Real mystery stories from the folks who make them up

HALLIE EPHRON: I thought it was brilliant the moment I heard it: a collection of stories by mystery writers writing about real mysteries in their lives. When its editor Victoria Zackheim, approached me to contribute a piece, I knew exactly what real mystery I  wanted to write about. For decades I'd been puzzling over a dear friend's experience communicating with her beloved brother who'd tragically been killed months earlier. Writing about it was my own journey of discovery. Rhys wrote an essay for the collection as well, a fascinating piece about why she was destined to write about World War II. We're joined by an amazing roster of mystery writers.

I was especially thrilled to get a chance to work with Victoria, who's edited numerous wonderful anthologies.

The result, "PRIVATE INVESTIGATONS: Mystery writers on the secrets, riddles, and wonders in their lives" is just out this week and Victoria joins us.

Exciting news: the book is an Amazon BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH!

VICTORIA ZACKHEIM:  Dear Reds, I hope you and yours are safe, healthy, and out of harm’s way. And thank you, Hallie, for inviting me!

I’m just back from a 7am market run—love that one-hour, Seniors Only time slot—and was keenly aware when the guy at the meat counter wrapped my order…and he wasn’t wearing a mask. What to do? Cooking kills the virus, yes? When I arrived at the check-out area, I returned the package. Too careful? Is there such a thing?

This brings me to life’s mysteries, which we’re all quickly learning can…and will…appear at the most unexpected times. 

And, not so coincidentally, is a nifty segue into…

When I create an anthology and begin the process of editing the essays, no matter what their focus, I’m always driven into my own process of introspection. Whether the subject is body image or how we use humor to soften the pain after losing a loved one, the explorations of the authors launch me into my own journey.

Such was the case with Private Investigations: Mystery Writers on the Secrets, Riddles, and Wonders in Their Lives. I waited for the essays to arrive, expecting they would be fascinating. What I did not expect was that they would become a foot firmly placed in the small of my back, nudging and shoving until I was willing to look at my own life-changing mysteries. But…were they mysteries? Did these events shape me into the woman I am today?

The writers in this book have lived, are living, dramatic and life-altering experiences. Can I say the same? And honestly, what constitutes a mystery? Something that surprises? What about something that is the source of despair or joy? Falling in love, surviving illness, basking in the warmth of friendship. The expected and the serendipitous. Holding a newborn for the first time. For me, these are mysteries!

I remember sitting with my mother when she took her last breath. Nearly ninety, she had become increasingly angry that her final years were so difficult. An artist who could no longer paint, a political activist whose voice had been stilled, she felt locked within the walls of her home and her failing body. And then, finally, she was at peace. And still I struggled with the why of it. Oh, my complicated, brilliant mother. Who she was will always remain a mystery in my life.

In this collection, twenty exceptional mystery writers share their own personal secrets, riddles and wonders. Their…mysteries.

Let me offer a few examples. Hallie Ephron visits a spiritualist in the hope of understanding her friend’s claims to have spoken with her murdered brother. Sulari Gentill discovers an uncle in Sri Lanka whose existence was kept a secret, until she stumbles upon a family photograph. Rachel Howzell Hall is living her life balancing writing, family, and career, until a new word joins her lexicon: cancer. We often experience confusion and mystery when there’s violence in our lives. Connie May Fowler recalls her abuse at the hands of her mother, the social pressures she felt as a childless woman, and a recent illness that was frightening, yet reminded her of the kindness of strangers. Difficult experiences for all? Yes, but they persevered and thrived.

Life teaches us such varied lessons, some of which are cloaked in mystery, such as our quest for truth and how we respond to love and loss. This pandemic has certainly unearthed emotions—fears, questions about mortality, a new look at what matters in life—and is leaving many of us confused and on edge. Living in a time of war is frighteningly similar. And yet, at the same time, both pandemic and war remind us of our resilience and courage, even when we’re facing the unknown. 

As Rhys Bowen says in her essay about the human spirit in wartime, My world was filled with wonder, but also with change and uncertainty.

We often see mystery as we work to adjust to our place in the world. Ausma Zehanat Khan, an international human rights attorney, explores the mystery of her origins and her family’s long and complicated journey that brought her to America.

As you read these stories—I resist calling them essays, because the label suggests something impersonal, perhaps even cold, whereas these narratives are rich with warmth and intimacy, sharing and trust—you will hear each author’s voice, share each story. You might frown, sigh, laugh out loud. That’s the magic of personal essays: they’re so damn personal!

If a mystery is an enigma that we must unravel, then I have experienced many. As, I am sure, you have as well.

What are your personal mysteries? What have you seen, survived, and experienced that has made you who you are today? Perhaps the writers in this anthology will churn up old memories that make you smile, even weep. The point is, you will feel. And as you discover elements of yourself, you might also begin to understand how important all of us are…and the essential part everyone plays in this mysterious theater we call life.

Please share your mysteries! And above all, be safe and well!

HALLIE: What are your personal mysteries? Something that disappeared or was unexpectedly found? Something that happened that shouldn't have. Something you couldn't explain...

PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS edited by Victoria Zackheim,  published by Seal Press
In this thrilling anthology, bestselling mystery writers abandon the cloak of fiction to investigate the suspenseful secrets in their own lives. Contributors include Tasha Alexender, Cara Black, Rhys Bowen, Lynn Cahoon, Steph Cha, Jeffrey Deaver, Carole Nelson Douglas, Robert Dugoni, Hallie Ephron, Connie May Fowler, Sulari Gentill, Rachel Howzell Hall, Ausma Khan, William Kent Kreuger, Caroline Leavitt, Kristen Lepionka, Martin Limón, Anne Perry, Charles Todd, and Jacqueline Winspear.

Book Look

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: As the last days of summer (reading at the shore or the lake) slide into early fall (book clubs pick up again) there are some terrific books being released, like Hank Phillippi Ryan's TRUST ME, coming out August 28, and Jenn McKinlay's latest Library Lover's mystery, HITTING THE BOOKS, on September 11!) We're assuming you're already stocking up on the latest Jungle Red releases, including FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING and DEATH ON THE MENU, and you'll be racing out to get Hank and Jenn's newest (if you haven't already pre-ordered.) So what other books should you be reading? We've got you, fam, as Youngest would say. We're each going to suggest one book, fiction or nonfiction, that we're looking forward to in the coming weeks, and then ask you to do the same in the comments.  Just one, you guys!

My pick is VOX, by Christina Dalcher, coming out on August 21. Here's the description: 

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than one hundred words per day, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial. This can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

Soon women are not permitted to hold jobs. Girls are not taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words each day, but now women have only one hundred to make themselves heard.

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

It's getting crazy good reviews, and of course, being described as THE HANDMAID'S TALE for this generation.

Reds? What are you looking forward to?




LUCY BURDETTE: This is not brand-new, but it's a delightful memoir for Francophiles or anyone who would find a train wreck of home renovation entertaining: L'Appart--The Delights and Disasters of Making my Paris Home. David is a former pastry chef at Chez Panisse who lives in Paris now. He has a hugely successful blog and many cookbooks, and I find him endlessly entertaining.

Bestselling author and world-renowned chef David Lebovitz continues to mine the rich subject of his evolving ex-Pat life in Paris, using his perplexing experiences in apartment renovation as a launching point for stories about French culture, food, and what it means to revamp one's life. Includes dozens of new recipes.

When David Lebovitz began the project of updating his apartment in his adopted home city, he never imagined he would encounter so much inexplicable red tape while contending with the inconsistent European work ethic and hours. Lebovitz maintains his distinctive sense of humor with the help of his partner Romain, peppering this renovation story with recipes from his Paris kitchen. In the midst of it all, he reveals the adventure that accompanies carving out a place for yourself in a foreign country—under baffling conditions—while never losing sight of the magic that inspired him to move to the City of Light many years ago, and to truly make his home there.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I cannot wait to read BAD BLOOD, by John Carryrou, the non-fiction inside story of the crash of the multi-billion dollar biotech start up that turned out to be a fraud.  (You know I am a pushover for journalist books.)

The full inside story of the breathtaking rise and shocking collapse of Theranos, the multibillion-dollar biotech startup, by the prize-winning journalist who first broke the story and pursued it to the end, despite pressure from its charismatic CEO and threats by her lawyers.

In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the female Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup "unicorn" promised to revolutionize the medical industry with a machine that would make blood testing significantly faster and easier. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes's worth at an estimated $4.7 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn't work.

A riveting story of the biggest corporate fraud since Enron, a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley.

(Doesn't that sound great??)


JULIA: It does! I'm fascinated by the Theranos story - I'll have to get this.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Well, I am holding my breath for TIME'S CONVERT by Deborah Harkness, the long-awaited follow-up to her DISCOVERY OF WITCHES trilogy. It's out September 18th and I have it pre-ordered. I suspect I'll have to hide in a closet or something and binge read.

"On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus's deeply held beliefs in liberty, equality, and brotherhood.

Fast-forward to contemporary Paris, where Phoebe Taylor--the young employee at Sotheby's whom Marcus has fallen for--is about to embark on her own journey to immortality. Though the modernized version of the process at first seems uncomplicated, the couple discovers that the challenges facing a human who wishes to be a vampire are no less formidable than they were in the eighteenth century. The shadows that Marcus believed he'd escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both--forever.

A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time's Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries."

INGRID THOFT: I can’t wait for the newest installment in Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series, LETHAL WHITE.  We all know by now that Galbraith is really J.K. Rowling and that her literary prowess is not limited to a boy wizard.  This P.I. series is terrific, and I highly recommend it.

"Lethal White is the fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series from the international bestselling author Robert Galbraith.
“I seen a kid killed…He strangled it, up by the horse.”

When Billy, a troubled young man, comes to private eye Cormoran Strike’s office to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While Billy is obviously mentally distressed, and cannot remember many concrete details, there is something sincere about him and his story. But before Strike can question him further, Billy bolts from his office in a panic.

Trying to get to the bottom of Billy’s story, Strike and Robin Ellacott—once his assistant, now a partner in the agency—set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.
And during this labyrinthine investigation, Strike’s own life is far from straightforward: his newfound fame as a private eye means he can no longer operate behind the scenes as he once did. Plus, his relationship with his former assistant is more fraught than it ever has been—Robin is now invaluable to Strike in the business, but their personal relationship is much, much trickier than that.

The most epic Robert Galbraith novel yet, Lethal White is both a gripping mystery and a page-turning next installment in the ongoing story of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott."

HALLIE EPHRON: I'm in the middle of two nonfictions: EUNICE: THE KENNEDY WHO CHANGED THE WORLD, the biography of Eunice Kennedy, a force to be reckoned with, a truly underestimated Kennedy by Eileen McNamara. Also reading THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS by Sy Montgomery all about the 'intelligent alien.' Standing by is an advance copy of Joseph Olshan's BLACK DIAMOND FALL, and the wonderful Lori Rader-Day's UNDER A DARK SKY.

JENN MCKINLAY: October 23, 2018 - don't call me, don't text me, don't email me, because I won't answer. I will be reading KINGDOM OF ASH the final volume in Sarah J. Maas's fantastic A Throne of Glass series.  I can NOT freaking wait! Aelin is the most badass heroine I've ever read. Love her and I'm not a huge fantasy reader.

Years in the making, Sarah J. Maas’s #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an epic, unforgettable conclusion. Aelin Galathynius’s journey from slave to king’s assassin to the queen of a once-great kingdom reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world. . .
Aelin has risked everything to save her people-but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…
With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation-and a better world.
And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen-before she is lost to him forever.
As the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight, if they are to have a chance at a future. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever in the explosive final chapter of the Throne of Glass series.

RHYS BOWEN: The book I'm really waiting for is Louise Penny's next Inspector Gamache novel, KINGDOM OF THE BLIND. Alas this year it doesn't come out until November! Usually she's late in August but now I have three months more to wait.  

But a book that has blown me away this year is Robert Dugoni's THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL. So different from his usual mystery books, and based on the personal experience of his brother born with Down's Syndrome, it is the story of a boy born with Ocular Albinism... with red pupils that make other children call him Devil Boy. It is a moving tale of the quest for belief, for meaning in life. It should also silence the critics who label us as "genre writers" and think we are not capable of more!

JULIA: All right, dear readers, now it's your turn. What's the one book you'd like to put onto everyone's TBR pile?