Mystery Scene Magazine

Benjamin Boulden's review of David Housewright's "Man in the Water" is up now at Mystery Scene—just in time for publication day. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7734-review-man-in-the-water-by-david-housewright

So pleased to share this delightful interview between Aunt Agatha's Mysteries' Robin Agnew and Connie Berry, all about fascinating historical research, writing craft, and the latest Kate Hamilton mystery "A Collection of Lies." Up now at MysterySceneMag.com. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7732-connie-berry-s-a-collection-of-lies-q-a

Connie Berry on Research, Writing Craft, and Inspiration for Her Kate Hamilton Mysteries MysteryScene

Get ready to meet the newest police chief on the block: Ethan Brand, the terrific new protagonist of Nolan Chase's (aka Sam Wiebe) series kicking off with "A Lonesome Place for Dying." Our review up now at https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7731-review-a-lonesome-place-for-dying-by-nolan-chase

Calling cozy lovers on the East Coast! Kensington Publishing Corp.'s FREE annual regional gathering of wonderful cozy authors is happening May 18, 2024, in Groveland, Mass, at the Langley Adams Library. Mystery Scene reviewer Jay Roberts as well as writers Leslie Meier, Colleen Cambridge, Edwin Hill, Edith Maxwell, Joanna Schaffhausen, Sally Pitz-Goldenbaum, Ginger Bolton, and others will be there, so stop and say hello. The day is free, but registration is required. https://langleyadamslib.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/mystery-book-con-thanks-to-kensington-publishing-and-langley-adams-library/

Join me and more of your favorite mystery authors as well as local authors at Cozy Con East 2024. It happens on Saturday, May 18th, at Langley-Adams Library in Groveland, Massachusetts.

See the links below for more information and to sign up for the event.

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘆-𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆: 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘇𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰
https://langleyadamslib.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/mystery-book-con-thanks-to-kensington-publishing-and-langley-adams-library/

𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘇𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝘇𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰
https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/kensingtoncozies/events/cozy-con-east-2024-groveland-massachusetts/

Djamila Morani's YA historical mystery "The Djinn's Apple" isn't just for kids. This lush novel translated from Arabic by Sawad Hussain features a female physician of the Abbasid Empire on a quest to defy social norms—and attain revenge for her massacred family. Read our review at https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7728-review-the-djinn-s-apple-by-djamila-morani Neem Tree

Library workers, we thank you today and every day. In honor of National Library Workers Day, we're resharing a "Writers on Reading" from Fiona Davis on librarians as our literary heroes. But we also know it's each and every person who cares for our libraries, from maintaining our spaces to planning the programming that brings communities together, to balancing the books or organizing volunteers, and beyond who are library heroes. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7727-fiona-davis-on-librarians-our-literary-heroes

Thanks to Sara Paretsky, and Robin Agnew at Aunt Agatha's Mysteries for the wonderful chat about "Pay Dirt"—now up at MysterySceneMag.com. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7726-sara-paretsky-pay-dirt

John B. Valeri drops a fun review of Karen E. Olson's contemporary retelling of Henry VIII's killer love life—from the perspective of the wives in "An Inconvenient Wife." https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7725-review-an-inconvenient-wife-by-karen-e-olson

Mary Kubica will be in Delray Beach next week discussing She's Not Sorry. Details and my South Florida Sun Sentinel review

Book review: Kubica spins the ordinary into dangerous twists in ‘She’s Not Sorry’ ‘She’s Not Sorry’ by Mary Kubica. Park Row Books, 336 pages, $30 Mary Kubica excels at creating viable suspense from situations that at first seem normal but soon grow out of control, as she proves…

I am unbelievably excited about this interview with R.L. Stine Katherine Hall Page and Michaela Hamilton. Free registration at https://bit.ly/MWASpecialAwards24

Can you name the 8 Academy Award Best Picture winners based on adaptations of crime books? Read Pat H. Broeske's
"'I'm Gonna Make'em a Movie They Can't Refuse...' 8 Crime Films That Actually Won at the Oscars" and see if you got them all. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7719-overlooked-at-the-oscars-what-a-crime Oscar Awards

Heard of thriller writer A.J. Landau? If not, let us introduce you to debut thriller "Leave No Trace," the first outing of National Parks Service Special Agent Michael Walker on the case of some ne'er-do-wells who have blown up the Statue of Liberty. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7718-review-leave-no-trace-by-a-j-landau

Our resident film prof Pat H. Broeske has some terribly tragic (but oh-so-good) romances for you just in time for Valentine's. Read "Love Hurts: 10 Films Where Love Doesn't Conquer All" up now... https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7716-love-hurts-10-mystery-crime-novels-where-love-doesn-t-conquer-all

Malice Domestic has announced the latest "best of" for traditional mysteries published in the U.S. in 2023. A huge congratulations to all the nominees! Full list at

Agatha Award Nominees Announced for Malice Domestic 36 MysteryScene

Here's one debut we'll all be talking about! Check out Benjamin Boulden's latest review of Jahmal Mayfield's smart thriller "Smoke Kings." Melville House Publishing Dark City Underground https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7714-review-smoke-kings-by-jahmal-mayfield

Very big and well-deserved congratulations to all the talents who were nominated for Edgars this year. We've enjoyed reading you all! https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7713-2024-edgar-allan-poe-award-nominations

Pat H. Broeske has compiled 10 landmark mystery and crime shows perfect for binge-watching the winter away. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7710-10-mystery-and-crime-series-to-sit-back-and-enjoy-the-season-with Breaking Bad Foyle's War Inspector Morse Endeavour Prime Suspect Homeland Luther Murder, She Wrote

Did you catch PBS's first installment of "Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen" last Sunday? If not, tune in for the next two episodes and read all about it in Pat H. Broeske's interview with British historian and author Lucy Worsley. Agatha Christie Agatha Christie - 'Queen of Crime'

“This year’s winners are world-class writers, who collectively showcase how our local take on one of the world’s most popular forms of storytelling—and our Kiwi creative artists in general—can like our sportspeople match up against the best from anywhere,” says Craig Sisterson, founder of Ngaio Marsh Awards. Congrats to this year's winners Charity Norman, Michael Bennett, and Steve Braunias. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7706-2023-ngaio-marsh-award-winners

We've been remiss about sharing here the wonderful interview with Celeste Connally our own Robin Agnew of Aunt Agatha's Mysteries recently did. In her debut series, Connally gives us the fiercely independent Regency-era Lady Petra Forsyth, sure to be one of your favorite new sleuths. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7704-celeste-connally-invites-readers-to-act-like-a-lady-think-like-a-lord

Holidays are right around the corner. To all of you A) looking for a great stocking stuffer and/or B) looking for a good excuse to hide away in a corner at your next gathering (and maybe occupy yourself with a just a few thoughts of murder?), our short story columnist Benjamin Boulden says you can't fail with the latest annual BEST OF AMERICAN MYSTERY & SUSPENSE, guest edited this year by Lisa Unger. Mariner Books HarperCollins https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7703-review-best-american-mystery-and-suspense-2023

Meet Glory Broussard, the Louisiana bookie with a big mouth and a big heart at the fore of debut author Danielle Arceneux's new novel "Glory Be." gets frank about drive-thru daquiri spots, racism, being an older woman—and she's just getting started. Aunt Agatha's Mysteries Pegasusbooks_ https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7701-danielle-arceneaux

Thirty-three books and Lucas and Virgil are still bringing the thrills—and the wisecracks. Audiobook review of John Sandford's latest "Judgement Prey" from Dick Lochte. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7700-judgment-prey

New historical series alert! Our very own Robin Agnew of Aunt Agatha's Mysteries gets the news straight from author Julia Kelly on A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL. Interview now up. https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7699-julia-kelly

Just in time for the scariest month of the year (and the new film ), Pat H. Broeske chats with Nat Segaloff about his new book "The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear." Segaloff says, "There are four stories that weave through 'The Exorcist'...but the major story is a murder mystery. Somebody has killed movie director Burke Dennings [played by Jack MacGowran] and Lieutenant William Kinderman [Lee J. Cobb] is trying to find out who did it." https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7698-q-a-with-nat-segaloff-author-of-the-exorcist-legacy-50-years-of-fear