Mystery and Suspense Reviews for 2004

Mystery and Suspense Reviews--2004

For our latest reviews of mystery, suspense, caper, and spy novels, please see Latest Mystery Reviews. See also the 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 mystery reviews page. See also the 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 listings.

For a complete listing of reviews, sorted by author, title, and category, see:Mystery Review Central

December 2004 Reviews

SEE JANE RUN by Liz Brady Second Story Press, October 2004 **** Reviewed 12/28/04
WIFE OF MOON by Margaret Coel Berkley Prime Crime, Septembe 2004 *** Reviewed 12/27/04

November 2004 Reviews

THIS OLD SOUSE by Mary Daheim William Morrow, August 2004 * Reviewed 11/20/04
METRO GIRL by Janet Evanovich HarperCollins, November 2004 *** Reviewed 11/20/04
THE STERLING INHERITANCE by Michael Silverling Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, July 2004 *** Reviewed 11/20/04
THE NEXT ACCIDENT by Lisa Gardner Bantam, April 2002 **** Reviewed 11/13/04
THE DRAGON MAN by Garry Disher Soho Crime, August 2004 (1999 in Australia) ** Reviewed 11/12/04
CALIFORNIA GIRL by T. Jefferson Parker William Morrow, September 2004 **** Reviewed 11/04/04
SHOULDER THE SKY by Anne Perry Ballantine, October 2004 *** Reviewed 11/04/04

October 2004 Reviews

THE PEARL DIVER by Sujata Massey HarperCollins, August 2004 *** Reviewed 10/26/04
GRAVE UNDERTAKING by Mark de Castrique Poisoned Pen Press, May 2004 **** Reviewed 10/21/04
LOVE AND THE POWER by J. Eidemak iUniverse, March 2004 **** Reviewed 10/20/04
WITCH'S TONGUE by James D. Doss St. Martin's Minotaur, September 2004 **** Reviewed 10/14/04
DAY OF THE DEAD by J. A. Jance William Morrow, July 2004 *** Reviewed 10/07/04

September 2004 Reviews

VISIONS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb G. P. Putnam's Sons, August 2004 **** Reviewed 9/25/04
BURY THE LEAD by David Rosenfelt Mysterious Press, June 2004 **** Reviewed 9/20/04
HERESY by Sharan Newman Forge, December 2002 ** Reviewed 9/16/04
BAD MOVE by Linwood Barclay Bantam, June 2004 *** Reviewed 9/11/04
THE DAMASCENED BLADE by Barbara Cleverly Carroll & Graf, 2003 **** Reviewed 9/09/04
TRIPLETREE by Derek Wilson St. Martin's Minotaur, June 2004 ** Reviewed 9/05/04
MAXIMUM SECURITY by Rose Connors Scribner, July 2004 *** Reviewed 9/02/04

August 2004 Reviews

BACKSTABBER by Tim Cockey Hyperion, July 2004 *** Reviewed 8/29/04
THE CHICKEN RESCUE LEAGUE by Amy Eastlake BooksForABuck.com, September 2004 **** Reviewed 8/27/04
TERMINAL ISLAND by John Shannon Carroll & Graff, March 2004 **** Reviewed 8/26/04
WALKING MONEY by James O. Born G. P. Putnam's Sons, June 2004 ** Reviewed 8/25/04
WHISKEY SOUR by J. A. Konrath Hyperion, June 2004 *** Reviewed 8/21/04
LAURENCE SANDERS McNALLY'S BLUFF by Vincent Lardo G. P. Putnam's Sons, August 2004 **** Reviewed 8/19/04
FULL DARK HOUSE by Christopher FowlerBantam, 2003 *** Reviewed 8/12/04
A FEAST OF POISONS by C. L. Grace St. Martin's Minotaur, June 2004 ** Reviewed 8/05/04
BLACK by Christopher Whitcomb Little, Brown & Co., June 2004 **** Reviewed 8/05/04
RETRO by Loren D. Estleman Forge, May 2004 **** Reviewed 8/03/04
TELL NO ONE by Harlan Coben Dell, 2001 **** Reviewed 8/03/04

July 2004 Reviews

WET GRAVE by Barbara Hambly Bantam, 2002 **** Reviewed 7/29/04
A SMALL CASE OF MURDER by Lauren Carr IUniverse, May 2004 *** Reviewed 7/26/04
UNFORCED ERROR by Michael Bowen Poisoned Pen Press, April 2004 **** Reviewed 7/19/04
TEN BIG ONES by Janet Evanovich St. Martin's Press, June 2004 **** Reviewed 7/17/04
THE JUDGMENT OF CAESAR by Steven Saylor St. Martin's Minotaur, June 2004 **** Reviewed 7/13/04
THE HUNDREDTH MAN by Jack Kerley Dutton, June 2004 ***** Reviewed 7/11/04
MURDER IS ACADEMIC by Christine Poulson Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, April 2004 ** Reviewed 7/10/04
DEATH OF AN OLD MASTER by David Dickinson Carroll & Graf, February 2004 **** Reviewed 7/06/04
LOADED DICE by James Swain Ballantine Books, June 2004 ** Reviewed 7/03/04
MURDER ON THE MARMORA by Conrad Allen St. Martin's Minotaur, February 2004 **** Reviewed 7/02/04
THE CANTERBURY PAPERS by Judith Healey William Morrow, December 2003 **** Reviewed 7/01/04

June 2004 Reviews

FIVE FOR SILVER by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer Poisoned Pen Press, March 2004 **** Reviewed 6/30/04
PLAYING WITH FIRE by Peter Robinson William Morrow, January 2004 *** Reviewed 6/27/04
TIES THAT BIND by Phillip Margolin HarperTorch, 2003 *** Reviewed 6/24/04
NO MURDER BEFORE ITS TIME by Russ Hall Five Star, October 2003 *** Reviewed 6/19/04
THE SNACK THIEF by Andrea Camilleri Penguin, 2003 **** Reviewed 6/18/04
BLOOD ON THE WOOD by Gillian Linscott St. Martin's Minotaur, May 2004 **** Reviewed 6/17/04
THE KING'S SPIES by Simon Beaufort Severn House, 2003 *** Reviewed 6/16/04
THE PROGRAM by Gregg Hurwitz William Morrow, August 2004 *** Reviewed 6/13/04
LAZY BONES by Mark Billingham William Morrow, June 2004 *** Reviewed 6/11/04
MURDER BY DESIGN by Jon P Bloch St. Martin's Minotaur, March 2004 **** Reviewed 6/08/04
A TRAITOR TO MEMORY by Elizabeth George Bantam, August 2002 ** Reviewed 6/07/04
SOUTHERN FIRED by Cathy Pickens Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, April 2004 **** Reviewed 6/05/04
I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON by Susan Kandel William Morrow, May 2004 **** Reviewed 6/04/04
BUBBLES A BROAD by Sarah Strohmeyer Dutton, July 2004 **** Reviewed 6/03/04

May 2004 Reviews

MULETRAIN TO MAGGODY by Joan Hess Simon & Schuster, February 2004 *** Reviewed 5/30/04
THE ALPINE PURSUIT by Mary Daheim Ballantine, April 2004 **** Reviewed 5/27/04
HALLOWED BONES by Carolyn Haines Delacourt/Random House, April 2004 *** Reviewed 5/27/04
RIPTIDE by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child Warner, July 1999 ** Reviewed 5/25/04
THE ACCUSERS by Lindsey Davis Mysterious Press/Warner, April 2004 **** Reviewed 5/23/04
THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown Doubleday, April 2003 *** Reviewed 5/21/04
ALL SHALL BE WELL by Deborah Crombie Berkley, January 1994 *** Reviewed 5/20/04
OUT OF TOWN A FEW DAYS: 15 Frank Johnson P.I. Stories by Ed Lynskey BooksForABuck.com, May 2004 (only $1) **** Reviewed 5/19/04
GRAVEYARD DUST by Barbara Hambly Bantam, 2000 **** Reviewed 5/18/04
THE SCYLLA HEXAGRAM by Paul Riva iUniverse, February 2004 ** Reviewed 5/17/04
THE BODY IN THE ATTIC by Katherine Hall Page William Morrow, April 2004 ** Reviewed 5/16/04
THE WHITE CITY by Alec Michod St. Martin's Press, January 2004 * Reviewed 5/11/04
EARTH COLORS by Sarah Andrews St. Martin's Minotaur, April 2004 ** Reviewed 5/09/04
THE GIRL WITH THE LONG BACK by Bill James W. W. Norton, March 2004 **** Reviewed 5/05/04
THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE by Alexander McCall Smith Pantheon, April 2004 *** Reviewed 5/04/04
THERAPY by Jonathan Kellerman Ballantine, May 2004 **** Reviewed 5/03/04
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO by Ed Gorman Carroll & Graf, February 2004 **** Reviewed 5/02/04
THE CUTTING ROOM by Laurence Klavan Ballantine, February 2004 **** Reviewed 5/01/04
MALLOTS AFORETHOUGHT by Sarah Graves Bantam, March 2004 *** Reviewed 5/01/04

April 2004 Reviews

THE JAKE OF DIAMONDS by Don Von Elsner Max Hardy, 1982 *** Reviewed 4/30/04
THE CAT WHO TALKED TURKEY by Lilian Jackson Braun G. P. Putnam's Sons, January 2004 ** Reviewed 4/29/04
BLACK DOG by Thomas Laird Carroll & Graf, April 2004 *** Reviewed 4/23/04
KILLER SMILE by Lisa Scottoline HarperCollins, June 2004 **** Reviewed 4/23/04
FUDGE CUPCAKE MURDER by Joanne Fluke Kensington, March 2004 *** Reviewed 4/22/04
PERFECT SAX by Jerrilyn Farmer William Morrow, January 2004 *** Reviewed 4/20/04
HIGHLIGHTS TO HEAVEN by Nancy J. Cohen Kensington, December 2003 ** Reviewed 4/20/04
WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARROTS by Donna Andrews Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, February 2004 **** Reviewed 4/17/04
WHISKER OF EVIL by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown Bantam, April 2004 *** Reviewed 4/15/04
THE PRISONER OF VANDAM STREET by Kinky Friedman Simon & Schuster, March 2004 **** Reviewed 4/12/04
PERIL by Thomas H. Cook Bantam, February 2004 *** Reviewed 4/08/04
THE TUMBLER by Peter Bowen St. Martin's Minotaur, April 2004 **** Reviewed 4/07/04
AUNT DIMITY: SNOWBOUND by Nancy Atherton Viking, January 2004 **** Reviewed 4/05/04
MONEY FOR GOOD by Franklin White Strebor Books, November 2003 ** Reviewed 4/05/04
GOOD BLOOD by Aaron Elkins Berkley Prime Crime, February 2004 **** Reviewed 4/02/04
MURDER UNLEASHED by Lee Charles Kelley Avon, December 2003 *** Reviewed 4/01/04

March 2004 Reviews

THE ACTOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Rick Copp Kensington, November 2003 **** Reviewed 3/31/04
THOU SHALT NOT GRILL by Tamar Myers New American Library, February 2004 *** Reviewed 3/30/04
POLITICAL SUICIDE by Alan Russell St. Martin's Minotaur, December 2003 *** Reviewed 3/22/04
BAD BUSINESS by Robert B. Parker G. P. Putnam's Sons, March 2004 ** Reviewed 3/20/04
BLUE BLOOD by Susan McBride Avon Mystery, January 2004 *** Reviewed 3/19/04
IT HAD TO BE YOU by Jill Churchill William Morrow, March 2004 *** Reviewed 3/18/04
CEREAL KILLER by G. A. McKevett Kensington, January 2004 *** Reviewed 3/17/04
PAST DUE by William Lashner William Morrow, May 2004 **** Reviewed 3/14/04
GUARDIAN OF THE HORIZON by Elizabeth Peters William Morrow, April 2004 **** Reviewed 3/11/04
POLISHED OFF by Barbara Colley Kensington Books, February 2004 ** Reviewed 3/08/04
COLD CASE by Robin Burcell Avon Mystery, January 2004 *** Reviewed 3/07/04
MR. PARADISE by Elmore Leonard William Morrow, January 2004 ** Reviewed 3/06/04
THE RIVER GOD'S VENGEANCE: SPQR VIII by John Maddox Roberts Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, January 2004 **** Reviewed 3/05/04
REAP A WICKED HARVEST by Janis Harrison St. Martin's Minotaur, January 2004 *** Reviewed 3/03/04
THE KILLING HOUR by Lisa Gardner Bantam, July 2003 **** Reviewed 3/01/04

February 2004 Reviews

THE CAT WHO WASN'T A DOG by Marian Babson Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, August 2003 *** Reviewed 2/28/04
THE WRONG STUFF by Sharon Fiffer St. Martin's Minotaur, November 2003 **** Reviewed 2/27/04
THE CON MAN'S DAUGHTER by Ed Dee Warner Books, November 2003 ** Reviewed 2/26/04
TOASTING TINA by Evan Marshall Kensington Books, November 2003 ** Reviewed 2/19/04
HATE CRIME by William Bernhardt Ballantine Books, February 2004 *** Reviewed 2/16/04
DIVIDED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts) G. P. Putnam's Sons, January 2004 *** Reviewed 2/14/04
THE SHAPE OF WATER by Andrea Camilleri Penguin, 2002 *** Reviewed 2/11/04
THE TERRA-COTTA DOG by Andrea Camilleri Penguin, 2003 **** Reviewed 2/07/04
CADILLAC BEACH by Tim Dorsey William Morrow, February 2004 *** Reviewed 2/05/04
RED, WHITE & BLUE MURDER by Bill Crider Thomas Dunne, St. Martin's Minotaur, October 2003 **** Reviewed 2/04/04

January 2004 Reviews

THE CIRCLE OF SODOM by Pat Mullan 1st Books Library, March 2002 *** Reviewed 1/31/04
CRUISE BRIDGE by Don Von Elsner Max Hardy, 1980 *** Reviewed 1/28/04
ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU by Laurie Lynn Drummond HarperCollins, February 2004 **** Reviewed 1/27/04
THE LAST PLACE by Laura Lippman William Morrow, 2002 *** Reviewed 1/27/04
THE KILL CLAUSE by Gregg Hurwitz William Morrow, August 2003 *** Reviewed 1/22/04
A BLIND EYE by G. M. Ford William Morrow, July 2003 **** Reviewed 1/16/04
DIE LAUGHING by Carola Dunn St. Martin's Minotaur, October 2003 *** Reviewed 1/14/04
SOMETHING'S DOWN THERE by Mickey Spillane Simon & Schuster, December 2003 ** Reviewed 1/11/04
RADIO ACTIVITY by Bill Fitzhugh William Morrow, April 2004 **** Reviewed 1/06/04
MURDER WALKS THE PLANK by Carolyn Hart William Morrow, March 2004 *** Reviewed 1/03/04
DIRTY SOUTH by Ace Atkins William Morrow, March 2004 **** Reviewed 1/01/04

December 2003 Reviews

FAINT COLD FEAR by Karin Slaughter William Morrow, September 2003 **** Reviewed 12/31/03
HEAT SHOCK by Robert Greer Warner Books, October 2003 ** Reviewed 12/27/03
KISSCUT by Karin Slaughter HarperTorch, September 2002 **** Reviewed 12/27/03
THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL by Lawrence Block William Morrow, March 2004 *** Reviewed 12/26/03
DEAD SOUL by James D. Doss St. Martin's Minotaur, September 2003 **** Reviewed 12/24/03
DRAGON'S LAIR by Sharon Kay Penman Marian Wood/G. P. Putnam's Sons, October 2003 **** Reviewed 12/23/03
FIREPLAY by Suzanne Chazin G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2003 **** Reviewed 12/23/03
MURDER ROOM by P. D. James Alfred A. Knopf, 2003 *** Reviewed 12/22/03
CAT FEAR NO EVIL by Shirley Rousseau Murphy HarperCollins, March 2004 *** Reviewed 12/19/03
THE KILL FEE by Laura Van Wormer Mira, November 2003 ** Reviewed 12/15/03
VOICE OF THE VIOLIN by Andrea Camilleri Viking/Penguin, November 2003 **** Reviewed 12/11/03
THE JUPITER MYTH by Lindsey Davis Warner Books, September 2003 **** Reviewed 12/10/03
PARANOIA by Joseph Finder St. Martin's Press, January 2004 **** Reviewed 12/05/03
WHEN THE STORM BREAKS by Heather Lowell Harper Torch, July 2003 ** Reviewed 12/03/03
SCAREDY CAT by Mark Billingham William Morrow, June 2003 (U.K. 2002) **** Reviewed 12/02/03
THE HUMMINGBIRD WIZARD by Meredith Blevins Forge, September 2003 **** Reviewed 12/01/03