Clea Simon's Blog, page 41
October 12, 2018
“An excellent series… Thank you, Bristol Public Library
The Book Blog of the Bristol (VA) Public Library weighs in on Fear On Four Paws:
” It’s an excellent series and comes highly recommended,” writes blogger/librarian Jeanne. “This series is often called a cozy, though that’s not the label I would give it. It’s a bit darker and grittier, not to mention that Pru is no chaste virgin maid. I think of it more as a straightforward mystery with a light dose of social commentary and a dollop of supernatural.” Of course, there’s more:
I always look forward to a new entry in the Pru Marlowe Pet Noir series. For the uninitiated, Pru works as a dog walker, animal behaviorist, trainer, and—more often than her on again, off again police officer lover Creighton would like—detective. Pru has a bit of an advantage in some cases: she can communicate with animals psychically, an ability whose sudden and confusing onset caused her to check herself into a mental hospital. It’s fear of being considered mentally unstable that causes Pru to keep her talent to herself, though Creighton has begun to suspect.
And while she can understand animal thoughts, the communication tend to be somewhat chaotic, to say the least, except from Wallis, Pru’s sardonic feline companion.
This time around, Pru has been searching for Albert, the local animal control officer, who is not the most diligent public servant (to put it mildly). She finds him passed out cold and an illegally trapped bear near by. She doesn’t figure Albert has the gumption to be the brains behind such an operation, but a new complication swiftly arises in the form of a dead human in the same vicinity. Albert’s pet ferret, Frank, is a probable witness but Frank isn’t talking.
Angered by the thoughts of what was probably in store for the bruin, Pru starts to investigate but she soon has more than one complication on her hands: pets are disappearing from an upscale neighborhood, and Greg the local game warden is interested in offering her a job—and maybe something more.
As usual, the animals take center stage. I always enjoy Wallis, whose observations on human life in general and Pru’s in particular, give the books some zest. Pru is a complex character who is suspicious of most of the human race and especially wary of emotional entanglements. She is more attuned and compassionate toward animals, who suffer not only physical hurt from humans but indignities: Growler, a bichon she walks on a regular basis, is called Bitsy by his human and treated more like a stuffed toy than a living creature. Despite being confined most of the day, Growler knows most of what goes on in the neighborhood and is a good source of information for Pru though he, like Wallis, is disdainful of Pru’s lack of awareness of all the things that go on around her.
However, I have to say that Bunbury Bandersnatch stole the show this time.
This series is often called a cozy, though that’s not the label I would give it. It’s a bit darker and grittier, not to mention that Pru is no chaste virgin maid. I think of it more as a straightforward mystery with a light dose of social commentary and a dollop of supernatural. It’s an excellent series and comes highly recommended.
While I think any of the books in this series could be read as a stand alone, I am one of those people who likes to start at the first and read in order. The other books are:
Panthers Play for Keeps (2014)
All are available from the library.
Full disclosure: I am acquainted with the author, but that did not influence my review.
(You can also see the original post here)
October 8, 2018
“Delightful,” raves PW about A SPELL OF MURDER
I am over the moon about this review for my Dec. 11 cat cozy, A Spell of Murder:
A Spell of Murder: A Witch Cats of Cambridge Mystery
Set in Cambridge, Mass., this delightful series launch from Simon (World Enough) introduces three talking cats—littermates Clara, Harriet, and Laurel—and their 26-year-old human, Becca Colwin, who has recently lost her job as a researcher for the local historical society due to “budget cutbacks and the advances in technology.” Becca rightly interprets this to mean that “they can get an intern to do a Google search.” Her self-esteem has plummeted, so she’s ripe to respond to a flyer advertising an opening for “Witches: New and In Training.” Convinced she has psychic powers, Becca joins the coven, but none of the women, nor their lone warlock, has any aptitude for performing magical spells. When one coven member is murdered, the police regard Becca as a person of interest. Clara, with the reluctant help of her sisters, steps in surreptitiously to help Becca solve the crime. You don’t have to be a cat lover to appreciate this paranormal cozy’s witty observations, entertaining dialogue, and astute characterizations. Agent: Colleen Mohyde, Doe Coover Agency. (Dec.)
Read it for yourself here.
October 7, 2018
FIVE QUESTIONS with Hank Phillippi Ryan
I knew Hank from the news, of course. Everyone in New England does. But I first met her when she came to a reading of my nonfiction book, Fatherless Women. We had a good talk, and I was really touched that she and I shared some of the same issues and concerns. I wasn’t surprised, therefore, when she started writing mysteries and they had the same intensity and emotional resonance as all her other work. I’m thrilled to have her here today.
How does a book start?
It’s different and the same every time. I don’t have a repository of ideas from which I select the next one, sigh. I have an empty bucket. But I trust the universe to present the idea, the perfect idea, exactly when I need it. So far, knock on wood, that’s happened. I just need one gorgeous gem of a core of an idea, and then I recognize it, almost immediately. In Trust Me, for instance, it happened when I heard my husband practicing his closing argument for a notorious murder case. Listening to it, I was completely convinced that the defendant was absolutely innocent.
And then I imagined the wife of the prosecutor, somewhere across town, hearing hisclosing argument, in which, using the same evidence, my husband’s client was guilty. And, as I imagined it, his wife believed every word he was saying. How could that be? How could two smart people use exactly the same evidence and create two directly opposite stories? I was riveted by that idea. I wondered–how could a true crime author write the truth, when it’s impossible to know what it is? And that became Trust Me.
Who in your latest book surprised you the most, and why?
The whole book was a surprise, and it still surprises me when I read it. I had no idea how this book would go, or who would be guilty, or who would die. Just like life, right? Things surprise us. I knew the main character, Mercer Hennessey (the journalist), and Ashlyn Bryant, (the accused murderer), both had terrible secrets. But which one of them was telling the truth about them? As I wrote, there would be days when I’d wonder: why is she saying that? I had to figure it out as I wrote. And in fact, several supporting characters surprised me, too! There were times when I actually gasped. And I wish I could say more, but I want you to be surprised as well. But remember, when you widen your eyes with surprise, imagine me doing exactly the same thing.
When or where is your latest book set?
Trust Me is set in three basic places, and it’s such fun to see how that works. The wide shot is the deep broad story of a gruesome murder, which may have taken place in Ohio, or maybe in Boston, or maybe…who knows where. The entire case unfolds in an historic Boston courtroom, and comes to life in the pages of my main character’s true crime novel–a book in a book. It also takes place in a lovely Boston suburb, the fictional Linsdale, which I imagine as Dover, Lincoln, Concord, that kind of lovely little town. But some of the action takes place in a sort of locked room setting… with my two main characters, a reporter and the accused murderer, working on a true crime expose. The two women are in fear of going outside–one because she cannot face her neighbors, and the other because she is terrified of being recognized. So they face off in an intensely manipulative (and dangerous) cat and mouse game. But which one is the cat, and which one is the mouse?
What are you working on now?
Ha. I’m gearing up for my nationwide book tour for Trust Me, incredibly exciting. And also getting ready to leap into revisions of my 2019 psychological standalone, The Murder List. I am thrilled with it as well, and it is surprising me on every page, too! But I’m truly looking forward to having people read Trust Me, I cannot wait to hear what they think, and the initial reaction has been astonishing. The Booklist starred review said “it’s a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense.” So, hooray.
Which question didn’t I ask you that I should have?
Do I know the endings of my novels before I write them? No. Would I be able to come to a library or bookstore or book club or women’s organization to speak? Yes, of course! Love to. After 40 years as an investigative reporter, am I delighted every day to have this new fiction part of my career? Absolutely!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, winning 34 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. The nationally bestselling author of 10 mysteries, Ryan’s also an award-winner in her second profession—with five Agathas, two Anthonys, two Macavitys, the Daphne, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her novels are Library Journal’s Best of 2014, 2015 and 2016. Hank’s newest book is psychological thriller TRUST ME (August 28, 2018) ‒ named one of the Best Thrillers of Summer 2018 by New York Post, BOOK BUB, PopSugar and CrimeReads.
October 5, 2018
Announcing NASTY WOMAN PRESS!
Finally! We can share the news! Nasty Woman Press is being launched with an anthology to benefit Planned Parenthood, and I am so proud to be part of it! 
I’ll tell you more about my story in time, but in the meantime, here’s the announcement – and partial list of contributors! – from our founder, Kelli Stanley:
Ready for some good news? Our non-profit press has been two years in the making, folks, but NASTY WOMAN PRESS will be publishing our first anthology next year.
While we’re still fine-tuning the pub date, today I CAN reveal some of the amazing talent contributing to the project. We’ve got a few surprise contributors up our sleeves, too, and we’ll be announcing them over the next few weeks/months. 
September 30, 2018
FIVE QUESTIONS with Sherry Harris
Sherry Harris is a whirlwind! I’m not sure if I first became aware of Sherry through her work with Sisters in Crime, her smart/funny entries on the Wicked Cozies blog, or her witty cozies. Her smiling face is always worth seeking out at conferences, and I’m thrilled to have her here today.
How does a book start for you?
It’s been different for each book. Tagged for Death, the first book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series, came from a conversation I overheard in an airport several years earlier. The second book started with a crime that occurred when my husband was stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. I wanted to right a wrong that I couldn’t in real life.
Who in your latest book has surprised you most – and why?
The sixth book in the series, The Gun Also Rises, comes out in January. The murderer surprised me. I thought it was one person, but later realized it was someone else. And it was all right there, laid out for me. I heard Patricia Cornwell speak once. She said she follows the evidence and the killer reveals themselves to her. I’ve never had that happen before because I’ve always known who did it.
When and/or where is your latest book set and is there a story behind that setting?
All the Sarah books are set in Ellington, Massachusetts and nearby Fitch Air Force Base. They are based on Bedford, Massachusetts and Hanscom Air Force Base. We live there for five years and I fell in love with the area.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing the eighth book in the Sarah series and getting ready to start a new series. The Chloe Jackson Redneck Riviera mysteries set in the panhandle of Florida. The panhandle has many nicknames – the Emerald Coast, Lower Alabama and, of course, the Redneck Riviera.
Which question didn’t I ask you that I should have?
Oh, that’s a hard one. I like to tell people who want to be published not to give up, to study the craft of writing, and to network with other authors. I have stacks of rejection letters and two and a half unpublished books that will probably never see the light of day.
Sherry Harris is the Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series. She is the President of Sisters in Crime National, a member of the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, the New England Chapter of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Website: Sherryharrisauthor.com Blog: Wickedcozyauthors.com
In her spare time Sherry loves reading and is a patent holding inventor. Sherry, her husband, and guard dog Lily are living in northern Virginia until they figure out where they want to move to next.
Website: Sherryharrisauthor.com Blog: Wickedcozyauthors.com
September 27, 2018
WORLD ENOUGH in the Strand Magazine
How thrilled am I to be on this list, “Five Reinventions of the Boston Crime Novel”? To have my WORLD ENOUGH called “a haunting exploration of the dark side of nostalgia and the differing perceptions of shared experiences.” Um, very. (Read the full review – and about four other great Boston books! – here.)
September 23, 2018
FIVE QUESTIONS with Karen Olson
How does a book start for you?
When I write a traditional mystery series, I start with the dead body. In my first Black Hat Thriller, Hidden, I started with the first sentence and the book grew from there.
Who in your latest book has surprised you most – and why?
I have to say that the character who surprised me most in Vanished is Spencer Cross, the hacktivist who was a whistleblower and is in hiding. He’s managed to hold onto all of his assets under the radar and is far more complicated in his loyalties than I imagined when I first created him.
When and/or where is your latest book set and is there a story behind that setting?Vanished is set in two distinct places: Charleston, South Carolina, and Paris. Charleston because I wanted a community where Tina could continue her work as an artist and manage to hide in plain sight. My husband and I visited Charleston two years ago and we fell in love with it. Tina ends up going to Paris to find Tracker. I love Paris. I’ve been there three times and each time fell more in love with the city. Tina spent a lot of time there as a child with her grandmother, so it was a natural place to send her.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a domestic thriller standalone.
Which question didn’t I ask you that I should have?
Paper or plastic?
I prefer to bring my own bag
September 20, 2018
Reclaiming public space/A Writers’ Salon
Well, this is fun! Today is PARKing day in Cambridge, Mass. That means a day of reclaiming open urban space … at least until the meter runs out! More than 75 local groups are taking up curbside space and reclaiming 150 parking spaces all over the city today. One of them is the Harvard dCoop, which is presenting a Cambridge Writers’ Salon and Celebration of Local Authors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking up space on Mass Ave right by the Hi-Rise Bakery (1663 Mass. Ave). I’ll be there from 2 till 2:45, possibly later. Although the Coop is a bookstore, we won’t be selling books. We’ll be talking about writing and books, and maybe about the value of open spaces. Who knows? But it should be fun. Come on by!
September 18, 2018
Boucheront redux, pt.2: Thisbe approves!
One of Bouchercon’s traditions is its auctions – usually a live one and a silent one, which raise money for a literacy campaign. This year, the beneficiary was Dolly Parton’s literacy campaign, the Imagination Library. , which provides books to kids. And so, to contribute, I put together a “cat box” of cat books. And, yes, I briefly considered putting them in a cat – litter – box. Better sense prevailed and I instead packaged them up in a pink plush cat bed. But in the few minutes that the bed (safely stored in my car until I was ready) was in my house, being packaged, Thisbe found it – and claimed it as her own. The deadline to contribute was approaching, and so I packaged it up anyway, feeling the guilt that only a cat lover can know. And on my return, I got her a (seemingly) identical cat bed. And she rejected it! I was being punished. Until today….
The original, which I had hoped to package up without incident.
The “cat box” at auction.
And finally, today… 
Phew!
George V. Higgins and me?!?
Fascinating piece on George V. Higgins (author of “Friends of Eddie Coyle,” etc.) and the development of the Boston crime novel in the new issue of CrimeReads. Overwhelming to me because the article’s author Scott von Doviak referenced ME as an heir of Higgins (cause of World Enough, I assume) toward the end:
“While the first three [of Higgins’ work] are still the best, it’s heartening to see the genre start to emerge from their shadow. Recent works by Adam Abramowitz, Clea Simon, and Edwin Hill have taken the Boston crime novel in new directions…”
Wow! But although that’s the part that’s going to stay with me, you can read the whole fascinating and well researched article here: How George V. Higgins Invented The Boston Crime Novel: On The Friends of Eddie Coyle and the Birth of Boston Noir.
