DEAD MAN BELOW DECK, J.E. Rohrer

Dead Man Below Deck, A Village Mystery by J.E. Rohrer has all the things a good mystery needs: a plot that doesn’t stumble along, a resolution that doesn’t jump out at you on page one, and good characters with depth beyond the printed words. It is the last that Mr. Rohrer delivers with the most success. Ed Schumacher and his wife, Betty, are college professors spending their summer in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. From the book’s beginning, we get a good idea of the kind of man Ed really is. A dead body found near his condo doesn’t distract him from the more important matter at hand, which is getting his first, daily cup of coffee. Throughout the tale, we learn that Ed would be much better off if he thought before speaking. But time and again, this concept eludes Ed and he gets deeper into trouble. A pipe smoking, caffeine addicted, “what you see is what you get” kind of guy, Ed Schumacher is an endearing amateur sleuth. When he starts following an obviously wrong lead, you want to grab him and face him in the right direction. This kind of connection with the readers is what brings them back again and again. As for me, I am a newly-minted devoted fan who can't wait to see what Ed Schumacher does next!  Link for eBook

A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH, Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy L. Sayers

A Presumption of Death is like coming home to a houseful of good friends you haven’t seen in years. There is something comforting in being surrounded by those you love. Ms. Paton Walsh handles the homecoming with the skill of a truly gifted author. Never in this novel do the characters appear alien to those first introduced by Ms. Sayers. But it is not just the familiarity with those characters that makes this such a wonderful read. The storyline itself is what drives the book so pleasantly forward. Against the backdrop of the early days of Germany’s aggression against England in World War II, we are given an insightful look into how that war affected the lives of everyday people. Through her descriptions of a time when rationing, blackouts, and air raid drills were the daily norm, we have a vivid look at how the human spirit rallies itself to serve in any capacity for the common good. Of course, it’s not a Wimsey/Vane story without the inclusion of a dead body. We are taken on a merry chase as we try to unravel this mystery filled with a number of possible suspects, intriguing scenarios and just the right amount of humor. Welcome back, Lord and Lady Peter. You’ve been greatly missed. And thank you, Ms. Paton Walsh, for arranging such a splendid reunion!  Link to eBook

BOOKMARKED FOR MURDER, Marion Moore Hill

Are you searching for a mystery with a strong plot and unique characters? Look no further than Bookmarked for Murder by Marion Moore Hill. From the description, I knew the book would offer an intriguing story. What surprised me was its page-turning excitement from start to finish. Holding the tale together is Juanita Wills, the town librarian in Wyndham, Oklahoma, and her need to discover the party responsible for the brutal beating of a local pastor. Mixing county politics, hate crimes and militia groups, Ms. Hill takes us through the darker side of human nature while building on a series of clues that take you to a chilling conclusion. Make no mistake: after reading this incredibly well-crafted mystery, you’ll be stocking the shelves of your own library with more of this talented author’s work.  Link to eBook

IN DOG WE TRUST, Neil Plakcy

If you’re looking for a murder mystery that will “wow” you, then you must add Neil Plakcy’s In Dog We Trust to your reading list. There is nothing not to like about this excellent story. Mr. Plakcy creates his lead character, Steve Levitan, an ex-con previously imprisoned for computer hacking, as someone you find yourself pulling for throughout the entire book. And if a likeable parolee isn’t enough, then add to the mix a remarkable golden retriever named Rochester, who adopts Steve after his owner is murdered, and who sniffs out enough clues to keep Steve on track while he tries to solve the mystery. The characters are real and believable and the action never falters. But, perhaps, most endearing is the relationship between Steve and Rochester and how, through the love of a dog, Steve begins to turn his life around. This reviewer hopes In Dog We Trust is the first of many more to come in this highly-entertaining series.  Link to eBook

SOUNDS OF MURDER, Patricia Rockwell

What would Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot or Perry Mason have done had there been available today’s latest scientific advancements for solving crimes? They would have presented you with the same type of intriguing mystery found in Patricia Rockwell’s Sounds of Murder. When an overbearing Psychology professor is found strangled, a fellow professor, Dr. Pamela Barnes, wants to help bring the killer to justice. Pamela is convinced crucial evidence can be found using her department’s sophisticated acoustics equipment. But could her amateur sleuthing lead the way to her own sounds of murder? Dr. Rockwell’s interesting characters, enticing storyline and fascinating use of advanced sound technology all blend together to make this book a must-have for your murder mystery library.  Link to eBook

SWEET GINGER POISON, Robert Burton Robinson

What do a tainted cake, a stolen recipe book and a dead body have in common? In the town of Coreyville, Texas, they are all intricate parts of the mystery novel by Robert Burton Robinson, Sweet Ginger Poison. Virginia “Ginger” Lightley, proprietor of Coreyville Coffee Cakes, is every bit as engaging as Agatha Christie’s Jane Marple, but without the fluff. Ginger is a widow, the owner of her own business, and is keeping company with the local minister. Because the tainted cake came from her own shop, Ginger finds herself untangling the web of this mystery in order to clear her employees of the crime. She travels down one dead end after another in pursuit of the truth and, in the process, discovers quite a bit about her fellow citizens of Coreyville. Mr. Robinson knows how to tell a good tale. His characters are believable and the reader is quickly caught up in the people and the plot. This is definitely a story worth reading.  Link to eBook

TOO DEAD TO DANCE, Diane Morlan

In the world of cozy mysteries and amateur sleuths, Too Dead Too Dance by Diane Morlan is a brightly shining star. Set in a small Minnesota town during its annual Polka Daze Festival, Ms. Morlan tells a tantalizing story with a well-developed plot featuring interesting, if not somewhat eccentric, characters. Not the least of these characters is the story’s heroine, Jennifer Penny. When her good friend, Sister Bernadine, becomes an unlikely suspect in a murder investigation, Jennifer does what she does best: she snoops around into everybody’s business until she unravels the truth. Like you would feel after relishing a well-seasoned brat washed down by an ice cold Leinenkugel, you’ll find yourself hungry for more of this tasty morsel.  Link to eBook