Monday, December 31, 2012

ZONED FOR MURDER

ZONED FOR MURDER BY EVELYN DAVID - A REVIEW

Zoned For Murder is a good solid mystery set in Milford, an affluent suburb in New York.  Our heroine, Maggie Brooks, deals with the sudden death of her husband while juggling a job and raising her two children.

The story centers around a proposal for a new mega mall.  Funny moments abound throughout. 

My favorite parts are the encounters with her therapist, Selma - a no nonsense kind of gal - and her on-line buddy, Shelley.

The book is loaded with believable characters.  David creates people who possess both good and bad qualities.  Very realistic.

I think you'll enjoy Zoned For Murder, and (like me) you'll be waiting for the second Sound Shore Times Mystery featuring Maggie Brooks.


Not to mention the fact that it's a great title if you participate in the 2013 A-Z Reading Challenge!

Smart move, Evelyn!!!


Saturday, December 22, 2012

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS


"WHO MURDERED..." STYLE!

(HAZEL CARTBELL'S VERSION)

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
The killer was creeping, as quiet as a mouse.
With a gun in his hand and his eyes on the prize,
Who he was after, I could only surmise.

The killer moved quickly, he searched for his goal,
The house was as dark as Victor Kendall’s black soul.
I inched my way slowly, to keep him in sight,
But he stayed in the shadows, as dark as the night.

I grew cold and tired, my brain started to roam,
And I thought of the townsfolk, all warm in their home.
I pictured Mama Bella in her restaurant,
Waiting on her customers to see what they want.

And then in a twinkling, my thoughts started to drift,
To my brother, Sebastian, who always seemed miffed.
Two years my junior, he still acted like a child,
I try not to judge him, without getting riled.

Or the chief’s son, Robbie, a student in college,
He’s studying hard to expand his knowledge.
He’s got a crush on our pretty dispatcher,
Robbie won’t give up hope, thinking he’ll catch her.

Sister Marie Catherine, the old-school nun,
So strict and somber, does she ever have fun?
I can visualize Sister, praying in church,
Then I heard a loud noise and my heart gave a lurch.

There out on the street, a car rolled to a stop,
And Donovan emerged, our new rookie cop.
With a huff and a puff, he raced up beside me.
Did the recruit think I would need him to guide me?

The heavens released a fresh dusting of snow,
The rookie grew restless, but we had to keep low.
I kept my eyes peeled and let my grip loosen,
A wonderful sight, here comes Chief Rasmussen.

My heart filled with joy as I watched him draw near,
Would the chief never notice me, was my worst fear.
He strode to the door and called in a firm voice,
Come out with your hands up, you don’t have a choice.

I watched him with pride, this man was my hero,
Just like Poirot and that Wolfe they called Nero.
As the bad guy obeyed and marched onto the porch,
I knew as long as I lived, I would carry this torch!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

BLOG HOP WINNERS



THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED THE GIVEAWAY.  AND THANKS TO 

"I AM A READER, NOT A WRITER"
AND
"CHAPTER BY CHAPTER"

FOR HOSTING THE HOP.


THE 2 WINNERS ON MY BLOG ARE:

KAREN PULESKI
&
KIMBERLY HOLGATE


THEY EACH WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF MY EBOOK:

THE HUDSON DETECTIVE AGENCY -
CHICAGO STYLE


KAREN & KIMBERLY, I WILL CONTACT YOU BY EMAIL.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE EBOOK.


Monday, December 3, 2012

BOOK LOVERS HOLIDAY HOP



Blog Hop

The prize will be a copy of my e-book "The Hudson Agency - Chicago Style".   There will be 2 lucky winners who will each receive a copy of the e-book via Smashwords.com.




To enter the giveaway just leave a comment with a way for me to contact you for notification if you are the winner.

(If I don't have a way to contact you, you will be disqualified and another name will be drawn.)

If you become a follower of my Blog - you receive 1 extra entry.
(If you already follow my Blog - just say so in your comment & you will get the1 extra entry!)

If you sign up for my newsletter (The Oberth Boooks Newsletter) - you receive 2 extra entries.
(You have to say in the comments section of my blog if you are doing this.)

The contest runs December 4 through December 10, 2012.

Winners to be announced on Dead Herring Blog on December 11, 2012.
Good luck to you all!!




My daughter, Jennifer Oberth, is also a participating mystery author.

Book Lover's Holiday Hop

Friday, November 23, 2012

Cruising Thru The Cozies


 



I'm heading for Super Sleuth
(Reading 13 mysteries)


This Reading Challenge is hosted by Yvonne from Socrates' Book Review Blog

I finished this 2012 challenge and am looking forward to trying it again in 2013!

Click here to see my 2012 list.

Click here to see my daughter's (Jennifer) completed list. 
She finished the 2012 challenge also and will participate again for 2013!


Thanks Yvonne for a fun challenge!!!!!!!




Wednesday, November 14, 2012

TASTE OF POLONIA


THE TASTE OF POLONIA WAS OVER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY THIS YEAR.

I GOT RECRUITED TO DEAL BLACKJACK IN THEIR CASINO.





WHAT A WEIRD FEELING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE!!!


Friday, November 9, 2012

ROLLER DERBY

I remember racing home from school in order to watch the roller derby on tv.  (Loved those T-Birds!!)

So we went to a roller derby event at University of Illinois last month.  It was a blast.






Sunday, November 4, 2012

WRITERS POLICE ACADEMY - DEMOS

SO MANY DEMONSTRATIONS
SO LITTLE TIME


THERE WERE MANY SCENARIOS & DEMONSTRATIONS THAT THE VOLUNTEERS PUT ON FOR US...


EMS





DRUG SEARCHES




UNDERWATER SEARCHES






HANDCUFF TECHNIQUES






JAIL





CRIME SCENE (SHOOTOUT) IN PROGRESS


JAWS OF LIFE


AND ON AND ON AND ON....



THE WRITERS POLICE ACADEMY IS BY FAR THE BEST WRITERS CONFERENCE!

WE WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD!!



SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, LEE


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

WRITERS POLICE ACADEMY - DIVING

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DIVE TEAM PUT ON A DEMONSTRATION
AT THE YMCA POOL .








NORTH CAROLINA WATER IS MURKY AND THEY CAN'T SEE UNDERWATER, SO SEARCHES ARE DONE BY FEEL.







UNFORTUNATELY, MOST CASES ARE NOT SEARCHES, BUT RECOVERIES.


THE UNDERWATER BODY BAG HAS SMALL HOLES TO RELEASE THE WATER, YET HANG ON TO ANY ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE ON THE BODY



THE DIVERS WERE GREAT & ANSWERED EVERY SINGLE QUESTION

WHAT A TEAM!



Sunday, October 28, 2012

WRITERS POLICE ACADEMY - MARCIA CLARK

GUEST SPEAKER MARCIA CLARK WAS FANTASTIC!


SHE HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR - REFERRING TO THE TRIAL
"THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED"!

MARCIA DETAILED A STEP BY STEP OVERVIEW OF A COURT CASE FROM START TO FINISH.  GREAT MATERIAL.









Thursday, October 25, 2012

WRITERS POLICE ACADEMY - EMS

EMS




WE GOT TO RIDE IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE





CRAMPED QUARTERS!







OF COURSE, THEY PUT US TO WORK
(APPARENTLY, NOBODY GETS A FREE RIDE)






THE PATIENT LIVED ANYWAY!!








Sunday, October 21, 2012

WRITERS POLICE ACADEMY - JOY

WE RECONNECTED WITH OLD FRIENDS



JOY & HER DADDY, MATT









JOY SEARCHED FOR LOST OBJECTS




SHE ALSO SEARCHED FOR DRUGS






SCORE!!








GREAT JOB, JOY!!