The Dying Breath, Alane Ferguson

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The fourth book in Alane Ferguson's YA series of forensic mysteries with 17-year-old Cameryn Mahoney who assists her father, the local coroner, and is studying to become a Medical Examiner. These characters--Cammie and Justin, Patrick and Mammaw, Ben and Dr. Moore--really grew on me. Psychologically insightful, and with plots so intense I couldn't put the books down. I loved the scientific detail: each book centers on a very graphic, very detailed autopsy, handled with great sensitivity. Absolutely fantastic series.

Blood Rubies, Jane K. Cleland

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Ok, I am not a huge fan of amateur sleuth "cozies" these days, but I wanted to read one of Jane K. Cleland's Antiques mysteries because I've been reading her "Mastering Suspense, Structure and Plot" for writers. I confess I am mystified. Cleland lays out a "road map" for mysteries/suspense authors, premised on a 300-325 page book, with specific page locations for subplot 1, subplot 2, and the "TRD" (twist, reversal, danger) points in the main plot, along with the climax and resolution.

I usually like to start with the first book in a series instead of mid-stream, but I thought I'd pick one far enough in that Cleland would have clearly established her plotting. "Blood Rubies" is 290 pages, but even adjusting from the original 300-325, I'm stumped. I'm not even clear what constitutes the two subplots: the daily activities of Josie's antiques appraisal business?

Cleland writes that usually one of her two subplots involves Josie's relationship with her romantic interest/boyfriend Ty, but I couldn't track it according to her page numbers, and at this stage (book #9 in her series), there seemed to be no drama/plot movement to their relationship. There are a couple points at which Josie is in danger, but I failed to connect with a sense of suspense, which surprised me.

In the end, what got under my skin, and this is just part of the sub-genre, is that in the world of police procedurals, there is almost always an uncomfortably tense relationship between the police and the press, but in this world, Josie practically had the chief of police and the local newspaper reporter on speed dial, sharing information liberally between them. I kept waiting for Chief Hunter to come down on her like a ton of bricks, but he never did, even when she's snapping photos of the big arrest to pass onto Wes for publication.

What I did pick up on in the book was Cleland's emphasis in "Mastering Suspense" on including sensory details in each scene to give the reader a "you are here" feeling. For me, these were so overt (the addition of a pitcher of lemonade, a character mentioning she loves 'the shushing' of pine needs as you walk through them), that I got yanked out from the story. Not my style; clearly with several writing awards and 11 books currently in her Josie series she's a popular author. It was fascinating to be able to read the "insider" view - an author telling you what she's doing - and then read one of her books, even if I didn't totally get it.

Through the Evil Days, Julia Spencer-Fleming

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Book 8 of Julia Spencer-Fleming's Miller's Kill series. I LOVE her work and am eagerly searching for more like her. Book 8 ends on such a cliffhanger - well, multiple cliffhangers, really - that I'm tempted to suggest someone new to the series stop at book 6, which is a satisfying ending. But I suspect, if you love these characters as much as I do, you won't be able to. Please, Julia, we are waiting to find out what happens next for Clare & Russ and Kevin & Hadley!!

The Christopher Killer, Alane Ferguson

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I don't ordinarily read much YA these days, but I took a chance on Alane Ferguson's forensic mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Likeable characters, solid attention to real detail, and a clever alibi. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!

The Anatomy of Motive, John Douglas

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Originally published in 1999, therefore becoming somewhat dated, although the history is always fascinating and Douglas' observations as an FBI profiler no doubt remain essentially on the mark, human nature being what it is. I took a class once on "The Philosophy of Evil," and I think we should have read this. Douglas emphasizes again and again the cowardice and inadequacy of these men--that's not being sexist, there really are way more men--who do hideous things in order to feel in power, in control, important. There's a kind of toxic combination of higher-than-average IQ (often) with low socio-economic status: situations in which white men--and that's not being racist, because in Douglas' experience most of them are white--feel the world owes them.

I think one of the most disturbing things about this--well, there is a lot that's disturbing in true crime--is Douglas' grim view of recidivism. Essentially, the criminal (he considers sexual predators, spree-killers, arsonists, and bombers in depth) is driven by psychological factors that only escalate violence, the way an addict might need to keep increasing the amount of drug. The best solution here looks like capturing people as early as possible and removing them from society. Douglas, at least of this writing, makes a case for capital punishment as a method of stopping someone who will never be able to stop himself. A fascinating read, if you have the stomach for it.

Still Life, Louise Penny

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1st book in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series. I picked this up from a "You May Also Like" list on Amazon for Julia Spencer-Fleming: the setting is small town, rural, this time across the border in Canada, but otherwise I'm still puzzled. Spencer-Fleming reads to me like police procedural, whereas Louise Penny I thought is pretty clearly in the "cozy" category. This is not a book you want to read while on a diet: the main characters and investigators eat a lot of freshly baked chocolate croissants.

The energy is also completely different. Gamache is a "slow and steady" investigator, sitting on a park bench, eating his croissant and patiently watching the locals, like a cat sizing up mice. It was unclear which direction the investigation was going; there was an accidental quality to the discoveries, although I suspect that's often true in real life, but I prefer Archer Mayor or Spencer-Fleming's mysteries, where there are distinct pushes as the investigators pursue specific theories or leads.

Penny writes poetically and there are two big surprises I enjoyed but won't give away; my favorite element in the book was the use of painting.