Tanzey Talk

If you want to contact me directly through this column's site, please be sure to click on my personal link - Contact Tanzey - and not the store's link. Unfortunately, they thought I was getting copies of everything they were getting, so they didn't forward messages meant for me. That means I missed a lot of your messages. For those of you who don't know, I do not work from the store. In fact, I live in Kansas and the store is located in Illinois. So for all of you who wondered why I didn't answer your e-mails, that's the explanation. But, thanks for your interest!

I’ve been doing lots of summer reading, so this month I have more good books to recommend. Answer Man was Roy Johansen’s debut mystery novel (before Beyond Belief and Deadly Visions). It tells the story of a polygraph examiner who’s offered big bucks to teach a criminal suspect how to beat the test. The plot and characters are quite good. And the 14th installment in John Sandford’s Prey series featuring Lucas Davenport - Naked Prey - is one of his best. I’ve been hooked on this series since its beginning when a knowledgeable bookseller suggested I try it. That’s also how I found Patricia Cornwell’s first book. You can always trust a well-read bookseller to steer you in the right direction, can’t you?

It seems like everyone who missed Angels & Demons by Dan Brown the first time it came out in hardcover and paperback is now reading it, especially if they’ve read his bestselling The Da Vinci Code. I found Angels & Demons, set in Rome and the Vatican, to be just as fascinating, provocative, intricately detailed and thought-provoking as The Da Vinci Code. I could not put it down once I started it! And this author has a colorfully detailed and informational web site - www.danbrown.com - related to his research into all of the books he’s written, including photos and facts that are spellbinding. What more can I say, but WOW! Now I see that he’s currently writing another Robert Langdon thriller. In this sequel to The Da Vinci Code , Robert finds himself deeply entrenched in a mystery in the U.S. involving the hidden history of our nation’s capital.

A Body to Die For is the second installment in Kate White’s Bailey Weggins mystery series, following last year’s If Looks Could Kill. Bailey is a New York freelance true-crime writer, who also writes for Gloss magazine. Her first person narrative is quite witty and insightful. And she always seems to be around when bodies turn up dead. This book, centered around a secluded health spa, was a quick read and even more fun than the first one. Can’t wait for the next in this series.

Mystery author Anne Frasier (who previously wrote as Theresa Weir) has written two riveting psychological thrillers - Hush and Sleep Tight - that kept me totally engrossed. Anne has always had quite a talent for developing taut and suspenseful storylines. They sent chills up my spine and had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. These two books are stand-alone novels and not connected, as most of the others have been that I’ve been telling you about.

I guess it obvious I’ve done a lot of mystery reading this summer. I seem to get in the mood for certain things and then can’t get enough of them. Other times, I like to have an assortment of reading material (like my taste in chocolate) and will skip around the genres. Right now, I have some paranormal books sitting here begging to be read, so they will be my next priority, as well as assorted ARCs for review.

Then, of course, there’s Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. Need I say more? Who isn’t reading this book or listening to it on tape? Even at a staggering 896 pages, it seems kids (of all ages!) are enjoying this 5th installment. I know I did, even if it was an easier book to put down, at times, than the first four were.

Enough about my reading recommendations. I didn’t realize I had so many, until I looked at this column, as I just kept adding to it as I would finish each book. What can I say, it’s been a great summer for reading! Now, bring on Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum!

Rebecca Hagan Lee says that the insightful comments of reviewers keep her going, for they make her strive to write a better story. Her newest book is reviewed on page 4, and she says, “I am framing Suzanne’s review of Barely a Bride and placing it where I can see it as I write. It will serve as inspiration for, and as a reminder of, what I hope to achieve on those tough writing days.” Rebecca has just completed Colin’s story, Merely a Groom, which is scheduled for publication in April 2004, and has begun work on Jarrod’s story, Hardly a Husband. After that will be the as yet untitled story of Daniel, the Duke of Sussex, and Miranda, Marchioness of St. Germaine.

Bertrice Small is currently working on a book due for release next February titled The Dragon Lord’s Daughters. She says it’s a trio of tales about three sisters named Averil, Maia and Junia. Set in 13th century Wales, the Dragon Lord is descended from King Arthur. Also, the second book in her Friarsgate Inheritance series, Until You, is set to go on sale in October.

Julia Quinn is hard at work on another Bridgerton story. This one is about Francesca, who will find love with her second husband. Due to hit stores next summer, it doesn’t have a title yet. In the meantime, Julia has a novella in next month’s anthology, Where’s My Hero, which involves popular secondary characters from previous books by Julia, Lisa Kleypas and Kinley MacGregor. Then next spring look for another Lady Whistledown anthology featuring the same authors as the first collection.

Not only is Jennifer Ashley’s second historical romance, The Pirate Next Door, coming out in October from Leisure, but she’s also penning a Regency mystery series for Berkley featuring a cavalry captain home from the Peninsular War. The first mystery, The Hanover Square Affair, is set for December, followed by A Regimental Murder next May.

Next month, Dorchester will launch its new special imprint - Smooch - geared toward teen girls. One book will be released a month consisting of contemporary and paranormal stories that are hip, happening and fun.

Stay tuned . . .
Tanzey

And again be sure to scroll down for some of our readers’ comments.

Tanzey Cutter
Editor of the Old Book Barn Gazette

originally published by Cheryl's Old Book Barn, PO Box 500, Forsyth, Illinois 62535