Annabelle Mortensen

23 Articles

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PREMIUM

Jane and the Waterloo Map: Being a Jane Austen Mystery

As usual, Barron deftly imitates Austen's voice, wit, and occasional melancholy while spinning a well-researched plot that will please historical mystery readers and Janeites everywhere. Jane Austen died two years after the events of Waterloo; one hopes that Barron conjures a few more adventures for her beloved protagonist before historical fact suspends her fiction.
PREMIUM

Blood, Salt, Water: An Alex Morrow Novel

Supplementing procedural elements with doses of psychological suspense and wry social commentary (the vote for Scottish independence, class tension, and even the foibles of those following gluten-free diets all come under her gimlet eye), Mina delivers another atmospheric, well-crafted mystery. [See Prepub Alert, 6/21/15.]
PREMIUM

The Question of the Unfamiliar Husband: An Asperger's Mystery

Samuel is a fascinating character who has learned various coping methods to compensate for his inability to read people. His second adventure will captivate readers as the suspects begin to pile up.
PREMIUM

Recipes for Love and Murder: A Tannie Maria Mystery

Take a pinch of Alexander McCall Smith, a dash of Diane Mott Davidson, and add a smidge of the wild veld and you'll get a taste for this lekker story (that's "delicious" in Afrikaans). While the tone is heartfelt, Andrew doesn't shy away from the realities of spousal abuse or the shadow of South Africa's tumultuous history. With a fascinating setting, engaging characters, and a full complement of drool-worthy recipes, this is sure to leave readers craving more. [See Prepub Alert, 6/1/15.]
PREMIUM

A Dangerous Place: A Maisie Dobbs Novel

After hinting at change for several books, the series finally appears to have passed a crucial turning point as it nears the precipice of World War II. While some readers may wonder at the way Winspear handled her heroine's doomed offscreen marriage, many will embrace the arresting period detail and emotional resonance of seeing a new, if heartbreaking, chapter of Maisie's life unfold. [See Prepub Alert, 9/8/14.]
PREMIUM

The Sweetness of Life

The American debut of Viennese crime writer/child psychologist Hochgatterer adds another stop on the Euro-noir itinerary of quaint vacation spots sullied by disquieting psychological crime. Give this winner of the European Literature Prize to fans of Anne Holt and Karin Fossum's moody, character-driven page-turners.
PREMIUM

Irène

Know any Euronoir readers who can stomach ultraviolence? This is the book for them. Just be aware that the "Camille Verhoeven" trilogy works best in chronological order, as some of the dark surprises here are spoiled by its previously released sequel.
PREMIUM

The Murder of Harriet Krohn

Writing from the killer's perspective, Fossum sketches a credible if unsuspenseful portrait of how normal people commit violent acts. This is the seventh book in the "Sejer" series (The Water's Edge; Bad Intentions; The Caller) but one of the last to be translated into English, quite possibly because the detective doesn't appear until well past the halfway mark. That's too bad, because his scenes crackle with energy that's lacking in the rest of the book. For readers who enjoy psychological suspense and who don't mind crime novels minus the mystery.
PREMIUM

I Can See in the Dark

In this slim stand-alone, Fossum takes a chilling departure from her popular series featuring Norwegian police inspector Konrad Sejer. The results are a compelling—if unsettling—character study for fans of disturbing psychological suspense. [See Prepub Alert, 2/10/14.]
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