Poisoned Pen Press

Library Bookwatch, Sept, 2004

Poisoned Pen Press

6962 East First Avenue, #103, Scottsdale, AZ 95251

www.poisonedpenpress.com

Poisoned Pen's fabulous murder mysteries are delights to genre readers, offering unusual twists of plot, international and artistic scenarios, and a 'who dunnit' focus which elevates the mystery pressure to maximum. Take Michael Pearce's Cold Touch Of Ice (1590580656, $24.95), for example: fans of prior Mamur Zapt mysteries will delight in the return of the Egyptian setting and investigator, with this 1912 Cairo murder involving British Chief Mamur Zapt in an international scandal which could indicate ethnic cleansing. Or take Frederick Ramsay's Artscape: A Mystery (1590581229, $24.95): here is a deliciously complex setting involving a valuable art collection, smuggling, international espionage, and a new professor's frustrating immersion in international intrigue and trouble. Betty Webb's Desert Shadows: Publishing Can Be Murder (159058113X, $24.95) provides a satisfying Lena Jones mystery which begins with a notable publisher's poisoning at an annual convention. Involve a Pima India and an Arizona defender convinced of his innocence and you have a fast-paced story line indeed. John McEvoy's Blind Switch (1590580958, $24.95) at first glance would seem appealing to fans of Dick Frances, with its horse perspective and mystery; but the potential for its reaching far beyond the horsie set is immense. Retired amateur boxer Jack Doyle finds himself unexpectedly unemployed and must accept an offer to fix a horse race to make ends meet. His involvement with the underworld and FBI leads him from frying pan to fire in a complex series of scandal and events. Kerry Greenwood's Murder In Montparnasse (1590580427, $24.95) provides a Phryne Fisher mystery set in 1920s Australia where seven soldiers unknowing witness a Paris murder and still face demise from their knowledge ten years alter. It's up to Phryne to outpace the murderer while dealing with the marriage of her lover and other social disasters. Intriguing action results.