Episodes
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 11, Marco Polo is the featured game. This is Marco Mayhem by Karina Bartow
PRE-ROLL
Today's author is Karina Bartow. “Marco! Mayhem!” is part of Karina’s Unde(a)feated Detective Series, which follows deaf detective, Minka Avery. Minka’s always striving to rise above her deafness—as well as her family’s antics—to crack the case. To catch up on the Avery family, check out Husband in Hiding, Brother of Interest, and Accidental Allies, available now. For further information on Karina and her books, visit KarinaBartow.com.
DELIBERATION
Minka needs our help to get Marco to his Polo. Here are the pool characters affiliated with Xavier Maccabbee:
• Hope, the girlfriend who kissed and made up with Xavier
• Clinton, pool manager and Hope’s ex who defended her
• Leon Fleming, bounty hunter who worked an alternate deal with Xavier
• TC, possibly Tanner Cowen, Xavier’s boss who wasn’t happy with Xavier’s work.
Here are the facts as Minka and her partner Cael know:
• Hope and Xavier went into the pool for a game of Marco Polo. In the middle of the game, Xavier left the pool and was later found dead in the pool shed from a blow to the head with a crank handle.
• The facility video showed something off camera drawing Xavier out of the pool. It also showed a male in a hoodie sneaking around, later leaving, taking Xavier’s car.
• Clinton defended his ex, Hope, when she argued with Xavier. He later spied on the couple when they were “making up” in the hot tub. Other than that, he was working.
• Clinton claims he had no linger affection for Hope. They had both moved on.
• Leon Fleming recognized Xavier as a skip and approached him to apprehend him. Xavier supposedly offered him a better pay day. A dead Xavier wasn’t worth any thing.
• TC made demands for Xavier to finish a job. The addresses in the text chain were locations where cars were stolen from.
Who should Minka and Cael set their sights on?
PRINT & E-BOOKS
A reminder to mystery readers, check out our print and e-books. The companion book for Seasons 4, 5 and 6 are available in e-book and trade paperback from online retailers. This season’s book is being released in two parts. Part one released in March 2024 and Part two in September. Buy one for you and one for a mystery lover you love. The dimes and quarters from books sales do support the podcast and keep Jack in tacos and headphones.
Season Anthologies on Amazon
ABOUT Marco Polo
Marco Polo, as you got from today’s story, is an aqua “blind man’s bluff” – the tag game, not the poker game. According...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is The Nowhere Girls by Dana Perry
TG Wolff Review
The Nowhere Girls is a cold case, crime thriller. FBI Agent Nikki Cassidy has returned home to visit David Monroe in prison. On this 15th anniversary, her sister’s killer has an agenda of his own and Nikki is the key.
Bottom line: The Nowhere Girls is for you if you like serial killer crime thrillers where the past is the key to the present.
Two strengths of this story lie in the complexity of the crime and the pacing of its reveal. As indicated in the backcover synopsis (i.e. not a spoiler) the crime here is the kidnapping and murder of not one young girl but several. It begins with the cold case investigation of the murder of Caitlin, Nikki’s sister, 15 years ago and is ramped up with the disappearance of another 13-year-old, Natalie, on the anniversary of Caitlin’s disappearance. While revisiting the site where her sister’s body was discovered, Nikki and team find another body – this one from a girl who disappeared from other state. That element of cross state boundaries enables Nikki to be officially assigned to the case and her team to come in. The evolution of the mystery is deliberately paced and satisfying with nearly every chapter counting.
This is the first in the Nikki Cassidy series with the next two already released. I have not read the others in the series. For a first story, Nikki is well developed. Readers can see from early on how her greatest strength is also her greatest weakness. Nikki is one of those characters wo has an abundance of confidence in her own judgement and abilities. This gives her the steadfastness to stick to a case where others would have turned away but also causes her to make poor and selfish decisions where other people pay the consequences.
The supporting cast in this story are largely the characters associated Caitlin’s murder including the convicted killer, his wife/lawyer, and the ME and prosecutor at the time. The characters are distinctly drawn, making it easy for me to both remember and differentiate them.
The logic of the mystery holds up reasonably well when looked at from back-to-front. But. There is no evidence laid out in the story leading to the Big Bad. Instead, the Big Bad self-reveals in the culmination. While this leads to a wrap-up that is satisfying to the reader, ultimately Nikki didn’t solve the mystery.
When we look at how the main character, Nikki, drove the story, there are mixed results. Nikki is focused on the cold case of her sister’s murder while there is an active hunt for missing 13-year-old Natalie. Understanding that Nikki has convinced herself there is a connection between Caitlin and Natalie, there is no sense of urgency on Nikki’s part to find Natalie. After the first interview with Natalie’s parents, she is focused on what happened 15-years ago. Nikki drives the cold case investigation, yes, but not the missing person in imminent danger.
Readers will enjoy this crime thriller best if they go into it with the expectation of a cold case crime thriller rather than a missing person thriller. The discovery that there is a serial killer and answers to Caitlin’s murder are the central story; the search for Natalie is not.
The dynamic storytelling, dramatic pacing, and satisfying ending make THE NOWHERE GIRLS great entertainment for lovers of crime thrillers.
The Nowhere Girls was released from Bookouture and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from
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Missing episodes?
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 10, a scavenger hunt is the featured game. This is Hunting for Clues by Nick Andreychuk
PRE-ROLL
This is TG Wolff. Today we welcome author Nick Andreychuk to the podcast.
Nick has written award-winning short stories for magazines and anthologies. His stories, which range from classic whodunnits to hardboiled crime to suspense thrillers. Find his work by searching for his name (Andreychuk) at your favorite on-line book retailers.
DELIBERATION
Well, it doesn’t seem like Chris needs our help solving the murder of Sam Jenkins, but Becker and Launek do. Here are the suspects they are working with:
• Bob Wu, Seattle local who got drenched waiting for his cab
• Wayne Smith, Tacoma resident who drove in for the convention
• John Reddy, Seattle transplant from across the pond
Here’s what we know:
• On Reddy’s suggestion, the four newly acquainted men were working together on the scavenger hunt. Each had one last item to find. They left Sam’s room together, planning to meet back up in the lobby at noon.
• Jenkins was found by the other men after he did not show up at the meeting spot. He died in his hotel room, suffocated on the TV remote control.
• Two front desk clerks testified that two men were seen returning around eleven. They could not tell who. Despite being different ethnicities, the men were of similar stature and style.
• Jenkins had bought several expensive pieces of memorabilia as well as signed comic books and photos.
• Something Jenkins had bought was discovered on each of the suspects. Reddy had the Ironman gizmo. Smith had the Panther mask, which he claimed Jenkins loaned him. Wu had signed shoes, which he also said was loaned to him.
Time to use your Spidey sense. Who should Becker and Launek arrest?
PRINT & E-Books
The companion book for Season 4, 5 and 6 are available in e-book and trade paperback from online retailers. This season’s book is being released in two parts. Part one released in March 2024 and Part two in September. Buy one for you and one for a mystery lover you love. The dimes and quarters from books sales do support the podcast and keep Jack in tacos and headphones.
Season Anthologies on Amazon
ABOUT Scavenger Hunts
According to Britannica.com, America writer and hostess Elsa Maxwell is credited with creating scavenger hunts as a party game. Maxwell was renown for your parties both for the A-list guests and for the novelties she created to amuse them. Maxwell was an interesting, self-made woman. Born in 1883, she supported herself as a theatre pianist and accompanist while in her teens. She worked with a Shakesperean troupe, in vaudeville, and in music halls, all...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is Rise to Rebellion by Julie Bates
TG Wolff Review
Rise to Rebellion is a historical mystery. July 1776. Jeremy Butler is called to investigate threats to the Congress delegation. The attacks seem to come from nowhere and everywhere at once and no one within the households are safe. Jeremy finds an unlikely ally in Hannah White, a Quaker, a widow, and a businesswoman. Together, they unknowingly corner the villain, only to have to fight their way out.
Bottom line: Rise to Rebellion is for you if you like mysteries equally braided with historical and women’s fiction
Strengths of the story. The premise of the story is one of the shining stars. Set in July 1776, the war for Independence is palpable to all. Everyone has a side and being on the side of the patriots isn’t the easy decision history leads us to believe. Bates shows us the working class side of Philadelphia through the household of Hannah Payne White and the farm where Faith Payne Clarke has returned to. The storytelling of the life of unmarried women, freed persons, and enslaved persons humanizes the history, showing us strong, capable people doing what they can to not just survive, but live and thrive.
Bates certainly did her research in the history and culture of the era. It, too, is a shining star. A note from the author talked about her commitment to historical accuracy and the one liberty she took with the story to make it doable for Jeremy. She apologizes to history buffs who may be confused by the change. As someone who calls out unreasonable timeframes, I appreciate she noted it and took steps to make the story plausible.
Jeremy Butler’s story is the mystery. As described, he has gone to Philadelphia to investigate incidents affected members of the Continental Congress. John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin believe someone is working to subvert their cause.
Faith Clark’s story is women’s fiction. Faith returns home to visit her dying mother, reuniting with the father and siblings she left behind when she married and moved to Virginia. There is some intrigue—the discovery of a murdered neighbor and of an unknown oldest sister—but the story arc is focused on Faith coming to terms with her upbringing and her mother.
Hannah Clark’s story is a mix of drama, romance, and mystery. She picks up with question of an unknown sister and follows down leads as she is juggling running her business selling china settings and taking care of her guest, Jeremy Butler, who returns far too often bleeding form some place or another.
All three characters are engaging and likeable. I am sure readers will vary on which character and storyline is their favorite.
This is the third book in the Faith Clarke Mystery series. I have not read the first two. This story stands alone, being set a year after the second, and is a different location.
Where the story fell short of ideal:
There are a few places where RISE TO REBELLION falls short of an ideal historical mystery. While this is part of the Faith Clarke mystery series, Faith’s storyline is women’s fiction and is only present for about half the book. At that point, her sister Hannah picks up the storytelling, taking it in a different direction. The mystery would be more accurately characterized as a Jeremy Butler mystery. The story alternates chapters between Jeremy and Faith/ Hannah. Mystery lovers may be left wanting more. Readers who like multi-faceted stories will enjoy the mystery, historical, and women’s fiction weave of the story....
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 9, Headbands is the featured game. This is A Head for Murder by Rick Ollerman
PRE-ROLL
Rick Ollerman is the author of four novels, Turnabout, Shallow Secrets, Truth Always Kills, and Mad Dog Barked, as well as the non-fiction collection, Hardboiled, Noir and Gold Medals. He was also the editor of Down & Out: The Magazine and has written numerous short stories and edited several crime fiction anthologies.
DELIBERATION
Detectives Spencer and Flores have a club house classic on their hands to figure out who strangled Lindsay Strauss. Let’s pull out our caddy skills and read this green. Here are the suspect by couples:
• Jeff Actone, Lindsay’s boyfriend who flew in from their home in Milwaukee
• Chad Willette, flew to the party from a business trip
• Nancy Willette, flew to the party from their Chicago home
• William ‘Trip’ Marten, flew in from Worcester, MA
• Jill Marten, flew in with her husband from Worcester, MA
Here is what we know:
• Lindsay Strauss was expected to arrive at the golf resort around 8pm. Her boyfriend, Jeff, and her friends repeatedly tried to reach her with no luck.
• Hotel staff report Lindsay did arrive around 8pm, but instead of going to the room she shared with Jeff, she opted to stow her bags and go to the bar to find her friends.
• The next morning, her body was discovered in the golf cart barn. She had been strangled and was somewhat hidden behind fallen bags of mulch. Despite the rain, her hair and clothes were dry. No umbrella was found.
• While waiting for Lindsay, a game of headbands was played. Trip was the leader. Jill, Jeff, and Nancy played throughout. Chad went to the buffet for snacks and played after he returned.
• On Jill’s first turn, ‘Jeff’ had been written on the Post-It. In guessing, Jill revealed that she saw Jeff at the cart barn the previous night. He had been soaking wet from the rain.
• On the evening in question, Jill had walked along the paths using a golf umbrella. Nancy stayed inside the resort, first going to her room with Chad, then going to the bar without him. Trip went to the pro shop and talked with the staff. Jeff wandered without a destination or umbrella.
• Nancy thought something was “off” about Jeff, suspecting he was dealing with something personal.
• Jill reported during their last conversation, Lindsay indicated this wasn’t going to be a happy trip for two of the couples.
Whose story is soaking wet?
PRINT & E-BOOKs
A reminder to mystery readers, check out our print and e-books. The companion book for Seasons 4, 5 and 6 are available in e-book and trade paperback from online retailers. This season’s book is being released in two parts. Part one released in March 2024 and Part two in September. Buy one for you and one for a mystery lover you love. The dimes and quarters from books sales do support the podcast and...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is Wet, Warm & Noisy by David A. Willson.
TG Wolff Review
Wet, Warm & Noisy is an psychological thriller. Alaska State Trooper Jake Ward is stuck on light duty and a polygraph assignment is welcome break from the monotony. A woman was arrested breaking into a warehouse. Her defense: she was kidnapped. Ward’s job is to determine if she is a suspect or a victim. As he is realizing something is out of the ordinary, she is broken out of jail. Now a court services officer is fighting for his life, the woman is on the run with the shooter, and there is no way in hell Ward is staying out of the case.
Bottom line: Wet, Warm & Noisy is for you if you like psychological thrillers with a side of medical sci-fi.
Strengths of the story. The premise of the story is simple and intriguing. There was something wrong with Belle Anderson. Any drugs would have worked out of her system, so what was the explanation for the way she would freeze up? She was alternately oblivious and hyperly aware. A mix of curiosity and duty drive Ward to investigate Anderson, leading him into a world of study on the brain and human consciousness. This is a psychological thriller, but if it were a mystery, it would be a whatisgoingon. Willson does an excellent job of grabbing the reader by the curiosity and never letting go.
Jake Ward is a likeable character. He’s a thinking man, not an action hero. He has survived surgery and treatments for pancreatic cancer and is determined to get the rest of his life back. Ward is a normal guy, sometimes making decisions that put his back in a corner. He drives the story, continually pushing on who Belle Anderson is and what her circumstances are. If Ward would have backed off, the story would have ended. His actions challenge the bad guys (BG) world, forcing BG to react and Ward to overcome another obstacle.
Belle Anderson is not a stereotypical character. She is the narrator in a few chapters, giving us a peak into the BG world that Ward doesn’t have. She will challenge readers to decide if she is a criminal or a victim. Belle went into the BG world willingly but, Unlike Ward, was not able to drive her narrative, becoming a victim. I cheered for Belle but other readers could easily go the other way. Just recognizing this means Willson did an excellent job crafting her.
The Alaskan setting is richly described, showing the challenges of protecting the peace in such a large territory. The supporting characters are well developed and act true to their nature. I especially liked that the other Alaska State Troopers acted as a professional and supportive organization. Meaning, I liked that there was not the trope of the a-hole boss who the hero is battling.
.Where the story fell short of ideal: There isn’t much to pick on in this one. The logic, when examined from the backend forward, is a pretty straight line with no breaks. That’s not always the case with thrillers as they seek to surprise the reader with a twist. Ward put in the time and sweat equity to unearth the clues, using the technology and other resource available to the troopers. The story largely avoided use of coincidences. There was one, single scene where I didn’t follow how the BGs got to a certain place. Could have been convenient for the story or me just missing a key detail.
Willson’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the story to unfold. There were times when I wanted it to move faster, but that was primarily driven by my curiosity wanting to know...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 8, marbles is the featured game. This is GOING FOR ALL THE MARBLES by Debra H. Goldstein
PRE-ROLL
Hi everyone, TG Wolff here. Today we welcome author Debra H. Goldstein to Mysteries to Die For.
Debra is the author of Kensington's Sarah Blair mystery series. Sarah was married at eighteen, divorced at twenty-eight, and only came away from the marriage with RahRah, her Siamese cat. For a woman who is more frightened of the kitchen than murder, Sarah never imagined how hard juggling working as a law firm receptionist, helping with her twin sister’s restaurant dreams, sort-of dating, and solving murders would be. That’s why, for the sometimes sleuth, the series contains only simple recipes, like Jell-O in a Can. Start with ONE TASTE TOO MANY and nibble your way to FIVE BELLES TO MANY. The Link to Debra’s website is in the shownotes or look for her books from your favorite bookseller.
https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com
DELIBERATION
Detective Stephens is lining up her shot. Let’s help her and Chief Rollins find the loose marble. Here are the people Stephens is considering:
• Baseball Player/Arnie, a former mibster and marble collector who is following his son
• Sheila, mibster mechanic who could have been a professional marbles hustler
• Patrick, the down on his luck truck driver who likes to stir up trouble
• Mike, former gang member who was one of Sheila’s early marbles club members
Here are the facts as Chief Rollins and Detective Stephens know them:
• For the past four months, someone has been using something to damage windshields. A loud crack is reported but no projectiles have been found.
• Stephens speculates the projectile is a marble that rolls away after hitting the windshield.
• While the shots were taken all around town, they consistently came from an angle above the victim’s windshield.
• The police profile of the suspect was likely male, a loner, and having specific or unusual interests.
• Patrick, Mike, Arnie (Baseball Player), and Sheila are known for participating in slingshot marbles competitions.
• Patrick is a truck driver taking jobs with no limited lifting due to a back injury. He is angry at his disability being denied and has been caught cheating twice at marbles.
• Mike was in a gang in his youth before he found Sheila and marbles. He went into the military but was dishonorably discharged for stealing a jeep. He currently drives a Camaro.
• Baseball Player, aka Arnie, used to be a top player. He is now supporting his son and his marble dreams for as long as he has them. He gave his son his shooter, which was valuable. He drives a Tahoe.
• Sheila is the matriarch of the local marble community. She organizes the events and gives kids a place to go. She has worked hard for every success she’s...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is One Dead, Two To Go by Elena Hartwell
TG Wolff Review
One Dead, Two To Go is a PI Mystery. Eddie Shoes’ latest client is the worst. She lies. She cheats. And now, just after the body of her husband’s mistress is found, she’s gone missing. Eddie has to go find her…it’s the only way she’s going to get paid.
Bottom line: One Dead, Two To Go is for you if you like comedic PI mysteries where good sleuthing goes toe to toe with bad luck.
Strengths of the story. The storytelling style is the first thing I noticed. It’s fun, free, and fast-paced. Written in the same vein as Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, Hartwell’s Eddie Shoes is serious about her work. She has to be to manage the chaos around her.
Eddie Shoes, born Edwina Zapata Shultz, is the daughter of card shark and a mafioso. She’s a woman who uses her brains to make a living as a PI. She isn’t a fighter but she is tenacious and willing to go where good sense doesn’t tread. She was well developed and an easy character to cheer for.
Eddie’s mother drops in for an uninvited extended visit and decides to help out. Chava is different from most mother characters. She was 16 when Eddie was born, so this mama is only in her mid-forties. She is a slight of hand pro in addition to card player and has the same tenacity as her daughter. Chava becomes Eddie’s ad hoc assistant, bringing her own skills and connections to the case.
The story has a murder but the plot is focused on the disappearance of Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings. Between a cheating husband and a mystery man, it seems all but certain that Kendra was kidnapped. Before Eddie can put the pieces together…she has to find them. Kendra’s life isn’t what she painted it to be. Her husband isn’t what she thought he was. And then there’s that mystery man again.
Where the story fell short of ideal: With comedic style stories, it’s often hard to check all the boxes, but this one does. The bones of the kidnapping mystery are strong with the actions of the parties being consistent with their motivations. I thought about the end for several days after reading it, following each thread to see if they stood up, and they do.
Eddie drives her part of the plot and, in doing so, forces the bad guys to act. She could have stopped looking for Kendra, and the story would have ended. Eddie, with the help of Chava, pushed this story to a satisfying end.
One Dead, Two To Go was released in 2023 from Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers. The next two books in the series – Two Heads Are Deader Than One and Three Strikes, You’re Dead are also available
About Elena Hartwell
www.elenahartwell.com
Elena Hartwell spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 7, Dungeons and Dragons is the featured game. This is Death of a Dungeon Master by Erica Obey
PRE-ROLL
Erica’s currently hard at work on THE DECOVERLEY RIDDLE, the sequel to THE BROOKLYN NORTH MURDER In the meantime, why not check out another Watson & Doyle adventure, “Dead Man’s Switch,” in Mysteries to Die For Season 6: Move it or Lose It?
DELIBERATION
The fates were not smiling upon Darrell “The Dungeonator” Mahoney this day. But good fortune shines upon him with the sharp wits of Watson, Doyle, Mack Byrne and us. Here are the characters we have met, in order of introduction.
• Gorgo Manglebit, the gnome who was more interested in ratings than Darrell
• Alidor Silverleaf, the elf who likewise was in it for the viewers
• Tyrion Quickster, the halfling who was out $5,000 for designing his avatar
• Trixie the Mage Trainee, who was getting harassed for her deal with the pet gem start-up
• Tim the Enchanter, the head of the IT Lab who is rumored to be a hacker in his spare time
• Percy “Catstaff” Giles, the professor of poetry and reportedly powerful bard
Here is what we know:
• Mary Watson and Doyle were called to the auditorium by an alert indicating an IT issue at the D&D event. Tim had set up and was digitally running the event and reported the system crash was caused by too many people signing on simultaneously.
• Darrell was reading the introduction to the dungeon when Catstaff Zoom-bombed the event, challenging Darrell to a riddle off.
• Darrell was angry and responded by attempting to unplug the power to the virtual audience. The cord he grabbed was stripped to the wires. He died on the stage by electrocution, not by mocking as the audience really did believe.
• Tim testified that The Dungeonator and Catstaff were bitter rivals. The 176 videos supported his story.
• Percy “Catstaff” Giles testified he had moved past the rivalry and hadn’t interacted with The Dungeonator in over two years. He denied Zoom-bombing Darrell and killing him by any method.
• The gnome, elf, halfling, and mage trainee were sitting at the table on stage during the event. All had reason to be upset with Darrell.
• The video of Darrell’s death had a backdoor to a virtual world where some character had been taking bets on the outcome of the D&D game.
Byrne doesn’t have bard dread, but he does have handcuffs. On whom should he use them?
PRINT AND E-BOOK
A reminder to mystery readers, check out our print and e-books. The companion book for Season 4, 5 and 6 are available in e-book and trade paperback from online retailers. This season’s book is being released in two parts. Part one released in March 2024 and Part two in September. Buy one for you and one for a mystery lover you love. The dimes and quarters from books sales do support the podcast and keep Jack in tacos and headphones.
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is The Taste of Datura.
TG Wolff Review
The Taste of Datura is an adventure. Nick Terenzi purchased an intricate brass bracelet some time ago in Rome. He tried to sell it and when he couldn’t, we went to the black market. Now, the Egyptians, the Turks, a Spanish professor, the UN, and a sexy flourist all want what Nick has. Nick doesn’t know what’s special about the bracelet, only that it’s his key to staying alive.
Bottom line: The Taste of Datura is for you if you like adventures building off mythology with a touch of paranormal.
Strengths of the story. The strength of the story is the composition itself. The Taste of Datura is listed on Amazon in the fiction / literature category. This fits as Datura is a little bit of everything. There is a mystery surrounding the bracelet – what makes it special, why major players want it. There is adventure as Nick loses the bracelet, fights to get it back, and transports it to Cairo. There is mythology in the roots of the bracelet, drawing in both Greek and Roman stories. There is thrill as the few people Nick trusts start dying and Nick knows he's next. There is paranormal when Nick meets Laura, a medium whose visions show her snippets of the bracelet’s turbulent past. This story gives readers a lot to unpack.
Nick is a likeable lead. He isn’t a professional and doesn’t have “people” or resources. He has a decent amount of common sense, unless he’s around one particular beautiful woman, which is pretty funny.
Laura is interesting in her own right. Her role isn’t traditional. She isn’t a sidekick or a partner, she isn’t a love interest. The best description may be a companion storyteller as she has takes the lead in her sections in a manner similar to a romance (but without the romance). She helps us as readers get a sense of the history. She does passout a lot and her accounts to Nick are less detailed than we get with the vision, giving us a clearer vision (pun!) than Nick.
The pacing of the story is good for keeping the reader’s attention. The author uses a few techniques including, as you heard, starting the story first with the past, then the near future, before settling into the present. I appreciated the epilogue which finished telling the 1890 history, giving us a satisfying end with information that Nick will never have.
The Napoli setting was affectionately written by someone who loves the area. The detail in the location, the food and drink, and the people reflect someone who has spent time there, not just researched on GoogleEarth.
Where the story fell short of ideal: The logic of the story holds up. In an adventure story, logic isn’t as core as in a mystery, it’s more about the hunt or the chase. Nick is more of a reactive hero than a driving force, responding to the actions of the various bad guys, again, common with adventures.
Nick’s actions are true to character. There is only one character whose actions, once the fully scope is revealed, doesn’t hold true. Interestingly, those around this character comment something like “I don’t know why they did that.” It wasn’t bad as much as weak.
The editing on this could have been sharper. There were little things that jumped out as I was reading, such as Nick grabbing his left torso and one of my kindle pages having sixteen sentences beginning with the word “He.” These weren’t big detractors of an overall fun story but something readers are likely to notice.
The Taste of...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 6b, checkers is the featured game. This is A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro
We are in part two of A Checkered Past. Investigator Stef Kopriva is on a case. The guy he occasionally played checkers with in the park across from his house is dead. Retiree Mick Darabont supposedly died from injuries incurred when he fell in the bathroom and hit his head. The police say accident, the daughter, Lula Tieton, isn’t buying it. At the funeral reception, Stef interviewed Lula’s brothers, Donald and Erin, and Mick’s apprentice Mars Claver. We pick up the story as Stef returns home after the funeral.
DELIBERATION
Stef Kopriva isn’t just working a case, he’s working for truth for his checker playing friend, Mick Darabont. He needs your help to shift through the truth, lies, and distortions. Here are the people Stef’s met, in the order he met them:
• Lula Tieton, nee Darabont, the daughter who held a grudge
• Donald Darabont, the oldest who always needed daddy’s approval
• Erin Darabont, the youngest who was blamed for his mother’s death
• Mars Claver, the apprentice who was treatment more like an indentured servant
• Sally Grayson, the nice lady from next door who was Mick’s kinda girlfiend
• Heidi Skellige, the cougar from next other door who was Mick’s other kinda girlfriend
The Mick Darabont that Stef knew was different from the man he discovered. Here is what he now knows:
• Mick Darabont died in his bathroom. The official disposition is that he fell, hit his head, and died. Mick left no will.
• Mick Darabont was reputed to be a tyrant at work and at home. Though reportedly having money, he lived in a simple apartment and had the only key.
• State law will divide the estate equally among the children unless extenuating circumstances change the rules.
• Daughter Lula Tieton is raising doubts. She has no proof other than her father is dead and people hated him.
• Donald, the eldest, owns a business that Lula says is struggling. His house was on the better side of nice.
• Erin, the youngest, is the free spirit who is totally happy with his barista lifestyle.
• Lula, the middle child, is either revered or despised by others. The latter see her as conniving, sneaky.
• Mars Claver was the faithful employee who worked himself tireless for the ungrateful Mick. He had no respect for Lula.
• Sally and Mick were good friends with benefits. For years, she cooked dinner and they watched movies several times a week. She did not appreciate Heidi nosing in.
• Heidi and Mick were the real deal, according to Heidi. She saw Sally as ‘the other woman’.
• Sally shared that all three of Mick’s children were selfish and ungrateful. She didn’t think his sons would kill him and thought Lula would get someone else to do it.
• Sally shared that Mars Claver was very intimidated by Mick. She said no way he would try to kill Mick.
• Apartment...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 6a, checkers is the featured game. This is A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro
Today’s story is a double episode. We will hear the first half, then we’ll be back next week for the second half and Deliberation.
PRE ROLL
This week’s author is Frank Zafiro
Stefan Kopriva is a disgraced police officer-turned-investigator. In the years since he left the police department after a terrible mistake, his life has been a slow journey toward redemption. Now, a decade and a half removed from his greatest failure, he is still not entirely there. But he is closer. In this story, his involvement in the investigation at hand isn't something he seeks out, but his sense of duty to the victim is an underlying reason for doing so. Kopriva's version of "duty" is still very guilt-driven, and so he sometimes ends up in situations he'd be better off avoiding. But life, much like he discovers is also true of the game of checkers, isn't as simple and straightforward as we often think... or wish. Find more Stef Kopriva stories on Frank’s website and your favorite book retailers. https://www.frankzafiro.com/
DELIBERATION
No deliberation for this episode...look for it in Part 2
ABOUT Frank Zafiro
https://www.frankzafiro.com/
Frank Zafiro writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. During his life, he has been a military intelligence linguist, a police officer (a twenty year career, retiring as a captain), and an independent consultant and instructor. He has taught both writing and police related topics at the collegiate level and professional venues. Through it all, he has been a writer. To date, he has published 48 novels, over 100 short stories, and appeared in over 50 anthologies. He lives in Redmond, Oregon, with his wife, Kristi, who is a teacher.
WRAP UP
That wraps this episode of Mysteries to Die For. Support our show by subscribing, telling a mystery lover about us, and giving us a five-star review. Check out our website TGWolff.com/Podcast for links to this season’s authors.
Mysteries to Die For is hosted by TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. A Checkered Past was written by Frank Zafiro. Music and production are by Jack Wolff. Episode art is by TG Wolff. Join us next week the conclusion of A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles.
TG Wolff Review
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a comedic, cozy mystery. Babs Norman is a Hollywood stunner, but instead of gracing the silver screen, she’s gumshoeing it through the star-studded streets. Hollywood’s movers and shakers are reeling as canine stars and faithful companions alike are disappearing. Babs must mingle with Tinseltown’s elite to find the hand that holds the leash.
Bottom line: Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is for you if you like cozy-styled mysteries and fun-filled romps through the golden age of Hollywood.
Strengths of the story. One of the shining stars (ha!) of the story was the 1940 Hollywood setting. Crowens took us into the glitz and glamour of the parties, the mansions, and the sets. It was one of the most unique and detailed settings I think I have ever read. The depth of Crowens imagination is a remarkable as she brings a lost world back to life.
The characters surrounding the mystery are just as creatively detailed. Basil Rathbone of Sherlock Holmes fame and his Watson, Nigel Bruce. Myrna Loy and William Powell. Crowens takes what could have been cardboard cut outs of the icons and gives them family, relationship troubles, friends, and secrets – just like normal people. I don’t know how much research Crowens did or if the result was pure imagination, but it was a sweet result.
The character of Babs Norman and her partner Guy Brandt are a good, functional team. They were witty and engaging, but largely played the straight role to the Hollywood icons. I do look to see how much a detective drives the story. In the first half of the book, Babs goes about traditional Q&A which doesn’t yield much success. Then she decides to take a risk, grabbing control of the story and getting it moving forward.
This story has been classified as a cozy, won awards as a comedy, and listed as a historical. The steady passing and clean storytelling style is a real treat.
Where the story fell short of ideal: When it came to the motive behind the dognappings, it was as solid as it was creative. But inside of that, there were elements that felt underplayed or inconsistent. The number of dogs missing and their fame increases but there is no outcry, it isn’t picked up in the press, etc. It was believable when it was two dogs, but as it grew, I felt like the story didn’t grow with it.
While it is critical that the detective drives their story, the logic of the actions also matters. There was a point where Babs had earned her big break in the case, and then the story took a doglegged turn. She abandoned her first success for a half-heard reference. I had issues with the sudden redirection that seemed to fly in the face of the evidence.
In the category of personal preference, I struggled with the breakdown of the chapters. There are 38 chapters, most of which are seven to ten pages. Then three of the last four chapters were over 20 pages each with subsections. It confused me as I read as I was conditioned to expect the short, quick hitting chapters.
All in all, this was a clean, fun read.
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles was released from Level Best Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 5, Indian Poker or Blind Man’s Bluff is the featured game. This is A Forced Card by Ed Teja
If you like a taste of the surreal with your mysteries, check out the struggle that private investigator Matt Cramer faces. He is solving crimes in rural Silver City, New Mexico, where doing almost anything involves dealing with the magic of local witches and at least one shaman, the secrets of ranchers and desert rats, small town politics and law enforcement, and the possible involvement of aliens (and definitely some alien hunters). It’s a strange brew that tends to twist reality or expose the surreal, with more stories coming. Link to the first book, An Impossible Abduction, is in the show notes.
The series starts here: https://books2read.com/u/4ElRGO
ABOUT Indian Poker
This poker game has a lot of names. Indian poker, squaw poker, Oklahoma forehead, Indian head. According to my favorite source, Wikipedia, this is a game of probability and psychology. Ed described how we game is played so, yeah, you can see there being psychology involved. This is a one card poker game but variations exist on stud poker and Texas hold’em. I wasn’t able to find any details on the history of this game. It was difficult given how many names it has and the multiple meaning of words in the name. The tag game, blind man’s bluff, dates back to the late 15th century. And poker has existed in India since the British brought it in the 1800s. Fascinating facts that have nothing to do with today’s game. Ah well.
ABOUT Ed Teja
www.edteja.com
Ed Teja has edited magazines in Asia, been a boat bum in the Caribbean, traveled the world, and always, always, written fiction. He is currently hunkered down in rural New Mexico where he writes strange stories of strange people and teaches martial arts. His cross-genre stories emphasize the surreal around us and have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies.
WRAP UP
That wraps this episode of Mysteries to Die For. Support our show by subscribing, telling a mystery lover about us, and giving us a five-star review. Check out our website TGWolff.com/Podcast for links to this season’s authors.
Mysteries to Die For is hosted by TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. A Forced Card was written by Ed Teja. Music and production are by Jack Wolff. Episode art is by TG Wolff. Join us next week for a Toe Tag, which is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, or thriller genre. Then come back in two weeks for our next original story, A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro where checkers is the featured game
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is Black & White by Justin M. Kiska
TG Wolff Review
Black & White is a mystery. This story is told in two times. Then was 1945. Stride agency investigator Francis “Fitz” Mason is hired by a retired US Ambassador to find the daughter who disappeared while dressing for her wedding. Now is 1985. Park City Police Detective Sergeant Ben Winters and Detective Tommy Mason are called to the scene of a woman’s body discovered in a field. She’s young, beautiful, and frozen solid. Winters and Mason take up the case where Uncle Fitz left off forty years ago.
Bottom line: Black & White is for you if you like mysteries driven by classic detectives, both cop and private investigator.
Strengths of the story. Black & White moves back and forth between the 1945 kidnapping case and the 1985 suspicious death case. The movement between the two periods are distinct, staying in each period for multiple chapters, with distinct indication of the change.
The 1945 story features PI Fitz Mason with a cast mixing the local rich and famous with local cops covering their own butts. The story is a solid kidnapping mystery with the who, why, and how largely making sense. Former ambassador Conrad Martin’s daughter, Lillian, went missing the morning of her wedding. Someone carried her out of her father’s mansion dressed in her wedding gown. The character of Fitz Mason is of the classic, heroic cut and is easy to cheer for. The supporting characters of Ambassador Martin, younger sister Lucy, the valet Joe Grainger, and police chief Buchanan are also well developed, three-dimensional characters who you can like, hate, laugh at, and sympathize for.
The 1985 story features police detectives Ben Winter and his partner and friend Tommy Mason. Childhood friends, they grew up listening to Uncle Fitz’s case stories. The suspicious death is intriguing. The who, why, and how are built off the 1945 case, so, while it has equal weight in the book, it feels secondary. Even in writing this review, I’m being careful to not reveal anything that would detract from your enjoyment. This is the fourth book for Ben and Tommy, so they have the history and depth of established characters. The supporting characters are more typical of police procedurals, being effective, informative, and often entertaining.
The scene setting in both 1945 and 1985 are distinctively drawn using language, clothing, and period appropriate relationships between father and daughters, men and women. I felt transported to 1945. The 1985 language was not very different from now. The biggest “feel” for the mid-80s came from Tommy looking and dressing like the original Magnum P.I.
Fitz does an excellent job of driving his story. He investigated, picked up the clues, and drove it to the next point, then the next point, etc. Ben and Tommy are more traditional cops, acting on information given to them by the evidence clerk, forensics, etc and ushering the story point to point.
Where the story fell short of ideal: To enable the two stories to be told simultaneously, the modern story had to be slowed down, so it didn’t give away the historic story. But in doing that the modern story felt to me like it was idling, sometimes waiting until Fitz made a move before Ben and Tommy took a step forward.
The logic on the kidnapping, as I said, largely made sense. However, Lillian was knocked out and carried out of a mansion busy with wedding preparation without being seen. While Fitz was...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.
This is Episode 4, that classic Scrabble is the featured game. This is Hard Scrabble by KM Rockwood
PRE-ROLL
Hi everyone TG Wolff here. You are about to hear a story from KM Rockwood. She’s an awesome storyteller whose stories never quite go where you expect.
Rose, who gave “Abduction and Lies” a 5-star review on Amazon said “This book is written with the same dark realism as the others in the series. By the end of the book, Jesse's current issues are solved and I breathe a sigh of relief. Until the next time. You are never going to meet a more likeable protagonist than Jesse Damon. Or one who gets into more trouble. Or one you will worry about more.”
Check out KM’s books on her website, kmrockwood.com, Amazon, or your favorite online retailer.
DELIBERATION
Here we are at the deliberation of another Mysteries to Die For ad free episode. In exchange for not assuming you need a virtual therapist, support our authors by checking out their backlists and picking up a title. This week is KM Rockwood. Now…
Misha Soleby-Welkins is getting some kind of education working at the senior center. To pass here dissertation, she’s going to need an answer to what happened to Mr. Davidson. Here are her suspects, I mean clients, in the order we met them:
• Henry, the Scrabble rebel who uses a crutch
• Leonard, the other Scrabble rebel who walks unaided
• Corina, the flatulent woman who uses a walker
• Simon, the perpetually hungry man who uses a wheelchair
• Margaret, the group’s heart and voice of reason
• Mr. Parsons, the hottie who is the backup manager for Mr. Davison
Here are the facts Misha is working with:
• Davidson micromanaged, berated, and even injured the center’s clients, driving himself to a migraine. He leaves before lunch, walking toward his home on the other side of the tracks. Mr. Parson discovers the body some time later. It had been severed by the train.
• Simon rolled his wheelchair outside before Davidson left for a quiet place to each the muffins Misha snuck to him. Margaret went and brought him back in to avoid Davidson catching him.
• Henry goes outside for a cigarette while Misha and others prepare lunch. Margaret goes out to get him when lunch is ready.
• After a mystery lunch, Corina goes outside to spare her friends her flatulent side effects. Leonard takes the lunch trash outside.
• When Misha starts the Scrabble game, Leonard is unaccounted for. He hurries in, looking for Mr. Parsons who has not arrived.
• Leonard thought he saw Mr. Parsons’s car when he took the garbage out. Margaret says he is mistaken. Mr. Parsons and his car are stuck on the other side of the train.
Who should Misha pen as a silver killer and, for bonus points, what...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is Playing Dead by me, TG Wolff
TG Wolff Review
Playing Dead is a mystery. A body is put on display in Det. Jesus De La Cruz’s neighborhood. The victim isn’t random but some Cruz and the Cleveland police have been after, Alexander “Rotten” Carter. There was nothing plain and simple about this murder. Point in fact: the corpse was dressed as the king of hearts…the suicide king. Now Cruz is on the case to find answers to Carter’s killing and to the activities that hit much closer to home.
Bottom line: Playing Dead is for you if you like complex mysteries and being part of the detective’s professional and personal life.
At the time of this recording, Playing Dead was days away from release, so there are no reviews to pull from. So, I’m putting my M2D4 hat on and critiquing my own book.
Strengths of the story. Playing Dead is the 4th book in the series that deals as much with the ups and downs of the personal life of Jesus De La Cruz as it does the details of the mystery. The characters continue to grow from past novels, making it feel like we are catching up with old friends.
The main characters of Cruz, his fiancé Aurora, best friend Det Matt Yablonski, and awkward brainiac Professor Grayson Manor are fully developed, having strengths that bridge challenges and weaknesses their work against their success. The side characters often offer comedic relief to the intensity of the murder.
The mystery itself ties off storyline from the last two books. Reading prior books is not a necessity in following the mystery itself. The motivations and actions of the suspects is fully contained within this book. Reading the prior stories will be helpful in understanding the emotional strain the victim, Rotten Carter, cause to the cast of characters.
The story is told linearly including both Cruz’s on-the-clock and personal time. This drives the pacing as Cruz, like all of use, juggles the demands of a challenging professional life and a full private life, which includes a best friend who is treading dangerously close to over-the-line.
Where the story fell short of ideal: For lovers of stand-alone mysteries where the story is one-hundred-percent about the murder, the incorporation of personal life may not be as rewarding.
As with all series, starting a book four may has the potential to leave new readers feeling either like they are left out of the story or not getting as immersed in the emotions the characters are feeling. Certainly, as the author, I worked to make it welcoming to new readers, but this is always a challenge of series.
The Playing Dead was released from Down & Out Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.
Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. Founded in 2011, PICT offers virtual book tour services for well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PICT prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games for your entertainment.
This is Episode 3, Cards Against Humanity is the featured game. This is Cards Against Jake by Jim Winter
PRE-ROLL
This week's author is Jim Winter. The Dogs of Beaumont Heights is the explosive sequel to Jim Winter's Holland Bay! Fentanyl. The latest scourge of Monticello’s street. A detective, a dealer, and an ambitious police official will confront it as it changes their fates. For Detective Jessica Branson, it threatens her career. For Marcus Lincoln, it’s his ticket to the top of the Game as he moves up in the gang that still rules Holland Bay. For Derek Roberts, it’s a political football as he navigates between two ambitious candidates for mayor. They collide when a maligned breed of dog kills a little girl in the Beaumont Heights neighborhood. Find The Dogs of Beaumont Heights at your favorite online retailer.
DELIBERATION
Jack, let’s take ten second to point out that Mysteries to Die For remains ad free. In exchange for not making you move to hit the fast forward button, support our authors by checking out their backlists and picking up a title. This week is Jim Winter. Now…
Detective Ana Friedman is never going to live down that Jake Randall died while she was on the toilet. The best we can do is help her close this case fast. Here are the Cards Against Humanity players:
• Ana Friedman, detective, who was was indisposed at the critical time
• Melanie Dunlop, Ana’s partner who wanted to play cards instead of listen to jazz
• Vic Holmes, party host and cocktail mixer
• Regina Mallory, Vic’s sweet, mousy girlfriend
• Stan Cheswicz, the building manager who was fixing the sink
Here are the facts Ana has to work with:
• Five friends were playing Cards Against Humanity.
• Jake was high and had been drinking. He played his cards for maximum insult to the ladies. Only Regina seemed to be bothered.
• Stan carried a grudge against Jake for calling a TV station over a maintenance issue, which cause trouble for Stan with the home office.
• At a break, Ana went to the bathroom. Melanie and Jake stayed at the table. Vic, Regina, and Stan were in the kitchen at the same time.
• Vic made five drinks, all bourbon with cream. Only Ana’s did not get cream. Regina poured the cream and served the drinks.
• The five players – less Ana – drank in a toast. Jake instantly sickened. Vic attempted to resuscitate him. Regina seemed panicked.
• Jake died of strychnine poisoning, a compound Stan kept in his toolbox for dealing with rats.
Which player has overplayed their hand?
A reminder to mystery readers to check out our print and e-books companion book. Seasons 4, 5 and 6 are available in e-book and trade paperback from online retailers. This season’s book is being released in two parts. Part one will release in March 2024 and Part two in September. Buy one for you and one for a mystery lover you love. The dimes and...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.
Today’s featured release is Objects of Desire.
TG Wolff Review
Objects of Desire is a PI Mystery. Two years ago, PI Rita Mars broke up with Diane Winter. It was loud and messy end to their relationship. Now Diane is missing and the note left behind points in Rita’s direction. Juggling a case of corporate embezzlement, Diane’s disappearance, and a mother with early dementia means Rita has to do a lot of juggling to keep the balls in the air and her butt out of jail.
Bottom line: Objects of Desire is for you if you like mysteries without murder, female-centric plots, and clean storytelling.
Strengths of the story. The second in the Rita Mars thriller series, Objects of Desire is listed as an LGBTQ+ Mystery and Women’s Detective Fiction on Amazon. I do agree with the genres of mystery and detective fiction, moreso than thriller. Rita runs her own PI agency and juggles two cases, keeping both stories moving forward. While there were implied threats to Rita from the police investigation, this was a subplot, which placed the mysteries front and center.
The characters of Rita, her assistant Beverly Hills, her best friend Mary Margaret Smooth, and IT wizard Roswell were comfortable in their roles, which reflected this being the second book in the series. Rita was a PI who relied on her team to extend her reach and resources. As compared to other PI characters, she runs a team and uses them to their strengths. The characters were both likable and interesting. Rita’s mother played the role of the comic relief with her sugar and Oreo obsession.
I have not read the first Rita Mars story but had no problem reading Objects of Desire. Webster did a nice job of giving new readers the information needed to jump into Rita’s world.
Webster’s storytelling style is clean, without cursing, sex, or on-stage violence. There is the implication and threat of violence but not actual depiction of, which makes this a great choice for readers who prefer classic mystery styles of Miss Jane Marple, Nero Wolfe, and others. On the spectrum of cozy to hard boiled, this is closer to the cozy end.
The financial mystery was well developed. While Rita developed the theories, the technical nature of the crimes meant that Roswell did more of the leg work than Rita. This worked to keep the story progressing while Rita worked on Diane’s case.
The kidnapping mystery was a straighter story. The biggest challenge here is there was nothing for Rita or the cops to start from. Rita had to return to PI gumshoe roots, working through all of Diane’s friends, acquaintances, and other exes to get to a clue that led somewhere.
This mystery is categorized as LGBTQ+ with the majority of the main characters being gay. Rita Mars and OBJECTS OF DESIRE stands as a solid mystery because of the plot, not because of the characters’ enduring attraction to the same sex. While being gay is central to Rita’s identity, much as being from Belgium was central to Poirot, it has no bearing on her capability as a PI. If you are a reader looking for a lead from the LGBTQ+ community, read Rita Mars. If you are a reader looking for a clean mystery with an intelligent PI, read Rita Mars.
Where the story fell short of ideal. Considering OBJECTS OF DESIRE as a mystery, there was a lot to like, as already mentioned, but I had a few minor items. I did think that the urgency of finding Diane was undermined by both the financial case and Rita’s mother, at times...
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Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.
I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.
This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games for your entertainment.
This is Episode 2, cow flop bingo is the featured game. This is A Scent of Murder by Paul A Barra.
PRE-ROLL
This week’s author is Paul A. Barra. The author of "A Scent of Murder," today’s story, Paul A. Barra has written and published five novels. His latest was WESTFARROW ISLAND, a finalist for the Silver Falchion. One of his short stories was selected for the award-winning MWA anthology WHEN A STRANGER COMES TO TOWN. His historical juvenile adventure, SAMSON AND THE CHARLESTON SPY, will be published by Level Best Books in August 2024.
DELIBERATION
Before we get into the who and why of the story, I want to let you all know that Mysteries to Die For remains ad free. In exchange for not making you move to hit the fast forward button, support our authors by digging into their backlists and picking up a title. This week is Paul A Barra. Check out his catalogue on his website and your favorite book retailer. Now…
Deputy Sandy Buford has been doing a lot of running around but doesn’t seem to be getting any place. Let’s see if we can help him out. Here are the people who were in Emory James’s house when he could have been killed:
• Adele James, the wife who was broken by her husband’s murder
• Susan James, eldest daughter, thin and pale, probably not strong enough to plunge a knife into a big man.
• Sarah James, younger daughter, stayed up witnessing the two pols get drunk.
• Frank Burns, lobbyist #1, spent his time eating and drinking with his friend Sam (below)
• Samuel Cohen, lobbyist #2. Both lobbyists looked as if they'd just gotten out of bed when Adele's scream woke the house.
• Mutt James, Emory’s brother
• Beauty Barnes, the caterer working the weekend at the James house, wife of Jasper.
Here are the facts as we know them.
• With the exception of Beauty Barnes, all others stayed up late together strategizing on Emory’s political future. Beauty arrived at six-thirty in the morning using her key to the kitchen door.
• Emory James did not open his hip-pocket loan operation at eight, as was normal. There had recently been a news article about his business.
• A crowd of would-be borrowers had assembled outside the door to Emory's office before 8 a.m. They all knew there was a box of cash on Emory's desk, and many of them were probably already in debt to Emory James.
• Adele James was a gambler who lost. She had recently paid her debt off.
• Adele schemed with Mutt James to win the Cow Flop Bingo, paying Beauty’s husband, Jasper, to seed the field on their squares.
• Adele knew her husband had money in his safe, including the Cow Flop Bingo money, but claimed not to know the combination. It was found in her jewelry box.
• Beauty Barnes picked up the James job for the extra money. Her husband was seen leaving the house by the kitchen door. He had delivered drinks and was seen leaving with a satchel, although...
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