Houdini vs. Rasputin

Title: Houdini vs. Rasputin

Author: C. Michael Forsyth

Genre: historical fiction, historical mystery, adventure

Another action-packed historical adventure featuring America's most beloved magician- Harry Houdini! This book takes place in Russia in the years 1903-1911, about a decade before C. Michael Forsyth's other historical fiction novel about Harry Houdini, The Adventure of the Spook House. The book opens with Harry escaping from a padlocked train car in Siberia, much to the consternation of the chief of the secret police. The favorable press piques the attention of the Tsar, and soon the Houdinis are performing in front of the royal court. Harry accidentally exposes the Tsarina's spiritual adviser as a fraud, in front of everyone at a dinner party (oops!). Although Harry angers certain members of the royal family over this showdown, the Tsar and Tsarina summon the Houdinis back to Russia eight years later to entertain the royal children. While staying in the royal palace, the Houdinis meet the infamous and creepy Rasputin, who holds the royal family in his spiritual sway while engaging in certain distasteful behaviors on the streets. 

Harry is soon recruited by the secret police to catch Rasputin in the act, and Harry's wife, Bess, joins in the investigation, too.  And why do the secret police care about a stinky, creepy healer? The more Rasputin hangs around the royal children and the royal family, the more his personal political power and influence grows: "You revealed Monsieur Philippe to be a fraud. We hope that you can do the same for Rasputin. You must break his spell over the Tsarina, or the nation will fall into ruin. Revolution, blood in the streets- and I am being quite literal" (Chapter 10). 

Harry traces Rasputin through the streets of Saint Petersburg and follows Rasputin's past in the Russian countryside. What Harry finds is a mystic and healer with uncontrolled, evil impulses. Rasputin and his henchmen seem to be everywhere and aware of Harry's every move. Harry almost dies during one of his public escape tricks, is almost burned alive in a barn, and is chased by Rasputin himself through the snowy landscape of Siberia. While Harry is creating new escape scenarios to entertain the public and pursuing the evil mystic during a group cleansing ceremony, he meets Lenin and the beginnings of the Bolsheviks, and almost has a run in with a young Stalin. Add in motorcycles, horses, and reindeer (oh my!) and you have an action-packed adventure mystery set in the last days of the Russian empire. 

Spotlight on Service Dogs

Title: Seven Days to Goodbye

Author: Sheri S. Levy

Genre: middle grade fiction, takes place in South Carolina, South Carolina author, South Carolina Book Festival author

Seven Days to Goodbye takes place during a week of roller coaster emotions for our protagonist, Trina. Trina has been busy for a year with schoolwork and fostering and training Sydney, a border collie service dog. In the book, this is Trina's last week with Sydney as he must be returned to the service dog organization to find his fur-ever family and a child that will need his protection. While Trina is happy that she is going on a vacation to the beach with her family and her best friend, the thought of parting from Sydney makes her heart ache even though it's for a good cause. At first there is some friction between Trina and Sarah since Sarah seems more boy-and-clothes focused than Trina. They soon make up over sea turtle watching, playing in the surf, and walks along the beach. Sydney makes a new friend too with a little autistic boy named Logan. Logan thrives around Sydney and Logan's family marvels at his progress. Logan's older brothers, Chase and Peyton, give Trina and Sarah's heart some thrills too in a blossoming yet  innocent, summer romance. 

Despite the name of the book, Seven Days to Goodbye, is not a sad book like most animal books. Spoiler alert: Sydney does not die! Although the ending is emotional, it's a happy emotional as Trina continues on in her journey of being a service dog trainer.

You can visit Sheri S. Levy's website here:http://www.sherislevy.com/

Title: When Rain Falls
Author: Tyora Moody
Genre: Christian fiction, mystery, suspense, urban Christian

I met Tyora Moody at the 2014 Augusta Literary Festival in Augusta, Georgia, and she was one of the finalists for the 2014 Yerby Award for Fiction. I bought the first book in her Victory Gospel series and I finally had a chance to read it over the holidays.

Candace Johnson is a widowed mother of two two teenagers when she suffers another personal tragedy- the murder of her best friends Pamela Coleman. Darnell Jackson is a cop who is a transfer to the Charlotte, NC Police Department from LA. Detective Jackson becomes the lead investigator into Pamela's murder which means he ends up spending a lot of time with Candace. Together they pool their brainpower to find a killer while they cautiously acknowledge their growing attraction for each other.

I would recommend this for anyone who is in the mood to read a mystery that's not too graphic or too sickly sweet (like some cozy mysteries). I am definitely looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 in this series.

Title: Deep Fried Trouble
Author: Tyora Moody
Genre: cozy mystery, Christian, Southern

Within one week of retirement, Eugeena Patterson receives a rude awakening when she finds her estranged neighbor dead of suspicious causes. The neighborhood crime, an unexpected visit from her daughter and two grand babies, and her daughter's disappearance cause Eugeena to enlist the help of her neighbors to solve two mysteries at once. These two traumatic events make Eugeena reflect on her past relationships with Mary (the neighbor) and Leesa (her daughter), and how things turned sour with both of them.

This is a cozy mystery, so it's not too graphic, grisly or preachy. If you're looking for a low-stress, quick mystery read with a hint of Southern, then I would recommend this book to you.