June Reads

Well it was a slow reading month for me....my girls are out of school so less time for reading. But on the plus side I already finished my first book of July. :) And here's my June list:

1. Blood's Burden by Alex Matthews
In the eight Cassidy McCabe mystery Bryce Palomar is home with his girlfriend Kit when someone breaks in and kills her. Or did they? All evidence points to Bryce with the doors being locked, the gun on the scene and a fight heard just before the killing. Even his father, Zach, has a hard time believing in his innocence. Zach is married to therapist Cassidy McCabe. Cassidy doesn't believe her stepson is guilty and sets out to prove his innocence along with Zach who is an investigative reporter.

Cassidy and Zach find numerous people who might have had motive to kill Kit including a drug dealing boyfriend and a minister father with something to hide. An unexpected pregnancy also gives someone a motive for murder. They are hindered in their investigation by Zach and Bryce's troubled relationship. They have an ongoing power struggle and any time they get together they just can't seem to stop fighting and arguing. Along the way there is another murder attempt, skeletons in the closet are rattled and this all leads to a breathtaking conclusion.

Although this is the eighth Cassidy McCabe mystery I didn't feel at all lost not having read the previous books. Matthews does a great job at filling in details from previous books needed to keep the storyline flowing. She has created a believable and likeable character in Cassidy McCabe. Cassidy's ever present inner voice gives insight into her inner psyche while adding depth to the story. Matthews does an excellent job at showing how Cassidy is an evolving character with flaws but one who is working on the flaws to be a better person. Blood's Burden is deftly written, tightly plotted and filled with delightful characterizations. The mystery itself has many twists and turns and will leave you guessing until the very end.

2. 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers by Troy Cook
Tara wasn't raised like other children. Her life didn't involve Barbie & Ken, instead she was playing with Smith & Wesson at a young age. Her father raised her to be a bank robber and she has become pretty good at it. So far they have managed to stay ahead of the law using the 47 rules that her father had come up with. Now she is twenty-two and ready to move out on her own but her lunatic father is not keen on that idea and he will go to any lengths to keep her with him.

If that was the only problem in her life things might be ok but it's not. Her and daddy dearest have scored their biggest heist ever in a little town in the Southwest. Now they find themselves being pursued by the local sheriff, deadly ex-partners and a task force of federal agents who would love nothing more than to catch Tara and her dad red handed. But as if that wasn't enough that's when Tara falls for the son of the local sheriff and things just go from bad to worse quicker than you can say stick 'em up.

Troy Cook has written a wonderful debut novel with an unusual premise. From the very first sentence the story draws you along on a wild crazy joyride thru the lives of some very quirky characters who are a delight to read about. You'll find yourself cheering for some of these shifty and shady criminal characters in spite of yourself. For when they are good they are very good but when they are bad they are even better.

47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers is a high speed adrenaline filled crime caper novel of the 1st degree. The writing is well done, the characters are quirky, unusual and exceedingly delightful and the plot moves along with the speed of a freight train. Cook has also done a resplendent job of weaving delightfully droll bits of humor throughout the story with a deft hand. A terrific debut novel from an author I know we will be hearing more from.

3. Twisted Perception by Bob Avey- Good mystery with lots of twists and turns, likeable protagonist.
Full review to appear in Spinetingler Magazine's Fall Issue( http://www.spinetinglermag.com/)

4. Art's Blood by Vicki Lane- A terrific mystery with an evocative setting and dynamite protagonist.
Full review to appear in Spinetingler Magazine's Fall Issue

5. A Shot to Die For by Libby Fischer Hellmann - I really enjoyed reading this novel. Great story, lots of twists, terrific characters.
Full review to appear in Mystery Morgue( http://breakthroughpromotions.com/mysterymorgue/)

6. As Dog is My Witness by Jeffrey Cohen- Love all of Jeffrey Cohen's books. They are very funny and terrific mysteries too.
Full review to appear in Mystery Morgue

7. Deadgame by Kirk Russell- Great book. Terrific details and I learned something too. Very likeable protagonist.
Full review to appear in Mystery Morgue