Blue Moon Mystery Saloon

Halloween-themed Mysteries

Tomorrow is the first day of October (YAY!), and for me it means cooler weather, colorful leaves, and Halloween-themed mysteries. Besides the always excellent Edgar Allan Poe stories (my favorite being The Tell-Tale Heart), I recommend these cozy and paranormal mysteries:

The Diva Haunts the House (A Domestic Diva Mystery) by Krista Davis (NEW, Sep 2011)

Scared Stiff (A Mattie Winston Mystery) by Annelise Ryan

Fiber & Brimstone (A Scrapbooking Mystery) by Laura Childs

Wicked Witch Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery) by Leslie Meier

A Catered Halloween (A Mystery with Recipes) by Isis Crawford

Please join me each Friday in October for more "haunting" mystery suggestions. Next time: GHOSTS

 

Today's Quote

"Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain." - Carl Gustav Jung

Today's Quote

"I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it." - Harry Emerson Fosdick

Quickstep to Murder

A Ballroom Dance Mystery, by Ella Barrick, Obsidian, September 2011

Stacy Graysin notices that Rafe Acosta, her ex-fiance but still co-owner of Graysin Motion studio, has been acting far from normal. He's been distracted in the studio and showing up late or completely missing his ballroom dance classes. Their relationship has been dicey since Stacy caught him in bed with another woman, but she and Rafe have pushed their tension aside in front of their clients and to participate in dance competitions.

One night Stacy hears a loud thump coming from the studio. She decides to investigate and finds Rafe dead on the ballroom floor, blood pooling around him.  Though she immediately calls 911 and explains what she heard to the police, she becomes the only suspect in the crime. The finicky homicide detective on the case doesn't consider anyone else as a potential person of interest, so now it's up to Stacy to clear her name, save her neck and protect her studio's reputation.

This is the first book in the new Ballroom Dance Mysteries by Ella Barrick and a delightful addition to the cozy mystery field. The author has filled the story with interesting characters who are far from the cozy genre stereotypes. Stacy is portrayed as an independent owner of a ballroom dance studio who hates the bookkeeping side of her business. She's impulsive, cringes at the thought of ever working in a cubicle and loves to dance. Stacy gets along great with her sister Danielle but thinks the beiges, browns and navys Dani wears all the time are boring. Graysin Motion's flamboyent, Russian-born, temporary instructor, Vitaly, is hooked on grapefruit juice and butchers the English language, but once he's on the dance floor, he transforms into a strict teacher and the dancer for which he's won top prizes all over the world. From Tav (Rafe's half-brother and the studio's new co-owner) to Phineas Drake (Stacy's atypical lawyer), the characters are fresh and funny.

Quickstep to Murder puts a new slant on cozy mysteries and reveals the behind-the-scenes preparations and intensity of ballroom dance competitions. But beware...you may yearn to lace up your dancing shoes and sign up for salsa lessons after completing this amusing book. So purchase your copy of Quickstep to Murder today and get ready to rumba! 

* The next book in the series, Dead Man Waltzing, will be released in June 2012. 

PROTAGONIST: A 29-year-old, independent, c0-owner of Graysin Motion ballroom dance studio

CRITTERS: Hoover, the Great Dane pet of a client

ACTION: Lots of dancing (nach), father trying to tackle his daughter's boyfriend, escape from a murderer

LOVE INTEREST: Rafe was, Mark thinks he is, Rafe's half-brother Tav may be

ROMANCE: Memories of being with Rafe, quick kisses on cheeks

QUIRKINESS: Congresswoman choosing dancing over House votes, a couple of octagenarian women fighting over a sixtyish male dance teacher, amusing male Russian-born instructor

INTERESTING TIDBITS: What really happens at ballroom dance competitions, the intensity of practicing for events, scenes in Old Town, Alexandria VA

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted cozy, interesting and quirky characters

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Mall Cop Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, Charlie Swift/Gigi Goldman Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, Southern Beauty Shop Mysteries by Lila Dare, White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St. James, Museum Mysteries by Sheila Connolly

 

Let's Play Dead

A Museum Mystery, by Sheila Connelly, Berkley Prime Crime, July 2011

Though overwhelmed with her new position as president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society, Nell Pratt accepts Arabella Heffernan's invitation to tea at Let's Play Children's Museum. A new interactive exhibit based on the beloved Harriet the Hedgehog children's series is nearing completion, and Arabella wants Nell to see it before opening night. Excited to show how the mechanical animals react to touch, Arabella asks a painter to start the electrical feed...but nothing happens. The painter tries to determine the problem and squeezes Willy the Weasel's nose. In a flash he's out cold on the floor, knocked out from an electric shock. Nell's sure it's just an unfortunate accident until another exhibit worker is found dead later that night, spralled at the feet of Willy the Weasel. As a witness to the first incident, Nell is drawn into the politics and strained relationships associated with the new exhibit's installation. And now that a man has died, she wants to know if murder was part of the plan.

The list of suspects include Hadley Eastman, the rude, narcissistic author of the Harriet the Hedgehog books; Caitlin Heffernan, exhibit coordinator and Arabella's socially awkward, 24-year-old daughter; Nolan Treacy, Caitlin's absent father and a former member of the local electrician's union; and, Arabella, the museum's loyal president.

Nell has help in unraveling the intricate clues from her newest employees, Shelby Carver, a vibrant, optimistic, 50-ish blonde and Nell's replacement as the museum's development director, and Eric Marston, Nell's exceptionally organized, 23-year-old administrative assistant. Both employees are the answers to Nell's prayers for efficient personnel to help the Society survive a collections scandal from two months before. Her new staff members provide important background information to the case, and their presence at work gives Nell the freedom to pursue the possible culprit(s) and discover the truth behind the workman's death.

This is the second book in the Museum Mystery series and begins two months after the resolution of the first book's crime. A solid successor to the first story, Let's Play Dead shows the turmoil that can arise from a change in leadership of any organization, even without a murder to solve. It is obvious from the behind-the-scenes details of museum operations that the author has some experience in that environment. History buffs and mystery fans will enjoy the story's strong character development and descriptions of scenes around Philadelphia. If you love history, you'll like learning about Philly's baseball history and the city's architecture, and if food is your preference, then the description of Reading Terminal Market's growth might tease your palate. Whatever your interests, add Let's Play Dead to your list and enjoy reading this well-crafted cozy mystery.

* The next book in the series, Fire Engine Dead, will be released in March 2012.

PROTAGONIST: Late 30s-something, non-mechanically skilled, former registrar and current president of Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society

CRITTERS: Harriett the Hedgehog, Willy the Weasel and other mechanical animals at Let's Play Children's Museum

ACTION: Driving on icy roads, Taser pointing, listening in on some sexy action

LOVE INTEREST: FBI Special Agent James Morrison

ROMANCE: A brief kiss

QUIRKINESS: Children's author who doesn't really like children, children's museum's grey-haired president clapping with joy

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Histories of baseball, police department and Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, info on Asperger's syndrome, how a museum really runs, tips on handling PR needs

FUN FACTOR: Scenes with kids at the children's museum, children's author's reaction to her house tragedy

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Orchard Mysteries by Sheila Connelly, White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St. James, Manor House Mysteries by Julie Hyzy, Glassblowing Mysteries by Sarah Atwell, Booktown Mysteries by Lorna Barrett

Neglected Monitoring Duties

Okay. What can I say? I'm a slacker, a procrastinator, a shirker of epic proportions. Well, maybe I'm not that bad, but I have neglected my duties as a mystery book review monitor for Sisters in Crime and am on a mad scramble to catch up before this Friday. That means my planned reading for this week has suffered. Don't think I'm dropping my Blue Moon MS responsibilities, though. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. To prove my undying devotion to the purpose of my website, here's my line-up for upcoming reviews:

Let's Play Dead (#2 in the Museum Mysteries) by Sheila Connelly

Quickstep to Murder  (#1 in the Ballroom Dance Mysteries) by Ella Barrick

Button Holed (#1 in the Button Box Mysteries) by Kylie Logan

The first book gives the reader a behind-the-scenes glimpse into life, and a death, at Philly museums, and the last two books start brand new mystery series. Will any of them capture my interest? Check back and see...

 

Little Black Dress

A Novel, by Susan McBride, William Morrow, September 2011

* This book was provided by the publisher.

After ensuring everything's running smoothly at the Dimpleman's 25th anniversary party, event planner Toni Ashton hands the reins over to her assistant and hurries to meet her boyfriend at the most romantic restaurant in St. Louis. After dating two years, she thinks he's finally going to pop the question, and of course she'll say yes. She's 46 years old, has never married and doesn't plan to remain single one more day. Her excitement quickly fades when the small item in the palm of his hand turns out to be the key to his apartment. Before Toni can process a response, her cellphone rings and a nurse from Blue Hills Hospital says her mom is in a medically-induced coma after suffering a stroke that morning. Now the only thing Toni can focus on is getting to Blues Hills as fast as she can.

Evie Ashton looks back at her life and remembers the night that changed everything. Her younger sister, free-spirited, beautiful Anna, was getting married to Davis Cummings, the best looking boy in the county. Evie's mother and father were thrilled about the match, particularly since some of the acreage sold to the Cummings during the Great Depression would be brought back into Evie's family. The day of the rehearsal and dinner arrives, and Evie accompanies Anna to Ste. Genevieve to get away for a while. They step into a strange little shop where the mysterious owner entices Anna to buy a shimmering dress made from spider silk. What they think is a plain black dress turns out to be one that shares a vision of the future to whomever wears it. Anna decides to wear it that night...the night she runs away, leaving her family devastated.

Little Black Dress, by Susan McBride, the award-winning author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries and The Cougar Club, is a powerful story of love, loss, lessons learned and a magical little black dress. Though not really a paranormal or cozy mystery, I had to recommend it, as the book is definitely a page-turner and one I couldn't put it down until I read the last word.

Ms. McBride creates a strong cast of characters and gives Evie, Anna and Toni their own achievements, failures, warring emotions and questionable decisions. Though different in appearance and outlook, each of the three needs the strength and love of family to feel whole. Together they realize that to survive and thrive in the present, you have to forgive the past.

The chapters alternate between Evie's story and Toni's, and the reader gets a glimpse of how mother and daughter reach that point in their lives. I'm not the most patient person and could only get through one-third of the book before I started reading just Evie's tale, and then Toni's, up to the point where they merged. From there, I finished the book as presented and closed it with a big smile on my face.

One suggestion, though. Be sure to have a full box of Kleenex or Puffs nearby. It's definitely a multi-tissue story.

 IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Debutante Dropout Mysteries by Susan McBride, The Cougar Club by Susan McBride