Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson

Whenever I see a new Diane Mott Davidson Goldy Schultz mystery I grab it, and I find it difficult to get anything else done until I've finished it! They always leave me wanting the next one right away.

This is one of those rare series where the characters are so compelling that it is as if they become part of your family. You care what happens to them and how they get out of the next mess. You watch as their kids grow up. Every nine months or year when the next installment comes out it's just like you've come for your next year's visit to a favorite cousin or best friend. When you finish, it's like wrapping up the visit until the next year.

"Fatally Flaky" does not disappoint. Goldy gets involved in catering a couple of weddings and it sets the scene for relationships that become important later in solving the mystery. The second wedding is for a ridiculously self-involved bride and her overly indulgent mother who is going out with Goldy's godfather, Jack, who recently moved to Aspen Meadows from New Jersey. Jack has his flaws, but he also has a heart of gold.

When Jack's friend, Doc Finn, is murdered it sets Jack and Goldy investigating. As usual in a Davidson novel, there are so many suspects each with a plausible motive, that it took me until shortly before Goldy breaks the case to figure it out myself.

This is classic Davidson and her fans will love this book.

Liz Nichols

City of Silver by Annamaria Alfieri

This is Annamaria Alfieri's first novel. She is a student of Latin American history, and her careful research shows in every detail in this book.

The story is about the events that lead up to and include the visit of the Grand Inquisitor to the City of Potosi in Chile. Potosi is the center of the silver lode in 17th century South America and the home to both sin and corruption and some saintly good works.

The saint is represented by Mother Maria Santa Hilda, the Abbess of the powerful Convent of Santa Isabella de los Santos Milagros. One of the convent's novices is found dead and the Abbess chooses to bury her in sacred ground, even though she cannot prove right away that the girl did not commit the mortal sin of suicide. When she is taken by the Inquisition for the crime of heresy her Sister Herbalist and the Father Confessor of the convent are left to resolve the issue of what killed the girl.

There is also considerable interplay between two rival families, both of whom lost their daughters to the convent when the girls disobeyed their fathers. There is considerable social commentary about the fate of women during the 17th century in Spain and her colonies, the miserable working conditions for the conscripted Indian miners, the rivalry between Spanish and Portuguese inhabitants of Potosi, secret debasing of silver coins and the King's punishment for this crime, colorful holidays and festivals, herbal remedies and poisons known by the Incas, costumes and weapons of the day, details on the Inquisition, and many other historical and cultural details. For those who enjoy this period of history and wish to know more about Latin American history while enjoying the excitement of a mystery novel-- this is the ticket.

I will say that I was a little confused and bored at first. I persisted and after the first 10 or 15 pages I got into the time period and locale and began to let the puzzle of how the novice died carry me into the details of the book. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, or matte, but those who like historical mysteries and Latin American history will probably appreciate the painstaking detail in this book.

Good first novel.

Liz Nichols

31 Hours by Masha Hamilton

In the hours following 9/11 it's especially appropriate that my review is for Hamilton's "31 Hours," a dark exploration into the thought process of a domestic terrorist. Masha Hamilton is the perfect novelist to tell this tale. She is not only an accomplished fiction writer, but also a journalist with experience in such hot spots as Afghanistan, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. She understands how
Americans are seen in developing countries and she has obviously very carefully thought through how such a disaster as is told in "31 Hours" could happen-- very easily.

The plot is entirely plausible: a jihadist alien resident from Saudi Arabia has recruited a seemingly normal white, middle class student from New York City to be among the suicide bombers to detonate explosions in the major subway and rail stations in New York City on a given day and time.

We follow the last 31 hours of this young terrorist's life (or we assume it is) We watch as the terrorist, Jonas, shaves himself from head to toe. We don't necessarily get an explanation of why each of the rituals performed is important to the pre-suicide bomber protocol. We just know that the many activities and prayers that Jonas offers in that last 31 hours are on the list that Masoud, his Saudi friend, has given him following his return from terrorist training in Pakistan.

Jonas' reasons for this impending action are given, but most Americans will find it very hard to identify with his concerns. Essentially, Jonas believes that it takes extreme violence to end American intrusion into the affairs of other countries. He believes that other countries will back away from supporting U.S. imperialism if the price exacted by terrorists is truly fearsome. Somehow Jonas doesn't see that violence actually begets more violence most of the time. Perhaps the mindset is similar to that of the U.S. government when they dropped the atomic bomb. In that case, extreme violence did beget peace, but only because Japan was too weak by that time to continue.

This is an extremely well written, chilling psychological thriller that delves into the dark recesses of the mind of a terrorist. It is highly recommended.

Liz Nichols

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is at her prime in this zany installment about the attractive bail bond enforcer and her memorable entourage of family, friends, co-workers, and boyfriends. There are more blow ups and burned out cars and apartments in this book than in any previous one that I can recall, for those who like this type of pyrotechnics.

Stephanie has her usual collection of bond violations to enforce-- a flasher, an octogenarian with a beef against his dentist, a pyro-maniac, and a career criminal who will kill if given the chance. Mixed in are a couple of major plots-- Lulu is in danger of being whacked literally by a mob enforcer who cuts off his victims' heads. Lulu witnessed a gruesome beheading and is now in grave peril of the same fate. The other major plot line has to do with Ranger, Stephanie's sometime boss and love interest, who needs her help to solve who is breaking in to the buildings his security company has set up on alarm systems. The burglaries seem to be happening right under the noses of Rangeman employees.

As usual, Stephanie has a hard time deciding whether she likes Ranger or police detective, Joe Morelli better. In this round Ranger seems to be winning.

As always, a fast and entertaining read.

Liz Nichols