women are largely absent or mentioned only in passing--The Good Luck Girls  nevertheless provides an interesting, adventure-filled plot that addresses a number of social issues.  

I'm glad I kept reading, and I look forward to the next book which I hope will smooth out some of the problems in this intriguing debut novel.

NetGalley/Tor Teen
YA/Fantasy.  Oct. 1, 2019.  Print length:  352 pages.

A Book of Bones by John Connolly is the latest in the Charlie Parker PI/supernatural/horror series.  

I was a little disappointed in this one.  It skips all over the place from Parker and his allies to the villains to new sets of characters to historical inserts.  The writing is excellent as always, but the frequent breaks and historical insertions (while interesting) gives an uneven pace to a long book.

There is a great deal of violence in Connolly's good vs evil conflict.  The sinister, macabre elements are so frequent that they actually become less effective.  When a book is over 700 pages, maintaining suspense and dread is difficult.  Gruesome can only go so far.

Problems: too little of Parker, Angel, and Louis (Bob does a little better), too many interruptions that fracture the pace.

spoiler:  At any rate, this ends the Familists, Quayle, Pallida Mors narrative arc, but the Backers are still in play.

Now, where will Connolly go next?  In spite of my disappointment in A Book of Bones, I wouldn't miss a Charlie Parker book and am eagerly anticipating the next one.

NetGalley/Atria Books
Horror.  Oct. 15, 2019.  Print length:  720 pages.

A Litter of Bones and Thicker than Water by J.D. Kirk

A Litter of Bones is the first in a new series featuring DCI Jack Logan.  

When a child goes missing, Jack Logan is sent from Glasgow to the Highlands to investigate.  The circumstances are too similar to an earlier case to ignore.  The man convicted of the earlier murders is in prison, but was the wrong man sentenced or is this new case a copy cat?

While there is a familiar format and cast of characters, Kirk sets the ball in motion early and keeps the plot tight and fast-moving throughout.  An intense introduction to a new series.

Deserving of the Tartan Noir epithet because there are some dark and gruesome moments.

Police Procedural/Thriller.  2019.  Print length:  286 pages.

After finishing A Litter of Bones, I went right on to Thicker than Water.  Jack Logan has relocated from Glasgow to the Highlands and the team he worked with in the previous book.

An attempted teenage assignation by Loch Lomond is interrupted by the appearance of a mutilated body.  You can't help but be amused by the drastic change the young man involved undergoes--from hot and bothered and the kind of behavior that becomes abusive when not getting his way to...
well, sometimes karma can be so satisfying.

I'd give 3/5 stars to both of these and will read the next in the series.

Police Procedural.  June 30, 2019.  Print length:  316 pages.


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As October approaches, I'm ready for some Gothic, witchy, supernatural books that will make me shiver.  :)

Murder at Whitby Abbey by Cassandra Clark and Deathin Focus by Anne Perry

I enjoy medieval mysteries and even if had not already enjoyed several of the Sister Hildegard books, it would be hard to resist a mystery set in Whitby Abbey.  

Hildegard of Meaux is sent to Whitby Abbey to bid on a a lock of St. Hild's hair, a relic purported to be more than 600 years old.  The year is 1389, and the ancient relic (if genuine) would be a prize for who ever succeeds in the bidding war.

Accompanied by Father Luke and Gregory and Egbert (militant monks who have been on the crusades), the entourage from Meaux find a very different and unpleasant atmosphere at Whitby--and that is before the body of a monk is discovered.  Things get decidedly worse and dissension between the abbey and the town intensifies.

A Medieval whodunit with a strong female lead, an interesting plot, and a glimpse of the struggles to keep the Church honest.

Read in July.  Blog post scheduled for ??

NetGalley/Severn House
Medieval Mystery.  Oct. 1, 2019.  Print length:  240 pages.

The first in Anne Perry's new series is set in 1933 and gives some insight into the period in which Hitler has built up his power.  In England, Oswald Mosely and his British Union of Fascists have gained influence.  Fear of another war with Germany has many concerned, but the attitudes vary from those realizing the danger of Hitler and those admiring him and his policies.

What I liked:  Several quotes near the beginning.

"Fear begets violence and hatred," he said.  "it's the easy answer.  Blame someone else.  blame the gypsies, the Jews, the Communists, anyone but ourselves.  Get rid of them, and it will all be fine."

"Hitler is either assuming more power himself or appointing bloody awful men to do it for him.  Himmler, for example."

'I suppose every culture has them:  men in bondage to their own inadequacies, who will never be satisfied because the emptiness is inside them."

"They're always there, the misfits.  It's the measure of a leader, which men he picks for the next tier of command...."

"What you see, and allow without a fight, is what you become yourself.  What is the moral difference between the man who burns his neighbor to death, and the man who stands by and watches him do it?"

"And Hitler feeds people's resentment, ..." 

"People are capable of believing anything they want to justify what they feel.  And of believing that what they need to be true to justify what they are doing."

"...now winning is the only objective!  And the more you win, the more you justify it, until the whole idea of right and wrong disappears and only winning matters."

What I didn't like:  Everything else was a disappointment.  This is unusual for an Anne Perry book, but the plot and the conclusion were improbable and the characters were thin.

The quotes, however, from the early part of the book (and I didn't include all of them) seem as appropriate in today's climate as they did in 1933.

NetGalley/Random House/Ballentine
Historical Mystery.  Sept. 17, 2019.  Print length:  304 pages.  

The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas continues her Lady Sherlock series with The Art of Theft.

from decription:  Charlotte Holmes, Lady Sherlock, is back solving new cases in the Victorian-set mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of The Hollow of Fear.

 And off we go in another adventure with Charlotte Holmes, Lord Ingram, Mrs. Watson, Livia, and other familiar characters.  

It is unusual that a prospective client has an interview with Charlotte, and then decides not to engage the services of Sherlock Holmes, but the beautiful Indian woman who requested the interview doesn't believe "Sherlock Holmes" is suitable for the job she requires.  

It turns out, however, that Mrs. Watson is an old friend of the mysterious woman, so Charlotte and friends end up in France in a dangerous escapade that turns out to be more than they bargained for.  

The plot is concluded, but a twist at the end sets up the next installment.  This is the 4th book in the series, and if you are looking for a good binge, start with the first one A Study in Scarlet Women. 

Read in June; blog review scheduled for Sept. 19, 2019

NetGalley/Berkley Publishing
Historical Mystery.  Oct. 15, 2019.  Print length:  336 pages.  

A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan

Two different versions of the cover of A House of Ghosts.  

from description:  Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons who were lost in the conflict. But as his guests begin to arrive, it gradually becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends on the island, the guests will find themselves trapped. Soon one of their number will die. 

 There is definitely an Agatha Christie vibe to this one.  I thought it was fun--a little old-fashioned, but in a way that seemed appropriate to the time period.  

An old abbey converted centuries ago to a family home; a winter storm that cuts the inhabitants off from help; seances, spiritualists, and espionage.  :)

Read in June.  Blog review scheduled for 9/18/19.

NetGalley/Skyhorse Publishing
Historical Mystery.  Oct. 1, 2019.  Print length:  384 pages

---------  I've just started John Connolly's new Charlie Parker installment, A Book of Bones.  Anyone interested a mix of horror and thriller can look to the Charlie Parker series to provide a battle of good vs evil, supernatural, and suspense.  In 2014, I read The Wolf in Winter for an R.I.P challenge, and it is a good place to start if you want a good PI, mystery, suspenseful, supernatural thriller.  Intense creep factor, but great characters, plots, and writing.

A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie

Like many others, I always look forward a new Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James adventure by Deborah Crombie.  Spending time with familiar characters and expecting a well-plotted mystery is pretty much a guarantee with each new book in this well-established series.

A weekend in the Cotswolds with DS Melody Talbot's wealthy and influential sounds like a pleasant respite for the Kincaide/James family.  

Of course, you know that isn't going to happen.  A deadly car crash and some unexplained deaths keep the ball rolling in this latest addition.

Chef Viv Holland's opportunity to cater a luncheon for food bloggers and critics would allow her to display her talents and enhance her reputation, and Viv personally likes Melody Talbot's mother, who is hosting the luncheon.  

However, Viv is also struggling with an unpleasant visit from her past and an unhappy eleven-year-old daughter.  Additionally, the deaths of two people in the car accident, followed by more mysterious deaths have connections to Viv's pub.  

As the connections to both the Talbot's home and Viv's pub continue to occur, Duncan and Gemma join with the local constabulary to find the guilty party and prevent more deaths.

I'm almost tempted to start with the first book and read the entire series again because the characters are so engaging.  Not just Duncan and Gemma, but their children, friends, and minor characters.  In fact, I'd love to see some of the minor characters again.   

This is one of my favorite series not just for the characters, but also for the police procedural aspects. 

Read in May.  Blog review scheduled for Sept. 16, 2019.

NetGalley/ Harper Collins
Police Procedural.  Oct. 8, 2018.  Print length:  384 pages.  

Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose and All the Devils by Barry Eisler

Murder at Kensington Palace is the third in the Wrexford & Sloan mysteries.  I've had problems with the earlier two, but I like the characters and Charlotte Sloan's secret identity as the satirical artist A.J. Quill in the Regency Period so I've continued to read the books.  

I'm happy to say the third book seems to find Andrea Penrose becoming more skillful in her presentation (but that may be because I was reading ARCs that were probably edited).  Murder at Kensington Palace made the most of previous characters and added some intriguing new ones.

Charlotte's cousin Cedric is murdered and his twin brother Nicholas is arrested for the murder.  Unable to believe Nicholas guilty, Charlotte determines to find out what happened. The plot (far-fetched, but exciting) requires Charlotte, Lord Wrexford, and the Weasels (two street boys, Hawk and Raven whom Charlotte has taken in and who have aided in previous investigations) to explore scientific experiments involving electricity.  (Is someone trying a Frankenstein experiment?)   

The role of Mrs. McClellan (the housekeeper) develops; Charlotte's great-aunt and the bluestocking Lady Cordelia are introduced.  I like the addition of the two new strong female characters and giving Mrs. McClellan more time, and as always the lovable Weasels.

I look forward to the next addition to this series. :)

Read in Aug.  Blog review scheduled for Sept. 11, 2019.

NetGalley/Kensington Books
Historical Mystery.  Sept. 24, 2019.  Print length:  304 pages.

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The latest Livia Lone book by Barry Eisler has connections to current news about sex trafficking and powerful people.  It is well-researched, as all of Eisler's books are, and links to real events are included in the notes following the novel.  

from description:  Ten years ago, the daughter of Homeland Security Investigations agent B. D. Little vanished into thin air. So did seven other girls—the crimes all bearing the same signature characteristics.

Now the disappearances have begun again. And Agent Little’s efforts to investigate are being blocked by forces far above his pay grade. Desperate, he turns to Seattle sex-crimes detective Livia Lone, the most obsessive hunter of predators Little knows.

Livia Lone has continued to grow in these books, and she never gives up on her mission to save young women.  While very different from Lisbeth Salander, she is every bit as determined to pursue and bring to justice, legal or otherwise, those who abuse women and children--regardless of their wealth and powerful positions.  

The Livia Lone books are a spin-off of the John Rain books, and some of the characters from the John Rain series make appearances.  All of Eisler's books are intense thrillers, and this one doesn't disappoint!

Read in June.  Blog review scheduled for Sept. 11, 2019.

NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer
Thriller.  Sept. 24, 2019.  Print length:  364 pages.  
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The weather here is more like July/August than September, but I'm thinking about fall, Halloween, pumpkins, fall foliage.  Surely we will eventually get to the low 90's and [gasp] possibly the 80's before long.     

The Bone Ships by RJ Barker and The Body on the Beach by Anna Johannsen.

The world-building in RJ Barker's The Bone Ships:  The Tide Child #1 is original and bold.  Barker has created a new world, full of detail, history, and culture for this series.  

In the world of the Hundred Isles, ships have been built from the bones of sea dragons--white, gleaming ships, equipped with corpse lights.  But there are also black bone ships, captained and crewed by condemned criminals.  And Joron Twiner finds himself on Tide Child, a black ship, in retaliation for killing the son of a powerful official in a duel.

Joron Twiner presents an intriguing protagonist as he gradually grows from an angry, depressed, nineteen-year-old and begins to question the rules and history of his society.  I found this particularly interesting as the growth is slow and not readily accepted as Joron clings to the traditions he has been raised to accept.

Lucky Meas takes command of the Tide Child from Joron and not only allows him to live, but gives him second in command.  Lucky Meas has been Shipwife (captain) of one of the most famous of the bone ships and has become a legend for her courage and skill in battle.  How did she become condemned to a black ship?  Whatever the reason, Meas is a leader and she is able to get both ship and crew into shape through force of will.

Meas, Joron, and the crew of the Tide Child are in search of the last sea dragon and the attempts to protect it or kill it.

 (At the end, there is an appendix ranks in the Fleet and the Hundred Isles that (in my opinion) should have been at the beginning to help the reader adjust to this new world.  Definition of the bern, berncast, Fleet ranks, etc. would make entering the world easier.)

I had not read RJ Barker before, but as soon as I finished The Bone Ships (knowing it would probably be a year's wait before the next in the series comes out), I ordered Age of Assassins, the first in Barker's Wounded Kingdom trilogy.  Which lets you know how much I liked the book and the author.  I literally put my Kindle on large print and walked while reading--mostly inside because adding the heat index to 98 degrees made walking outside too damn hot.

Read in August; blog review scheduled for Sept. 2.

NetGalley/Orbit Books
Fantasy/Adventure.  Sept. 24, 2019.  Print length:  512 pages.

The Body on the Beach by Anna Johannsen.  When a body is found on the beach of the small island of Arum, the question arises: natural death, suicide, murder?

DI Lena Lorezen is sent to investigate by a boss she doesn't trust.  The victim was the head of a children's home, and the investigation leads to links to the past.  

Not a bad mystery/police procedural, but the romance of Lena's reconnection with her youthful boyfriend felt like the author was trying to include a romance for a target audience.

Read in July; blog review scheduled for Sept. 2.

NetGalley/Amazon Publishing, UK
Police Procedural.  Print length:  240 pages.  

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean and The Starlight Claim

Billed as something for fans of Craig Johnson, I couldn't help but have high hopes for this one.  In the end, though, the book didn't suit me...or I didn't suit the book. 

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (tentative connection to content) featuring Iraqi War veteran Tommy Smith is the third book in the series.  A missing ten-year-old girl, a corpse of a missing embezzler, and a sinister owner of a "titty bar" and abuser of women and underage girls, an ineffectual sheriff, and plenty of dead folks.  

Although not a book that I wanted to abandon, I had trouble connecting with the characters on more than a superficial basis and had little confidence in the plot.  

There are a lot of admirers of this series, but ultimately, it wasn't a good fit for me.

Read in May; blog review scheduled for Aug. 31, 2019

NetGalley/ Skyhorse Publishing
Crime.  Sept. 17, 2019.  Print length:  288 pages.

The Starlight Claim was an exciting survival adventure.  Nate didn't intend to make the trip to the cabin alone, but when his friend is grounded,  he decides not to back out.  But a blizzard sets in and in subzero temperatures, Nate must not only survive the weather, but must outwit escapees from a maximum security prison who have taken refuge in his family's cabin.  Thanks to his father, Nate is not without resources, both physical and mental.

from description:  Four months after his best friend, Dodge, disappeared near their families’ camp in a boat accident, Nate is still haunted by nightmares. He’d been planning to make the treacherous trek to the remote campsite with a friend — his first time in winter without his survival-savvy father. But when his friend gets grounded, Nate secretly decides to brave the trip solo in a journey that’s half pilgrimage, half desperate hope he will find his missing friend when no one else could. What he doesn’t expect to find is the door to the cabin flung open and the camp occupied by strangers: three men he’s horrified to realize have escaped from a maximum-security prison. Snowed in by a blizzard and with no cell signal, Nate is confronted with troubling memories of Dodge and a stunning family secret, and realizes that his survival now depends on his wits as much as his wilderness skills. As things spiral out of control, Nate finds himself dealing with questions even bigger than who gets to leave the camp alive.

Nate discovers an unexpected ally, but not a benevolent or selfless one.  

Although the main character is a teenager, I didn't realize at first that this was a YA novel; however, as with any good book,  The Starlight Claim will grab your interest and hold it throughout.

Read in May;  blog review scheduled for Aug. 31, 2019

NetGalley/Candlewick Press
YA/Suspense.  Sept. 10, 2019.  Print length:  240 pages

The Cold Way Home by Julia Keller, Tripwire by Lee Child, The Other Side of Fear and Desperate Measures by Kennedy Hudner

Bitter River was my introduction to Acker's Gap, West Virginia and Bell Elkins.  Acker's Gap, a small town in Appalachia must deal with the problems of poverty, unemployment, and drugs that have typified areas of Appalachia.   The Cold Way Home  is the 8th book in the series, and an awful lot has happened to the characters since Bitter River.  (I intended to continue with the series, but somehow never did.)

Although I missed all the books in between, The Cold Way Home can be read as a stand-alone as the plot is contained within the pages of the novel.  

At least ten years have past since Bitter River, and Bell has had quite a few live changes:  she is no longer the county prosecutor, her daughter is grown, Nick Fogleman has retired and there is a new sheriff.  The lives of the characters have continued and situations have changed--as they do in the normal course of living.

Currently, Bell, Nick , and Jake Oakes have formed a small detective agency, often assisting the sheriff and prosecutor when they are overwhelmed with other problems.  The three decide to take the case of a missing young woman: Dixie Sue is nineteen, but "simple" as her mother tells Bell.   

Someone has seen Dixie Sue and her new boyfriend in the woods near Wellwood, a psychiatric hospital that burned to the ground in the 1960's, and when Bell treks up the ruins of the hospital, she discovers the body of a woman.  The body is face down, and Bell assumes it is Dixie Sue, but once the sheriff and coroner arrive, the body turns out to be Darla Gilley.  

Who would want to kill Darla?  The detective team gets involved with the investigation and all kinds of secrets eventually come to light--especially concerning the hospital itself and those who worked there.

The early treatment of the mentally ill was especially grotesque, and patients were committed for reasons that were not always medical.  Although Wellwood may be a fictional facility, Walter F. Freeman was a real person and practiced until 1967.  Spoiler:  Walter Freeman charged just $25 for each procedure that he performed.^[8] After four decades Freeman had personally performed as many as 4,000^[11][12][13] lobotomy surgeries in 23 states, of which 2,500 used his ice-pick procedure,^[14] despite the fact that he had no formal surgical training.^[2] In February 1967, Freeman performed his final surgery on Helen Mortensen.^[6]  

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Mystery.  August 20, 2019.  Print length:  320 pages.

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Tripwire by Lee Child.  I thought I had read all the books in the Jack Reacher series, then realized I had missed one.  Back up and catch up.

Starts in Key West, ends up in New York.  Reacher actually made an effort to try giving up his nomadic lifestyle.  

Reacher isn't a comic book hero, but his skills are at least as remarkable and require the reader to just give in and enjoy the ride.  I'm addicted to Reacher.

I'm caught up with this series now, and I'm eagerly awaiting Blue Moon which will be out in October.

Thriller.  1999.  Print length:  586 pages.


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I'm also caught up with Kennedy Hudner's Alarm of War military science fiction/space opera series.  I read Alarm of War I several years ago, and this summer I picked up The Other Side of Fear and Desperate Measures.  And so the trilogy is concluded.  Exciting and suspenseful--I couldn't put them down.  Mr. Hudner, what now?

Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke

Attica Locke's Heaven, My Home is the second in her Hwy 59 series.  
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U.S. Route 59 (US 59) is a north–south United States highway (though it was signed east–west in parts of Texas). A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, US 59 is now a border-to-border route, part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75 for nearly its entire route, never much more than 100 miles (160 km) away, until it veers southwest in Houston, Texas. Its number is out of place since US 59 is either concurrent with or entirely west of U.S. Route 71.

Source

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Although the highway stretches from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada, Locke is concerned with the portions within her native Texas.

 I loved Blue Bird, Blue Bird and Texas Ranger Darren Matthews, and I would suggest beginning with Blue Bird as the second book (Heaven, My Home) resumes shortly thereafter.  It isn't necessary, but the background of Darren Matthews as a black Texas Ranger raised by his uncles adds a great deal to the character.  

In Blue Bird, Darren hides a gun used by an old man to kill Ronnie Malvo, breaking the law and contravening the values his uncles have tried to instill in him.  Ronnie Malvo, member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, was a violent man and few people mourned his death. The reader can't help but think Darren was right in trying to protect the old man who killed Malvo, but it upsets his sense of duty and leaves him vulnerable to blackmail.  

Darren's new case involves a missing boy in an isolated community on Caddo Lake (25,400 acre lake and wetland on the border of Texas and Louisiana).   Again, there is an association with the Aryan Brotherhood and a bunch of white supremacists.  The uncomfortable fact of racial tension, distrust and betrayal is not limited to the white supremacists, it is also endemic to the culture of the area in a traditional way that is almost subconscious.  

Darren's character has been altered by his own actions in the previous book, and I found it harder to empathize with him in this book, but he is human and despite his failures, he still strives to understand himself and his relations with others.   

A complex plot with complex characters, Heaven, My Home addresses a number of issues society is dealing with currently; none of these issues are new, but they have certainly become more "acceptable" in the last few years.  Darren, too, is having to consistently evaluate his feelings at overt and covert racism directed at him , including the unacknowledged, often unintended, racism of his boss.  Recommended.

Read in July.  Blog review scheduled for Aug. 26, 2019.

NetGalley/
Mystery/Thriller.  Sept. 12, 2019.  Print length:  304 pages.

Some Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Witchy, Vampire, Werewolf Stuff

I read and enjoy a variety of genres.  Back in March, I found Melissa F. Olson's Boundary Witch series and greedily gobbled up the first 4 books in the series.  The other day, wanting more of the urban fantasy genre, I turned again to Olson.  This time it was her Scarlett Bernard series.   

From description:  "Scarlett Bernard knows about personal space: step within ten feet of her, and any supernatural spells or demonic forces are instantly defused—vampires and werewolves become human again, and witches can’t get out so much as a “hocus pocus.” This special skill makes her a null and very valuable to Los Angeles’s three most powerful magical communities..."


The thing about urban fantasy (aside from contemporary urban settings, mystery, monsters, and magic) is that no matter how dire the situation, our protagonist wins--even if it is only temporary.  Because there is always the next adventure and mystery and monster.

Some of the characters in Dead Spots (which was Olson's debut series) appear later in her Boundary Witch series, so I was already a little familiar with Scarlett and several other characters.  

It was fun finding out about nulls and Scarlett's background, as well as more about Jesse Cruz (human detective) and  the vampires and werewolves of LA.  Scarlett, a null who defuses magic, is a cleaner for crime scenes involving Old World magic.  Initially, these are fairly mild situations, but then...things start to get wild, and Scarlett, who works for a group of vampires, werewolves, and witches, finds herself cleaning up more and more horrific crimes.  Worse, someone is trying to set Scarlett up as the villain.

Trail of Dead.  Who is killing witches and why?  And OOPS, Scarlett's mentor was supposed to be dead.  

Once again, Scarlett must work with human detective Jesse Cruz to find the murderer.  

Scarlett made a bad decision in the previous book--for all the right reasons, but without any concept of the consequences, and it destabilizes Will's wolf pack.

A rogue werewolf , the appearance in LA of the feared Luparii wolf-hunters from France, and a Bargest keep things rolling in The Hunter's Trail.





Of course, these books are not great literature, but they are fun and full of action.  I like the Boundary Witch series better, but the Scarlett Bernard series is Olson's first foray into urban fantasy and is still quite good.  This was supposed to be a trilogy, but Olson does return to Scarlett and friends in future books.  

Looking for some interesting October/Halloween books?  Try Olson's urban fantasy!

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves ended her Jimmy Perez series with Wild Fire last year, and I was sorry to see it go.  Hopefully, her Vera Stanhope series will continue, but in addition, she has begun a new series featuring Detective Inspector Matthew Venn.

Cleeves' first new series in twenty years promises to be just as good as her other long-running series. DI Matthew Venn emerges as a unique character, and like Jimmy and Vera, he is an excellent detective.  

Raised in a strict evangelical church, Venn left the church and his family when his doubts became too much.  His rejection of their beliefs resulted in rejection by his family, but Matthew still feels the tentacles of the church and his past.

He never expected to return to North Devon, but his husband Jonathan is committed to the community center he manages.  Matthew's marriage to another man creates another black mark against him for  the fundamentalist community in which he was raised.

The book opens with Matthew outside the church where his father's funeral is taking place; he knows his presence would not be appreciated.   As he is leaving, he receives a call about a body on the beach.   As you may expect, the murder may have connections to the church.

A full complement of interesting characters and a complex plot that illustrates the destructive path a cover-up to protect a reputation can take.

An excellent beginning to Cleeves' new series.

Read in April; blog review scheduled for Aug. 18.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Police Procedural.  Sept. 3, 2019.  Print length:  384 pages.

Tin Badges by Lorenzo Carcaterra

Sometimes I find myself drawn into a book because of a certain combination of characters, and Tin Badges has this in spades. "As one of the NYPD’s most trusted “tin badges”—retired detectives brought in to solve cases that are beyond the reach of the everyday force—" Tommy (Tank) Rizzo, retired from the police force because of an injury, is given cold cases in a sort of freelance manner.  

He and his former partner Pearl, who is now confined to a wheelchair,  have assembled a team of various misfit experts whose operations have not always been legal.  Their most recent case is a vicious attack on two women and a connection to a brutal drug lord

Then Tank gets a call that his brother and sister-in-law have been killed in a car accident.  The brothers have had no contact for years, and Tank finds himself guardian of an almost fifteen-year-old nephew that he doesn't even know.  

Devastated by the death of both parents, angry that an uncle who has had no contact with his family is now his only choice for a home, young Chris is bitter, but curious about the case Tank and his unorthodox team are involved in.  With outstanding computer skills and an interest in crime solving, Chris wants to work his way into the investigation.  Chris also believes his parents were murdered and needs Tank to believe him.

Fast-paced and full of action and suspense, Tin Badges may not pass the reality test, but it will suck you in as you fear for the (relatively) good guys and despise the evil-doers.   

The next one in this new series is definitely on my list as I want to find out more about the situation that occurred when Tank and his brother were young and about how he and Chris are going to solve the murders that are intimately connected to them both.

Read in May; blog review scheduled for Aug. 15, 2019.

NetGalley/Random House/Ballantine
Crime/Suspense.  Aug. 27, 2019.  Print length:  304 pages.