Posted in Cozy, Monday, mystery on May 14, 2012

Today’s Mystery is Little Shop of Homicide by Denise Swanson.  Denise also writes the Scumble River series, which is also a great series to pick up if you haven’t tried them yet.

Synopsis:

Devereaux Sinclair is the happy new owner of the adorable old-fashioned shop in her small Missouri town. But when a revenge-crazed cop accuses Dev of murdering her ex’s fiancée — and the murder weapon is found with her fingerprints all over it — Dev’s store, and her life, quickly turn from charmed to troubled. If she doesn’t find the real killer soon, this five-and-dime owner will be serving twenty-five to life…

Review:

I was surprised when the murder happened right off the bat in this story.  Usually there is a set up of the main character and then the murder happens in the 2nd or maybe 3rd chapter.  But that doesn’t make this a bad book, in fact it was quite good and I really enjoyed the interplay between Devereaux and the cop that couldn’t see past his own revenge to actually look for the killer.  I also liked the love triangle…well sort of triangle.  There is her ex-fiance and then the hunky neighbor’s grandson. 

I think this is going to be another winner of a series for Denise Swanson and look forward to the second book and see if she creates another winning series like the Scumble River series!

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Posted in suspense, teaser, Tuesday, Washington DC on May 8, 2012

Today’s teaser is from The Nazi Hunter by Alan Elsner.

Synopsis:

Mark Cain – deputy director of the Office of Special Investigations – tracks down and brings to jusice ex-Nazis who have quietly slipped into the country since World War II.  But on a rainy November afternoon, it’s a woman wearing a red brooch who slips past security and into Cain’s office.  “I am looking for the Nazi hunter,” she says.  “I have documents – important documents.”  She promises to show him the documents when they next meet, but she never returns.  At first, Cain dismisses her as just another crackpot, but when the Washington Post reports that a woman wearing a red brooch has been brutally murdered, he suspects he may be on to something big.  He must find those documents!

Meanwhile, the Republicans have taken control of Congress, and the newly elected Speaker of the House can’t wait to cut big government down to size.  The thread of budget hearings hangs over Cain’s head, but he knows that the Office of Special Investigations is immune from elimination, or is it?

As Cain slides further into a tangeled web of secrets and murder, he realizes that he has entered a race for his life – one that will draw him from the vicious halls of Washington politics, through the dark heart of Europe’s past, and into the savage lair of America’s right-wing militias.

Teaser:

from page 124

“We’ll be cutting government deaparments all across the board, ” Doneghan said, his voice rising.  “Nobody’s exempt.  You boys thing you’re above everyone else? The era of big government is over for everyone, mister, and that includes you.”

It was like watching a prizefight, two heavyweights beating each other senseless.  But I was also proud of Eric.  He wasn’t backing down an inch.

“We’re not ‘big government’ as you put it.  Our department is small, our budget is tiny, and we can account for every center. If you come after us, you’ll be making a big mistake.”

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