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Neanderthal, the fields of archeology and anthropology<br />
were turned on their heads.<br />
Gideon has a new book coming out, and to his<br />
great dismay, his publisher is making rash claims of<br />
revealing a stunning fraud. There is nothing like that in the<br />
book, but given the interest it’s garnering, sales could sky<br />
rocket. Gideon would rather keep his reputation intact<br />
than be a best seller based on erroneous press releases.<br />
That someone is taking the claims seriously is<br />
proven when there are a couple of attempts on Gideon’s<br />
life. They could be accidents, but are found to be of a more<br />
sinister nature.<br />
Gideon and wife Julie must be on their toes to<br />
prevent a more serious attempt. Luckily, they are up to<br />
any challenge. When the case solved, it is bittersweet for<br />
Gideon and his colleagues.<br />
As always, it’s a pleasure to be reunited with the<br />
Olivers. Elkins takes us to places we may never get a<br />
chance to see first hand, and always<br />
makes the trip enjoyable.<br />
COFFIN SCARCELY<br />
USED by Colin Watson. (Rue Morgue<br />
Press, $14.95). Reprint, Trade Paperback,<br />
first in the Flaxborough<br />
Chronicles. Rating: B+ In the East<br />
Anglican village of Flaxborough,<br />
things aren’t always what they seem.<br />
When prominent citizen Harold<br />
Carobleat dies, his funeral is surprisingly<br />
low key. Carobleat left his widow<br />
well provided for, though his business<br />
closed. Few people other than his<br />
friends attended the private intern-<br />
ment. One of the friends, Marcus<br />
Gwill, is the publisher of the local<br />
newspaper. When Gwill is found electrocuted,<br />
his mouth full of marshmallows, the police are<br />
summoned.<br />
Inspector Purbright and his assistant, Sergeant<br />
Love get the assignment, and delve into the deaths.<br />
Finding the answer to strange coded advertisements in the<br />
newspaper help solve the mystery. Other mysteries present<br />
themselves, such as why the local doctor’s office has so<br />
many after-hours patients. This is a village, not a large city.<br />
Finding the answer to these questions, as well as where the<br />
Widow Carobleat goes for weekend trips makes for an<br />
enjoyable introduction to life in the town of Flaxborough.<br />
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book in this<br />
series, and I really enjoyed a return trip to Flaxborough. I<br />
can’t wait for more entries in the series. Rue Morgue Press<br />
has a keen sense of what mysteries need to be reprinted<br />
to delight mystery readers. Chances are they will find an<br />
author new to even the most well-read mystery fan.<br />
FISHERMAN’S BEND by Linda Greenlaw<br />
(Hyperion, $24.95). Second in the Jane Bunker series.<br />
Rating: B Jane Bunker left her job as a Miami homicide<br />
detective, and has moved the Green Haven Maine. She<br />
Reviews<br />
<strong>Deadly</strong> <strong>Pleasures</strong><br />
45<br />
works a duel job, as a marine insurance investigator, and<br />
as an Assistant Deputy of Knox County. Having spent her<br />
youth helping out on boats and her adult life as a cop, all<br />
her skills will prove useful. She had lived in Maine as a child<br />
before her mother moved the family to Florida, so it’s<br />
almost like a return to her roots.<br />
When a research vessel is vandalized, Jane is<br />
called in to investigate for the insurance company as well<br />
as the police. The Quest has been hired to survey the ocean<br />
floor for a company wanting to start an oyster farm. Local<br />
fishermen and native tribes are not happy about the threat<br />
to their livelihood.<br />
Jane hires Cal, a local sea-faring man, to ferry her<br />
around the area on her investigations. While out at sea,<br />
they find a local boat, circling the water. No one is aboard,<br />
and foul play is suspected. Jane learns that there are two<br />
groups of fishermen in the area. The groups have been<br />
feuding for years. The missing skipper, Parker Alley is<br />
wealthy, due to his being able to capitalize<br />
on opportunities when they<br />
present themselves. Or is there something<br />
more sinister. Jane gets to the<br />
bottom of the crime, while surviving an<br />
attempt to sink her to the bottom of<br />
the ocean.<br />
While fishing is not one of my<br />
favorite activities, the author made at<br />
least reading about the ins and outs of<br />
the industry interesting. The author<br />
was featured in THE PERFECT<br />
STORM by Sebastien Junger. I hadn’t<br />
read the first book in the series, but<br />
was not at sea. Life in a small town was<br />
realistically portrayed, and the char-<br />
Mary Saums<br />
acters fit right in to my expectations of<br />
what Maine fishermen would be. This<br />
is a good example of writing what you know, successfully.<br />
MIGHTY OLD BONES by Mary Saums (St.<br />
Martin’s, $23.95). Second in the Thistle and Twigg series.<br />
Rating: B+ Small town Tullulah, Alabama has a charm<br />
that appeals to Jane Thistle, widow of an army officer, who<br />
has a vary interesting past. She and new friend Phoebe<br />
Twigg find a skeleton after a storm uprooted a tree on<br />
property Jane inherited in the last book.<br />
Jane calls in a friend of hers to help discover more<br />
about the body and surrounding site. Sadly, word gets out<br />
and a band of marauders tries to take advantage of the<br />
isolated setting to steal anything of value. Jane and Phoebe<br />
are up to the challenge of fending off the villains, protecting<br />
the find, and keeping a natural treasure safe for future<br />
generations.<br />
Though there is a bit of a woo-woo factor in the<br />
book, I found it charming rather than distracting. Jane and<br />
Phoebe are a good example of how people of different<br />
backgrounds can forge a lasting friendship.<br />
FEARLESS FOURTEEN by Janet Evanovich<br />
(St. Martin’s, $27.95). Fourteenth in the Stephanie Plum
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