K is for Kate who was struck with an axe

The headline above is an old Edward Gorey quote that I couldn't resist using. No, the eponymous Kate of Julie Kramer's fourth Riley Spartz mystery was actually bludgeoned with a baseball bat. So close. Kate's death basically opens the novel, and straight off the reader learns that she is the fourth victim of a serial killer. The authorities are not yet aware of this fact.

Local news reporter Riley has been lying off the violent crimes lately, since she had been making more news than covering it. But hearing the familiar address of this homicide, she grabs it before anyone can object. And her memory is correct. The crime happened at a house she once knew well. It was the home of her former college roommate, Laura, and the victim is Laura's younger sister, Kate. Kramer has the mechanics of creating suspense down pat. She keeps readers turning pages, ending chapters with lines like: "I didn't know yet that Kate had led a secret life, and that her secret did not die with her."

Riley and Laura, once the closest of friends, had split in a rift more than a decade ago. But this tragedy paves the way to an uneasy reconciliation. Investigative reporter that she is, Riley, of course, becomes far too involved in the hunt for this killer. As always, there's a "b" story in the novel involving an animal story her crazy news director wants her to cover. And the third narrative thread is Riley's long distance relationship with Nick Garnett.

I have outlined several things I like about this series in past reviews. I find Riley to be an immensely likable character with a distinctive voice. Reading each novel feels like visiting with an old friend. Also, I love the television news setting. I feel like I'm getting the inside scoop with each novel, and given the author's background, I guess I am. I can't watch a promo for the 11:00pm news with the same eyes after reading one of these books. It's fascinating! Plus, I like that while being fairly realistic, the novels aren't unnecessarily graphic. In other words, there's not too much sex and violence graphically depicted--which isn't to say there's none, but it's left more to the imagination.

One thing that was bugging me a little in this book was the relationship between Riley and Nick. There's always conflict between them, and conflict is what makes a great novel. But their relationship dynamics seemed a bit too simplistic and surface level. I guess four novels in, I'd hope for a little more depth there. But Kramer must be doing something right, because I'm always rooting for the two of them.

I don't know that I'd describe Killing Kate as a cozy mystery, but it's not entirely dissimilar. I bring this up, because while the mystery itself should not be predictable, there's a certain tone to these stories that is. Therefore, I have to tell you that the end of this novel shocked the hell out of me. And I LOVED it. Surprises are good. I have NO idea where this series is going next, but I will be the first in line to find out! Way to go, Julie Kramer!

GUEST BLOGGER: Julie Kramer

Julie Meets Janet

by Julie Kramer

We authors have favorite authors, too. So when word went out that Janet Evanovich was coming to town, that got my attention.

Janet hardly tours, she doesn't have to. Her intrepid bounty hunter protagonist Stephanie Plum's latest adventure, SMOKIN' SEVENTEEN, sold 218,000 copies of hardcover, e-books, and audio the first day of release this week. Her new publisher, Bantam, sent her to four cities. Among them, Edina, Minnesota. I was proud my state's reputation for being a top literary mecca landed us one of publishing's most popular phenomenons.

So I drove 30 miles to the Barnes and Noble hosting her, arrived at 8:58 am and learned people had been lined up for three hours already. I received a purple wristband numbering 234. Once numbered, fans could leave and return for the evening signing, scheduled to start at 6 pm. A math formula of 50 people per half hour gave us a rough idea of when our group would be called.

I bought my book, drove home 30 miles and read the first 80 pages (my favorite scene thus far being Lulu wrestling with a vampire) admiring Janet's pluck for jumping on the vampire bandwagon.

Not wanting to be late for my line up, I drove 30 miles back and had dinner across the street, checking on my cell phone to stay in touch with the event. At 7:50 pm numbers between 200 and 300 were called to I got in place. The store made the wait interesting by giving away balloons, cake, and a pin that said “Plum Crazy.”

There's a current debate going on in publishing circles on whether author tours are dead and whether bookstores should start requiring attendees to buy a book there, or pay a fee because so many readers are apparently showing up at events with their cheaper online purchases. I always buy an author's book at the event, because I understand how book stores are hurting these days. In this case, the B & N - Galleria welcomed everyone. Readers were even allowed to bring backlist copies and some came pulling suitcases.

One was Angela, who was next to me in line. She's the kind of fan we authors all crave. Buys hardcovers and will stand in line for hours to meet us. Here she is, posing with her haul. And when she heard I was an author, and that the Chicago Tribune had compared me to Janet Evanovich, she bought all three of my books – STALKING SUSAN, MISSING MARK, and SILENCING SAM, and had me sign them. So did another woman standing by us in line. So I was making friends and fans myself.

By 9 pm, our books had been flapped and the line was getting closer to our idol: Janet.

And when we met, she was nice to me. I told her I was a mystery author, too. She asked me my name and one of the store staff heard our exchange and stepped in and vouched for me. We even had our picture taken together.

As I left, about 9:15 pm, I learned 827 numbers had been given out thus far and that Janet would stay until the last book was signed. I later found that didn't happen until nearly one the next morning.
_____________________________________________________________

Julie Kramer is moving from journalist to novelist. She writes a series set in the desperate world of television news. Her latest thriller, KILLING KATE, received 4 ½ stars from RT Book Reviews and will be released July 26. Julie won the RT Reviewer's Choice Award for Best First Mystery as well as the Minnesota Book Award. Her work has also been a finalist for the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Mary Higgins Clark, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

A Conversation With Julie Kramer

Susan: I was first “introduced” to novelist Julie Kramer three years ago when her publisher sent me a package. Inside was a galley of her forthcoming debut, Stalking Susan, and a threatening note: “Susan, why is your namesake being targeted…” I read the jacket copy and saw the novel’s plot involved a serial killer of women named Susan. I immediately looked up Julie’s website and email address and sent her a nice note complimenting her on the clever guerilla marketing and wishing her well with the launch. However, the subject line didn’t exactly scream “fan letter.”

So I have to ask, you were just weeks away from the publication of your first novel, and you get this email from a stranger with the subject line “What a terrible idea for a novel.” What were you thinking?

Julie: My editor had mentioned something about trying some target marketing of Susans in the publishing world. When I saw your email, I thought their idea had backfired, and that you had come after me for revenge. But you actually ended up liking STALKING SUSAN (as most Susans do) and when we met in person at Thrillerfest we became friends.

Susan: Yes, we became friends. And now it's three years and three novels later, with a fourth mystery about to hit shelves in a matter of weeks. A novel a year, almost like clockwork, is a significant accomplishment. You had all the time in the world to write the first one; what's it like being on deadline now? Is it hard to come up with a fresh plot each year, or do you have half a dozen novels gestating in the back of your head?


Julie: It hurts to write a book. Honest. And because I write a series, I'm always on deadline. For me, coming up with the premise is the easy part. That always hits me like a flash. For instance, my upcoming book - KILLING KATE - is about a killer who draws chalk outlines shaped

like angels around the bodies of his victims. But after the inspiration, you still have to write the darn book. On days when the words are flowing well, I like being an author. On bad days, well, that's when it hurts to write a book. Maybe if I was a better outliner, that would help…but I tend to make up my stories as I go along. I think I resist outlining because I worked in news for so long. You can't outline news. What happens, happens. The good thing about spending a career in journalism is that I'm good with deadlines. And it's that confidence that keeps me from panicking on the real bad days. My books take readers inside the world of news, so that gives me a lot of freedom to come up with fresh material each time.


Susan: You led right where I was going... You write a series featuring Riley Spartz, a reporter on the local news. The setting in the world of tele-journalism is one of my favorite things about the books. You appear to know this world inside out, and it's really so interesting! What exactly is your background? Do you still work in the industry? What's the transition from fact to fiction like? It's got to be freeing.

Julie: I spent about 20 years at WCCO TV news in Minneapolis, most recently running their investigative unit...and then I started doing freelance news producing for NBC and CBS.  It sounds kind of glamorous, but it actually meant a lot of racing to the airport and then buying socks and underwear at gas stations in rural Missouri and places the folks in New York didn't want to go to.

Occasionally I still take some assignments, but most of the time I'm too busy with my next book or speaking at libraries. I thought writing fiction would be much easier than news. But after a career in news, making stuff up felt like cheating. So I had issues to work through.

Susan: A spunky, brunette news producer in Minneapolis? Tell me the truth, are you Mary Richards?


Julie: Television news has changed enormously since the days of Mary Tyler Moore. News coverage is grittier now. And newsroom staff have more cynicism than spunk these days. While there is a little bit of me in my heroine....there's also a little bit of many reporters I've worked with over the years. But when pressed for details, I remind folks that my books are works of fiction. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Susan: LOL, fair enough. It's funny you mentioned the grittiness of news, because that's not the word I'd use to describe your novels. Stalking Susan featured a serial killer. Missing Mark was a missing persons case. Silencing Sam dealt with a murder closer to home, and explored issues of domestic terrorism. So, bad things happen in the books, but nothing is ever gratuitous or excessively graphic. Personally, I find it refreshing. I don't always want to wallow in the muck. How deliberate of a choice was this on your part? Is it hard to maintain the right balance, not too dark and not too light?


Julie: I wanted to write a series that my kids could read, as well as my mom. I've had families tell me that three generations have shared my books and enjoyed them. I've had eighth graders email me that they wrote book reports on my work and got As. I love that feedback. And I think there's a market for fresh plots without gratuitous sex or violence. That doesn't mean people aren't killed in my stories...but I give readers some room to imagine at whatever level they desire.

Susan: So, your third mystery, Silencing Sam is out in paperback this week. Can readers leap in right there, or do you think they should start the series from the beginning? Do you have an "elevator pitch" for the story?


Julie: While my books feature the same heroine, each is its own adventure and they can be read in any order. One of my favorite compliments is when a fan emails me after reading one of my books for the first time and then discovering I have a backlist of more. But I applaud readers who like to start a series at the beginning because I think there are certain character arcs they will pick up on. People are always curious about how the media works. I think that's one of the strengths of my books. I take people inside how newsrooms make decisions such as which missing people get publicity and which don't. And that can get ugly. But it makes for provocative storytelling.


As for a SILENCING SAM pitch: When a widely despised gossip columnist is found shot to death, TV reporter Riley Spartz must secretly investigate a case in which she becomes the prime suspect. Amid murder, our heroine discovers news and gossip have more in common than she ever imagined.

Susan: Well, I’ve already read “Sam,” (And loved it!) so I’m looking forward to Killing Kate, which I’ll be reading and reviewing here in the near future. For now, thanks so much for stopping by, Julie, and answering questions. Please come back and visit the blog anytime! Maybe a guest blogger post for “Kate’s” release…?  



Mailbox Monday: Countdown to BEA edition

It's becoming abundantly clear to me that I've barely scratched the surface of mailbox creativity!  You home-owners get all the cool accessories.  But I have to admit looking for mailbox photos has become great fun.

So, Thursday night my friend Mike and I went on over to the Booksmith on Haight to hear the incredibly awesome Arthur Phillips read from The Tragedy of Arthur, which as you know I have been reading for the last seven years.  (I've got to finish that book!)  Can I mention again how awesome Arthur Phillips is?  He reads fantastically, and can maintain character at least as well as Steven Colbert--which comes in handy when you're promoting a completely fictitious memoir.  And he's got a wonderfully dry sense of humor.  Mike and I had the best time!  And as if that weren't fun enough, I also got to hang out with bookseller extraordinaire, Cynthia St. John.  She invited me into the back room at the Booksmith.  I felt like an audience member going backstage.  Very cool.

On the subject of Arthur Phillips' awesomeness...  You don't see this every day, but a sales rep from another publishing house (who shall go nameless) showed up at the reading.  That's how awesome Arthur Phillips is.  Anyway, it was really lovely to see my sales rep friend too.  Good literature just brings all the best people together!  And on that note, I picked up some good books this week:

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore
by Stella Duffy
Release date: 9/27/2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher

Nothing like starting the week out with something light, right?  This could be interesting.  With that cover and title, at the very least it's sure to be provocative and titillating.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a review.  I promised not to post one before late September.

Labyrinth
Mark T. Sullivan
Release date: 8/6/2002
Source: Hardback purchased from ABE.com

This is one of those thrillers I've been interested in reading for nearly a decade now.  For some reason, I never acquired a copy when it was newly released, but I never entirely forgot about it either.  Last summer, I saw a nice trade paperback copy on sale for something like $28!  So, I went to see if it was available on Kindle, and it was... For $18.99!  I do not know what the deal with this title is.  Anyway, I've had the sample sitting on my Kindle for the past year, waiting to see if the artificially-elevated price would go down.  It hasn't.  So, I finally purchased a pristine hardback copy through abe.com for $3.95, which included shipping.  I would have happily purchased it from Pocket Books, but because of the insane pricing both the publisher and author lost a sale today.  :-(

The Vices
by Lawrence Douglas
Release date: 8/16/2011
Source: Electronic galley from the publisher

Something in the description of this tale of possible murder and excess among the ultra-rich caught my eye.  Also, I believe there may be Jewish themes in the novel, which is enough to make me curious to give it a try.

Killing Kate
by Julie Kramer
Release date: 7/26/2011
Source: Paper galley from the author

I've been enjoying Julie Kramer's light mysteries featuring tele-journalist Riley Spartz since before the first novel was published.  And this despite the fact that the first novel was about a guy who killed women named Susan!  So far, "Kramer the Namer" (as I once dubbed her) has given us Stalking Susan, Missing Mark, Silencing Sam, and now Killing Kate.  I can't wait to dive in!

A Young Wife
by Pam Lewis
Release date: 5/14/2011
Source: Paper galley from the publisher

Hmmm, this could be good.  I enjoy a nice historic drama ever now and again.

Sequins, Secrets, and Silver Linings
by Sophia Bennett
Release date: 1/1/2011
Source: Girls Night Out goody bag

Yes, I really did receive a hardback copy of this novel at a 21+ event called Girls Night Out.  I think the cover tells you everything you need to know about this book.  Into the Children's Hospital pile it goes.

The Vault
by Boyd Morrison
Release date: 7/5/2011
Source: A bookseller friend

That pack of weasels over at Simon and Schuster hasn't gotten around to sending me a galley of The Vault yet.  And, I have to admit, I haven't been too worried about it, as I've already read a slightly earlier version of this novel.  But I happened to be hanging out with a bookseller friend last night and she mentioned that the lovely Mr. Morrison had personally sent her a galley, along with a hand-written note.  She can't wait to dive into the book, and happened to have an extra galley.  She asked me if I had one, I said "No."  And then I did.  Thanks, C!

The Skeleton Key
by James Rollins
Release date: 5/31/2011
Source: The author

It occurs to me that I forgot to add this to my list last week, which is just as well, because apparently it was a secret.  I'll be posting a review in the immediate future.  Oh, and a review of  the amazing The Devil Colony will be forthcoming as well, just as soon as I write it.

Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism
by David Nickle
Release date: 5/3/2011
Source: Electronic galley from the publisher

 Honestly, the title and cover alone make me want to read this book.  And as a member of a not-so-popular minority, I've always been fascinated/horrified by the history of the eugenics movement, especially here in the U.S.  This novel, set in 1911, sounds seriously creepy!

The Last Unicorn
by Peter Beagle
Release date: 2/8/2011
Source: Electronic galley from publisher

I heard Peter Beagle speak and read a few weeks ago, and he was simply delightful!  It made me sad that I'd never read his most famous book.  I saw this beautifully illustrated graphic novel at the time of the event, but didn't pick it up, preferring to read a non-graphic novel.  But perhaps I'll give it a chance.  I've never actually read a graphic novel, and I may need an infusion of whimsy if I read the book above.

Rebirth
by Sophie Littlefield
Release date: 7/19/2011
Source: Electronic galley from the publisher

And I will definitely need an infusion of whimsy after reading this book, the second in Sophie's zombie apocalypse trilogy.  It's the follow-up to the awesome Aftertime.  I'm looking forward to reading this one!



Oh, and in addition to these books, I ordered like 20 Kindle freebies.  I'm hoarding them in case I'm ever stranded on a deserted island, just me and my Kindle.  But I'm so not listing them here, LOL.

Oh, and it's worth mentioning that I also went out to hear the wonderful Tim Sandlin read on Saturday night.  I recently reread Skipped Parts, and found it even better than I remembered.  I really need to read more of that big stack of novels I had him sign.  Mr. Sandlin doesn't have the stage presence that Arthur Philips does, but I've long admired his work, and it was a pleasure to finally meet him.

Books finished this week:

I'll Never get Out of this World Alive by Steve Earle - OMG, I LOVED this debut novel!  I'm shocked by how much.  I hope to have a review up this week.

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens


Currently reading:

The Cry of the Phoenix by J.G.

If it bleeds, it leads

Silencing Sam: A Novel (Riley Spartz)

by Julie Kramer This is now the third of Julie Kramer's mysteries that I've read, starting with Stalking Susan and Missing Mark. Within the first few paragraphs of Silencing Sam, I had this thought, "Oh, there she is!" The "she" I was referring to was television reporter Riley Spartz, the protagonist of the series. After just a few sentences, I had this overwhelming feeling of recognition. Riley's voice was so instantly familiar and recognizable. It was like getting a call from a friend you haven't heard from in a while. It was nice. It may seem like I am belaboring the point, but the truth is, these mysteries have always been more about the characters and setting to me than the actual who-done-it. Oh, and by setting I mostly mean the fascinating world of television news--a world that Julie Kramer obviously knows inside out. (Although, at this point, the whole Minnesota setting is beginning to feel a bit exotic to this bi-coastal girl. Seriously, I had no idea Iowa and Minnesota shared a border. That can't be right?) This time Riley's gotten into an altercation with the Twin Cities' local gossip columnist, Sam Pierce. The confrontation escalates to a drink in the face--which leads Riley into a courtroom, charged with assault. It's not her proudest moment, but it all would have blown over quickly enough if her accuser hadn't been murdered hours after the guilty verdict. Now Riley's looking guilty of a far more serious crime. As she's launching her own investigation to clear her name, she's got struggles on the professional front as well. The station has hired a good ol' boy from Texas as its newest reporter, and he's proving to be more competition than she needs right now. Station politics are as precarious as ever. While Ms. Kramer's mysteries have life and death stakes, there is something gentle about them. They aren't too graphic or gory, which suits me just fine. Some of the clues are a little obvious--for instance, there was a series of clues in this novel that just jumped off the page, and I found it frankly unbelievable that a reporter of Riley's caliber didn't see what I saw. That said, for all my cleverness, it didn't get me any closer to figuring out who the murder was. I guess "Kramer the Namer" still has a few tricks up her sleeve.

No sophomore slump for “Kramer the Namer”

Missing Mark
by Julie Kramer

Julie Kramer's debut novel, Stalking Susan, involved Minnesota investigative journalist Riley Spartz pursuing a serial killer of women named Susan. Some marketing genius at Doubleday thought it would be a good idea to send a galley to every Susan on their mailing list. He must have been right; I couldn't resist reading it. And I found it to be an exceptionally entertaining debut.

In Missing Mark, Kramer is sticking with what works--namely an appealing protagonist and a strong supporting cast. Aside from her considerable mystery solving abilities, Riley is a constant font of info on the TV news biz, and I, for one, find it as fascinating as the cases she investigates. Likewise, the series' supporting characters are uniformly interesting without being too quirky to be real.

Good news, the entire gang is back this time around, including some characters I didn't necessarily expect to see again. The plot of this second novel involves a missing persons case. Specifically, it's Mark, a bridegroom who fails to show on his wedding day--or in the several months that have passed since. Riley's cases are never simple, and this investigation quickly grows convoluted, with any number of possible explanations, suspects, and motives. However, Riley's boss thinks a missing bigmouth bass will garner higher ratings for sweeps. She may be right.

Two-thirds of the way through, I figured out who-done-it and why. I have no idea where that intuitive leap came from, but it was no fault of Kramer's plotting, which is tight and well-paced.

I don't have a lot of time for mystery series, but I'm going to stick with Riley & Co. (For readers intrigued by this book, I'd suggest backing up and reading Stalking Susan first. Lucky you, it's just been released in paperback.) So far, the name books are a nice blend of light and dark entertainment. They're not terribly violent or graphic and the mysteries within feel fresh.

In conclusion, I'm Recommending Riley and Judging Julie to be well worth your reading time.
Comment Permalink