November 2024

In this issue of The Blood-Letter from Friends of Mystery: Bloody Thursday guest April Henry, Macavities announced, new books and TV, and more.

CONTENTS:

• On November 21, 2024 Friends of Mystery Welcomes April Henry
• Macavity Awards Announced
• For Your Viewing Pleasure…
• New and Noteworthy
• Bad First Sentences
• Spotted Owl Committee Busy Reading
• Member News
• Buy Books by FOM Speakers at Annie Bloom’s
• Membership Renewal
• Submissions Needed

BLOODY THURSDAY

On November 21, 2024 Friends of Mystery Welcomes April Henry

Author April Henry knows how to kill you in two-dozen different ways. She makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home (in Medford, Oregon) by killing off fictional characters. There was one detour on April’s path to destruction: when she was 12 she sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to noted children’s author Roald Dahl. He liked it so much he showed it to his editor, who asked if she could publish it in Puffin Post, an international children’s magazine.

The first book she wrote attracted no interest from agents. Her second book got her an agent (and they’re still together many years and many books later) and nice rejection letters from editors. Her third book didn’t even get nice rejection letters from editors. Her fourth book, Circles of Confusion, sold in three days. It was like an eight-year overnight success. For many years she worked full time while writing a book a year and being a mom. At the beginning of 2008 she was lucky enough to be able to quit her day job.

April’s books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, won the Edgar Award, the Anthony Award, and the Oregon Book Award, and have been chosen twice for Booksense by the independent bookseller of America. They have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, German Polish, French, Russian, Farsi, and Turkish.

April holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and a purple belt in kung fu and kajukenbo. She is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and is certified in Wilderness Medicine. April has also trained with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team.

Please join us at TaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215, in person or via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. A social time begins at 7:00 pm, with the program beginning at 7:30 pm. Free parking is available in the block across from the entrance. Bus line #15 will drop you off right by the door.

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Macavity Awards Announced

The awards were presented by the Mystery Readers International on October 7, 2024.

Best Mystery
All the Sinners Bleed, by S.A. Cosby

Best First Mystery
The Peacock and the Sparrow, by I.S. Berry

Best Mystery Short Story
Ticket to Ride, by Dru Ann Love and Kristopher Zgorski

Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Mystery
The Mistress of Bhatia House, by Sujata Massey

Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction
Finders: Justice, Faith and Identity in Irish Crime, by Anjili Babbar

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For Your Viewing Pleasure…

By Jeannette Voss

The Long Shadow – Acorn

This series is seven episodes long and is based on the hunt for the “Yorkshire Ripper” in the 1960’s. This serial killer attacked and killed multiple women over many years before he was caught. The drama points out that not all those who were attacked were prostitutes, and there was a different attitude toward their deaths than there would be now, one hopes. A police procedural that humanizes the victims.

The Marlow Murder Club – PBS/Masterpiece

As I write this, only one episode has been broadcast, but there will be a total of four.

Judith Potts is a retired archaeologist who overhears her neighbor being shot while she is wild swimming in the Thames. She contacts the police, they come to investigate but find nothing. She knows what she heard, so begins her own investigation. In the following episodes she will be joined by two other women who help solve the mystery. This was filmed almost entirely in the real town of Marlow, which looks like it would be a fun place to visit.

Moonflower Murders – PBS/Masterpiece

Both the screenplay and the book it was based on were written by Anthony Horowitz. It continues the story of Susan Ryland, book editor in The Magpie Murders, and now living in Crete and managing a hotel. Susan is hired to solve the mystery of a woman’s disappearance from the Moonflower Hotel. She is aided in her search by Atticus Pundt, a character in the books that she edited. Very entertaining and the scenery and costumes are a feast for your eyes.

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New and Noteworthy

(Summaries provided by the publishers)

What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce has taken on the mentorship of her odious moon-faced cousin Undine, who has come to live at Buckshaw following the death of her mother. Undine’s main talent, aside from cultivating disgusting habits, seems to be raising Flavia’s hackles, although in her best moments she shows potential for trespassing, trickery, and other assorted mayhem.

When Major Greyleigh, a local recluse and former hangman, is found dead after a breakfast of poisonous mushrooms, suspicion falls on the de Luce family’s longtime cook, Mrs. Mullet. After all, wasn’t it she who’d picked the mushrooms, cooked the omelet, and served it to Greyleigh moments before his death? “I have to admit,” says Flavia, an expert in the chemical nature of poisons, “that I’d been praying to God for a jolly good old-fashioned mushroom poisoning. Not that I wanted anyone to die, but why give a girl a gift such as mine without giving her the opportunity to use it?”

But Flavia knows the beloved Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Together with Dogger, estate gardener and partner-in-crime, and the obnoxious Undine, Flavia sets out to find the real killer and clear Mrs. Mullet’s good name. Little does she know that following the case’s twists and turns will lead her to a most surprising discovery—one with the power to upend her entire life.

The Man in Black & Other Stories by Elly Griffiths

Have you been wondering what happened to your favorite characters Ruth Galloway and Harry Nelson? Dive into this fabulous collection of stories to find out.

Here are stories to suit all tastes. There are ghost stories and mini cozy mysteries; tales of psychological suspense and poignant vignettes of love and loss. There’s a creepy horror story to make you shiver and a tale narrated by Flint, Ruth Galloway’s cat, to make you smile.

There is truly something for everyone in this collection of bite-sized morsels for all thriller fans.

A Game of Lies by Clare Macintosh

Stranded in the Welsh mountains, seven reality show contestants have no idea what they’ve signed up for.

Each of these strangers has a secret. If another player can guess the truth, they won’t just be eliminated—they’ll be exposed live on the air. The stakes are higher than they’d ever imagined, and they’re trapped.

The disappearance of a contestant wasn’t supposed to be part of the drama. Detective Ffion Morgan has to put aside what she’s watched on screen and find out who these people really are, knowing she can’t trust any of them.

And when a murderer strikes, Ffion knows every one of her suspects has an alibi… and a secret worth killing for.

Also recently released:

The Waiting, by Michael Connelly

The Blue Hour, by Paula Hawkins

Den of Iniquity, by J.A. Jance

The Grey Wolf, by Louise Penny

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Bad First Sentences

The English Department of San Jose State University has sponsored the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest since 1982. It was named in honor of George Earl Bulwer-Lytton, who began his novel, Paul Clifford, with “It was a dark and stormy night.”

Here are two of the winning entries:

Grand Prize – Lawrence Person

She had a body that reached out and slapped my face like a five-pound ham-hock tossed from a speeding truck.

The Grand Panjandrum’s Special Award – Joel Phillips

Mrs. Higgins’ body was found in the pantry, bludgeoned with a potato ricer and lying atop a fifty-pound sack of Yukon golds, her favorite for making gnocchi, though some people consider them too moist for this purpose.

Check out the rest of the 2024 winners here.

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Spotted Owl Committee Busy Reading

By Jeannette Voss

Our committee is in the process of reading the 68 books we have identified as written by authors living in the Pacific Northwest and published in 2024. If you meet the criteria to have your book considered, please check with me to make sure we are aware of it. You can reach me at: jlvoss48@gmail.com

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Member News

Share Your Member News

Friends of Mystery is happy to publish news and press releases from our members in our Member News section, with the following considerations:

• The news must be related to mystery or true crime writing, films, and television, as well as non-fiction examinations of the mystery genre.
• Friends of Mystery will not be able to edit announcements, and will publish them as provided.
• Friends of Mystery will include one image with each announcement, if provided.
• Friends of Mystery is not responsible for the content of news announcements, and we reserve the right to not publish any announcements which we feel will reflect poorly on the organization and do not advance the organization’s mission.

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Buy Books by Friends of Mystery Speakers Online at Annie Bloom’s Books

If you want to order any of our speaker’s books, you can find them at our special Friends of Mystery page at Annie Bloom’s Books!

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Membership Renewal

It’s never too late to consider renewing your membership to Friends of Mystery! Dues are $20.00 annually. FOM is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Dues and additional donations are deductible to the full extent of the law. Please mail your check, made out to Friends of Mystery, to PO Box 8251, Portland, Oregon 97207. Your newsletter will be sent electronically unless otherwise requested.

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Submissions Needed

Members and readers are encouraged to submit book or film reviews, comments on authors, and recommendations for books to read or questions about mysteries, crime fiction and fact. If you have suggestions of mysteries worth sharing, please contact the editor at: jlvoss48@gmail.com.

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Now that you’ve finished reading the newsletter it’s time to read a good mystery!