His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

July 12, 2018

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Born 1967, in Kilmarnock, Scotland. Education: Attended Glasgow University; St. Andrews University, M.Litt. Addresses: Home: Glasgow, Scotland.

AWARDS:

Scottish Book Trust New Writer's Award, 2013; Man Booker shortlist, 2016, for His Bloody Project.

WRITINGS:

• The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau,  2014 (Inspector Gorski, #1)
• His Bloody Project,  2015.

A triple murder in a remote northwestern farming community in 1869 leads to the arrest of a young man by the name of Roderick Macrae. There’s no question that Macrae is guilty, but the police and courts must uncover what drove him to murder the local village constable and his two children.

• Accident on the A35, 2017 (Inspector Gorski, #2)

Graeme Macrae Burnet worked for several years in television before becoming a writer, and he told a Spark Web site interviewer: "I try to treat it as a kind of nine to five-ish sort of thing and if I'm at the stage of producing a first draft I aim to write a thousand words or so a day. But some days are more productive than others."

…

Burnet's second novel, His Bloody Project, is presented as the memoir of a murderer, and it is meant to be read as such. The historical crime tale is set in the late 1800s, when Roderick Macrae is arrested for a brutal triple murder. Roddy's memoir reveals and ensures his guilt, and it becomes a widely studied text as lawyers and psychologists attempt to understand the mind of a killer. Discussing the novel on the Creative Scotland Web site, Burnet commented: "What's often the hardest thing to research and the most important to get right, was the real minutia of how people lived then. The small details of what they ate, what they wore--the real day to day intricacies." The author also noted: "Ultimately the key thing for me to get right was Roddy's prison narrative which is the real centre of the book. Writing a historical novel using the first person presents a challenge in itself as you have to really commit to the voice of your narrator."

Read-alikes from NoveList.

Burial rites by Hannah Kent

Reason: Despite very different locales (Bloody Project is set in Scotland, Burial Rites in Iceland), both are similarly atmospheric character-driven historical novels in which an individual's trial for murder reveals the biases and societal problems of isolated 19th-century rural communities. -- Kim Burton

The unquiet grave  by Sharyn McCrumb

Reason: Both are character-driven novels about 19th-century murders: his Bloody Project is set in Scotland, The Unquiet Grave takes place in post-Civil War West Virginia; each vividly evokes a strong sense of place, and raises murky questions of guilt and innocence. -- Kim Burton

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue

Reason: Both are compelling, character-driven historical novels about young protagonists placed on trial for murder. Each explores how class conflicts and societal oppression influences their fate. While His Bloody Project is gritty and compelling, Slammerkin is more spare and reflective. -- Kim Burton

         See what I have done  by Sarah Schmidt Reason: These compelling historical thrillers generate suspense through unreliable narrators and multiple perspectives. In the wake of brutal murders, family members of the accused offer eyewitness testimony -- contradicting one another's accounts as well as the suspect's own version of events. -- Gillian Speace

CUT  by Amy S. Pele

June 14, 2018

Amy S. Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area, and now lives in Marin County in California. Having spent thirty five years working in the field of organ transplantation, she brings a fresh, knowledgeable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.

In addition to killing people in her murder mysteries, she enjoys meditating, teaching yoga, swimming, and pursuing her spirituality by studying the teachings of Deepak Chopra.

CUT: A MEDICAL MURDER MYSTERY is the first in her trilogy of

“Medical Murder Mysteries with a Mission.” She hopes her books will provide insight into transplantation and organ donation by combining the seriousness of the topic with a sprinkle of humor. The novel release date coincides with April being National Donate Life Month.

While the federal government is launching a national investigation on the “equity” of organ donation, a female tech CEO flies across the country to get a liver transplant. Soon, well-respected transplant nurse Sarah Golden and her sassy best friend, Jackie Larsen, find themselves tangled up in an intense plot to uncover the answer to the question on everyone’s mind: Can you buy your way up to the top of the transplant waiting list?

Sarah and Jackie’s pursuit of justice sends them on a sometimes fun, sometimes dangerous adventure to Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago—a roller coaster ride from which they barely escape with their lives.

Author’s website:  http://amyspeele.com/

“Very happy to report that CUT has won the 2017 Independent Press Award in the Medical Mystery category. This was such a nice surprise!  Also excited to share that CUT has also placed as a finalist in the 2017 International Book Awards!”

Read alikes -- transplants

Boy in the Suitcase  By Lane Kaaberbol,  (2011)

When Nina Borg, a Red Cross nurse, finds a naked child in a suitcase, she is drawn into a child trafficking plot.

Never Let Me Go By Kuzo Ishiguro, (2006)

Human Clones serve as organ donors

Vulture Peak  By John Burdett, (2012)

Nobody knows Bangkok like Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, and there is no one quite like Sonchai: a police officer who has kept his Buddhist soul intact—more or less ….He’s put in charge of the highest-profile criminal case in Thailand—an attempt to bring an end to trafficking in human organs.

Charade  By  Sandra Brown, (1994)

After Cat Delaney receives a heart transplant, she thinks that she can begin life anew by hosting a television show, until someone begins murdering transplant recipients, and Cat is next on the list.

At what cost: a detective Penley mystery By James L'Etoile, (2016)

Police Detective John Penley and his new partner are tasked with hunting down a serial killer leaving behind bodies without internal organs, when the killer suggests a deal regarding Penley's son, who is on a kidney transplant waiting list.

Series: Detective Penley mysteries, 1

Another One goes Tonight by Peter Lovesey

May 10, 2018

Born: September 10, 1936 in Whitton, United Kingdom

Other Names: Lovesey, Peter Harmer; Lear, Peter

Nationality: British   Occupation: Novelist

Long a major figure of the mystery genre, Peter Lovesey is the
author of several series and numerous short stories. His series, of which the Peter Diamond mysteries are the best-regarded, are set in various British locales and time periods. Lovesey is noted for writing puzzlers with strong character-building: his complex plots
challenge, yet his characters are also well-described, intelligent but fallible investigators who often solve the case through sheer doggedness, instead of genius. Lovesey's language is economical, but he displays a keen eye for vivid and telling details. Start with:

The Last Detective (Contemporary Mystery); Wobble to Death (Historical Mystery).

Peter Diamond Mysteries
This masterful, many tiered examination of British police work
features an unorthodox and shrewd chief superintendent in Bath,
England who is always bucking police bureaucracy. These traditional police procedurals are filled with compelling characters, intricate plots, and witty dialogue. The mysteries are made up of puzzles and red herrings that keep the stories moving quickly and the reader guessing


The last detective (1991) Peter Diamond mysteries, # 1

Diamond solitaire ( 1992) # 2

The summons ( 1995) # 3

Bloodhounds (1996), # 4

Upon a dark night (1997) #5

The vault ( 2000) #, 6

Diamond dust ( 2002) # 7

The house sitter ( 2003) #8

The secret hangman (2007) # 9

Skeleton Hill ( 2009) #10

Stagestruck: a Peter Diamond investigation (2011) #11

Cop to corpse: a Peter Diamond investigation (2012) #12

The tooth tattoo (2013), # 13

The stone wife ( 2014) #, 14

Down among the dead men: a Peter Diamond investigation ( 2015) #15

Another one goes tonight: a Peter Diamond investigation (2016) #16

Beau death ( 2017) #17


Read-alikes


1. Percy Peach mysteries by J. M. Gregson, Reason: Both authors showcase contemporary police teams that are led by a strong male detective who is not afraid to buck his superiors. The mysteries are cleverly plotted, have sharp characterization, and a wry sense of humor. The books are slower paced as they realistically portray how the police work. -- Merle Jacob


2. Bryant and May mysteries by Christopher Fowler, Reason: Although the 'Bryant and May mysteries' have supernatural elements not found in the 'Peter Diamond mysteries,' both of these series feature wry humor, intricate plots, and engaging (if sometimes curmudgeonly) detectives. -- Victoria Caplinger


3. Joe Gunther mysteries by Archer Mayor, Reason: Though the Joe Gunther mysteries are set in Battleboro, Vermont and the Peter Diamond mysteries take place in Bath, England, both atmospheric series feature intriguing police inspectors, airtight plotting, and a strong sense of place. -- Mike Nilsson


4. Lambert and Hook mysteries by J. M. Gregson, Reason: Both of these series showcase contemporary police teams led by a strong male detective not afraid to buck his superiors. The mysteries are cleverly plotted, have sharp characterization, and a wry sense of humor. The books are slower paced as they realistically portray how the police work. - - Merle Jacob


Other Peter Lovesey series:

Sergeant Cribb mysteries (Most Recent: Aug 2016)

Prince of Wales mysteries (Most Recent: Jan 2011)

Inspector Hen Mallin novels (Most Recent: Apr 2008)

STRIPPED BARE by Shannon Baker

April 12, 2018

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Born 1960; Education: Graduated from the University of Nebraska; University of Colorado, Boulder, M.B.A.

CAREER:

Writer. Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff, AZ, employee.

Interview with Shannon Baker:

http://www.thebigthrill.org/2016/08/stripped-bare-by-shannon-baker/

Author’s website: http://shannon-baker.com/

Stripped Bare

(First book in series) Kate Fox is living the dream. She’s married to Grand County Sheriff Ted Conner, the heir to her beloved Nebraska Sandhills cattle ranch, where they live with Kate’s orphaned teenage niece, Carly. With the support of the well-connected Fox Clan, which includes Kate’s eight boisterous and interfering siblings, Ted’s reelection as Grand County Sheriff is virtually assured. That leaves Kate to the solitude and satisfaction of Frog Creek, her own slice of heaven. One night Kate answers a shattering phone call from Roxy at the Bar J. Carly’s granddad Eldon, owner of the ranch, is dead and Ted has been shot and may never walk again. Kate vows to find the killer. She soon discovers Ted responded so quickly to the scene because he was already at the Bar J . . . in Roxy’s bed. And to add to her woes, Carly has gone missing.

• Stripped bare (Sep 2016)
• Series: Kate Fox novels, 1
• 
  
• Dark signal: a Kate Fox novel (Oct 2017)
• Series: Kate Fox novels, 2

Nora Abbott mysteries

(First book in series) Things go from bad to worse for Nora Abbott when her husband is murdered, angry protestors occupy her mountain, her overbearing mother visits, an energy tycoon tries a hostile takeover of her ski resort, and the local Hopi tribe says her snow-making is upsetting the natural balance.

• 
  
• Tainted mountain (Mar 2013)
• Series: Nora Abbot Mysteries,1
• 
  
• Broken trust (Mar 2014)
• Series: Nora Abbot Mysteries, 2
• 
  
• Tattered legacy (Mar 2015)

Series: Nora Abbot Mysteries, 3

Read-alikes

Border trilogy by Cormac McCarthy Reason:  These series are Atmospheric, and they share: the genre 'Modern Westerns' and the subject 'Ranches'.

Nebraska setting:

		Money trouble : a Nebraska mystery by William J. Reynolds.   (1988)
		Jury of six by Dave P. Fisher. (2014) Set in 1880 Nebraska
		A title to murder : the Carhenge mystery : a western story by James C. Work. (2004)

Sidney Chambers -- Grantchester Mysteries

Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death

By James Runcie ---   March 8, 2018

Born May 7, 1959, in Cambridge, England; son of Lord Robert (Archbishop of Canterbury) and Lady Lindy Runcie E-mail: james@jamesruncie.com.

CAREER:

Writer, academic, and filmmaker. BBC Scotland, radio drama writer and director, 1983-85; Bath Literature Festival, artistic director, 
2009-13; Southbank Centre, London, England, head of literature 
and spoken word, 2013--. Documentary filmmaker; works include 
J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life;Losing It: Griff Rhys Jones on 
Anger; and My Father, a last interview with Lord Robert Runcie, 
who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1980-91. Has worked for 
Sadler's Wells, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Arts 
Council. Bath Spa University, visiting professor.

Notably, the "Grantchester Mystery" novels have been adapted 
as a television series for ITV. Discussing the filming in a London
Telegraph article, Runcie admitted that Chambers is based on his 
father. "I try to imagine what my father would think of it all," he 
remarked, "and I can almost see him, aged 93, in a wheelchair 
perhaps, with a rug over his lap, watching the filming of that war
scene. I think he would have been bemused--and amused. I can 
imagine him laughing about it afterwards and saying that it wasn't
like that at all. I don't think for a minute that he would ever say 
that he was proud of me, but I hope he would at least be secretly
intrigued." Runcie added: "And this is, of course, is what fiction 
does. It brings the dead back to us. It allows thought,
conversation, an alternative afterlife."

"GRANTCHESTER MYSTERY" SERIES

• Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death, 2012.
• Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night, 2013.
• Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil, 2014.
• Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins, 2015.
• Sidney Chambers and the dangers of temptation,  (2016)
• Sidney Chambers and the persistence of love, ( 2017)

NOVELS

• The Discovery of Chocolate, 2001.
• The Colour of Heaven, 2003.
• Canvey Island, 2008.
• East Fortune, 2009.

 Fun web site:    https://jamesruncie.com/home

Read-alikes

Sidney Chambers and the shadow of death

Introduces unconventional clergyman Sidney Chambers, who 
teams up with roguish Inspector Harry Keating to investigate 
a suspicious suicide, a jewelry theft, the unexplained demise
of a jazz promoter, and a shocking art forgery.

	Max Tudor mysteries  by G. M. Malliet Reason:  The Max Tudor and Grantchester mysteries feature  young English vicars as their sleuths. These cozy stories are set  in small English towns with a cast of eccentric characters. The  sleuths use their insight into people to solve the crimes. --  Merle Jacob      Pagan Spring: Reason:  Both are amusing cozy mysteries  with unconventional vicars acting as sleuths in small English villages. Sidney Chambers is set in the 1950s, where a youthful jazz-loving minister is on the case; in Pagan Spring, a  present-day M15 agent turns cleric. -- Kim Burton Father Christmas mysteries by C. C.Benison Reason:  The Father Christmas and Grantchester mysteries are  cozies featuring reluctant clergymen as their sleuths.The men  are intelligent with a keen understanding of people. These gentle reads evoke the charm of English small towns and their varied characters. -- Merle Jacob