Kate’s 2¢: “Murder by masquerade: a John Lloyd Branson mystery” by Doris R. Meredith

“Murder by masquerade: a John Lloyd Branson mystery” by Doris R. Meredith

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I must admit that I was a little put out by such gruesome murders being treated so cavalierly in the beginning of the story. I soon became engrossed in the preposterous personalities of the characters.

   Paul Klemperer did a good job of reading and portraying each character.

   The story re-incarnated Jack the Ripper or, more clearly, the psycho who thought he was Jack and replicated his murders. The author very cleverly laid several red herrings to cover who he was until the very end.  It’s hard to know if one should laugh or cry at this farce, but, it was entertaining.

Welcome to the official website for D.R. Meredith, award-winning author of nineteen novels, both mysteries and historical, and numerous short stories. A fan of mysteries since a childhood obsession with Agatha Christie and Rex Stout, D. R. Meredith has written three mystery series set in the Texas Panhandle, a little-known area of the state even to other Texans.

D. R. Meredith is an award-winning author of nineteen novels, both mysteries and historical, and numerous short stories. She is also a split personality. When participating in writers’ conferences and seminars such as The Governor’s Sesquicentennial Conference on Literary Arts at the University of North Texas, Emporia State University, Rice University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, West Texas State A&M University, or sitting on panels at Western Writers of America, Bouchercon, Malice Domestic, and Romance Writers of America, D. R. Meredith is a normal, sensible, professional writer. At home in Amarillo, Texas, she commits murder. Author of three mystery series, a historical series, and numerous, mostly murderous short stories, she lives in both the past and present Texas Panhandle where then as now there are more cattle than people. She has won the Oppie Award for both The Sheriff and the Panhandle Murders and The Sheriff and the Branding Iron Murders, and was an Anthony Nominee for Murder by Impulse and Murder by Deception. She is a member of Western Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and The American Crime Writers League.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Murder by masquerade: a John Lloyd Branson mystery DBC18009

Meredith, D. R, (Doris R.). Reading time: 8 hours, 45 minutes.

Read by Paul Klemperer. A production of Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Mystery and Detective Stories

Legal Issues

A murderer’s run amok in Amarillo. The cops have dubbed him the “The Boulevard Butcher.” His calling cards are a written invitation and a taste for mutilation. His prey are the prostitutes plying their trade on the night streets of the Texas panhandle’s sleaziest district. With his usual brilliant aplomb–and the eager assistance of lovely law student Lydia Fairchild–Texas lawyer extraordinaire John Lloyd Branson plans to set a trap for the murderer using Lydia as bait. Some strong language, some violence. 1991.

Downloaded: August 30, 2020

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Kate’s 2¢: “Wives At War” by Jessica Stirling

“Wives At War” by Jessica Stirling

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Terry Donnelly read the version of “Wives of War” that I listened to. Her Scotish accent was so thick at times, that it was hard for me to follow. It was amazing to hear her switch to Christy’s American accent.

   The author used fore-shadowing and back-flashes to develop the characters, weaving a rich tapestry that, while not always easy to follow, enriched the narrative arc of this historic novel.

   Placed in the backdrop of 1940 WWIIbombs, air raids, and war in Scotland, the three sisters are wives with very different husbands, dealing with wars on multiple levels of relationships within each woman, within their sisterhood, and within the war-torn homeland.

   Bernard comes across as the sage,  realist, conservative, flexible, and the insightful main-stay of the family when he observes “…to understand what Polly and her sisters were about; to look passed them to the generation of children they would raise and the values those children would inherit…”

From the Web:

Jessica Stirling A pseudonym used by Margaret M Coghlan. Hugh Crauford Rae was born on November 22, 1935, in Glasgow, Stirling is the author of many heartwarming novels, most of which have Scottish backgrounds. She has enjoyed a highly successful career since THE SPOILED EARTH was published in 1974.

   Note: Hugh C Rae (Hugh Crauford Rae) Scotland (b. 1935) aka James Albany, Robert Crawford, R B Houston, Stuart Stern, Jessica Stirling

Obituary: Hugh C Rae, author – The Scotsman

Oct 13, 2014 · Born: 22 November, 1935, in Glasgow. Died: 24 September, 2014, in Glasgow, aged 78 When Jessica Stirling finally decided to unmask herself as the alter ego of author Hugh Rae…

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Wives at war DB97397

Stirling, Jessica. Reading time: 17 hours, 47 minutes.

Read by Terry Donnelly.

Historical Fiction

War affects the Conway sisters in different ways. While working at the Ministry of Labour, Babs meets an American photographer who may be more than he purports. Rosie’s marriage is on the rocks. Polly becomes entangled in intrigues. Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex. 2003.

Kate’s 2¢: “Ginger Gold. Books 5-7.5” by Lee Strauss

“Ginger Gold. Books 5-7.5” by Lee Strauss 

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I tend to blister when people feel entitled to take  their non-service dog where it is illegal to do so. While my guide dog is well trained, she is a dog, after all, and would love to play with the little yapper in your arms. By distracting my service dog, it is my safety you are jeopardizing.

   Once I got over the irritation of this apparently haughty broad feeling entitled to taking her sorry excuse of a lap-dog  everywhere, I relaxed and began to enjoy the stories.

   Ginger’s Boston Terrier, Bos, was instrumental in discovering the body, giving Scout a purpose, and generally comforting his mistress, he did seem well-behaved and adorable.

   It was fun to imagine all the frocks Ginger and the others wore. Quite a clothing allowance, even if she did own the boutique. I liked the way each story added on another episode, even though, it was a complete story in its own right. And, of course,  the over-all narrative arc found the gold at the end of the rainbow.

   Except for a lot of sales pitches for her books, I didn’t find out much about the author.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Ginger Gold. Books 5-7.5 

Strauss, Lee, (Novelist); Strauss, Lee. Reading time: 17 hours, 58 minutes.

Read by Eva Wilhelm.

Historical Fiction

Mystery and Detective Stories

Four entries in the series featuring sleuthing fashionista war widow Ginger Gold. Includes Murder at the Mortuary, Murder at Kensington Gardens, Murder at St. George’s Church, and the novella The Wedding of Ginger & Basil, in which her wedding to Chief Inspector Basil Reed involves a few snags. 2018.

Downloaded: August 22, 2020

Kate’s 2¢: “Chestnut Mare, Beware” by Jody Jaffe

“Chestnut Mare, Beware” by Jody Jaffe

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   As with the best novels, “Chestnut Mare, Beware! Weaves two main threads in and out, not to mention up and down, to make a page turning horse quandary/murder mystery/love story.

From the WEB:

Jody Jaffe. aka John Jaffe. aka John Jaffe (with John Muncie) Jody Jaffe has long experience in the worlds both of journalism and horse shows. For the past twenty-four years she has been riding and showing hunters, and she spent ten years as a feature writer for The Charlotte Observer. Her first novel was Horse of a Different Killer.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Chestnut mare, beware DBC16815

Jaffe, Jody. Reading time: 9 hours, 40 minutes.

Read by Eileen Gruhn. A production of Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.

Adventure

Mystery and Detective Stories

Animals and Wildlife

Equestrienne journalist Nattie Gold is back–and with the threat of murder afoot, it may just be her final ride. It’s Christmas, but at the Charlotte Commercial Appeal two disturbing events nip Nattie’s holiday in the bud. One is a chilling anonymous letter that threatens big-wig Carolinians–many of them known to Nattie from the show horse circuit–with horrible death. Then she’s approached by a woman with a strange tale about her beautiful dead daughter. The official version of how former beauty queen Josane Ashmore died is that she was trampled by her unruly chestnut mare. Her mother declares that it was murder. Can Nattie go to Virginia and prove it?

Downloaded: May 1, 2020