What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson

April 25, 2017

Rosemary Simpson uses historical accounts and actual figures to bring her debut historical mystery to life. What the Dead Leave Behind, set during New York City’s Gilded Age, is a story that crosses all classes, running from a wealthy household on Fifth...

Souls of Men by A. R. Ashworth

April 15, 2017

A. R. Ashworth’s debut police procedural, Souls of Men, is not for the weak of heart. The crimes are vicious. The villains are true villains. And, his lead detective, Elaine Hope, is in for the fight of her life in this book. Detective Inspector Elaine Hope is...

The Good Byline by Jill Orr

April 11, 2017

Bless her heart. Riley Ellison is the talk of her hometown in Virginia. She’s also the amateur sleuth in Jill Orr’s fun debut mystery, The Good Byline. It’s a mystery for readers who enjoy quirky characters in a Janet Evanovich-style caper. When...

Date with Death by Julia Chapman

April 08, 2017

The title of Julia Chapman’s debut mystery, Date with Death, doesn’t do it justice. Neither does the book jacket. The title and cover make it appear to be a cozy mystery. It is not. It’s a traditional mystery. It’s meaty with great characters....

Arsenic with Austen by Katherine Bolger Hyde

August 24, 2016

Katherine Bolger Hyde’s debut mystery makes me regret that I don’t know Austen better. Each chapter of Arsenic with Austen begins with a quote from one of the novels. If I was more knowledgeable, I’d probably have been more familiar with the...