Mystery and Suspense Reviews for 2004

Mystery and Suspense Reviews--2004

For the latest mystery and suspense reviews, please see the 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