InkSpot News: July 17, 2010

Three Inkster books garnered reviews worth noting this week:

Sue Ann Jaffarian's Murder in Vein won't be out until September, but is already generating terrific buzz. The notoriously critical Kirkus Reviews came up with this rave:

"Odelia Gray (Corpse on the Cob, 2010, etc.) and Granny Apples (Ghost à la Mode, 2009) have a new cousin: Madison Rose, a human living in Los Angeles's twilight world of vampires.... Like Stuart Kaminsky, Jaffarian juggles her franchises deftly, giving each a unique voice and appeal. Her latest series kickoff may be her best yet, blending supernatural sexy with down-to-earth sassy."

There's little higher praise than being compared to the late Stuart Kaminsky, a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. Bravo, Sue Ann!

In the upcoming issue of the country's highest-circulating Jewish periodical, Hadassah Magazine, Zelda Shluker goes looking for recent compelling crime novels with a Jewish protagonist or theme. She finds an even dozen including Alan Orloff's latest:

"Diamonds for the Dead begins with a shiva, as Josh Handleman tries to figure out whether his father’s death was an accident or something more sinister.... As he does so, he recovers the man his father was: a man with great business acumen, modesty and generosity."

Ms. Shluker also includes Smasher by Keith Raffel (that's me!) in her tour d'horizon:

"Accelenet needs an infusion of cash—but the only offer [CEO Ian Michaels] gets is from a ruthless billionaire who want to “smash and grab” it; he is intimidating the competition and undervaluing the company to buy it at a low price. Bad things multiply as Michaels’ tries to figure out how to save the company: a car deliberately runs down Ian and his wife, Rowena, leaving her brain damaged and comatose.... In this cleverly written mystery, Jewish actions are an innate part of Ian’s life."

Read Alan and Keith's reviews in full here along with ten more.

Congrats to Sue Ann and Alan.

Why not hit beach, pool, camp, or air-conditioned living room with a compelling crime novel this weekend?