Rick Bleiweiss

I didn't enjoy reading this as much as I did the 2nd book but it was still a fun read. The mysteries were intriguing but the last one was overly complex and contrived but at least none of them were boring. But, again as in the last book there's a discrepancy. SPOILER:

On pg. 175, it's established that Emerlin's alibi is that he was in the kitchen with Warvis at the time of Barlan's murder but on pg. 197 Scorbion states that Emerlin was with them with Nava at the time of the murder which is not true. Only Nava was with them as the Morgan's driver while the Morgan's were being interviewed at the barbershop.… (meer)

This was hard going at first. Slow, boring...I wanted to quit numerous times but pressed on and 50 or so pages in, it started to grow on me: the characters, the author's stilted writing style, the eye rolling at some of the exchanges between Thelma and Pignon (really, I wonder if the author was being deliberately corny or whether he was being sincere) but I found myself somewhat enjoying myself. Enough to want to read book one of the series. We'll see how it goes.

But, I noted a minor discrepancy. SPOILER:

On pg. 228 Pignon asks Constable Pawley if Hodge knows Farnsworth and Carter when he was already told on pg. 224 by Hodge himself that he has never heard of the two. Considering Pignon is supposed to possess some great, meticulous brain, the discrepancy is ironic.… (meer)

Overall Rating: 3.57⭐

Hotel California (edited by Don Bruns) is an anthology of eight crime stories that vary in setting, crimes, and tone.

“New Kid in Town” by Andrew Child features Jack Reacher who gets embroiled in a search for a lost girl. (2.5/5)

“Life in the Fast Lane” by Don Bruns : A hired assassin breaks all the rules of the game on an assignment, altering the course of his mission.(4/5)

“Wasted Time” John Gilstrap :Two brothers, a Senator and a convicted murderer recently released from prison, hash it out as long-buried secrets resurface. (4.5/5)

“Victim of Love” by Reed Farrel Coleman : A strange face mask alters the persona and destiny of a down-on-his-luck man leading to some shocking outcomes.(3.5 /5)

“Pretty Maids All in a Row” by Heather Graham: Visitors discover more than tombs /mausoleums on a cemetery tour in New Orleans. (3/5)

“Try and Love Again” by Amanda Flower :A private investigator gets involved in trying to solve a decades old cold case.(3/5)

“The Last Resort” by Rich Bleiweiss : – A cat and mouse game ensues when a hit is taken out on a hitman.(4/5)

“Hotel California” by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush : With the lyrics of the eponymous song strewn throughout the narrative, this was more a light mystery with a surreal element rather than a crime story.(4/5)

Hey Eagles fans, do the titles of these stories sound familiar?

I loved the unique concept and enjoyed the fact that all of the story titles were taken from songs featured in the Eagles' Hotel California album. The only flipside was I couldn’t keep the music out of my head while reading!

Varying between dark, creepy, mysterious, surreal and action-packed, a few stories featured unpredictable endings and unexpected twists. But of course,not all stories are equally appealing . Given the wide variety of writing styles, mysteries and characters, most fans of this genre would find something they like. Many of these authors were new to me, so this was a great opportunity to sample their work. Overall, a mixed bag like most anthologies, I found “Hotel California” to be an interesting read.… (meer)

Well, you can't win if you don't play, right? I was disappointed by this novel, which I believe is the beginning of a new series. A funny name does not a compelling detective make. Inspired by the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot (both of whom are name-dropped by Pignon over the course of this narrative), Pignon Scorbion is a police detective with a keen sense of observation. He swans into the town of Haxford in 1910 and proceeds to smoothly untangle its mysteries, without so much as a wrinkle in his pristine bespoke jacket or a scuff on his custom-made two-tone shoes. He takes over the local barber shop (he is acquainted with the proprietor) and uses it as his base for investigation and interrogation. I suppose this is meant to be quaint and "of the times," but I found it contrived. There is a large cast of supporting characters, mostly the men who seem to be associated with the barber shop -- they are indistinguishable from each other and so, difficult to keep straight. There is an intrepid young reporter who attaches himself to Scorbion. There is a beautiful woman who breaks through Scorbion's disdainful exterior and worms her way into his heart with her voluptuous figure and beguiling intellect. All the tropes are present, and with them, some suspicious anachronisms that I felt compelled to look up, not being clear on the progression of technological innovation in Britain, such as indoor toilets and the telephone network. It felt a bit trite and precious. I have not the least desire to get to know Pignon Scorbion or his merry band of amateur investigators any better.… (meer)