Crooked Lane Books

Jacqueline Frost: A Wonderful Christmas Crime

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Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #6

Every Christmas season there’s a murder in the town of Mistletoe, Maine. Every year Holly White, the Gumdrop Gumshoe, solves the case. Until this year, that is. Holly and hubby Sheriff Evan White are expecting a baby and both are determined that Holly will not risk her life or that of their unborn child chasing murderers.

The plot revolves around the theft of heirloom antique Swedish Christmas goat figurines from the collection of Holly’s friend Alice. A dead body is found at the crime scene making Alice the prime suspect. Antiques Roadshow is in town along with a huge antique show, which means there are several people who might know how valuable Alice’s antique Swedish Christmas goats are. And is there any connection between the theft of the antiques and the theft of giant inflatable snowmen from front yards around the town? read more

Katie Tietjen: Murder in Miniature

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Maple Bishop #2

The second book in the Maple Bishop series, Murder in Miniature, finds Maple at a bit of a crossroads. Though she has started to find her place in her small town, with a thriving dollhouse business, new friends, and a new position with the local law enforcement, she isn’t quite settled. When she came out here, it was with her husband, to support his career. Maple grew up a city girl in Boston, and worked hard to earn a legal degree, something she hasn’t been able to make use of in small town Vermont. Even with all the good things going on in her life, does she truly belong? read more

Author Interview: Katie Tietjen

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Katie Tietjen

I was a huge fan of Katie Tietjen’s first novel, Death in the Details, which follows war widow Maple Bishop just after the war has ended.  Maple is living in a tiny Vermont town and, though she’s a trained lawyer, ends up piecing together a living selling the dollhouses she creates.  She also makes “nutshells,”  tiny recreations of crime scenes.  The nutshells are based on the work of Frances Glessner Lee, the mother of crime scene investigation.  By book two, Murder in Miniature, Maple has earned the respect of the police in town and is now an official consultant.  The books are charming, thoughtful, and fascinating.  Katie was nice enough to answer a few questions about her books. read more

Jack Anderson: The Return of Moriarty

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If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you need to read this book. It’s like all the pastiches we love but the twist is that supervillain James Moriarty is the detective.

Thanks to Holmes, Moriarty’s criminal empire has been destroyed so after surviving the plunge over the Reichenbach Falls Moriarty assumes the identity of a wealthy inventor named Hugo Strahm. Spoiler: Moriarty does not change his evil ways when stealing this man’s identify. That’s to remind us we’re still dealing with an essentially evil character. read more

Ellie Brannigan: Death at an Irish Village

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Irish Castle #3

For those who enjoy a little Irish mystery, Ellie Brannigan’s Irish Castle Mystery series are a must read. In Death at an Irish Village, the third in the series, cousins Ciara Smith and Rayne McGrath have been tasked by their late Uncle to save Grathton Village and the McGrath castle. Not a very small thing to ask, especially with a year’s deadline attached. Of course, if they fail, they just have to sell everything and split the money between them. While that doesn’t sound like a very bad deal, it is for those who value their heritage and would like nothing more than to preserve it. Both women are a little daunted and overwhelmed with the task, but are determined to succeed. It hasn’t been a very smooth start, with several murders already hindering things, and Rayne’s crazy ex making her life hectic as she tries to continue to run her sewing business Modern Lace. read more

Jenny Adams: A Poisonous Silence

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Deadly Twenties #2

I think the mark of a good writer is often seen in book two of a series.  In book one, the author has put in everything – every twinkly, sparkly element they’ve had in mind forever.  When it works, it’s magical.  Jenny Adams’ debut, A Deadly Endeavor, was just such a beginning.  Excellent, rich, main characters, interesting setting, and good storyline.  In this book, the second in her series, she proves her chops, with a more focused plot line and continuing the development of her main characters, who are estranged as the book opens. read more

S.K. Golden: The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets

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Pinnacle Hotel #3

This adorable series continues to be both adorable and thoughtful.  The heroine, hotel heiress and agoraphobe Evelyn Murphy, dresses almost completely in pink and dyes her hair blonde like her idol, Marilyn.  It’s 1958 and Elvis rules, as does Evelyn’s spoiled pom, Presley.  Evelyn’s almost boyfriend Mac has taken off for parts unknown, and so she’s entertaining ideas of other suitors throughout the book.

The main story, however, centers on the “Ladies Who Love to Sparkle”, women who sell costume jewellery, Tupperware party style.  As Evelyn enjoys tea in her hotel’s dining room, one of the sparkle ladies asks her to join them.  They share their catalogue, and all share a glass of champagne.  So far so good, but then the leader of the group collapses in Evelyn’s lap and later dies in the hospital. read more

Author interview: R.P. O’Donnell

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I absolutely loved R.P. O’Donnell’s first novel, No Comfort for the Dead, set in tiny Castlefreke, Ireland.  The book follows the journey of the town librarian, Emma, and it’s an evocative, beautifully written and felt novel.  This is a writer who is giving readers much to enjoy, and much to look forward to.  The lovely prose reminded me of Louise Penny.  This is not a book to be missed!  I was delighted when he agreed to answer a few questions.

Q: First of all, let me just say I loved the book.  One of the reasons was character, especially Emma.  Can you talk about how you developed your characters and populated the story? read more

R.P. O’Donnell: No Comfort for the Dead

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Castlefreke #1

Welcome to my first book crush of the new year.  It’s set in the late 80s, as tiny Castlefreke in County Cork, Ireland, experiences a shrinkage as jobs and inhabitants flee for bigger towns and more opportunity. Swimming against that tide is central character Emma, the town librarian, who has returned home to live with her dad, Sam, after her dream career in the Garda didn’t work out.  After one of Sam’s frequent nags about moving on, Emma takes off and ends up at the “Big House” in town. There she hears shots, witnesses a man fleeing, and finds the reclusive owner dead and another unknown man injured, then takes off to the town doctor to summon help. read more

January and February Book Clubs

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We’ll be meeting on zoom this winter, all are welcome to join us.  Our next meeting is Sunday, January 19 at 2 p.m. (E.A. Poe’s birthday) to discuss Katie Tietjen’s wonderful debut, Death in the Details.  Ms. Tietjen will be joining us.

For February we’ll be reading Kemper Donovan’s humorous and clever The Busy Body, about a ghostwriter working with a Hilary Clinton-esque figure.  The two of them, along with working on a memoir, team up to solve a murder.  This is a delightful first mystery.  Mr. Donovan is the force behind the All About Agatha podcast and a giant devotee of the golden age, especially of Ms. Christie.  His book is a homage to that style of writing.  We’ll be discussing the book on Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m.  All times Eastern. read more