Mark Pulham

Tortoise Soup by Jessica Speart, Avon Books
A Deadly Vineyard Holiday by Philip R. Craig, Avon Books.
The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters, Avon Books
Sweet Poison by William Relling, Jr, Walker Books
Lying Crying Dying by Dominic Martell, Victor Gollancz
Death of a Dustbunny by ChristineT.Jorgensen, Walker Books
The Trader's Wife by T.C. Black, Avon Books
The Violet Hour by Richard Montanari, Avon Books

Tortoise Soup

There is a new breed of law enforcement officer in fiction. Their beat is not the mean streets of a major city. Instead, it is the possibly meaner open spaces of the countryside. They are the environmental officers. Now, to join the ranks of Nevada Barr's'Anna Pigeon'mysteries and Ken Goddard's 'Harry Lightstone' series is Jessica Speart and her character, Nevada based U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent Rachel Porter.

In this, Speart's second novel, Porter investigates the-disappearance of 350 rare and endangered baby tortoises from a Federal hatchery. It is not clear who would steal them, or why, though one theory is that they're destined for the oriental market as food. One thing is certain, the tortoises are hated by almost everyone who lives in the area. Because of the animal, the government has placed grazing restrictions on ranchers and farmers, and land grabbing by developers has been brought virtually to a standstill.

During the early part of the investigation, Porter is directed to Annie McCarthy, a recluse living in the desert, who may have some information. Unfortunately, Porter finds McCarthy and her dog dead, both killed by a bullet to the head, both in a state of advanced decay. With the gun found close to McCarthy's hand, the police swiftly conclude that this is simply a suicide by someone tired of living alone, and consequently, the investigation is terminated. Porter is not so quick to make this judgement.

Porter is one to rock the boat. Her boss, due to retire soon, is quite willing. to accept the police view, especially with no evidence to the contrary. Porter, however, is compelled to investigate, especially as there was a stencil of a tortoise at the death scene, identical to one found at the hatchery. But how does Annie's death fit in with tortoise kidnapping? During the course of the investigation, Porter does not make many friends. The inhabitants of the area, angry at the governments' interference with their lives, see Porter as the physical representative of their enemy, and treat her accordingly.

This is a highly entertaining and fast moving novel, with a cast of characters that are believable. From the opening moments, when Porter becomes involved in a car chase across the desert, we are caught up in a story that has excitement and mystery. The criminals are not obvious, and we are kept guessing as to the reason the tortoises were stolen. But the tortoise kidnapping may bejust the tip of the iceberg. Murder and attempted murder are also employed to stop Porter from investigating.

Jessica Speart knows what she writes about, she also writes about wildlife and environmental issues. This knowledge gives the book an unmistakable ring of truth. What is frightening is that we know that most of the things that take place in this book, take place in real life.

Since the emergence of the female law enforcement officer in crime fiction, there have been an increasing number of additions to this sub-genre. In most cases the female investigator has proved to be at least equal to the men, and in a high number of cases, the writing and storylines have been superior. Rachel Porter is a welcome addition to the world of the female investigator.

A Deadly Vineyard Holiday

J. W. Jackson is fishing early one day when a teenage girl comes along. They strike up a conversation and he lets her land a fish. When she spots a jeep heading towards them from the distance, she makes her excuses and leaves. Thejeep pulls to a stop beside J. W. and the doors open. Instead of the expected parents, four agitated Secret Service agents emerge, demanding to know if J. W. saw the girl.

It doesn't take long for J. W. to put two and two together. The girl is Cricket Callahan, the spirited 16-year-old daughterof the Presidentof the United States (No prizes for guessing who the first family is modeled after). The first family is currently vacationing on Martha's Vineyard and Cricket wants to live a normal life for once. She soon gets her wish. With the first families and secret service agents' agreement, Cricket, posing as Debbie, the Jackson's cousin is staying with J. W. and his wife Zee, along with a female bodyguard for company.

But the secret does not remain hidden for long. Burt Phillips is a stringer for a sleazy tabloid called National Planet. He arrives, complete with telephoto lens, and parks just outside the Jackson's driveway. However, Phillips doesn't get the scoop he wants. Instead, he winds up on the property next door to the Jackson's with his neck neatly broken. It seems the President is not the target for terrorists, but Cricket is.

It's been a while since I last read one of Craig's Martha's Vineyard mysteries. A couple of things have happened in that time. Firstly, J. W. Jackson and Zee (short for Zeolinda) have married. Secondly, Craig's books have got even better. As usual, we have the bright and lively writing that is typical of this series. The author writes with a great deal of affection for the island, and each time I read one of his books, I get the same feeling of a lazy summer relaxing on the beach.

Despite the relaxed atmosphere of the book, there is no lack of action or suspense. The Jackson's and their guests spend their time evading tails, escaping bombs, and avoiding run-in's with possible terrorists out to harm the President's daughter. There is intrigue and danger lurking in the most innocent of places, and J. W. Jackson, an ex-cop, and his wife are more than capable of handling whatever comes up.

The ending is completely satisfying and we are left wishing the book could have been longer. We are also drawn to their serene and rustic lifestyle, and Martha's Vineyard is every bit as much of a character as the Jackson's or Cricket Callahan. If you have never been to Martha's Vineyard, then this may be the next best thing. In addition, if you liked the sound of some of the food that the Jackson's cook, then the author includes a couple of recipes at the back.

All in all, this is a pleasant way to spend a lazy summer afternoon.

The Ape Who Guards the Balance

Action, adventure, mystery, and romance. If this is the type of novel you like to read, then you could do a lot worse than the novels of Elizabeth Peters. This is the tenth novel in the Amelia Peabody series, and is highly entertaining. The year is 1907, and once again, she is embroiled in a murder mystery. This time it involves a rare ancient papyrus manuscript called 'The Book of the Dead'. Amelia and her extended family, archaeologist husband Radcliffe Emerson, son Ramses, his friend David, and her ward Nefret, havp to prevent the manuscript falling into the hands of Sethos, 'The Master Criminal'. On the way, they meet danger and intrigue, get kidnapped, avoid death, and come across tomb robber and mystical cults.

In the quotations from other reviewers, one name is invariably mentioned, 'Indiana Jones'. They either compare her to Jones, or her son Ramses with Jones. This is understandable, but not really fair. Amelia Peabody and Ramses do share some similarities with Jones, they are all Egyptologists and archaeologists, but it may be more accurate to say that Amelia Peabody is Jones' mother.

This is more an adventure novel than a straight mystery, and resembles many of the novels written in the earlier part of this century. There is a great feeling for the Edwardian period, the structure of the characters dialogue, the way they behave socially, all recreate the flavor and atmosphere of a period that disappeared long ago.

This book is reminiscent of the old 'Fu Manchu' books. It's not often you come across a 'Master criminal' in fiction. In instructional books on writing, this type of character is frowned upon, saying it's a dated character. This is true, but in Elizabeth Peters book, with the style of writing and its Edwardian setting, it works.

Another thing frowned upon is the switching of point of view. You should stick to either first person, third person, or whatever view you have chosen, and not switch within the book. However, the author has very cleverly allowed herself to break this rule. As with many historical novels, the plot device used is the 'found' manuscript, edited for the current reader. In this case, Amelia Peabody's manuscript, written in first person, has been found, but so are several other manuscripts. Each manuscript, all concerning the same events, is written by a different member of the family. This neatly avoids the awkwardness of changes of view within the main body of the novel. It also allows the author to reveal plot developments to the reader without disturbing the first person POV or allowing Amelia to know things that she shouldn't.

This is pure escapist literature at its best. The plot is complicated enough to keep the reader interested and guessing, but not so complex as to be bewildering. The characters are well rounded and extremely likeable, and the reader is soon lost in the exotic world in which they inhabit. If you like historical mysteries, this one will not disappoint you.

Sweet Poison

America's most influential food and wine critic, Augustus Poole, is convinced that someone is out to kill him. Two attempts have already been made on his life. This is not so surprising. The 300-pound man is obnoxious and abusive, and over the years has made many enemies. When he is asked to be the guest of honor at the North American Epicurean Society's annual banquet, Poole agrees. He waives his fee, and instead asks for a bottle of '47 Chateau d'Yquem, a rare and expensive dessert wine. He also demands that a bodyguard be assigned to him.

This onerous task falls to Jack Donne, a former agent for the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fireartns, and a former private investigator. Donne has retired from the law enforcement profession and now works in the family business, winemaking. He only agrees because this year the hosts for the NAMES banquet are old family friends.

When a murder does occur, it's not Poole who is found dead, but a chef, Niccolo Paoletti. He is found poisoned, with Poole's bottle of Yquem next to him. Poole feels vindicated by this proof that someone is out to kill him and persuades Donne to investigate, with Poole as his assistant. However, it soon becomes clear that Poole considers Donne the assistant and himself the investigator.

When it transpires that the poison was not in the wine, the police immediately suspect Poole, who just hours before the death, had a very loud, very public, argument with the victim. Donne's job now is to clear his client.

This book is a great deal of fun. To an extent, the characters are more caricature, especially Augustus Poole. In many cases, this would be a complaint, but that is not the case with Sweet Poison. Although not a comedy, the novel is, nevertheless, written with a slightly comedic style, and so we look at the characters as not reality based., There are plenty of red heffings to keep us guessing. In fact, halfway through the book, I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong.

Donne himself is an appealing character, whose life is completely disrupted by his fat, overbearing client. There are plenty of suspects. In fact, just about every character in the book has a reason to hate Poole, but would any of them be willing to sacrifice another life to frame the fat man?

This is an easygoing book for the most part with a moderately fast pace, and there are some exciting scenes to liven up the flow. It's just the right book to relax with in the garden. Perhaps, given the book's wine business setting, with a nice glass of wine by your side, though I'd not recommend the Yquem.

Lying Crying Dying

Pascual is a former terrorist. Although he never took any part in bombings or killings, he made the arrangements for others to do so. After becoming jaded with the political beliefs of his masters, he defects to the CIA, who promptly drain Pascual of all information. The CIA then hand him over to Mossad and once Mossad has finished with him, they cast him adrift to live a life of poverty in the slums of Barcelona.

Katixa is another terrorist. Once, a longtime ago, she and Pascual were lovers. She has come to Barcelona to find him. She is in trouble, she has stolen five million francs from ETA, the proceeds of a kidnapping. She needs Pascual's help to get out of the country. Pascual, still passionately in love with Katixa, has his own problems. A mysterious Arab has been asking for him. At first, Pascual believes it is an acquaintance that owes him money. However, it soon becomes clear that this is no friend. This Arab want's Pascual dead, in retribution for the defection.

The novel opens in 1985, with German agents reporting on a particularly brutal and cold-blooded assassination of an Israeli that hadjust taken place. This assassination, we later discover, had been arranged by Pascual. The scene cuts to the present, when Katixa kills a man in the hills outside of Barcelona. Despite these violent beginnings, the first few chapters are relatively slow moving. However, once Pascual and Katixa meet up, the pace begins to quicken, and we are immersed in the shadowy world of the terrorist.

None of the characters in this book are likeable. They are not romantic freedom fighters, they have no redeeming qualities, and the world they inhabit is certainly not glamorous. Even the authorities are portrayed as little better than their quaffy. However, despite our lack of sympathy for them, we soon become enmeshed in the problems of Pascual and Katixa. As their troubles escalate, we are riveted by the unfolding drama. How will they get out of Spain? Who can they trust to help them? Each turn brings new problems to face, and each problem comes with its own set of dangers.

The world in which they live is filled with mistrust, betrayals, and uncertain allies. Ultimately, they can only trust each other.

The book is deceptive. Its slow start belles the violence and intrigue yet to come, and you are unaware of being drawn into the flow of the novel. This is not a light read, nor is it relaxing. But it is certainly enjoyable. If there is one quibble, it is that the book is written in the present tense. Initially, it was a little distracting. But this is a minor complaint. Once the book gets into its flow, I was only occasionally aware of the tense. The author, who also writes under the name Sam Reaves, has skillfully portrayed two unattractive people in an unattractive world and remarkably, has managed to make you cheer them on.

Death of a Dustbunny

Five year old Steven Holman is awake very late one night. As he looks out of the window, he sees his babysitter, Elena Ruiz taking out the trash. As she heads toward the shed, Steven is fearful. He knows that a vampire lives in the shed. As he watches, he sees the dark shadowy figure of the vampire attack Elena and drag her away.

Stella the Stargazer writes an advice column for the Denver Daily Orion. Elena is supposed to meet Stella for lunch, but Elena is late, an unheard of occurrence. Stella is worried. The night before, Elena called her and said she needed to speak to her, it was very important.

Stella calls 'Dustbunnies' the housekeeping/nanny service that employs Elena. They are not worried. Elena left them a note saying she had to go away for a few days. This only adds to Stella's worry. She knows the note is fake, she is one of the few people who know that Elena cannot read or write.

Stella is talked into taking Elena's place at the Holman house. She cares very much for young Steven. Already disturbed by the death of his mother, Elena's disappearance has only added to his withdrawal. However, Stella soon comes to believe that Steven's mind may hold the clue to Elena's disappearance.

This novel has a very creepy opening, as we watch Elena's attack through Steven Holman's eyes. It is clear from the beginning that Steven is a disturbed child. The death of his mother, the coldness of his father, Grant, and the hatred he has for Heather, Grant's girlfriend. He also disliked other females in Grant's life, and so when Elena, the only woman Steven truly likes, is attacked, he withdraws.

All the characters in this book are well drawn. Stella comes across as a very determined heroine. She is portrayed as a capable and gutsy w. Oman, but she is not too capable, she is no superhuman. Stella has the occasional psychic vision. In a less talented writer, this could be a problem. Could the psychic visions help our heroine find clues that in other circumstances would remain hidden? That has certainly happened in other novels. Here though, the visions are very mild, and reveal nothing to Stella, except a sense of danger.

The characters are flesh and blood. Grant Holman is cold, but we understand why. Steven has childish fears and fantasies, and we understand why. These characters could have degenerated into caricatures, but the skillful handling of character development has made us believe in them.

As for the plot, nothing is forced. The actions and reactions come over as genuine. The plot is extremely well played and there is enough excitement and action to suit all tastes. The final scenes are well written and the final revelations come as a surprise. This is a fast and colorful book that holds the interest right down to the last page.

This is the fourth in the Stella the Stargazer series. I will certainly be reading the first three

The Trader's Wife

The woman alone against the bad guys. This is not a new theme, it's the basis of most gothic romances. Joy Fielding is a prime practitioner of the modern type of this novel. Now we have T. C. Black with "The Trader's Wife".

The title character is Sara, the pregnant wife of investment broker Mark Klein. A dawn raid by the FBI on their house rudely awakens Sara. Under the leadership of the ruthless Agent McClellan, the FBI confiscates everything from Mark's office. Mark, McClellan informs Sara, has vanished while on a trip to Hong Kong. More to the point, 32.6 million dollars has also vanished. The money belongs to various groups and individuals that placed their trust in Mark. McClellan knows Mark stole the money, and he makes it plain that he suspects Sara as an accomplice.

Sara knows she's innocent, but proving it is another matter. She turns to the brokerage firm Mark works for, and who employed her for six years but her former friends, warned against collaborating with the enemy, now shun her. Alone and afraid, her problems only increase with the appearance of an elderly Russian woman. It seems that one of Mark's clients whose money disappeared is a Moscow crime syndicate.

The reader is kept guessing right to the end of the book. Is Mark Klein an embezzler? All the evidence points to this conclusion. We feel for Sara, who feels betrayed by her husband for what he did, and abandoned by everyone that she knew and trusted, not only her husband, but friends, fon-ner colleagues, and the Justice system that should protect the innocent.

This is a fast moving and compelling tale. An underlying feeling of menace keeps the plot bubbling and the reader turning the page. Likeable characters keep you interested in their lives and their future.

Nicky Stella has his own problems. His grandfather is about to lose his place in a nursing home, and Nicky is deep in debt with a loan shark. These characters are three dimensional. The killings are just a part (a big part) of what goes on in their lives. There is Amelia's husband who is having an affair. There is Amelia's best friend Paige and her new bookshop. And there is Amelia's young daughter Madeleine. None of the characters are 'fillers', they are all there to serve a purpose, more than just potential victims.

Numerous red herrings are there to keep you on your toes, and they all appear naturally in the flow of the story, they are not awkwardly placed or contrived. You are kept guessing right until the end. The killer himself is absolutely horrifying. Totally ruthless and vindictive, he commits the murders without any thought for the peripheral victims, the sisters, brothers, parents or children of his primary targets. By association, these secon ary victims arejust as guilty and, in his twisted sense ofjustice, also deserve to die.

There is no slacking in pace with this novel, nor any lessening of the tension. From the dramatic opening through to the surprising end, it's an exciting ride through a nightmare.

This is the author's second book. I'll certainly be getting his first, and look forward to his future novels.

The Violet Hour

Twenty years ago, at Case Western Reserve University, an elite group of students formed The Ad-Verse Society. During a Halloween night party, high on drugs and booze, something happened, a beautiful young woman was destroyed.

Now, one of the young men at the party, "Johnny Angel", is a respected priest. As the novel opens Father John Angelino has been seduced by a high-class call girl. Unknown to him, she has been hired to lure him to her bed. The killer, concealed in her apartment, attacks, injecting Father Angelino with a fatal dose of heroin. The ki Iler also gives the call girl a normal dose, and pushes her through the window. All this is done in revenge for what happened that night. There were five other members of the Ad-Verse Society.

Nicholas Stella is a struggling freelance Joumalist. He smells a story in the death of the priest, though he believes it to be a drug story. In the meantime, the killer has moved on. Amongst his new targets is Amelia Saintsbilry, a suburban housewife with marital problems.

The killer sends an e-mail to each of his victims, an excerpt from a T. S. Eliot poem about suffering. Nicky Stella soon gets a list of the victims, and realizes that more victims are to come.

It's a chilling opening as we watch the murder take place. It's brutal and compassionless, and you're riveted to the page. From that opening scene, the reader is hooked.

This is an extremely well written novel, with a sympathetic heroine. We can identify with her frustration, trapped in a nightmare of someone else's making, unable to turn to anyone for help. She can only watch the events unfold around her and act accordingly. From the opening, Sara's frustration is evident. The man she married and trusted is gone, and we watch as the doubts creep in. What really does she know about Mark Klein? As she analyses her relationship with her husband, she realizes that she doesn't know as much as she should. Is the value of a loving wife and family and a beautiful home worth less than 32.6 million dollars?

It becomes increasingly clear that the answer to this question is yes. Sara has no doubt that Mark has been tempted, and that she is the one who will pay the price, either prison from the federal agents, or death for her, her father, and her unborn child from the Russian Mafia. Despite its setting, this is not a financial mystery. Rather it is a character mystery, with Sara and Mark's integrity and honesty called into question, and Sara's ingenuity put to the test. Sara's character is what propels this story, how will she react, what is her next move. Fast moving and entirely believable, this novel is a page-tumer and a great addition to the field.

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Editor's Note: This is the first of a twice-yearly multi-book review by Mark Pulham on recent books in the mystery and detective genre.

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