Synopses & Reviews
The cave of Lascaux may be closed to the public, but five scholars a day are allowed inside, and Nora Barnes has finagled an appointment. True, she may have fudged a bit in her letter to the authorities, but she does teach art history, and she isnt about to miss her chance to see the worlds most famous prehistoric paintings. Nora and her high-spirited husband, Toby, are visiting the Dordogne, in the southern French region of the Aquitaine. Aware that the Dordognes renown for cave art is matched only by its reputation for delicious cuisine, the couple has also signed up for a cooking class at a nearby château, but they soon find that more than food is on their minds.
During their tour of the cave, another visitor is murdered. When the local inspector pegs Nora and Toby as suspects, they embark on a mission to solve the crime, tracing strange links between a Cro-Magnon symbol and a thirteenth-century religious cult. As they match wits with the crusty inspector, Nora finds herself immersed in the notebooks of a forgotten artist who once lived in the château. In sifting through the artists papers and uncovering old secrets, she begins to piece together the motives for the murder. But has she cooked up more trouble than she can handle?
Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the American Association of School Librarians
Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the Public Library Reviewers
Review
In Assault with a Deadly Lie, the ivory tower topples under a barrage of guns and violence. Nick Hoffman and his partner find that literature and an idyllic domestic life are no match for a deranged characters revenge conspiracy.”Lynn C. Miller, author of Death of a Department Chair
Review
"
Assault with a Deadly Lie mines a number of hot button topics: police brutality, privacy, surveillance, paranoia, guns, stalking, bullying, plagiarism, and academic ineptness."Patricia Skalka, author of
Death Stalks Door CountyReview
From the first page to the last, this novel flies at breakneck speed, but it also mesmerizes as it unspools in perfect detail. Despite the placid surface, all is not quite right in Michiganapolis, and the breathless fun of this mystery isnt just its twists and surprises, but also the utterly recognizable place and time and fully-formed characters with all their believable quirks and secrets. Lev Raphael hasnt so much written a mystery as he has created a world and planted the reader at the center of it: Dont start this one until you're ready to follow it anywhere!”Laura Kasischke, author of The Raising
Review
"Despite the placid surface, all is not quite right in this college town, and the breathless fun of this mystery is its twists and surprises, as well as the utterly recognizable place and time and fully formed characters with all their believable quirks and secrets."Laura Kasischke, author of The Raising
Review
Lev Raphael breathes menace into his university setting, and brilliantly tightens the screws on the reader while driving his heroes to the brink with guns, drugs and violence.”Justin Evans, author of The White Devil
Review
A splendidly written story of innocence, intrigue, and invisible enemies, Assault with a Deadly Lie waltzes beautifully between poignancy and terror. But better still is the question that will haunt readers long after the book is put down: Could this happen to me?”P.J. Parrish, author of Heart of Ice
Review
College towns are sleepy places and government agencies keep us secureright? Not in Lev Raphaels exciting new novel. The action starts on the first page, and the tension and paranoia build in ways that are far too plausible. Sharply observed, smartly paced, but thoughtful and compassionate from beginning to end.”Joseph Finder, author of Paranoia and High Crimes
Review
Lev Raphael adds another literate and compulsively readable book to his acclaimed Nick Hoffman novels, and this may be the best one yet.”Michael Nava, author of the Henry Rios mysteries
Review
Nora Barnes and Toby Sandler are back. This crimes solution takes us into the world of Russian icons, the Russian past in Sonoma County, and even into the realm of communications from guardian angels.
Murder in Lascaux was an auspicious debut;
The Body in Bodega Bay continues the journey. This novel delivers. Grab it and enjoy.”Richard Schwartz, author of
The Last Voice You HearReview
The Draine and Hinden writing duo have now done for Californias North Coast what their earlier Murder in Lascaux did for Frances Perigord: brought it wonderfullyand eerilyto life. You can practically see the fog shrouding the rocky coastline, taste the salt air on your tongue, hear the doleful wail of the foghorns, and smell the welcoming, steaming clam chowder coming from the nearest seafood diner. Throw in a multi-angled murder mystery, a clever solution, and a host of fascinating art lore and youve got a heck of a book. And for film buffs theres all kinds of terrific trivia that you never knew about Hitchcocks The Birds. A winner.”Aaron Elkins, Edgar-winning author of the Gideon Oliver mysteries
Review
and#147;Lean, eloquent prose . . . an intricate web of deceit and revenge.and#8221;and#151;John Smolens, author of
Cold and
QuarantineReview
and#147;A mesmerizing mystery, bucolic setting, bodies dropping everywhere, plenty of prime suspects, and in Dave Cubiak, a man with a tragic past, the right guy to solve it.and#8221;and#151;Charles Salzberg, author of Shamus Awardand#150;nominated Swann's Last Song and Devil in the Hole
Review
and#147;A terrific mystery that captures both the beauty and wildness of this wonderful peninsula.and#8221;and#151;Mary Logue, author of the Claire Watkins mystery series
Review
“Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden must be having a wonderful time researching and writing their mystery series. It certainly is a lot of fun reading their books.”—
Capital Times Review
“If you’re a fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s
The Birds, you will thoroughly enjoy this murder mystery.”—
Mystery SceneReview
“Colorful characters . . . keep the proceedings fresh and unpredictable. . . . The unexpected but satisfying conclusion is worth the wait.”—
Publishers WeeklyReview
“A real winner—a controversial suspense novel that could easily have been torn from today’s headlines.”—Ray Walsh,
Lansing State Journal Review
“It’s a terrifying thought: the idea that someone can accuse you of a crime, and a SWAT team shows up at your door and drags you away. . . . Raphael makes it quite clear that no one is immune.”—Vanessa Orr,
Mystery SceneReview
"Hansen is the most exciting and effective writer of the classic private-eye novel working today."—Los Angeles Times
Review
“I found the world of this book a charmed one.”—Lynn C. Miller, author of Death of a Department Chair
Review
“Art history (and prehistory), French food, wonderful descriptions of France’s lovely Perigord region, and a clever mystery to boot. What’s not to like? Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden have a wonderful knack of educating you painlessly—almost without your noticing—while you make your way through their twisty, witty plot.”—Aaron Elkins, Edgar-winning author of The Worst Thing
Review
Nicely balances a breezily light travelogue with urgency and suspense.”Publishers Weekly
Review
A brisk and brainy whodunit. . . . That the book feels like the seamless work of a single author is no coincidence; readers of Draine and Hindens first mystery will be both entertained and educated by what is clearly a shared passion for the Dordogne and its considerable charms.”
Madison Capital TimesReview
“Take a touch of prehistoric art, sprinkle in some delicious southern French cuisine, add a dash of World War II history and a dollop of murder, and you’ve got a mystery novel that’s appetizing, intriguing, and informative. . . . If you like murder mystery you can get your teeth into, give this one a try. Bon appétit!”—Mystery Scene
Review
“Into the intricate plot the authors were able to weave Cro-Magnon art, a medieval religious sect, and Nazi intrigue, not to mention cooking lessons.”—
Ellery Queen Mystery MagazineReview
If you like a murder mystery you can get your teeth into, give this one a try. Bon appétit!”
Mystery SceneReview
Some fascinating French historyand prehistoryis layered into the plot, including Cro-Magnon artists, the 13th-century religious sect of the Cathars, 19th-century French painters, and the turbulent era of the Occupation during World War II. The cooking classes evoke the delicious tastes and aromas of the Dordognemagret de canard, foie gras, and walnut cake, to say nothing of the winesand the class excursions, coupled with the amateur sleuths investigations, take them to picturesque villages and natural sites, local cafes and restaurants, and even a lively regional festival. Skillfully blending a travelogue with an intriguing mystery, Draine and Hinden have produced a debut novel that many readers will hope is the first of a series.”
France TodayReview
A charming French countryside cozy, with very authentic and likable characters and an interesting plot that blends the past with the present.”
I Love a Mystery NewsletterReview
This . . . marvelously detailed excursion through the Dordogne will leave you dreaming of castles, chateaus, and caves. . . . With the cooking school component, this multifaceted read will hold great appeal for art, food, travel, and oh yes, mystery readers.”
Library Journal (starred review)
Review
andldquo;Raphael contributes again to the genre of second-generation Holocaust literature in which he is a pioneer. . . . True to his other works, his book is powerful and captivating to the end, painting vivid pictures of his parentsandrsquo; suffering, his hatred of Germany, and eventually his healing and reconciliation.andrdquo;andmdash;Library Journal
Review
andldquo;There is easy grace to this intense memoir about Jewish author Raphaelandrsquo;s emotional and cultural reconciliation with Germany. Part genealogical study, part book tour travelogue and part coming-out account, the authorandrsquo;s stark portrayal of religious, sexual and literary evolution is a compassionate record of one manandrsquo;s several liberations.andrdquo;andmdash;Richard Labonte, Bookmarks, andldquo;Top Ten Nonfiction Titles of 2009andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A cleansing, passionate memoir.andrdquo;andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
Review
andldquo;Raphaelandrsquo;s struggle to emotionally and culturally reconcile with a Germany he could never forgive makes for somber reading. But his struggle to balance his identity as a Jew and a gay man is one even those outside this world can appreciate.andrdquo;andmdash;EDGE
Synopsis
Successful professor Nick Hoffman finds his secure, happy, college-town life changed forever after a nightmarish encounter with police. A novel of suspense set in the academic world,
Assault with a Deadly Lie probes the disturbing psychological impact of slander, harassment, stalking, police brutality, and the loss of personal safety.
Synopsis
Successful professor Nick Hoffman finds his secure, happy, college-town life changed forever after a nightmarish encounter with police. But even when that horrible night is over, life doesn't return to normal. Someone is clearly out to destroy him. Nick and his partner Stefan Borowski face an escalating series of threats that lead to a brutal and stunning confrontation.
A novel of suspense set in the academic world, Assault with a Deadly Lie probes the disturbing psychological impact of slander, harassment, stalking, police brutality, and the loss of personal safety. What will Nick do when his world threatens to collapse? How can he reestablish order in a suddenly chaotic life?
Assault with a Deadly Lie, the eighth installment of Lev Raphael's Nick Hoffman Mysteries, propels the series to a new level of danger and intrigue as Nick and Stefan are catapulted out of their tranquil existence by shocking accusations.
Finalist, Midwest Book Award for Mystery/Thriller Fiction, Midwest Independent Publishers Association
A riveting great read for mystery/suspense fans, author Lev Raphael once again documents his impressive gifts as a storyteller, holding the reader s rapt attention from beginning to end with unexpected plot twists and surprise twists. Jack Mason, Midwest Book Review
Raphael portrays with frightening power the wrenching experience of victimization by the corporatized, PR-prioritized groves of academia, where both men teach, and by local authorities militarized into SWAT teams practicing police brutality. . . . The compelling core of this unusual novel is Raphael s depiction of the agonizing reality of victims shame, in which someone feels doubly exposed talking about the violation and so says nothing. Booklist
Professor Nick Hoffman learns that even tenure can t guarantee real security. Kirkus Reviews"
Synopsis
Eamonn Wall arrived in the United States in the 1980s as part of a wave of young, educated immigrants who became known as the New Irish. In this book he comments on his own experiences and those of his generation, who identify as much with contemporary immigrant America as they do with the long-settled Irish American community. Wall's starting point is the now closed Sin-e Cafe in New York's East Village, which was a hangout in the early 1990s for expatriate Irish musicians, actors and writers. He comments on the poetry, fiction, essays, and memories of both the New Irish and Americans of Irish heritage, locating them within a literary and historical context. This is also a deeply personal book in which Wall wrestles with his own identity as an Irishman living in America, from the streets of Manhattan to the western hills of Nebraska.
Synopsis
Angels, death, religion, and Russians along the Northern California coast challenge our smart and artful sleuthing couple in this captivating follow-up to Murder in Lascaux, the debut novel in the Nora Barnes and Toby Sandler mystery series.
Synopsis
Life in Bodega Bay on the rugged, foggy coast of northern California has been pretty quiet since Alfred Hitchcock filmed
The Birds there. But antiques dealer Toby Sandler learns that his new business partner Charlie has been found dead on an abandoned boat in the harbor. When the local sheriff discovers that Charlies newly acquired Hitchcock artifacts and a painting of an angel are missing, he enlists Toby and his wife, Nora Barnes, an art historian, in the investigation.
Local tales about Hitchcocks famous film, and some digging into the regions past as a Russian outpost, provide Toby and Nora with clues to the existence of a lost masterpiece. Convinced that this forgotten work may hold the key to the murder, Nora and Toby set out to find it. When Noras trouble-prone sister Angie arrives, events take a surprising turn, leading to the uncanny realm of angel reading and putting Nora and her family in danger. As Nora and Toby investigate matters both criminal and otherworldly, Nora realizes that some mysteries in life may be too deep to solve.
Synopsis
Introducing The Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries: smart, hard-edged detective fiction in a setting of stunning natural beauty along the pristine shores of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Haunted by death, former police detective Dave Cubiak must confront his own heartache before discovering whatand#8217;s behind the tragic incidents plaguing the tourist mecca of Door County, Wisconsin.
Synopsis
Six deaths mar the holiday mood as summer vacationers enjoy Wisconsinand#8217;s beautiful Door County peninsula. Murders, or bizarre accidents? Newly hired park ranger Dave Cubiak, a former Chicago homicide detective, assumes the worst but refuses to get involved. Grief-stricken and guilt-ridden over the loss of his wife and daughter, heand#8217;s had enough of death.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Forced to confront the past, the morose Cubiak moves beyond his own heartache and starts investigating, even as a popular festival draws more people into possible danger. In a desperate search for clues, Cubiak uncovers a tangled web of greed, betrayal, bitter rivalries, and lost love beneath the peninsulaand#8217;s travel-brochure veneer. Befriended by several locals but unsure whom to trust or to suspect of murder, the one-time cop tracks a clever killer.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; In a setting of stunning natural beauty and picturesque waterfront villages, Death Stalks Door County introduces a new detective series, and#147;The Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries.and#8221;
Synopsis
Fadeout is the first of Joseph Hansen's twelve classic mysteries featuring rugged Dave Brandstetter, an insurance investigator who is contentedly gay. When entertainer Fox Olson's car plunges off a bridge in a storm, a death claim is filed, but where is Olson's body? As Brandstetter questions family, fans, and detractors, he grows certain Olson is still alive and that Dave must find him before the would-be killer does. Suspenseful and wry, shrewd and deeply felt, Fadeout remains as fresh today as when it startled readers more than thirty years ago.
Synopsis
The Dordogne region of southern France provides a colorful backdrop for mystery lovers who savor art, history, good food, and an intriguing puzzle.
Synopsis
Death Claims is the second of Joseph Hansen's acclaimed mysteries featuring ruggedly masculine Dave Brandstetter, a gay insurance investigator. When John Oats's body is found washed up on a beach, his young lover April Stannard is sure it was no accident. Brandstetter agrees: Oats's college-age son, the beneficiary of the life insurance policy, has gone missing.
Synopsis
Haunted by his parentsandrsquo; horrific suffering and traumatic losses under Nazi rule, Lev Raphael grew up loathing everything German. Those feelings shaped his Jewish identity, his life, and his career. While researching his motherandrsquo;s war years after her death, he discovers a distant relative living in the very city where she had worked in a slave labor camp, found freedom, and met his father. Soon after, Raphael is launched on book tours in Germany and, in the process, redefines himself as someone unafraid to face the past and let it go.
Bookmarks, andldquo;Top Ten Nonfiction Titles of 2009andrdquo;
About the Author
Lev Raphael has spoken about his work on three continents and has been publishing fiction and prose about the Second Generation for more than thirty yearsandmdash;longer than any other American author. His nineteen books include The German Money, Writing a Jewish Life, and Dancing on Tisha Bandrsquo;Av. He lives in Okemos, Michigan.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgmentsand#160;and#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;
Prologue: A Tale of Two Trainsand#160;and#160;and#160;
Part One: Haunted Houseand#160;and#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;
Part Two: Mysterious Jewsand#160;and#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;
Part Three: Voyage of Discoveryand#160;and#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;
Epilogue: Legaciesand#160;and#160;and#160; and#160;and#160;and#160;
Works Consulted