Suspense Magazine November 2012

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The Twelve Clues of Christmas By Rhys Bowen This book is a delightful mystery that’s masterfully plotted! With the locations, wardrobes, and the ‘pride & prejudice’ of the societal elite, readers will be automatically reminded of Agatha Christie’s perfect novels. Lady Georgiana Rannoch is staying with her brother and his wife at the ‘Family Home,’ which is a very cold and damp pile of stones located in Scotland called, Castle Rannoch. The date is December 14, 1933, and Georgie is basically thinking she would love to be anywhere but there. Her mother is living in London and she wants to spend Christmas with her, but Mom is going away for the holidays to a place called Tiddleton-Under-Lovey with Noel Coward (yes, THAT Noel Coward). So not only is Georgie’s hope dashed but she is soon buried in snow at the ‘castle.’ A Christmas miracle occurs when Georgie has a chance to land a hostess position at a very lush holiday party in the village of Tiddleton right where Mom is having fun. She’s truly excited and finally in the holiday mood, but no sooner does Georgie get the job than a neighborhood troublemaker named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead as a doornail. On her second day in Tiddleton, yet another accident happens, and so on. A local prison break might have something to do with these deaths, but no one really knows. Added to all this is the fact Georgie’s true love, Darcy O’Mara, has just turned up in Tiddleton when she thought he was in South America. Now Georgie may be 35 th in line for the throne of England, but she’s way happier planning her Christmas, catching up with her love, and sticking her nose into all the ‘so-called’ accidents that seem to be never-ending. This mystery (as well as the rest in the Royal Spyness series) is so much fun to read, and Georgie is one of those witty characters that will leave a lasting imprint. One of the best parts Delicious Christmas recipes and games are also gifted to the reader in this book, so happy “early” Holidays! Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of “Tallent & Lowery - 13” for Suspense Magazine Wall-To-Wall Dead By Jennie Bentley The real estate market is an “iffy” business these days. Less than a decade ago, investing in a property—for a very cheap price—then fixing it up and re-selling it was a sure way to make money. But in today’s volatile buyer’s market, flipping properties can be dangerous. In fact, it can be deadly, as Avery Baker and her partner, Derek, discover in “Wall-To-Wall Dead,” the newest title in the Do-It- Yourself mystery series by Jennie Bentley. When Avery and Derek purchase a rundown condo unit in the picturesque town of Waterfield, Maine, their intention is to add some cosmetic touches, spruce up the unit, and re-sell at a profit. But they didn’t bargain for the condo complex’s resident busybody, Hilda Shaw, who gets her jollies by finding out her neighbors’ darkest secrets. Then one morning, Hilda isn’t at her regular post—her front window. And no one at the complex seems to care. Except of course, Avery—a curious person herself—who unfortunately finds Hilda dead in her unit. The police rule it a tragic accident; it seems that Hilda had severe allergies, which are blamed for her untimely death. But Avery suspects that one of the secrets Hilda uncovered about her neighbors led to her death, and decides to investigate and find out the truth. “Wall-To-Wall Dead” even has a special bonus at the end—home design and renovation tips to maximize a small space; how to build a space-saver wine rack (from mailing tubes!); and how to etch your own mirror. It’s page-to-page fun! Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Marriage Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine Playing Dead By Julie Heaberlin Tommie McCloud lives in the small town of Ponder, Texas, and has enjoyed a good, solid life overall. She, her sister Sadie, and her brother Tuck, were raised in a nice household where Mom was an accomplished pianist and Dad was a former Federal Marshall and rancher. Everything was simply great…until Tommie’s Dad passed away. Not only was the death a tragedy, but things got worse when Tommie received a letter from Chicago that stated she was not the daughter of the ‘happy’ McClouds, but was actually the daughter of a crime boss named Anthony Marchetti, and that she had been kidnapped when she was just an infant. Unfortunately for Tommie, she can’t ask the man who raised her for the truth, nor can she ask her mother. It seems only Sadie has a few glimpses of what could be the truth. A reporter, Jack Smith, soon shows up in Ponder to write a story about Tommie, because she’s an inspirational figure who works with traumatized children using horseback riding skills. Although sweet and professional on the outside, Tommie becomes overly suspicious of Jack when she spies an ankle holster on his body. With some assistance from Hudson, a former boyfriend, Tommie discovers a story of an unsolved murder and the killing of an FBI agent—which has something to do with the appearance of Jack Smith. From finding Anthony Marchetti locked up in a jail in Texas to discovering two bank vaults maintained by her mother that hold some truly disturbing objects, Tommie soon becomes completely confused as the life she’s always known unravels completely. This interesting read offers a slew of plots and characters, so readers should ‘keep on their toes’ so they don’t miss a single second of the action. Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of “Tallent & Lowery - 13” for Suspense Magazine Ragnarok By Jeremy Robinson with Kane Gilmour How do I begin to classify “Ragnarok” Sci-fi, mystery, suspense, thriller How about I classify it under… incredible and leave it at that. Here’s the thing, no matter your genre of choice, you will love “Ragnarok.” You receive all the above and more. In “Ragnarok,” the Chess Team is up against the impossible. How do you stop a force that is not of this world Their enemy is an energy field that opens portals to other dimensions. Portals that appear with no rhyme or reason and kill anything in their path. What’s worse is that they seem to house creatures that are part wolf, part ancient Norse mythology. Large white, almost transparent wolves—dire wolves—that move at amazing speed with unheard of dexterity and strength. The team is weakened by the fact that they are split up. King and Deep Blue are in New York, Knight and Bishop are in China, Queen is in Norway, and no one has heard from Rook since their last mission. Each finds a way to fight insurmountable odds until they are finally reunited in Norway where they must battle both myth and science and defeat what some would say doesn’t exist. Mixed in to the plotline is the sub-plot of Aysa. She was saved by Rook while he was in transit from Russia and now she has repaid him by saving his life. The team is grateful for her help in fighting the dire wolves, but there’s something about her that has them on edge. They could swear they knew her, yet they know they have never met. You’ll have to read “Ragnarok” to unravel the mystery. It’s worth unraveling. Jeremy Robinson and Kane Gilmour have teamed up to write an amazing chapter in the life of the Chess Team. They have combined science with mythology and suspense in a way that needed two highly gifted authors. Together they have climbed to the summit of the publishing world. Five stars for “Ragnarok.” Reviewed by JM LeDuc, author of “Cursed Days” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine 42 Suspense Magazine November 2012 / Vol. 040
Paranormal Activity 4 2012 Savages 2012 Movies Genre – Horror (R) They’re back! And the question everyone asks: “Is it scary” The amount of big people (grown-ups to be specific) who commented they would never see a ‘Paranormal Activity’ film because it looked too frightening was staggering. Even my family refused to see it and so did my reliable girlfriend. But who goes to freaky films on their own What if it WAS terrifying I was desperate. So I did what any fearless reviewer does, I borrowed a friend’s six-feet, intrepid husband. This is the fourth installment in the popular horror franchise filmed using ‘found footage’ which means hand-held cameras, iPhones or computer console cameras which give it a very real and intimate feeling. In this one, which is a direct sequel from Paranormal Activity 2, Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her boyfriend Ben (Matt Shively) are the filmers. Alex discovers Robbie (Brady Allen), the peculiar neighbor’s child, in their cubbyhouse at night and takes him home to his Mom (Katie Featherston). That night, Robbie’s mother is taken to hospital and Robbie is taken in by Alex’s mom Holly (Alexondra Lee) for a few days. Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp), her little brother, and Robbie become friends and that’s when the creepy things start happening; doors opening on their own, blurred images zooming across video playback, knives shooting up in the air. Ben sets up video monitoring throughout the house via the computers in the bedrooms, kitchen and even the X-Box in the lounge in order to capture footage of whatever it is. Of course, the disturbing events escalate but nobody will believe Alex that something supernatural is in their house. You know where this is going don’t you Paranormal Activity 4 was a bit of a surprise and I do think it’s the best of the series. The scares come from the jump-outand-startle-you kind of shocks but it is still eerie and fun. My fearless, borrowed male friend’s wife tells me he was sufficiently freaked out to have a restless night muttering, “Be gone demon child.” This is definitely not one for the kiddies. It will cost you a fortune in electricity as they demand to only sleep with the lights on. And yes, they have announced a number five releasing in October 2013. I’d better start looking for new friends. Reviewed by Susan May http://anadventureinfilm.blogspot.com.au/ for Suspense Magazine Genre – Crime/Thriller (R) Don Winslow’s audacious 2010 novel, “Savages” must be a page turner, if the film is anything to go by. Whilst Three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, W.), famous for his idiosyncratic characters and ability to ‘savage’ performances from his actors, doesn’t always get it right in his latest offering, he does get it there enough to make an entertaining film. Be warned, Savages is a reasonably apt description for where these characters fall on the scale of likable, including the unsympathetic leads. Although Benicia Del Toro’s Lado—who is the nastiest and least redeemable character—is a highlight. John Travolta also is magic onscreen reminding us he has the acting chops to carry a heavy-weight, bad-ass persona. Narrated by ‘O’ (short for Ophelia) (Blake Lively) who is one lucky girl, she has two gorgeous men in love with her Ben (Aaron Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch). They lead an idyllic life living in luxury on Laguna Beach funded by Ben and Chon’s hugely successful dope business. When the Mexican Baja Cartel, run by Elena (Salma Hayek), decide they want in on this successful independent business, they force the reluctant boys to join them by kidnapping their love, O. These are brutal people, who inflict their will by such charming disciplinarian measures as decapitation by chainsaw, whipping, and burning, or sending the gardening crew around, headed by Elena’s enforcer Lado, to have a little talk. These talks usually end in torture and death. Ben and Chon must find a way to recover O without alerting Elena that they are not in compliance with her idea of their new partnership. Chon who is an ex-Afghanistan Navy Seal, commands a mini-army of ex-veterans, who somehow have managed to get hold of mines, and all manner of weaponry to wage a cat-and-mouse war with Elena. They make good use quite brutally of the dirty DEA agent (John Travolta), who provides some real comic relief. All of the characters, including the supposedly good guys, Ben, Chon, and O begin as morally bankrupt, but as the story progresses, Stone asks us to find an understanding of the degrees of morality. You will enjoy this out-of-control ride if you are prepared to accept those degrees. Reviewed by Susan May http://anadventureinfilm.blogspot.com.au/ for Suspense Magazine SuspenseMagazine.com 43
Page 1 and 2: Suspense, Mystery, Horror and Thril
Page 3 and 4: C r e d i t s John Raab President &
Page 5 and 6: Mom, Whom Were we Running Away From
Page 7 and 8: Preview of The 7 th Woman by Fréd
Page 9 and 10: “We’ve got a customer,” he an
Page 11 and 12: Dark Minds, Empty Souls Sometimes a
Page 13 and 14: eating on me.” Seconds later, the
Page 15: transformation, Paul” Sarah made
Page 18 and 19: know if one can say it was prompted
Page 20 and 21: in life and to have them taken from
Page 22 and 23: By Donald Allen Kirch Coral Castle:
Page 24: Rumors went around of a hidden trea
Page 27 and 28: shirt guy. From where I stood behin
Page 29 and 30: her beige suit fit just right. Immy
Page 31 and 32: By CK Webb Hex: a magic spell, usua
Page 33 and 34: DJ McIntosh Sumerians, Assyrians an
Page 35 and 36: S. MAG.: On your website, you have
Page 37 and 38: Suspense Magazine Book Reviews A Bo
Page 39 and 40: Pandora's Temple By Jon Land Jon La
Page 41 and 42: The Cutting Season By Attica Locke
Page 43: Mixed Signals By Jane Tesh David Ra
Page 48 and 49: Dark Corner Fabrizio Panattoni is a
Page 50 and 51: Feeling Good Inquietudine Phoenix,
Page 52 and 53: I want to mention another great art
Page 54 and 55: Darkness.” “The 13th Hour,” a
Page 56 and 57: Murder hits home in a small Scottis
Page 58 and 59: Extricate Exposition. This is anoth
Page 60 and 61: More Ideas Than Time Lori Armstrong
Page 62 and 63: 60 Suspense Magazine November 20
Page 64 and 65: medium height, with closely cropped
Page 66 and 67: to be kidding me! Jason is nine-yea
Page 68 and 69: John Connolly Hooks the Reader at t
Page 70 and 71: watch it now who think it’s about
Page 73 and 74: The Forgotten Story Murder Focus on
Page 75 and 76: After Howard’s funeral, his paren
Page 77 and 78: throwing her in a car. She claimed
Page 79 and 80: “Andrew, I think you’ve got the
Page 81 and 82: “Um...37 Waterford Drive, Flat 4B

Suspense Magazine November 2012

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