Elegance and Evil: A Cleo Cooper Mystery Thriller Book 2 by DK Coutant; Average Cleo Cooper Mystery Lacks The Sparkle of The First Volume

 Elegance and Evil: A Cleo Cooper Mystery Thriller Book 2 by DK Coutant; Average Cleo Cooper Mystery Lacks The Sparkle of The First Volume 

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: I suppose it's ironic that my previous review in DK Coutant’s first Cleo Cooper Mystery novel, Evil Alice and The Borzoi began with the importance of setting and how it is intrinsic to literature but especially a murder mystery. Because setting is one of the issues that impair its sequel, Elegance and Evil.

The book moves Cleo from her Hilo, Hawaii home to a new life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A psychology professor, she is on sabbatical researching information at a domestic violence center. She also broke up with her former boyfriend, Ben and is now involved with Luc, who recommended her for this new position. At a dinner party, Cleo meets the locals including domestic violence center directors, Ginger and Samia who have disagreements over how the center should be run, Matias, Samia’s frequently absent husband, Kyle, Ginger’s freeloading boyfriend, and Jon, Luc and Ginger's unlikable outspoken friend. Cleo's new life becomes complicated when Ginger is found in the desert dead from heatstroke. Someone tampered with Ginger’s car and sent her out of her way so she could get lost in the desert and die from the heat. The question is who?

This book has some interesting characters particularly Cleo, Ginger, and some of the suspects but the setting is something of a letdown and the plot is predictable. It amounts to an average Murder Mystery which could be so much better. 

The characters are as well written as in the first volume. Cleo is not as positive and self assured as she was in the previous volume. She is out of her depth and element embarking on a new relationship but unsure about what she wants and how to express her feelings. She is more cautious and preoccupied but is still holding onto a good nature that instantly befriends Ginger and admires her for her work. Even though she just met her, she still feels grief at her death.

The other characters are rich in their usual roles of victim, suspects, leads, and so on. Ginger is a woman who is instantly likeable. She is dedicated to helping women at the domestic violence center and practices generosity towards friends and strangers. She puts on a show of kindness and empathy which makes discovering her murderer difficult because who would murder such a benevolent woman?

Other characters have their moments that show depth behind their initial assessment. In comparison to Ginger’s warmth, Samia is more business like and seems colder. Her backstory of being an immigrant from male dominated Saudi Arabia reveals her vulnerability. Jon is mostly a narcissistic thoughtless misogynistic creep but there are hints of a softer side. Luc has some tender moments where he introduces Cleo to his family and provides her with necessary knowledge about the suspects. He also is a worthy aid to Cleo while standing back and making sure that she is the main character. 

However, with her attention to character, Coutant falters in some aspects. One of the things that is really missing from this volume is setting. The original book was set in Hawaii and Coutant described it so beautifully. She knew the sights, sounds, and other senses of the place. She knew the culture, the terms, and colloquialisms, and how people referred to each other. She saw the beauty of Hilo but also the ugliness. 

She did not just describe the scenic spots and charming locals, she was well aware of the crime, domestic violence, poverty, and murder that can simmer in such a place that tries to maintain a positive facade to hide the negative aspects within. The type of setting where a body is not expected but is sure to be found. This loss is greatly felt with the news that a volcano has erupted in Hilo and many of Cleo's friends are displaced or traumatized. Cleo sends as much assistance as she can but is anxious for those that are caught in this situation. 

That is what is missing in the Santa Fe setting. It's not a bad place. The desert gives off a very tense atmosphere especially knowing the dry desert heat was purposely used to kill someone. But here isn't enough of Santa Fe. It could be replaced with any city and wouldn't impact the plot. There isn't really much about the character of the city or its locals. We are looking at it not as insiders just as visitors. The series went from someplace specific to anyplace anywhere making it more generic. 

The missed opportunities are also found in the plot. There are some genuinely suspenseful moments but some leads are very obvious. The resolution is all too easy to figure out and its execution is extraordinarily rushed. It isn't the type of conclusion that leaves you thinking about how it all came together so much as it leaves you wishing that another conclusion could have been met.

Elegance and Evil has some good qualities but not enough to make it outstanding. With this series, the first volume is the best. 

What Happened At The Abbey (The Straithbairn Trilogy) Book One by Isobel Blackthorn; Blackthorn Goes Gothic in Engaging Historical Murder Mystery

 

What Happened At The Abbey (The Straithbairn Trilogy) Book One by Isobel Blackthorn; Blackthorn Goes Gothic in Engaging Historical Murder Mystery 

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Isobel Blackthorn is a favorite author of the blog. She is one of the best recent mystery/suspense authors. Her attention to setting and character brings new light to the Cozy Mystery, Locked Room Case, and other subgenres. Her books, The Cabin Sessions and Emma's Tapestry were favorites on the Best of the Best Year End Lists of 2021 and 2022 respectively. So when I say that What Happened At The Abbey, the first in Blackthorn's The Straithbairn Trilogy is the best of Blackthorn's work, I mean that it is the best of quite an impressive collection indeed.

What Happened at the Abbey is a loving tribute to the Gothic Mystery with an innocent female protagonist hired to work at a creepy wealthy estate for an eccentric family and unearths a secret that the family or their antecedents are trying to hide. It is a wonderful subgenre already and a personal favorite but Blackthorn's attention to tone and character make this a great addition to the genre and a stellar work in its own right.

Ingrid Barker is escaping an abusive marriage with her daughter, Susan. She had to leave her upper middle class lifestyle behind and travel North to Scotland to accept the position of housekeeper at Straithbairn Abbey. As she adjusts to her new surroundings and life as a single mother, Ingrid gets to know her employers, the McLeod Family particularly the argumentative daughter, Gertrude and the feckless secretive son, Miles. Miles in particular arouses suspicion with his cryptic words, his habit of sneaking around outside at night, and family's apparent dislike of him. It becomes clear that something is creepy in the estate of Straithbairn. Meanwhile, Ingrid is receiving threats of her own as she learns that her abusive ex husband is hot on her trail.

The atmosphere is one of stern judgment and deep ominous potentially demonic energy. Ingrid personifies Straithbairn as a “house that seems to frown down on all who behold it.” It's described with rugged countryside, omnipresent sharp craggy stones, a dour facade, and no softness. It is cold, imposing, and already unloving. 

The people who dwell inside Straithbairn are just as dysfunctional as the location that surrounds them. The McCleods are people who share a last name but harbor no illusions that they love each other or consider themselves family. Charles, their father, has a tight psychological grip on his children. Gertrude cares more about the estate than she does for the people who live inside it. Blake loses himself in alcohol and defeatism.

Then there's Miles whose arrival instantly brings derision and anger from the rest of his family. He is the McLeod Family Outsider. He appears at Straithbairn to collect moss for an academic study. But his first person narrative (which he alternates with Ingrid’s point of view) reveals more about him than he tells others. 

Miles is haunted by his family history and is searching for some answers to questions that have dogged him for years. His narration suggests him as someone who is teetering on the edge of sanity. He alternates between trying to retain rational thought and drifting towards paranoid delusions and fantasies. With the potentially supernatural atmosphere that charges the air, there are moments where it is uncertain if Miles is going insane or actually possessed by demons. What is apparent is that Miles is a man who is inwardly suffering and has no support from the people around him leading to further suffering.

The tension is also experienced by Ingrid. For someone who survived a physically and emotionally abusive marriage, Ingrid no doubt personifies her own experience with the setting around her. Her Anxiety and PTSD is paramount as well as her desire to get away from her previous situation. Straithbairn reminds her of her marriage: intimidating, isolated, domineering, confining, and loveless.

Ingrid is also someone whose own nerves are naturally at an all-time high. She shows a tremendous amount of strength of character by pulling herself and Susan out of a bad situation and  starting over in another country by telling people that she is a widow. However, she shows obvious signs of PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She is suspicious of the bond that develops between Susan and Ethel, the cook. She finds a newcomer, Hamish, to be alternatively attractive and mysterious. Then there is the news of Edward's return which causes her to fear the world inside and outside the estate.

The tension in the air consumes Ingrid and it becomes clear that something terrifying is hiding in the fringes or under the surface and is about to happen. 

It breaks when Ingrid and Miles come face to face with their own fears, anxieties, insecurities, and paranoia and those that cause them. 

 

Lit List Short Reviews: Fractured Tears: A Struggle for Justice by Amy Shannon; Ghost of the Rio Grande The Reluctant Tejano Hero Stands Up To Conspiracy, Murder and Injustice Along The Border or The War and Punitive Expedition By The U.S. Into Mexico 1916-1917 by Don A Holbrook Story by Gilberto Beto Garcia Jr.

 Lit List Short Reviews: Fractured Tears: A Struggle for Justice by Amy Shannon; Ghost of the Rio Grande The Reluctant Tejano Hero Stands Up To Conspiracy, Murder and Injustice Along The Border or The War and Punitive Expedition By The U.S. Into Mexico 1916-1917 by Don A Holbrook Story by Gilberto Beto Garcia Jr.

Fractured Tears: A Struggle for Justice by Amy Shannon

Fractured Tears: A Struggle for Justice is an emotional, strong, and inspirational fictionalized account of author Amy Shannon's fight against her abusive husband to obtain justice and live with the short and long term after effects from years of domestic violence.

The fictionalized version of Shannon is called Anna Coleman. She has woken up in the hospital after her husband, Ted beat her. Instead of crying and blaming herself for the abuse, Anna is understandably angry. She has had enough of trying to make a faltering abusive marriage work. Even though their son died and the two have been in mourning, it doesn’t excuse his drug use, his angry fists, his belittling of her, his ever changing moods, and her frequent hospitalizations thanks to his beatings of her. After an intense fight in which she manages to escape to a nearby police station and is taken to the hospital, Anna decides to file for divorce.

Anna is a very strong character dealing with her divorce and the physical and psychological aftereffects of the abuse. While dealing with a stressful court case, Anna has migraines that developed because of the constant beatings and falling down. She also has to cope with betrayal when some of her and her husband’s friends side with Ted. Through it all, Anna has a determination and inner strength to break free from her marriage, assert her independence, and live her own life.

What is particularly admirable about Anna’s story is how much it mirrors her author’s. According to her epilogue, Shannon used her own real life troubled marriage and subsequent divorce as inspiration for her book. There were some major differences between fictional and real life (Shannon actually has children during the divorce but opted to keep them out of the fictional version to keep them free from any publicity. She also did not begin a tentative romance with an attorney as Anna does in the book). However much of Shannon’s real life pain and triumph is echoed in her book. For example, the fight which led to Shannon’s escape to a police station and hospitalization is true to life. Also Anna’s badass speech in court in which she revealed exactly what Ted did to her and that she can’t forgive him for his abuse and betrayal is almost word for word a speech in which Shannon said to her own ex.

It cannot be stressed enough how graphic and realistic the violence is, of course it would be. It can be triggering for some Readers. (Shannon warns of this herself in the opening). But it is truthful about a woman who struggled in a difficult situation and courageously and heroically found her way out in fiction and most importantly in reality.

Don A. Holbrook and Gilberto Beto Garcia Jr tell a suspenseful and exciting Western and Espionage Thriller, Ghost of The Rio Grande The Reluctant Tejano Hero Stands Up to Conspiracy, Murder, and Injustice Along The Border or The War and Punitive Expedition by the U.S. Into Mexico, 1916-1917. 

Fabriciano Garcia is in a huge mess of trouble. He shot a Texas Ranger in self-defense after they tried to evict him and his family from his father-in-law’s ranch. Fabriciano goes on the run and becomes an outlaw with the name of El Fantomas or The Ghost. He caught the attention of Francois LaBorde, an eccentric hotelier. Francois gets Fabriciano involved in more international intrigue involving people with names like Mata Hari and an international war against the Germans and will soon involve the entire world. 

Ghost of the Rio Grande is an interesting mixture of Meso-American Western and International Espionage Thriller. It captures the time when the United States, long believed to hold onto an isolationist largely nationalistic policy, was thrust into a larger international spotlight. One of the key moments in the book is the discovery of the Zimmerman Telegram, a telegram intercepted by British intelligence, which proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States got involved in the war. The book shows how this revelation affected all of the countries involved by showing what the ramifications meant for Germany, The United States, and Mexico. 

The book also takes a hard look at the policies that the United States had with Mexico which led to many decades, even centuries, of fractured relations between the two countries and racist policies towards Central and South American immigrants. This is seen through Fabriciano’s journey from being one of many immigrants trying to make their way in a country that doesn’t always want them there. Racism drives Fabriciano away from his family and restrictive policies drive him to take on a life of crime. Ironically, the international situation allows Fabriciano to aid the country that once turned him away and branded him a criminal.

Fabriciano is an excellent protagonist to understand and root for. Even when he commits illegal acts, he always does it with the best of intentions and for the assistance of others. While on the run, he longs to be back with his wife, Manuela and their children. He becomes close friends with various characters during his time on the run. One in particular is so close to Fabriciano that when he is killed, Fabriciano who faced countless dangers in spying missions, is ready to go on another mission to kill this character’s assassin. He is willing to put his identity on the line for justice for his late friend. Fabriciano is a character of deep convictions and loyalty. This book shows that.

Ghost of the Rio Grande is a fascinating look at a history that is only mildly explored in American history books and brings it to life with interesting characters that take a fresh perspective to that history.

New Book Alert: Hell Spring by Isaac Thorne; Confined and Claustrophobic Horror Involving An Unnaturally Large Flood, A Soul Devouring Demon, and Some Guilt Stricken Souls

 

New Book Alert: Hell Spring by Isaac Thorne; Confined and Claustrophobic Horror Involving An Unnaturally Large Flood, A Soul Devouring Demon, and Some Guilt Stricken Souls

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Last year, I reviewed The Cabin Sessions by Isobel Blackthorn which depicted a small group of people who harbored secret personal guilt as they suffered through a night in which one of their group was predicted to die. I mused about how the group seemed stuck in this bar/nightclub. I theorized that they couldn't leave and were forced to stay because of outside forces. That wasn't the case in that book but it certainly is in Isaac Thorne's Hell Spring.

Hell Spring also has a similar premise of a small group of people all with their dark personal stories stuck in one location during a natural disaster. But this time, the already claustrophobic environment is made even more terrifying because of a sinister supernatural creature who feeds off their guilt and sins.

The opening seems almost Lovecraftian in its execution. A demon lives a parasitic existence on a larger gigantic demon. Other souls and demons also live on the giant, (Satan? The book doesn't really say what the giant is, leaving its identity and actual form ambiguous.) but have no sentinence or knowledge of their existence. The female demon does. In fact, she gets reborn and each time remembers who she is and where she is, almost as a sadistic torture. However, since she has sentinence, she can plot her escape and finally she manages it. 

The female demon escapes into Hollow Creek, Tennessee in 1955. She has to take a form that the humans are comfortable with, so she uses a calendar of a pre-fame Marilyn Monroe for her new look. This makes the second time this year after Lee Matthew Goldberg's Immoral Origins in which a character assumes the form of Monroe to commit villainous deeds. Perhaps, underneath that buxom figure, girlish voice, and sultry comedic style lies a dark soul. That was certainly true for Monroe herself who lived a very public troubled life and died of a barbiturate overdose, possibly suicide, in 1962. So despite her beauty and free spirited personality, Monroe produced trouble for herself, what's to stop one who looks like her from producing trouble for others. She is the unattainable beauty that like a siren that could lure one to possess her. In this case, could lure one to their death and eternal suffering.

Marilyn The Demon(we'll call the demon, Marilyn, for convenience's sake.) hungers for souls to devour, humans who are suffering internally from fear of sin and punishment. She finds them inside Beard's General Store in the form of various humans who have their guilty secrets.

The humans include:

Eli Wynn-a young farmhand. He is an orphan so is under the care of a God-fearing farming couple, the Blalocks, for whom he also works. He is constantly worried when he does things like swearing, drinking alcohol, and especially masturbating. 

Mark MacDonald-pastor of the Hollow Creek Nazarene Church. He is concerned about low attendance and his own dwindling finances. He adds a little more of the church funds into his own pocket and takes money from the general store.

Donna Gilliam-a wife and mother suffering from an abusive marriage. She silences the rants and beatings from her husband, Ted, by killing him. She takes her infant son, Theo, and plans to leave town.

Peter Mayberry-church pianist and closeted gay man. When he was young, his mother resorted to disturbing violent means to curb his sexual tendencies. The memories traumatize him even as an adult. Even though he is involved with Samuel, an African American man, Peter is still filled with guilt over the relationship.

Kathy and Jerry Beard-The mother and son who run the general store where the others gather during a large storm that quickly changes into an immense flood. The arrival of the others and the strange happenings put a strain on the already disagreeing mother and son's relationship to the point of completely fracturing.

What is particularly compelling is how Marilyn controls her human victims before she eats them. Through these people, Marilyn gets into their heads and influences their thoughts. This fills them with guilt and remorse, making them ready for her feeding. The humans are stuck inside a general store with a rapidly growing flood outside and a hungry demon in the form of a sexy movie star inside.

Marilyn transforms herself into whatever form and personality to entice, lure, or shame the humans. They take her inside the store because she assumes the form of a shivering, frightened, terrified victim, so they feel sorry for her.

She becomes a sexy temptress to seduce the men particularly Peter. 

Since he believes that he had sex with a woman and because it's the repressive 1950's when homosexuality is illegal and he had been shamed for it, Peter believes that Marilyn "cured" him. So he becomes the demon's sidekick, by sharing her consciousness and manipulating the others into thinking about their own sins. Peter gets so far gone in his relationship with Marilyn that he begins to think of her as God at first. 

Marilyn also uses other tricks in her arsenal to feed on her victims, such as using her sexy form to entice Eli to masturbate then turning into Mrs. Blalock to embarrass him for doing so. She also takes other forms and she and Peter keep whispering guilt inside the victim's brains, getting them to continuously think about their deeds.

 As the characters feel shame and guilt for the things that they did, and Marilyn and Peter keep reminding them, Marilyn eats their souls. At first the victim feels the guilt and blame lifted from them. They feel lighter but then as Marilyn continues to feed on them, they feel intense choking pain. The guilt leaves their bodies, looking like red steam that smells like sulfur. The victim becomes smaller and weaker until there is nothing left.

One of the more nightmarish things that happens is the loss of space and time that occurs inside the general store. No one is sure how long they are there: hours, days, or even years. Day and night aren't shown because rain and floodwaters cover the view of the world outside. With the exception of Peter, no one shows signs of visible advancing age. Even Baby Theo remains in his infancy held and fed by his mother.

Even the Reader is confused by how long Marilyn and her victims are inside. There are chapters taking place outside the store, but because of all that is going on inside, it is uncertain whether the external chapters are in the present, flashbacks, or flash forwards. This absence of time puts the characters and Readers off kilter. It also suggests that Marilyn is alone for an extended period of time with the victims and their guilty feelings and shame. She may have been feeding on them for years, even decades.

Shame. That is actually troubling them and the true secret weapon in Marilyn's assault. Shame and having the fear of sin and God's punishment put into them. They are made to feel guilty and judged by religious standards that look at everything that they do is a sin. Eli is shamed for doing something that biologically people, especially men, do all the time. Jerry and Kathy feel anguish, even though family fights are quite common and are means to let off tension.

 Peter is made to feel guilty for being gay, a sexuality that he was born with and being judged when he is in a loving consentual adult relationship. 

Even Mark and Donna's larger crimes are not looked through the lens, of pure right or wrong, innocence or guilt, the black or white that they are led to believe. Donna is a woman in the 1950's who is unable to divorce an abusive husband. She protects her child and defends herself the only way that she can in a time period with limited resources and means to protect them. 

Mark is a thief absolutely, but the book also explains the reasons behind it. Despite being considered a pillar of the community, he is below the poverty line and has dwindling attendance in his church. He is beginning to wonder if his flock is forgetting about their shepherd. He acts out of thoughtlessness and desperation. To his credit, he is guilty about his actions even before he gets to the store and legitimately becomes the moral center of the group. He is also the first to recognize Marilyn for what she really is.

The shame and guilt that comes with generations of thoughts of religious sin are what fuels Marilyn. That is also what weakens her victims. In their concerns about whether they are worthy of Heaven, instead they create their own Hell.

New Book Alert: The Cabin Sessions by Isobel Blackthorn; Limited Setting and Ominous Sense of Dread Highlight This Session

 

New Book Alert: The Cabin Sessions by Isobel Blackthorn; Limited Setting and Ominous Sense of Dread Highlight This Session

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: The strongest adjective that I can use to describe Isobel Blackthorn's The Cabin Sessions is "ominous." On the surface not much happens until the very end but the entire book fills the Reader with such dread and anticipation that they know something bad is going to happen long before it does.

The Cabin Sessions is different from Blackthorn's previous works, Prison in the Sun and The Ghost of Villa Winter. Both of those books were mysteries involving murder, hate crimes, and sexual assault set against the backdrop of the beautiful Canary Islands. In those works, the exterior setting was just as important as the plot and character's actions. The beautiful island is a contrast to the darkness that the characters suffer. 

The Cabin Sessions does something similar but with a different type of setting. Instead of opening up, the action is contained and limited. The setting of the book is mostly on Christmas Eve inside a bar/nightclub/local hangout in small town Burton called The Cabin. At The Cabin, musicians and other entertainers of dubious talent entertain the locals one night a week. Most of the locals attend the sessions to drink, listen to or mock the music, and try their best to ignore their troubles. 

It doesn't help the creepy atmosphere that The Cabin Sessions is full of miserable characters with enough emotional baggage to fill an entire airport terminal. The character's interior lives add to the overall dread as they are filled with secret sins, obsessions, and relationships ready to come out.

The cast includes: 

Adam- A guitarist and newcomer to Burton. He just ended an unhealthy relationship with the abusive rocker, Juan. He is dealing with the death of Benny, his close friend and mentor and Juan's jealousy over Adam's friendship with other men. He also is terrified  when he sees a sinister unknown man outside the Cabin that may have done something illegal. When Juan barges in to fill in for the recently deceased Benny, Adam is filled with revulsion and longing for his ex.

Philip and Eva- They are a brother and sister who live next to Adam and across the bridge from The Cabin. Philip is a plumber and handy person who has his way with many of the women (and some of the men) of Burton. He has a salacious history and is one third of a love triangle that is in the process of ending badly.

Eva is usually in her own little world doing peculiar things like collecting stamps from her job at the post office, holding her breath under water for a record time, and talking to "mermaids" that only she can see. However, her chapters reveals forbidden longings and desires that she is unable to reveal. 

Rebekah and David- The proprietors of The Cabin and organizers of the Sessions. They are an ultra religious couple that try to keep a firm hold over their daughter, Hannah as she serves food and buses tables. Unfortunately, Hannah rebels against their watchful gaze by sneaking around with men. She ends up in a very precarious situation.

Cynthia- Dulcimer player, local eccentric, and some believe witch. She is in mourning for her sister, Joy, who most believe disappeared but she is convinced that she died. Cynthia also has a prophetic gift in which she displays that one of the gang is going to die before the night is through.

Delilah- She is the closest thing that Burton has to a diva. She is often the center of attention and acts as a confidante to many of the other characters. Also her father was the pastor at Burton but was defrocked after a sex scandal. She may have some buried rage against those who made it happen.

There are also a few other characters like Nathan (terrible songwriter, Hannah's boyfriend, and is also close to Eva), Alf (blues guitarist with a questionable musical history that he often embellishes), and Joshua and Ed (a duo who are often together, the former has a criminal history and the latter a bad tempered wife). 

With the small cast and limited setting, The Cabin Sessions would make a good stage play or short film. (Eva's chapters in particular would make effective monologues of a woman who may be in the process of losing her sanity and could be a very unreliable narrator.)

Most of the conflicts are implied and revealed through conversations and inner thoughts which often contradict each other. Everyone is hiding something and no one is revealing anything until they are forced to.

Most of the troubles are hinted at and it's partly because of the setting being largely in the Cabin. Despite some dramatic confrontations and dreadful situations throughout the night (like a rancid smell, Cynthia's predictions, and the strange man outside) no one makes an effort to leave the Cabin. It almost invites the possibility that they can't or won't leave. Perhaps The Cabin serves as a sort of Purgatory or holding pattern, even an askew and imperfect sanctuary, which tries to keep the bad things away. 

Unfortunately, The Cabin Sessions shows that troubles don't end at the front door of The Cabin. Sometimes they bang the door down and shake the Cabin's walls to create a giant explosion making what was once hidden and ominous become upfront and terrifying.

Weekly Reader: All Eyes on Me: A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 1 by Linsey Lanier; An Eye For A Good Gruesome Murder Mystery About The Trappings of Fame

 

Weekly Reader: All Eyes on Me: A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 1 by Linsey Lanier; An Eye For A Good Gruesome Murder Mystery About The Trappings of Fame

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: For all those who love graphic gruesome murder mysteries especially when the victim is a divalicious star laid out in a grotesque way say "Eye!" Then read All Eyes on Me A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 1 by Linsey Lanier.

Miranda Steele has had a traumatic past. She survived an abusive first marriage, the abduction and return of her daughter, and a near death experience. While most would be justified in wanting to cower into their home and hide, Miranda instead teams up with private investigator Wade Parker. Their relationship has gone from associates, to lovers, to a married couple. When one is called, the other is there as an equal partner.

Their current case is a pretty violent one that puts them right in the forefront of public consciousness. Ambrosia Dawn, a famous pop singer/diva has been found the desert outside of her Las Vegas home, dead, bruised and possibly poisoned. As if that wasn't bad enough, her eye has been gouged out by a melon baller. Kind of ironic since one of her biggest hits is the love song, "All Eyes on Me." The killer certainly has a sick twisted sense of humor and possibly a desire for revenge against the beautiful famous singer.

All Eyes on Me combines a great protagonist with a gripping mystery. The best detectives for these type of mysteries are the ones that have personal demons of their own or where the case involves them specifically. In this case, we have Miranda whose emotional baggage is ever present. After what happened before with her ex and daughter, Miranda's nerves are on edge and her senses are sharply acute all symptoms of PTSD. However, she is also able to use that private pain to help others. She can put herself in their situation, because she had been in their situation before. Miranda empathizes with the victims and sometimes with those who commit crimes because she can see where they are coming from.

Besides her observational and empathetic skills, Miranda is a good detective good enough that Parker puts her in charge of the investigation. Besides leading the inquiries, she answers media questions and challenges the mysoginistic Sgt. O'Toole who isn't happy about working with a woman.

Parker isn't as developed as Miranda, but he proves to be as competent and dedicated to the pursuit of justice as his wife. He is caught between believing in Miranda's abilities to solve the mystery and concern for her because of all that she had been through. One nice touch that the duo have is they use their original last names and don't let people know that they are married. It's hard enough for a woman like Miranda to be taken seriously in detective work, acknowledging their marriage would only further complicate things. When police officers or suspects look at Miranda, they are able to see an investigator that happens to be a woman rather than the lead private investigator's wife. Their hidden marital status make them equals.

Besides the detectives themselves, the mystery is pretty fascinating. The deceased, Ambrosia Dawn, is the typical murder victim that spent a lot of time cultivating a public image of beauty, charm, and kindness but those closest to her could see the bad tempered violent bitch underneath. There are plenty of suspects that could have killed her because they have all felt her wrath. Her husband, Cameron, a former Elvis impersonator is very emotional but seems to be keeping extra company during the grieving period. Ambrosia's sister, Blythe, stood behind the scenes and now has her chance in the spotlight. The cook, Suzie, who has been at the bad end of Ambrosia's rants and knows Ambrosia's favorite treats and how to make them just right. Scottie, the bodyguard, has had a few flings with staff members and is just the kind of muscle to drag a woman's body through the desert and hold her down if necessary. It is a house and staff full of potential leads that lead to other clues. Since multiple suspects look possible to be the killer, the resolution is a genuine surprise and is very well handled.

All Eyes on Me is a great mystery in the hard boiled detective genre. It is definitely worth a read. After all, the eyes have it.

New Book Alert: The Second Mrs. Thistlewood by Dionne Haynes; Memorable Regency Historical Fiction Reveals A Woman's Struggle To Leave An Abusive Marriage

 

New Book Alert: The Second Mrs. Thistlewood by Dionne Haynes; Memorable Regency Historical Fiction Reveals A Woman's Struggle To Leave An Abusive Marriage

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: When I first received Dionne Haynes' novel The Second Mrs. Thistlewood, I often mistakenly referred to it as The Second Mrs. DeWinter, in reference to the unnamed narrator and protagonist of Daphne Du Maurier's classic female Gothic novel, Rebecca. Until I read the book, it did not occur to me how right I was. 

The Second Mrs. Thistlewood invokes the spirit of Gothic authors of the past like DuMaurier and The Bronte Sisters. It has the creepy isolated home, the dark brooding male character with a previous marriage, and the naive heroine with very passionate feelings towards him. However, it does so with a modern 21st sensibility that reveals that if you marry a Heathcliff, Edward Rochester, or Maxim De Winter, don't expect to be treated well.

The plot focuses on six years between 1814-1820 during the unhappy marriage of Arthur and Susan Thistlewood. His first wife died leaving him with a son, Julian. Susan remembers that during their early courtship, Arthur was kind and loving. He seemed to be a good fit and her father heartily approved of the marriage. Unfortunately, Arthur has steadily lost money because of the gambling tables. Now he spends his days drinking, plotting to revolt against and kill the king, and beat and belittle his wife.

We are spared flashbacks of their early meeting and courtship, showing when they were younger, in love, and Susan was blind to his temperament. Normally I would question that and yes it would show the abusive marriages don't always start out that way. Arthur's abuse would have caught the Reader off guard as much as it would have Susan. However, it is also right that she did not do this.

This approach is sort of like if Emily Bronte had ignored the first half of Wuthering Heights that explored the origins of Catherine and Heathcliff's tempestuous passionate romance and just focused on the middle part that explored how miserable Heathcliff made the people around him including his wife, Isabelle and son, Linton. As one of the few people who have made my dislike of Wuthering Heights clear, I approve of this approach.

Haynes clearly did not want to fall into the trap that happened with many Gothic authors. She did not want to make her brooding male character a misunderstood Byronic complex antihero that perversely attracted female, and a few male and nonbinary, Readers. She wanted the Readers to dislike Arthur as much as Susan does. (Unfortunately considering how many fans Edward Cullen and Christian Grey have and the strange nature of attraction that Readers have towards certain characters, Hayes's intentions may do the opposite and cause Arthur Thistlewood to have fans among his Readers. Thankfully, I am not one of them.)

Arthur is a true monster. He hits Susan when she does not obey him. He makes a habit of denying her even the basic comforts such as building a fire to "save on money" but then orders her to buy a fancy dress when they go to drop Julian off at boarding school so they can put on airs of pretense. He practically flaunts his affair with a maid over Susan's head but questions her whereabouts and when she receives packages of books. When Susan gets a job at a dressmaker's shop, Arthur helps himself to her earnings. 

Even his seemingly altruistic traits such as challenging the English class system and defending the rights of the poor are under suspect. He seems less willing to help others, after all he doesn't care much about his wife, son, or the people around him, than he is excited about the prospect of starting a violent revolution. He has a sadistic bloodthirsty nature that isn't just satisfied with inflicting pain. He wants to inflict it on others including the King, and appears to use the class struggles as an excuse to do so.

By contrast Susan is much more developed and a stronger character. She knows that she is in a loveless marriage and English Divorce Laws at the time will not allow her to leave unless for reasons of adultery. She waits in anticipation as Arthur manipulates his way out of being officially caught with the maid. When Arthur's political interests become violent, Susan plays the loyal and loving wife, never letting him know that she prays for an arrest and long prison sentence. There are times when she is stuck in the same situation hoping that she will be free from her unhappy marriage only to be disappointed when he reappears to hurt her once more. However, these chapters show the draconian claustrophobic atmosphere many women were caught in at the time where they could do very little to change their marital status, even if they are being physically and psychologically abused by their husbands.

However, Susan shows quite a bit of strength and resolve despite her unhappiness. Unlike Arthur who makes a lot of noise about caring for the poor, Susan actually does. She befriends and cares for Anna, an emigre from France who is victimized by anti-French sentiment after the Napoleonic Wars. Susan also perseveres working at the dress shop to the point that she develops a talent for designing clothes which she visualizes opening her own shop one day. She saves and hoards money so that she can be financially secure in case Arthur ever does leave her life. She also shows a maternal side towards Julian wanting to become a more loving influence towards him rather than his cruel father.

Susan also mentally escapes her situation by reading, particularly the works of Jane Austen and poetry. It is during a trip to the bookstore that she encounters William Westcott, a Bow Street Runner, who is investigating Arthur's violent insurrection connections. Susan and William exchange a love of books and develop a friendship that grows into a romance when Susan realizes what a sweet man William actually is, unlike her husband. 

The Gothic novel that The Second Mrs. Thistlewood most resembles is not Rebecca or Wuthering Heights or even Jane Eyre, a classic that is just as much a landmark of feminist novels as it is of Gothic Literature. It is most similar to The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.  

In both, we get women trapped in unhappy abusive marriages that resort to using subterranean means like practicing their talents in secret so they can hone them into a career and hiding money for security in absence of their husbands. They eventually achieve independence and discover love with much better and more understanding men. However, Tennant also explores Bronte's devotion to Christian doctrine by having her protagonist, Helen Graham Huntington forgive her husband, Arthur before he dies. That may have pleased Readers then or revealed Christian charity, but that is not what Susan Thistlewood is looking for. 

Instead Susan Thistlewood is looking for a life for herself, one where she doesn't have to the nameless unimportant Second Mrs. Thistlewood, abused and forced to be subservient to her husband. She longs for a life for herself, where she can become Susan, a strong independent woman with friends, family, and real love.