See Also Proof by Larry D. Sweazy

Marjorie is still feeling grief over her husband's death.  She's trying to recover but it's a slow process.  She needs something to distract her.  She gets it.

Seventh Street Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 1st.

I've been reading Mr. Sweazy's work for years now and he's never disappointed me.  He's written good westerns and now he's writing good mysteries.

When a young woman who is mongoloid goes missing from her bedroom, everyone is willing to help hunt for her.  She didn't take her coat or gloves and it's snowing outside.  If she's not found soon, it will be too late.  While there are a lot of searchers, they can't locate her.  What Marjorie and the sheriff find is a car with a dead man in it.  They know him and it hits close to home.  How to share her friend's grief is almost beyond Marjorie's talent but she tries to make the widow feel a bit better even if she can't seem to do it herself.

This is a bit of a twisted tale set in the 1960's when sanitarium's were not as regulated as they are now.  Old secrets come back to roost and the final confrontation is deadly.  You never know what you will do until you're in that situation.  Marjorie chose to fight rather than to flee.  I'm like that, too.  The good news is that the killer didn't get away with it.  The bad news is now Marjorie has something else to deal with.  It's a good thing she's a strong woman.

Cove by Cynan Jones

He's gone to the cove to spread his father's ashes.  There are people there swimming and playing so he decides to do a little fishing and wait for them to go.  The weather picks up and he's suddenly struck by lightning...

Catapult send me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published tomorrow.

This read is very stark and unforgiving.  It's scary because it could so easily happen.  He's in a kayak and when he wakes up, his arms won't work, he doesn't know where he is or who he is or why he's there.  Could anything be more scary?

As he tries to find his memories, he uses his practical knowledge to stay alive.  There's pain and risk and a lack of drinkable water but he's surviving.  For how long, though?

This tale is suspenseful and makes you think.  What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation?  Some people get struck by lightning and survive.  Some don't.  If you're out on the sea without paddle what do you do?

Edgar Allan Poe and the Jewel of Peru by Karen Lee Street

When Edgar is asked to investigate a man's death, he tries to say no.  His wife is sorry for the woman left behind and she asks him to take it on.  He agrees but he already has an old enemy in town and he sends for Dupin to help him.  This is a very interesting case.

Pegasus Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 8th.

It's a bit unnerving when Edgar discovers the man who has tried to kill in the past is in town.  The man's wife indicates that the two men should set aside their differences and says her husband has promised not to kill him but it doesn't make him feel any better.

The basis of this story is ornithology.  The woman looking into her loved one's death is a taxidermist and she specializes in hummingbirds.  Her father collected the birds from all over the world and she made them live again with her work.  The young man was following her father's work and it was on his return trip that he stopped in this city and died by the docks.  Someone wanted what he had found...

It's a complex detailed read written much in the manner of Poe's work.  There are secrets, greed, unnecessary deaths and more.  It was fascinating in it's own way and kept me reading.  It's almost like having a visit with Poe.

Evangeline of the Bayou by Jan Eldredge, Joseph Kuefler

Evangeline's grandmother is a swamp witch.  She's teaching her how to make potions for healing and how to get rid of haunts.  Evangeline thinks she's learned a lot but it's not enough for the trouble that is coming...

Blazer + Bray and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 1st.

This is an exciting story that starts out with a grim following her (a big black dog that carries people away in death) while she attempts to deal with a banshee.  Louisiana has a lot of ghosts left behind that are not at peace yet.  While she's trying to escape, the monster under the bed almost gets her.  It's a good thing she had her knife and some potions or she wouldn't have made it.  She doesn't manage to end them but she does get them out of the house they were haunting so it was almost a success.  Then her grandmother tells her they are going on trip to take on a job that is dangerous.  That was almost an understatement.

With werewolves, a deathly sick woman, and grandma and granddaughter, the action grows fierce and malevolent.  The story was fascinating and I liked it a lot.  I hope we get to read more about Evangeline.  She's tough.  This was an excellent fantasy story for young adults. 

Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child, Jonathan Thunder, Gordon Jourdain

I grew up around the Chehalis Indians in Washington and I'm even related to the Yakima Indians.  My grandfather's brother married an Indian.  That's what made me want to read this story.

Minnesota Historical Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 1st.

What makes it even more unique is that the story is accompanied by a companion retelling in Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain.  I couldn't read it but it's there for those who can or would like to learn.  Jonathan Thunder's illustrations are gorgeous.  With the words and the illustrations you really feel like you're attending the powwow.

One of the fun traditions of this tribe is that they pretend they are dogs in one dance.  Windy Girl takes her dog, Itchy Boy, to the dance and they watch all the activity.  When she falls asleep, she dreams they are all dogs.  I had an active imagination as a child, too.

Here's a piece of history presented in an unusual form and I like it a lot.  Why not share some Indian tales with your child?

Freya and the Magic Jewel by Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Freya and her brother have been invited to attend King Odin's school.  It's an honor but it's one she didn't want.  She likes her school, her world, and how life is going at home.  Her brother tries to get her enthused but it's not going over well.  She knows she has to go, though.  And her jewel tells her that adventure awaits her...

Aladdin Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 1st.

As they make the trip to the castle, they meet other children going there.  Some are nice, some are not.  And when everyone makes a rush to get there first, she gets knocked down and her jewel falls off the bridge and the dwarves grab it and hide.  She'll have to come back for it later.

The story is well paced, the children from the other worlds all are very different and some are quite difficult.  Freya is looking for her nanny who is missing, her jewel the dwarves took and half the time for her brother, who is adapting well to the new environment and is making new friends.  She's in a dorm room with other students and they get along fairly well.  I especially liked how they decided on a name for themselves as a group.

This was a very enjoyable tale with some Norse mythology mixed in.  It's great for middle grade students.

Vernon the Vegetarian Lion by John Hughson

Vernon is a lion cub who is tired of eating meat.  His parents can't understand why, but Vernon takes off to find his own food...

Publishing Push and the author shared a copy of this book with me for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

The little cub is not the sharpest crayon in the box.  He begins by trying to eat the seeds a mouse does, but he can't even pick up the seeds!  Then he tries to sink the water with a hippo and eat the greens at the bottom but he runs out of breath.  Even when the giraffe tries to share his treetop leaves, it doesn't work.

He goes home defeated.  But his parents tell him learning from other animals is important.  Even better, Mom gives him some veggies.  Everyone has his/her own style, Vernon has found his.  Have you found yours yet?