January 2015
THE PRICE OF BLOOD. Patricia Bracewell. Viking.
Cover courtesy of Viking.
Releasing on February 5, The Price of Blood continues the story of Emma of Normandy (first launched in Bracewell’s bold debut, Shadow On the Crown). The story is set in 11th-century England in a land beset with war. In turn, Bracewell’s genius is found in the way she thrusts her readers to the center of the battle, compelling you to care about the characters on the other side of the page.
THE BODY SNATCHERS AFFAIR. Marcia Muller. Bill Pronzini. Forge.
Cover courtesy of Forge.
Muller and Pronzini do a brilliant job at spinning this mystery into an easy-to-read narrative. Nonetheless, readers should not be deceived by the way the pages seem to turn themselves; in reality, you’re wading into a story with deep layers. The third installment of the Carpenter-Quincannon detective series is set in 19th century San Francisco, on the edge of Chinatown, as we trail the sleuths who hunt for two missing corpses. The adept bled of humor and drama is notable, resulting in a truly memorable book.
Electric Review 