Alafair Burke, author of the recent book, Dead Connection, and the Samantha Kincaid series, appeared at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale today. She and Barbara Peters, owner of the bookstore, started out by discussing the fact that they, along with authors Michelle Martinez, Twist Phelan and Tess Gerritsen, all went to Stanford Law School.



Alafair said she worked in the D.A.'s office in Portland, Oregon for five years, which was considered a long time for someone who wanted to teach. She… Continue

Think "Charlie's Angels" on estrogen. If you're looking for a fun, enjoyable romp, check out Rick Copp's first L.A. Dolls mystery. It won't be lasting literature because it's too "today", but it's an entertaining, campy book.



Twenty-five years ago, Dani, Claire and Tess were hot detectives, the L.A. Dolls. Dani, a Latina, was the leader of the agency. Tess,… Continue

Congratulations to the winners of the most recent contest for books. Saundra M. of Phoenix, AZ is the winner of Witch Hunt by Shirley Damsgaard. The winner of The Land of Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank is Elizabeth G. from Huron, OH. The books will be going out in the mail tomorrow.



This week, I was lucky enough to get an extra copy of Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart.… Continue

Zoё Sharp grabs hold of the reader's throat in the first sentence of the Charlie Fox debut thriller, and never lets go. I was caught with the opening sentence, "For the third time that morning I shut my eyes tight in the absolute and certain knowledge that I was just about to die." Sharp, and Charlie, surprise the reader from page one, and continue the suspense and… Continue

Congratulations to Vic W. in Fargo, ND, the winner of the ARC of Cat in a Red Hot Rage by Carole Nelson Douglas. Shannon won the copy of Selma Eichler's Murder Can Depress Your Dachshund. The books will go out in the mail tomorrow.



I'm offering something different this week in the contest on my blog, www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. I still have one mystery, but I'm also giving away a novel. …



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