Mystery Then and Now Book Club: Cover of snow and Constant Suicides

Mysterious Friends,
Our Mystery Then and Now Book Club is growing. We meet every over month to discuss two mysteries with a common theme one classic or set in an earlier time and one contemporary.

The books for May 9,2014 are THE COVER OF SNOW (2013) by Jenny Milchman and CASE OF THE CONSTANT SUICIDES by John Dickson Carr (c1941).

In COVER OF SNOW the wife of a New York State policeman discovers her husband dead in their house, an apparent suicide. She decides she wants the truth about his death no matter consequences and goes to extraordinary lengths to discover it and other secrets of her small town.

Jenny's book has been nominated for a Mary Higgins Clark award whose winner will be announced at the Edgar Award Banquet in April 30.

Carr's book CASE OF THE CONSTANT SUICIDES features not one but two locked room murders in a mystery set in Shira Castle in Scotland. It features Dr. Gideon Fell The Great Detective who takes on the case of an apparent suicide of Old Angus Campbell. His heirs can not inherit if the death is ruled a suicide.

From the introduction to Carr's book by Tom and Enid Schantz: The best of them (Carr's Mysteries)play fair with the reader and provide enough clues that the reader can figure out how the murderer penetrated that sealed chamber almost before the Great Detective unmasks killer and method...For more than 40 years John Dickson Carr found dozens of ways for murderers to pull off the impossible.

Please RSVP for our May 9,meeting at the store in Oxford. info@mysterylovescompany.com

If you have read the books and would like to contribute to the discussion, please add your thoughts below.

Welcome to the discussion.

Kathy Harig, owner Mystery Loves Company Booksellers - Oxford. www.mysterylovescompany.com

Geschnitzeltes Reichenbach Falls mit Rosti und Weiss Sparge

After watching "Reichenbach Fall" the third episode of season two of "Sherlock" and realizing that it was Arthur Conan Doyle's Birthday. I decided to share the following recipe of mine.

In 1994 I was asked to contribute a recipe or two for the Mid Atlantic Mystery Cookbook. Being a Sherlockian as was my father I felt I had the perfect recipe and the answer to what would I like for my last meal if I was to be pushed or accidentally fall into a Swiss ravine. I came up with "Geschnitzeltes Reichenbach Falls mit Rosti und Weiss Spargel."You could just as well make it with spatzle but rosti is Swiss so I went with that.  It is also the unofficial dish of Switzerland. But beware... danger lurks where you least expect it. Veal is probably the easiest and most expensive meat to ruin by improper cooking. Select the finest veal you can afford, go very easy on the heat, and use real cream, butter, and mushrooms, preferably wild ones like chanterelles. I dote on rosti, (but there are so many carbs), and you have to have white asparagus and a good Swiss wine. For dessert, a must is Alpine strawberries mit schlag.

I dedicate this meal to Sherlock and Moriarty and the Confrontation at Reichenbach Falls, to Conan Doyle on his birthday, and to my father who loved them all as I do.

Geschnitzeltes Reichenbach Falls

Choose 1 1/2 pounds of veal scallopini. Slice it in 1/2 inch strips. Saute the veal very gently over extremely low heat in 1 tablespoon of butter for three minutes. Remove the veal from the pan and deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup of wine, preferably a dry Swiss wine of quality. In a separate bowl add 1/4 cup of pan juice to 1 cup of heavy cream. Pour mixture back into skillet. Add 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms. Add veal and heat for three more minutes. Add salt and white ground pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with Rosti and  fresh white asparagus (spargel).

Enjoy.

Eastern Shore 1812 celebrations and web site

Hi,
Here on the Eastern Shore we are gearing up for the celebrations of the Forgotten War: The War of 1812. It was Maryland's War as we see it and most definitely the war of the Chesapeake. Although some say all the action took place on the Western shore of the Bay, those of us on the East Side of the Bay have much to think about it and commemorate. I am part of a committee creating ideas about meaningful events in Talbot County headed by Marie Martin of St. Michael's.

In today's Star Democrat is a story about Caulk's Field in Kent County where a battle took place in 1814. It is a major battle site on the Eastern Shore and one that will have encampments, re-enactments and parades and celebrations which begin this year.http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_e58d0fbf-0387-5fae-b09b-123299018eaf.html

In Talbot, of course there is the Battle of St. Michael's in August of 1813 when the town's folk and militia were able to thwart the British 'invaders." Although there is much folklore attached to this event, there is an element of great pride that the stalwart towns folk were able to defend their town.

As President Madison discovered from the beginning of 1812 the small "navy" of the United States of seven vessels would not be enough to deter the British. He therefore  gave Letters of Marque to those private captains and ship owners to act as Privateers  to "annoy" and harass the British. This they very successfully did, many of them closer to British Soil than American soil.

The beautiful schooners built in the shipyards of St. Michael's, and most of all Fells Point in Baltimore were just the type of vessel President Madison needed.

Their story is told in the works of some wonderful authors who I hope to have speak at various times during the next three years in a series of lectures here on the Shore. You can get all the books from our store by calling 410-226-0010 or visiting us in Beautiful Oxford. http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

Christopher George was born in Liverpool, England, but I met him in my old Fells Point store in Baltimore. You might remember him from the documentary about Maryland's participation in the War of 1812 which has been shown on television. Chris is the author of the seminal work TERROR ON THE CHESAPEAKE (2001).  This book has an interesting perspective on the war since he used British and American primary sources, and is full of wonderful material.

Bert Hubinger is the author of 1812: RIGHT OF PASSAGE (2012), a novel set during the period.


George Daughan's 1812: THE NAVY WAR (2012) tells the complete story of the U. S. Naval involvement.

Stay tune for more exciting news, including an Evening with President Madison at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michael's in June with a full dress ball, food, music, and dancing from 1812 and all the trimmings.

The Talbot Historical Society has costume making workshops so you will be ready for all those celebrations.

Also in the works are celebrations in Dorchester County.

I also would like to do a series of "Find Your 1812 Relative" Family History/ Genealogy workshop in Talbot County to gear up local interest.

Also a booklet of recipes to inspire local chefs to try 1812 dinners, including those wonderful rum drinks.

You can see the web site developed for all of the War of 1812 events on the Shore which includes primary sources such as letters and newspaper clippings about the war and maps of the area here: http://www.easternshore1812.org


Hope you will become informed about the War on the Eastern and Western Shores and of course the vallient efforts of women like Dolley Madison who saved the treasures of the White House as it burned and Mary Pickergill who made the Stars and Stripes. http://www.flaghouse.org/

I'll keep you posted on more local 1812 events. If you have ideas of your own or events to share let me know. Of course you can stop by for books as well.

Best,
Kathy Harig
Mystery Loves Company
202 S. Morris St
Oxford MD 21654

Small Business Saturday

Dear readers and customers:

Each Thanksgiving weekend the crowds swarm to the malls, abandoning the independent Ma and Pop stores on corners and main streets across America.

This year independent stores are asking you to make a difference in your local community and economy by choosing to buy local, not from a chain, on the Internet or from your phone. Take the time to experience the joy of shopping inside a brick and mortar store with hand picked merchandise and staff that actually knows a lot about their stock and customer service, and appreciates your business.

Not only will you be helping a local business, but a huge percentage of the money will stay in your local economy and we all will benefit.

We hope you support us on Small Business Saturday November 26th. Come into Mystery Loves Company in Oxford www.mysterylovescompany.com  and spend $50.00 and we'll give you 10% off on everything until April 2012. Is that a deal or what?

If you can't come in, of course we will accept your phone and email orders. But think what a big difference it would make to a small business like ours to see your smiling face on Small Business Saturday and everyday.

We give thanks for our loyal customers.

Happy Thanksgiving from Mystery Loves Company

Kathy

Crime Writers Award Daggers

Hi,
The Crime Writers Association gave out their Dagger Awards in the UK on October 8th.
Here are the winners:

* ITV3 People's Bestseller Dagger 2011: Peter James
* CWA Gold Dagger: Tom Franklin's Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
* CWA Ian Fleming: Steel Dagger for Best Thriller: Steve Hamilton's The Lock Artist
* CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger: S.J. Watson's Before I Go To Sleep

Congrats to all.
Don't forget Mystery Loves Company is your headquarters for all things mystery.
www.mysterylovescompany.com

Happy Harvest,
Kathy

Bouchercon awards announced

Hi,
Here by way of  Janet Rudolph editor of Mystery Readers Journal are the awards announced during the Sept 2001 Bouchercon in St. Louis, MO:<http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com

*Macavity Awards: *
*Best Mystery Novel*
*Bury Your Dead* by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
*Best First Mystery Novel*
*Rogue Island *by Bruce DeSilva (Forge-Tom Doherty Associates)
*Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction*
*Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the
Making*by John Curran (HarperCollins)
*Best Mystery Short Story*
*“Swing Shift”* by Dana Cameron in *Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the
Dark Side* (Berkley)
*Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery*
*City of Dragons* by Kelli Stanley (Minotaur)

 Janet also shared the winners of the Shamus Awards on her
blog<http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/>
.
 *Private Eye Writers of America (PWA)* 2011 Shamus Awards, “given annually
to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction.”
*Best Hardcover P.I. Novel: **No Mercy*, by Lori Armstrong (Touchstone)
*Best First P.I. Novel: **In Search of Mercy*, by Michael Ayoob (Minotaur)
*Best Paperback Original P.I. Novel: **Asia Hand*, By *Christopher G. Moore*
(Grove/Atlantic)
*Best P.I. Short Story: *“The Lamb Was Sure to Go,” by Gar Anthony Haywood (
*Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine*, November 2010)
*The Hammer Award (Best P.I. Series Character): *Sara Paretsky for V.I.
Warshawski
*
The EYE (Lifetime Achievement Award):* Ed Gorman
And, today, the Anthony Awards were announced. "The Anthony Awards are given
at each annual Bouchercon World Mystery
Convention<http://www.bouchercon.info/>with the winners selected by
attendees. The award is named for the late
Anthony Boucher (William Anthony Parker White), well-known writer and critic
from the San Francisco Chronicle and New York Times, who helped found the
Mystery Writers of America."
Best Novel - *Bury Your Dead* by Louise Penny
Best First Mystery - *The Damage Done* by Hilary Davidson
Best Paperback Original -  *Expiration Date* by Duane Swierczynski
Best Critical/Non-Fiction - *Agatha Chrstie's Secret Notebooks: 50 Years of
Mysteries in the Making* by John Curran
Best Short Story -  *“Swing Shift”* by Dana Cameron in *Crimes by Moonlight:
Mysteries from the Dark Side* (Berkley)
Best Graphic Novel - *The Chill* by Jason Starr & Mick Bertilorenzi
Best Website/Blog - Stop, You're Killing
Me!<http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/>by Lucinda Surber & Stan Ulrich
Don't forget you can find them at our store Mystery Loves Company in Oxford MD
www.mysterylovescompany.com
Thanks and happy reading,
Kathy Harig

Donna Andrews signs THE REAL MACAW @ Mystery Loves Company

Saturday, July 23 @ Mystery Loves Company in Oxford MD, Donna Andrews will have her Eastern Shore launch of THE REAL MACAW.

The signing is from 12:30 - 3:00 pm with refreshments and all are welcome.

Meg Langslow is ready to birth her twins in this one, part of Donna's  extremely funny and award- winning mystery series.

If you can't join us please email us at mysterylovescompany at gmail.com (no spaces) and we'll reserve a copy for you.

You don't want to miss this latest addition to the hilarious life of Meg and her family.

Hope to see you in Oxford soon

www.mysterylovescompany.com

Kathy

Macavity Awards

Dear ones,
Janet Rudolph has just announced the Macavity Awards to be given out in Sept 2011 in St. Louis at Bouchercon, Many are favorite authors of ours.
You can buy them through our web site at www.mysterylovescompany.com
Congratulations to all!

Macavity Award Nominees:

Best Mystery Novel
The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster)
Faithful Place by Tana French (Viking)
The Queen of Patpong by Timothy Hallinan (HarperCollins-William Morrow)
Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer (Grove Atlantic)
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard (Ballantine)

Best First Mystery Novel
The Damage Done by Hilary Davidson (Forge)
Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva (Forge-Tom Doherty Associates)
The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron (Minotaur)
Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill (Wildside)
A Thousand Cuts by Simon Lelic (Viking)

Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction
The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum (Penguin)
Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making by John Curran (HarperCollins)
Following the Detectives: Real Locations in Crime Fiction edited by Maxim Jakubowski (New Holland)
Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yunte Huang (W.W. Norton)
Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, edited by David Morrell and Hank W Wagner (Oceanview Publishing)

Best Mystery Short Story
“The Scent of Lilacs” by Doug Allyn (EQMM)
“Swing Shift” by Dana Cameron in Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side (Berkley)
“Devil’s Pocket” by Keith Gilman in Philadelphia Noir (Akashic)
“The Gods for Vengeance Cry” by Richard Helms (EQMM)
“Bookworm” by G.M. Malliet in Chesapeake Crimes: They Had It Comin’ (Wildside)

Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery
A Marked Man by Barbara Hamilton (Berkley)
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (Random House)
City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley (Minotaur)
The Red Door by Charles Todd (HarperCollins- William Morrow)
The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia (HarperCollins-William Morrow

The Edgars are announced

It has been a while but The Mystery Writers of America have announced the Edgar nominees for BEST NOVEL


Caught by Harlan Coben (Penguin Group USA - Dutton)

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin (HarperCollins – William Morrow)

Faithful Place by Tana French (Penguin Group USA - Viking)

The Queen of Patpong by Timothy Hallinan (HarperCollins – William Morrow)

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton (Minotaur/Thomas Dunne Books)

I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (HarperCollins – William Morrow
 
Such a good group. What do you think?
For the complete list of all nominees in all categories click here http://www.mysterywriters.org/
Congratulations to all the nominees.
Awards will be given out at the Annual Edgars Banquet on April 28, 2011 in NYC.
Kathy

GOLD DAGGER SHORTLIST

Hi,
The Gold Dagger Award shortlist was just announced. Favorites by Denise Mina, George Pelecanos, James Lee Burke and the book I blogged about this month by Patricia Duncker THE STRANGE CASE OF THE COMPOSER AND HIS JUDGE are listed with other worthy nominees on the Crime Writers Association's web site. http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/2010/index.html


Congratulations to all nominees.
Kathy
Mystery Loves Company
http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/