Afleveringen

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.

    This is Episode 6a, checkers is the featured game. This is A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro

    Today’s story is a double episode. We will hear the first half, then we’ll be back next week for the second half and Deliberation.

    PRE ROLL

    This week’s author is Frank Zafiro

    Stefan Kopriva is a disgraced police officer-turned-investigator. In the years since he left the police department after a terrible mistake, his life has been a slow journey toward redemption. Now, a decade and a half removed from his greatest failure, he is still not entirely there. But he is closer. In this story, his involvement in the investigation at hand isn't something he seeks out, but his sense of duty to the victim is an underlying reason for doing so. Kopriva's version of "duty" is still very guilt-driven, and so he sometimes ends up in situations he'd be better off avoiding. But life, much like he discovers is also true of the game of checkers, isn't as simple and straightforward as we often think... or wish. Find more Stef Kopriva stories on Frank’s website and your favorite book retailers. https://www.frankzafiro.com/

    DELIBERATION

    No deliberation for this episode...look for it in Part 2

    ABOUT Frank Zafiro

    https://www.frankzafiro.com/

    Frank Zafiro writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. During his life, he has been a military intelligence linguist, a police officer (a twenty year career, retiring as a captain), and an independent consultant and instructor. He has taught both writing and police related topics at the collegiate level and professional venues. Through it all, he has been a writer. To date, he has published 48 novels, over 100 short stories, and appeared in over 50 anthologies. He lives in Redmond, Oregon, with his wife, Kristi, who is a teacher.

    WRAP UP

    That wraps this episode of Mysteries to Die For. Support our show by subscribing, telling a mystery lover about us, and giving us a five-star review. Check out our website TGWolff.com/Podcast for links to this season’s authors.

    Mysteries to Die For is hosted by TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. A Checkered Past was written by Frank Zafiro. Music and production are by Jack Wolff. Episode art is by TG Wolff. Join us next week the conclusion of A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro


  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles.

    TG Wolff Review

    Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a comedic, cozy mystery. Babs Norman is a Hollywood stunner, but instead of gracing the silver screen, she’s gumshoeing it through the star-studded streets. Hollywood’s movers and shakers are reeling as canine stars and faithful companions alike are disappearing. Babs must mingle with Tinseltown’s elite to find the hand that holds the leash.

    Bottom line: Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is for you if you like cozy-styled mysteries and fun-filled romps through the golden age of Hollywood.

    Strengths of the story. One of the shining stars (ha!) of the story was the 1940 Hollywood setting. Crowens took us into the glitz and glamour of the parties, the mansions, and the sets. It was one of the most unique and detailed settings I think I have ever read. The depth of Crowens imagination is a remarkable as she brings a lost world back to life.

    The characters surrounding the mystery are just as creatively detailed. Basil Rathbone of Sherlock Holmes fame and his Watson, Nigel Bruce. Myrna Loy and William Powell. Crowens takes what could have been cardboard cut outs of the icons and gives them family, relationship troubles, friends, and secrets – just like normal people. I don’t know how much research Crowens did or if the result was pure imagination, but it was a sweet result.

    The character of Babs Norman and her partner Guy Brandt are a good, functional team. They were witty and engaging, but largely played the straight role to the Hollywood icons. I do look to see how much a detective drives the story. In the first half of the book, Babs goes about traditional Q&A which doesn’t yield much success. Then she decides to take a risk, grabbing control of the story and getting it moving forward.

    This story has been classified as a cozy, won awards as a comedy, and listed as a historical. The steady passing and clean storytelling style is a real treat.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: When it came to the motive behind the dognappings, it was as solid as it was creative. But inside of that, there were elements that felt underplayed or inconsistent. The number of dogs missing and their fame increases but there is no outcry, it isn’t picked up in the press, etc. It was believable when it was two dogs, but as it grew, I felt like the story didn’t grow with it.

    While it is critical that the detective drives their story, the logic of the actions also matters. There was a point where Babs had earned her big break in the case, and then the story took a doglegged turn. She abandoned her first success for a half-heard reference. I had issues with the sudden redirection that seemed to fly in the face of the evidence.

    In the category of personal preference, I struggled with the breakdown of the chapters. There are 38 chapters, most of which are seven to ten pages. Then three of the last four chapters were over 20 pages each with subsections. It confused me as I read as I was conditioned to expect the short, quick hitting chapters.

    All in all, this was a clean, fun read.

    Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles was released from Level Best Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book...

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  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.

    This is Episode 5, Indian Poker or Blind Man’s Bluff is the featured game. This is A Forced Card by Ed Teja

    If you like a taste of the surreal with your mysteries, check out the struggle that private investigator Matt Cramer faces. He is solving crimes in rural Silver City, New Mexico, where doing almost anything involves dealing with the magic of local witches and at least one shaman, the secrets of ranchers and desert rats, small town politics and law enforcement, and the possible involvement of aliens (and definitely some alien hunters). It’s a strange brew that tends to twist reality or expose the surreal, with more stories coming. Link to the first book, An Impossible Abduction, is in the show notes.

    The series starts here: https://books2read.com/u/4ElRGO

    ABOUT Indian Poker

    This poker game has a lot of names. Indian poker, squaw poker, Oklahoma forehead, Indian head. According to my favorite source, Wikipedia, this is a game of probability and psychology. Ed described how we game is played so, yeah, you can see there being psychology involved. This is a one card poker game but variations exist on stud poker and Texas hold’em. I wasn’t able to find any details on the history of this game. It was difficult given how many names it has and the multiple meaning of words in the name. The tag game, blind man’s bluff, dates back to the late 15th century. And poker has existed in India since the British brought it in the 1800s. Fascinating facts that have nothing to do with today’s game. Ah well.

    ABOUT Ed Teja

    www.edteja.com

    Ed Teja has edited magazines in Asia, been a boat bum in the Caribbean, traveled the world, and always, always, written fiction. He is currently hunkered down in rural New Mexico where he writes strange stories of strange people and teaches martial arts. His cross-genre stories emphasize the surreal around us and have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies.

    WRAP UP

    That wraps this episode of Mysteries to Die For. Support our show by subscribing, telling a mystery lover about us, and giving us a five-star review. Check out our website TGWolff.com/Podcast for links to this season’s authors.

    Mysteries to Die For is hosted by TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. A Forced Card was written by Ed Teja. Music and production are by Jack Wolff. Episode art is by TG Wolff. Join us next week for a Toe Tag, which is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, or thriller genre. Then come back in two weeks for our next original story, A Checkered Past by Frank Zafiro where checkers is the featured game

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is Black & White by Justin M. Kiska

    TG Wolff Review

    Black & White is a mystery. This story is told in two times. Then was 1945. Stride agency investigator Francis “Fitz” Mason is hired by a retired US Ambassador to find the daughter who disappeared while dressing for her wedding. Now is 1985. Park City Police Detective Sergeant Ben Winters and Detective Tommy Mason are called to the scene of a woman’s body discovered in a field. She’s young, beautiful, and frozen solid. Winters and Mason take up the case where Uncle Fitz left off forty years ago.

    Bottom line: Black & White is for you if you like mysteries driven by classic detectives, both cop and private investigator.

    Strengths of the story. Black & White moves back and forth between the 1945 kidnapping case and the 1985 suspicious death case. The movement between the two periods are distinct, staying in each period for multiple chapters, with distinct indication of the change.

    The 1945 story features PI Fitz Mason with a cast mixing the local rich and famous with local cops covering their own butts. The story is a solid kidnapping mystery with the who, why, and how largely making sense. Former ambassador Conrad Martin’s daughter, Lillian, went missing the morning of her wedding. Someone carried her out of her father’s mansion dressed in her wedding gown. The character of Fitz Mason is of the classic, heroic cut and is easy to cheer for. The supporting characters of Ambassador Martin, younger sister Lucy, the valet Joe Grainger, and police chief Buchanan are also well developed, three-dimensional characters who you can like, hate, laugh at, and sympathize for.

    The 1985 story features police detectives Ben Winter and his partner and friend Tommy Mason. Childhood friends, they grew up listening to Uncle Fitz’s case stories. The suspicious death is intriguing. The who, why, and how are built off the 1945 case, so, while it has equal weight in the book, it feels secondary. Even in writing this review, I’m being careful to not reveal anything that would detract from your enjoyment. This is the fourth book for Ben and Tommy, so they have the history and depth of established characters. The supporting characters are more typical of police procedurals, being effective, informative, and often entertaining.

    The scene setting in both 1945 and 1985 are distinctively drawn using language, clothing, and period appropriate relationships between father and daughters, men and women. I felt transported to 1945. The 1985 language was not very different from now. The biggest “feel” for the mid-80s came from Tommy looking and dressing like the original Magnum P.I.

    Fitz does an excellent job of driving his story. He investigated, picked up the clues, and drove it to the next point, then the next point, etc. Ben and Tommy are more traditional cops, acting on information given to them by the evidence clerk, forensics, etc and ushering the story point to point.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: To enable the two stories to be told simultaneously, the modern story had to be slowed down, so it didn’t give away the historic story. But in doing that the modern story felt to me like it was idling, sometimes waiting until Fitz made a move before Ben and Tommy took a step forward.

    The logic on the kidnapping, as I said, largely made sense. However, Lillian was knocked out and carried out of a mansion busy with wedding preparation without being seen. While Fitz was...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.

    This is Episode 4, that classic Scrabble is the featured game. This is Hard Scrabble by KM Rockwood

    PRE-ROLL

    Hi everyone TG Wolff here. You are about to hear a story from KM Rockwood. She’s an awesome storyteller whose stories never quite go where you expect.

    Rose, who gave “Abduction and Lies” a 5-star review on Amazon said “This book is written with the same dark realism as the others in the series. By the end of the book, Jesse's current issues are solved and I breathe a sigh of relief. Until the next time. You are never going to meet a more likeable protagonist than Jesse Damon. Or one who gets into more trouble. Or one you will worry about more.”

    Check out KM’s books on her website, kmrockwood.com, Amazon, or your favorite online retailer.

    DELIBERATION

    Here we are at the deliberation of another Mysteries to Die For ad free episode. In exchange for not assuming you need a virtual therapist, support our authors by checking out their backlists and picking up a title. This week is KM Rockwood. Now…

    Misha Soleby-Welkins is getting some kind of education working at the senior center. To pass here dissertation, she’s going to need an answer to what happened to Mr. Davidson. Here are her suspects, I mean clients, in the order we met them:

    • Henry, the Scrabble rebel who uses a crutch

    • Leonard, the other Scrabble rebel who walks unaided

    • Corina, the flatulent woman who uses a walker

    • Simon, the perpetually hungry man who uses a wheelchair

    • Margaret, the group’s heart and voice of reason

    • Mr. Parsons, the hottie who is the backup manager for Mr. Davison

    Here are the facts Misha is working with:

    • Davidson micromanaged, berated, and even injured the center’s clients, driving himself to a migraine. He leaves before lunch, walking toward his home on the other side of the tracks. Mr. Parson discovers the body some time later. It had been severed by the train.

    • Simon rolled his wheelchair outside before Davidson left for a quiet place to each the muffins Misha snuck to him. Margaret went and brought him back in to avoid Davidson catching him.

    • Henry goes outside for a cigarette while Misha and others prepare lunch. Margaret goes out to get him when lunch is ready.

    • After a mystery lunch, Corina goes outside to spare her friends her flatulent side effects. Leonard takes the lunch trash outside.

    • When Misha starts the Scrabble game, Leonard is unaccounted for. He hurries in, looking for Mr. Parsons who has not arrived.

    • Leonard thought he saw Mr. Parsons’s car when he took the garbage out. Margaret says he is mistaken. Mr. Parsons and his car are stuck on the other side of the train.

    Who should Misha pen as a silver killer and, for bonus points, what...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is Playing Dead by me, TG Wolff

    TG Wolff Review

    Playing Dead is a mystery. A body is put on display in Det. Jesus De La Cruz’s neighborhood. The victim isn’t random but some Cruz and the Cleveland police have been after, Alexander “Rotten” Carter. There was nothing plain and simple about this murder. Point in fact: the corpse was dressed as the king of hearts…the suicide king. Now Cruz is on the case to find answers to Carter’s killing and to the activities that hit much closer to home.

    Bottom line: Playing Dead is for you if you like complex mysteries and being part of the detective’s professional and personal life.

    At the time of this recording, Playing Dead was days away from release, so there are no reviews to pull from. So, I’m putting my M2D4 hat on and critiquing my own book.

    Strengths of the story. Playing Dead is the 4th book in the series that deals as much with the ups and downs of the personal life of Jesus De La Cruz as it does the details of the mystery. The characters continue to grow from past novels, making it feel like we are catching up with old friends.

    The main characters of Cruz, his fiancĂŠ Aurora, best friend Det Matt Yablonski, and awkward brainiac Professor Grayson Manor are fully developed, having strengths that bridge challenges and weaknesses their work against their success. The side characters often offer comedic relief to the intensity of the murder.

    The mystery itself ties off storyline from the last two books. Reading prior books is not a necessity in following the mystery itself. The motivations and actions of the suspects is fully contained within this book. Reading the prior stories will be helpful in understanding the emotional strain the victim, Rotten Carter, cause to the cast of characters.

    The story is told linearly including both Cruz’s on-the-clock and personal time. This drives the pacing as Cruz, like all of use, juggles the demands of a challenging professional life and a full private life, which includes a best friend who is treading dangerously close to over-the-line.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: For lovers of stand-alone mysteries where the story is one-hundred-percent about the murder, the incorporation of personal life may not be as rewarding.

    As with all series, starting a book four may has the potential to leave new readers feeling either like they are left out of the story or not getting as immersed in the emotions the characters are feeling. Certainly, as the author, I worked to make it welcoming to new readers, but this is always a challenge of series.

    The Playing Dead was released from Down & Out Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

    Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. Founded in 2011, PICT offers virtual book tour services for well-established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PICT prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games for your entertainment.

    This is Episode 3, Cards Against Humanity is the featured game. This is Cards Against Jake by Jim Winter

    PRE-ROLL

    This week's author is Jim Winter. The Dogs of Beaumont Heights is the explosive sequel to Jim Winter's Holland Bay! Fentanyl. The latest scourge of Monticello’s street. A detective, a dealer, and an ambitious police official will confront it as it changes their fates. For Detective Jessica Branson, it threatens her career. For Marcus Lincoln, it’s his ticket to the top of the Game as he moves up in the gang that still rules Holland Bay. For Derek Roberts, it’s a political football as he navigates between two ambitious candidates for mayor. They collide when a maligned breed of dog kills a little girl in the Beaumont Heights neighborhood. Find The Dogs of Beaumont Heights at your favorite online retailer.

    DELIBERATION

    Jack, let’s take ten second to point out that Mysteries to Die For remains ad free. In exchange for not making you move to hit the fast forward button, support our authors by checking out their backlists and picking up a title. This week is Jim Winter. Now…

    Detective Ana Friedman is never going to live down that Jake Randall died while she was on the toilet. The best we can do is help her close this case fast. Here are the Cards Against Humanity players:

    • Ana Friedman, detective, who was was indisposed at the critical time

    • Melanie Dunlop, Ana’s partner who wanted to play cards instead of listen to jazz

    • Vic Holmes, party host and cocktail mixer

    • Regina Mallory, Vic’s sweet, mousy girlfriend

    • Stan Cheswicz, the building manager who was fixing the sink

    Here are the facts Ana has to work with:

    • Five friends were playing Cards Against Humanity.

    • Jake was high and had been drinking. He played his cards for maximum insult to the ladies. Only Regina seemed to be bothered.

    • Stan carried a grudge against Jake for calling a TV station over a maintenance issue, which cause trouble for Stan with the home office.

    • At a break, Ana went to the bathroom. Melanie and Jake stayed at the table. Vic, Regina, and Stan were in the kitchen at the same time.

    • Vic made five drinks, all bourbon with cream. Only Ana’s did not get cream. Regina poured the cream and served the drinks.

    • The five players – less Ana – drank in a toast. Jake instantly sickened. Vic attempted to resuscitate him. Regina seemed panicked.

    • Jake died of strychnine poisoning, a compound Stan kept in his toolbox for dealing with rats.

    Which player has overplayed their hand?

     A reminder to mystery readers to check out our print and e-books companion book. Seasons 4, 5 and 6 are available in e-book and trade paperback from online retailers. This season’s book is being released in two parts. Part one will release in March 2024 and Part two in September. Buy one for you and one for a mystery lover you love. The dimes and...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is Objects of Desire.

    TG Wolff Review

    Objects of Desire is a PI Mystery. Two years ago, PI Rita Mars broke up with Diane Winter. It was loud and messy end to their relationship. Now Diane is missing and the note left behind points in Rita’s direction. Juggling a case of corporate embezzlement, Diane’s disappearance, and a mother with early dementia means Rita has to do a lot of juggling to keep the balls in the air and her butt out of jail.

    Bottom line: Objects of Desire is for you if you like mysteries without murder, female-centric plots, and clean storytelling.

    Strengths of the story. The second in the Rita Mars thriller series, Objects of Desire is listed as an LGBTQ+ Mystery and Women’s Detective Fiction on Amazon. I do agree with the genres of mystery and detective fiction, moreso than thriller. Rita runs her own PI agency and juggles two cases, keeping both stories moving forward. While there were implied threats to Rita from the police investigation, this was a subplot, which placed the mysteries front and center.

    The characters of Rita, her assistant Beverly Hills, her best friend Mary Margaret Smooth, and IT wizard Roswell were comfortable in their roles, which reflected this being the second book in the series. Rita was a PI who relied on her team to extend her reach and resources. As compared to other PI characters, she runs a team and uses them to their strengths. The characters were both likable and interesting. Rita’s mother played the role of the comic relief with her sugar and Oreo obsession.

    I have not read the first Rita Mars story but had no problem reading Objects of Desire. Webster did a nice job of giving new readers the information needed to jump into Rita’s world.

    Webster’s storytelling style is clean, without cursing, sex, or on-stage violence. There is the implication and threat of violence but not actual depiction of, which makes this a great choice for readers who prefer classic mystery styles of Miss Jane Marple, Nero Wolfe, and others. On the spectrum of cozy to hard boiled, this is closer to the cozy end.

    The financial mystery was well developed. While Rita developed the theories, the technical nature of the crimes meant that Roswell did more of the leg work than Rita. This worked to keep the story progressing while Rita worked on Diane’s case.

    The kidnapping mystery was a straighter story. The biggest challenge here is there was nothing for Rita or the cops to start from. Rita had to return to PI gumshoe roots, working through all of Diane’s friends, acquaintances, and other exes to get to a clue that led somewhere.

    This mystery is categorized as LGBTQ+ with the majority of the main characters being gay. Rita Mars and OBJECTS OF DESIRE stands as a solid mystery because of the plot, not because of the characters’ enduring attraction to the same sex. While being gay is central to Rita’s identity, much as being from Belgium was central to Poirot, it has no bearing on her capability as a PI. If you are a reader looking for a lead from the LGBTQ+ community, read Rita Mars. If you are a reader looking for a clean mystery with an intelligent PI, read Rita Mars.

    Where the story fell short of ideal. Considering OBJECTS OF DESIRE as a mystery, there was a lot to like, as already mentioned, but I had a few minor items. I did think that the urgency of finding Diane was undermined by both the financial case and Rita’s mother, at times...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games for your entertainment.

    This is Episode 2, cow flop bingo is the featured game. This is A Scent of Murder by Paul A Barra.

    PRE-ROLL

    This week’s author is Paul A. Barra. The author of "A Scent of Murder," today’s story, Paul A. Barra has written and published five novels. His latest was WESTFARROW ISLAND, a finalist for the Silver Falchion. One of his short stories was selected for the award-winning MWA anthology WHEN A STRANGER COMES TO TOWN. His historical juvenile adventure, SAMSON AND THE CHARLESTON SPY, will be published by Level Best Books in August 2024.

    DELIBERATION

    Before we get into the who and why of the story, I want to let you all know that Mysteries to Die For remains ad free. In exchange for not making you move to hit the fast forward button, support our authors by digging into their backlists and picking up a title. This week is Paul A Barra. Check out his catalogue on his website and your favorite book retailer. Now…

    Deputy Sandy Buford has been doing a lot of running around but doesn’t seem to be getting any place. Let’s see if we can help him out. Here are the people who were in Emory James’s house when he could have been killed:

    • Adele James, the wife who was broken by her husband’s murder

    • Susan James, eldest daughter, thin and pale, probably not strong enough to plunge a knife into a big man.

    • Sarah James, younger daughter, stayed up witnessing the two pols get drunk.

    • Frank Burns, lobbyist #1, spent his time eating and drinking with his friend Sam (below)

    • Samuel Cohen, lobbyist #2. Both lobbyists looked as if they'd just gotten out of bed when Adele's scream woke the house.

    • Mutt James, Emory’s brother

    • Beauty Barnes, the caterer working the weekend at the James house, wife of Jasper.

    Here are the facts as we know them.

    • With the exception of Beauty Barnes, all others stayed up late together strategizing on Emory’s political future. Beauty arrived at six-thirty in the morning using her key to the kitchen door.

    • Emory James did not open his hip-pocket loan operation at eight, as was normal. There had recently been a news article about his business.

    • A crowd of would-be borrowers had assembled outside the door to Emory's office before 8 a.m. They all knew there was a box of cash on Emory's desk, and many of them were probably already in debt to Emory James.

    • Adele James was a gambler who lost. She had recently paid her debt off.

    • Adele schemed with Mutt James to win the Cow Flop Bingo, paying Beauty’s husband, Jasper, to seed the field on their squares.

    • Adele knew her husband had money in his safe, including the Cow Flop Bingo money, but claimed not to know the combination. It was found in her jewelry box.

    • Beauty Barnes picked up the James job for the extra money. Her husband was seen leaving the house by the kitchen door. He had delivered drinks and was seen leaving with a satchel, although...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is The January Corpse by Neil Albert

    Interesting tidbit before we start, the Dave Garrett series was planned as a 12 book series. Books 1-6 were published between 1991 and 1996. Neil is picking up the series and re-issuing the first six, the first of which is today’s toe tag, The January Corpse. The Dave Garrett series is set in 1990. Cell phones were on the scene but weren’t every day like they are now and were meant for, wait for it, making phone calls. There was no internet, no smart phones, and people still used payphones. That’s right, we are going old school with The January Corpse!

    TG Wolff Review

    The January Corpse is a PI Mystery. Former lawyer turned investigator Dave Garrett is picking up sloppy seconds with this case. The family of Daniel Wilson has filed suit to declare the man missing for 7 years as dead to claim the life insurance benefit. What should be a chore of routine investigation into a cold case gets messy, mean, and dirty in the blink of an eye.

    Bottom line: The January Corpse is for you if you like fast-thinking private eyes, cases with too many loose ends, and action and adventure in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

    Strengths of the story. Dave Garrett is an intellectual PI who uses his head rather than brute force for investigating. Being an ex-attorney, he is a different take on a private investigator than characters with backgrounds in law enforcement or military. Dave has some emotional scars, making him an interesting character and somewhat outsider.

    The mystery itself is the right size for something solved in 3 days. You would think after 7 years, it wouldn’t be so easy to solve the disappearance of Dan Wilson. Does Dave get lucky? Some could say that, but he invested the time and tenacity that ended up paying off. No one gifted him with the answers, he earned every single one. This is one of the biggest strengths, Dave Garrett is the hero of his story.

    The setting is Philadelphia, 1990. I loved the details on Philly and the surrounding area, the kind that come from an author really knowing the area. For example, there is a passage discussing the odd travel patterns. Some days, it takes 10 minutes to get into the city, then you’re stuck in gridlock for 3 blocks. Other times it takes 90 minutes and once you’re in the city, you’re free an clear. You don’t get those types of observations using Google Earth. The descriptions of the neighborhoods, people, and buildings give texture to the story.

    The pacing is excellent for those of us looking for a reason to binge read a book in one sitting (yeah, I did that.) When Dave gets the case Friday morning, it’s with the expectation of appearing in court to testify on Monday. The clock starts ticking immediately. I like that part of the story includes Dave weighing what is the best use of his limited time – especially limited business hours. In that short period, there is a fight, a car chase, a hostage situation, and a hot chili pepper romance scene.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: Not much to pick on here. The logic of the story held up well, something I always look for. The events that were surprising and action packed when reading fully made sense with the benefit of hindsight. As is often the case with PI stories, people lie to Dave but he sniffs out the truth in a way where he does the heavy lifting of sleuthing (i.e. no coincidences, etc) and the lies make sense.

    A word of warning and an explanation – you may see some typesetting errors, like

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 7, Games People Play. Games are about competition conducted according to rules with participants working toward a goal. Games are a part of every culture and are one of the oldest forms of social interaction and engagement. Games can be fun, challenging and exhilarating. They can also be intense, cutthroat, and lethal. This season, our authors have fashioned deadly games and unscrupulous villains to test your detection skills.

    This is Episode 1, the card game faro is the featured game. This is Who Killed the Faro Cheat? by Larry M. Keaton

    DELIBERATION

    Captain Rake Caldeen doesn’t want to play sheriff, but he’s the only one who can do the job of solving Sweeney’s murder…with our help, of course. Here is a list of the camp folks who aren’t dead, in the order Caldeen met them:

    • Java, nephew of saloon owner whose mother was killed in San Francisco.

    • Boots (deceased), miner who Sweeney owed money.

    • Boston, the Faro dealer who shares a tent with Java.

    • Mrs. Erin Quinn, the owner of the saloon, aunt to Java.

    • Mr. Wyeth, businessman who is trying to appoint himself leader of the camp.

    • Samson and Ezekiel, Sweeney’s abused slaves.

    • Brown Brothers, miners with the claim next to Sweeney.

    Here are the facts Caldeen has to work with:

    • Boots fought with Sweeney over the debt and threated to stab him if he didn’t pay up.

    • Boston caught Sweeney cheating at Faro and chased it out at knife point. Mrs. Quinn banned him from the saloon.

    • The copper Sweeney gambled with was the missing half to the one Java had. It was last scene with his mother before she was killed.

    • Mr. Wyeth reportedly battled with Sweeney over land. Sweeney claim was blocking the road Wyeth wanted to build.

    • Samson and Ezekiel were brought in to work the claim, though slavery is illegal in California.

    • The Brown Brothers didn’t like their neighbor, Sweeney, saying he stole from them.

    • Sweeney was killed sometime during the night. Theodore Brown heard Sweeney argue with someone who he referred to as ‘boy’. Theodore was also the one who saw Samson standing over Sweeney’s body the next morning.

    • Sweeney was stabbed with a large knife. Every suspect owns a knife. The blood pool has a small ball near it.

    • Sweeney bled out near his tent with the queen of hearts shoved in his mouth. The same card he had made a comment about during Faro.

    All right punters, on whose head are you going to put your gold dust?

    ABOUT FARO

    Faro is not a poker game but a card game all its own. Larry did a nice job in the story teaching us how it’s played. According to Wikipedia, Faro originated in France with the earliest references found in the last 1690s to early 1700s. It seems the word came from the court of Louis XIV who picked the name from the image of a pharaoh on the French-made cards. The spelling changed but the pronunciation stayed the same. Faro spread throughout Europe and eventually into the US. It was very popular in the 1800s and could be found in nearly every gambling hall. An 1882 study cited Faro as the most popular form of gambling based on money bet each year.

    Faro was wildly popular and it was wildly common for the house to cheat. Played straight, the odds only slightly favored the house and the payouts were good. Hoyle’s Rules of Games, a bible of various card games...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is Broadcast Blues.

    TG Wolff Review

    Broadcast Blues is an amateur sleuth mystery. Channel 10 News’s Clare Carlson prayed to the news gods for an explosive lead story and she got it. A car bombing in the middle of New York City killed private investigator Wendy Kyle. Wanting to break the story to stave of the station’s new owners, Clare starts digging and discovers Kyle was into more than just cheating husbands.

    Bottom line: Broadcast Blues is for you if you like brassy female leads, the pressure and pace of local TV news, and a mystery you can sink your teeth into.

    Strengths of the story. Clare Carlson is a fully established character who is comfortable in her own skin. She is confident and has a sharp edge that she wields on her executive producer, some witnesses, and the occasional ex-husband. Perhaps those characteristics are the reason she thrived in the industry. In this story, she is dealing with the imminent approach of her 50th birthday, the reality of three failed marriages, and a complicated relationship with the daughter she gave up for adoption. She isn’t a two-dimensional character but juggles work-life-play like many of us do. It was when she struggled that I most connected with Clare.

    The setting of the local TV news brings a sense of urgency to everything Clare does. Often, the element of urgency can feel contrived or artificial but in Broadcast Blues, it’s a normal part of Clare’s life. It pushed Clare forward when she had little to go on.

    The story has a nice level of complexity. At first, it seems like there is too wide a field of suspects, those being all the unfaithful spouses Kyle exposed. The story settles into a single line of investigation at a pace that, in my opinion, was just right. It wasn’t too fast, jumping to a conclusion, and it wasn’t so slow, drawing things out. I especially liked the ending. It wasn’t predictable, it was exciting, and wrapped up the whodunnit questions.

    This is the 6th book in the Clare Carlson Mystery Series and I have not read the previous books. The mystery is stand alone and does not rely on knowledge from prior books. There are some continuing characters and Clare’s character arc that do bridge across books but Belsky gives us what we need to understand without making you feel like you’ve been left out.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: I did have a challenge with an element of the writing style – there were several passages where I lost who was speaking in extended back-and-forth dialog. Consistently, there were only two people speaking, but sometimes there were other people in the room. Each time I lost track, I pulled out of the story to back track and to figure out who was speaking. Other readers may read through the passages without the issues I had.

    Standing at the end looking back, I have a few questions. They aren’t about the heart or the logic of the mystery itself- that is solid. My questions are on one particular detail that pushed the investigation forward. If you tend not to reverse engineer a mystery, then you’ll enjoy Broadcast Blues for dynamic storytelling that it is.

    The Broadcast Blues was released from Oceanview Publishing and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    This is Season 6, Things that Go Jack in the Night. This season contains truly imaginative mysteries around one of the most common words in the English language. From the brandy distilled from hard cider known as applejack to that nefarious one-eyed jack, to the animals, vegetables, fruits, tools, weapons, and slang, the way the word “jack” is used in the English language is truly unique, inventive, and too numerous for us to count. And yes, it is also the name of my piano player and producer.

    For Episode 13, Jack Frost is the featured jack. This is Jack Frost’s Last Etching by TG Wolff

    Welcome to our last show of Season 6 and of 2023. This had been a fun season with our authors delivering great takes on the word “Jack.” You never know what you are going to get when you create a theme or a prompt. We thank you for being part of mysteries to die for and hope you enjoy this final jack story.

    ABOUT Jack Frost

    According to Wikipedia, Jack Frost has origins in Anglo-Saxon and Norse winter customs. The personification of winter in some places and autumn and winter in others, there are versions of Jack Frost found in Finnish, Swedish, and Russian folklore. Like many traditions born from folklore, there are as many differences as commonalities. In some, Jack is more monstrous, nipping fingers and toes in cold weather, and the more deadly danger of sleet, ice, and freezing cold. Beginning in the last 1800s, we started being depicted as more of a sprite-like character, sometimes mischievous, something sinister, sometimes heroic. Jack Frost was said to leave frosty, fern patterns on windows. He is sometimes depicted with a paint brush and bucket for painting leaves.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Frost

    WRAP UP

    That wraps this episode of Mysteries to Die For. Please do support our show by subscribing, telling a mystery lover about us, and giving us a five-star review. Check out our website TGWolff.com/Podcast for links to this season’s authors.

    Mysteries to Die For is hosted by TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. Jack Frost’s Last Etching was written by TG Wolff. Music and production are by Jack Wolff. Episode art is by TG Wolff.

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is The Legacy by CL Tolbert. The Legacy was released from Level Best Books and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

    About CL Tolbert

    https://www.cltolbert.com/

    Licensed in Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Cynthia Tolbert retired after thirty-five years of practicing law and began writing full time. After winning the Georgia State Bar Fiction Writing Contest, she developed the winning short story into the first novel in the Thornton Mystery Series, OUT FROM SILENCE, published in 2019. Cynthia taught at Loyola Law School for several years where she directed a homeless clinic, and worked with third year law students in actual cases. All of these experiences have informed her fiction.

    She is an avid reader, a mother of two, and a grandmother to three beautiful girls. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband and schnauzer, Yoda.

    TG Wolff Review

    The Legacy is a mystery / legal thriller. Professor Emma Thornton’s newest case is complicated. Jeremy Wilcox is accused of killing his mother, stabbing her to death. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Jeremy is off his meds in jail, making communication difficult. He has a history of self-medicating with painkillers and escaping from the local hospital’s mental health ward. The family dynamic is dysfunctional, support is non-existent, and answers to even basic questions are not forthcoming.

    Bottom line: The Legacy is for you if you like legal thrillers where it takes more than evidence to get to the truth.

    Strengths of the story. This is the fourth story in the Emma Thornton series. The cast of characters are mature, each comfortable in their skin. Tolbert’s detailed and loving description of New Orleans IS a treat. I have only been a visitor to the city a handful of times but feel like she transports me onto the streets and into the culture.

    Tolbert also does a very nice job of giving us a meaningful story without crossing the line into a lesson driven story. She explores the idea of and consequences of heredity. In the Wilcox storyline, it is the genetic heredity of schizophrenia and the impact it has on a leading New Orleans family. This is paralleled with Emma having to face to other legacies that hit closer to home. As her 14-yr-old twins start experimenting and rebelling, Emma has to confront their father’s legacy of alcoholism. At the same time, she realizes she had passed on traits that drive her to excel in one area, even at the cost of others. It is an excellent study and very well done.

    The Legacy is listed on Amazon as a mystery and traditional detective. Those are reasonable genre descriptions. Certainly, they do not reflect the degree to which the legal case is front and center. Also, as Emma is a law professor, this is an amateur sleuth, not PI or cop detective. There are thriller elements in the resolution, which lead me to the opinion that legal thriller or legal mystery (making up my own genre here) give a more accurate impression of this story.

    While this is the 4th, readers can jump in right here. There is a continuing growth...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    For Season 6, Jack and I have again decided to go ad-free. I do this because I love mysteries, Jack does it because he loves me. Jack maybe a starving college student but it’s because… We do ask you support the writers of our show. This week it’s Jack Wolff. Check him out, buy and read her stories, help other readers find him. Make writing for Mysteries to Die For the best decision he could have made. In your review, tell him Tina and Jack said ‘Bonjour’.

    This is Season 6, Things that Go Jack in the Night. This season contains truly imaginative mysteries around one of the most common words in the English language. From the brandy distilled from hard cider known as applejack to that nefarious one-eyed jack, to the animals, vegetables, fruits, tools, weapons, and slang, the way the word “jack” is used in the English language is truly unique, inventive, and too numerous for us to count. And yes, it is also the name of my piano player and producer.

    For Episode 12, an audio jack is the featured jack. This is Detective Connolly Gets Audio Jacked by Jack Wolff

    ABOUT Audio Jacks

    According to Wikipedia, audio jacks are in a family of electrical connectors, typically used for analog audio signals. Audio jacks keep company with phone jacks, headphone jacks, and jack plugs. The connector was first developed for used in telephone switchboards in the 1800s. The quarter inch size is a descendant of the jack developed around 1877 used in Boston, MA. In February 1884, C. E. Scribner was issued a US Patent for a “jack-knife” connector which is where the “jack” originated. Scribner advanced the design, adding more patents, In 1902, Henry P. Clausen received a patent of his own on am improved design that is still used on musical equipment, especially electric guitars.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)

    ABOUT Jack Wolff

    Jack is half of the brain power behind Mysteries to Die For. Now finishing it’s sixth season, Jack writes and performs the musical arrangements and produces the show. He maintains the show’s fresh air by staunchly refusing to edit out his mother’s mistakes, no matter how much she begs.

    Jack attends Ball State University, studying media production, is a member of the Pride of Mid-America Marching Band, and has performed as part of Veritas, a WGI Independent World Class ensemble based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    WRAP UP

    That wraps this episode of Mysteries to Die For. Please do support our show by subscribing, telling a mystery lover about us, and giving us a five-star review. Check out our website TGWolff.com/Podcast for links to this season’s authors.

    Mysteries to Die For is hosted by TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. Detective Connolly Gets Audio Jacked was written by Jack Wolff. Music and production are by Jack Wolff. Episode art is by TG Wolff.

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    TG Wolff Review

    The Medusa Murders is an amateur sleuth mystery. Professor Bay “L.L.” Browning is drawn into a serial killer’s world when her coat is found at a crime scene. The killer has an agenda and a style, one that emulates the mythical Medusa turning her victims to stone. Her knowledge of art and mythology turns out to be the expertise the police need.

    Bottom line: The Medusa Murders is for you if you like clean mysteries with a cozy feel and centering on art and mythology.

    Strengths of the story. The Medusa Murders is classified on Amazon as amateur sleuth, women’s crime fiction, and contemporary women’s fiction. It absolutely is an amateur sleuth follow-along mystery. Crime fiction has become the broader term for stories involving crime, so it fits again. Contemporary women’s fiction is a story of a woman’s growth through the story. This is an element of the story but is most applicable to the secondary stories. While it is not listed as a Cozy, the clean storytelling style (no cursing), lack of on-screen violence, and prominent role of interesting and quirky specialties (classic art and mythology), make The Medusa Murders a good fit here, too.

    The setting in a fictional Wisconsin college in the winter is a nice variation on a small town setting. The social complexities of working inside higher ed gives a “peak behind the curtain” from what life looks like from a professor’s perspective.

    The story does a nice job of showing Bay having to juggle her work responsibilities and family problems that includes her ex-con sister showing up at her door, while also working to find a link between the murders and mythology.

    All in all, it’s a fun read. For those who dig mythology or know their way around classic art about mythology, you will find a lot to dig your teeth into with this one.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: One of the first and biggest challenges for authors using amateur sleuth is getting the hero into the story. From the beginning, Bay doesn’t know why she is part of the investigation and, several times, makes credible arguments that someone else who knows more should be doing the work. For me, this undermined the strength and credibility of the character. Ultimately, it doesn’t affect the flow or result of the story.

    It took me some time to warm up to Bay. There were times it felt like she embodied the collegiate arrogance she accused others of having. She came into her own in second half of the book and I came to like and respect her.

    About Joy Ann Ribar

    Joy Ann Ribar is an RV author, writing on the road wherever her husband and their Winnebago View wanders. Joy’s cocktail of careers includes news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and aquaponics greenhouse technician, all of which prove useful in penning mysteries. She loves to bake, read, do wine research, and explore nature. Joy’s writing is inspired by Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons, natural beauty, and kind-hearted, but sometimes quirky, people.

    Joy holds a BA in Journalism from UW-Madison and an MS in Education from UW-Oshkosh. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Blackbird Writers, and Wisconsin Writers Association.

    Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made virtual book tours and marketing options for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. Founded in 2011, PICT offers virtual book tour services for well-established and...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is not a single book but 35 novellas in a collection called A GRIFTER'S SONG. The collection was conceived and edited by Frank Zafiro with episodes written by Frank and 30 other authors, myself included. I have for you today the first chapter of the 1st book, THE CONCRETE SMILE, and the 4th chapter of the last book, INTO THE DYING SUN, both written by Frank Zafiro.

    TG Wolff Review

    A GRIFTER'S SONG is a Crime Thriller series. Sam and Rachel are long time lovers and lifelong grifters. No mark is too big, no scheme too hot. They zigzag across the continent, looking to make the next score and stay ahead of Little Vincent and the Philadelphia mob. From the first book to the last, nothing is sacred. . . except the love they have for each other.

    Bottom line: A GRIFTER'S SONE is for you if you get your thrills cheering for heroes who live on the other side of the tracks.

    Strengths of the series: Zafiro created a world for the grifters with a full backstory that drives Sam and Rachel’s continuous need to move on. They have a few trusted acquaintances, including a computer hacking expert, and too many enemies, thanks to the long arms of the Philadelphia mob.

    All novellas are under 30,000 words, or about 100 pages, making them easy reads that fit into a busy lifestyle. Stories have equivalent ratings of PG to R, but most are pretty hard core. Lol, my episode, #30 GOOD FOR IT, was definitely as lighter end.

    Each story is a unique blend of Zafiro’s world and the imagination and style of the individual authors. Sam and Rachel remain true to themselves and each other, no matter what situation they are thrown into.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: The series concept is well developed and provides a framework that is defined enough to provide continuity but is open enough to give authors room to work. Readers are bound to have favorite stories and stories they like less – I certainly do. If you don’t love one, I encourage you to read on. This is a very satisfying series.

    Where to find A GRIFTER'S SONG

    All books in A GRIFTER's SONG were released from Down & Out Books and are available from AMAZON and other book retailers.

    About Frank Zafiro

    Frank writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge. Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1986-91 in military intelligence as a Czechoslovak linguist. In 1993, he became a police officer in Spokane, Washington. During his career, he worked as a patrol officer, corporal, and detective. In 2002, he became a sergeant and entered into leadership roles. He was fortunate enough to command patrol officers, investigators, the K-9 unit, and the SWAT team. He retired from law enforcement in 2013 as a captain in order to write full time and to teach

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    For Season 6, Jack and I have again decided to go ad-free. I do this because I love mysteries, Jack does it because he loves me. Jack maybe a starving college student but it’s because… We do ask you support the writers of our show. You can find them all on our website at tgwolff.com/Podcast.

    This is Season 6, Things that Go Jack in the Night. This season contains truly imaginative mysteries around one of the most common words in the English language. From the brandy distilled from hard cider known as applejack to that nefarious one-eyed jack, to the animals, vegetables, fruits, tools, weapons, and slang, the way the word “jack” is used in the English language is truly unique, inventive, and too numerous for us to count. And yes, it is also the name of my piano player and producer.

    For Episode 11, a jackpot is the featured jack. This is The Crackpot’s Jackpot by TG Wolff

    Research

    Jesse Burkett and Patsy Tebeau were real players for the Cleveland Spiders. Burkett was one of the best players, leading the batting statistics. He went on to have a long career as a player and then a manager. Tebeau was the player manager for the 1895 series, the one where Cleveland won the Temple Cup, a precursor to the World Series. From the records, the summer of 1895 was one for the record books in Cleveland and elsewhere. Temperatures soared in the period that pre-dated the luxury of air conditioning.

    ABOUT Jackpot

    The first known use of “Jackpot” was in 1865 according to Merriam-Webster. It was a hand or a game of draw poker in which a pair of jacks or better was required to open. This game is still played today, but largely isn’t known by the name. Today, the more common meaning is a top prize in a game or contest that is usually the accumulation of unwon prizes. A Lottery is an example. The consistent part of all the definitions is that the game or contest isn’t necessarily won each time it’s played and the money for the non-winning games is carried over. Interestingly, there was a 3rd definition, cited chiefly used in the Western US, where jackpot means a tight spot, a jam. Not the way we use the word here.

    A link to Merriam Webster is in the show notes. Read something from the dictionary once a day. You’ll learn something that will entertain you.

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackpot

    FYI, crackpot was first used in 1883. It means given to erratic or widely foolish notions. Interesting to me at least is there is only one definition and the meaning is the same as in 1883. LOL, when I scrolled down, there was a kid’s definition: a crazy or very strange person.

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackpot#dictionary-entry-1

    Finally, I want to share some insults. In writing this story, I needed time-appropriate insults. Thank you Mental Floss for your 2018 article on Francis Grose's A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, first published in 1785. They culled it to their top 25. Here are my favorite 5:

    1. Bob tail. “A lewd woman, or...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre.

    Today’s featured release is Second Term by JM Adams.

    The Second Term was released from Oceanview Publishing and is promoted by Partners In Crime Tours and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers.

    About JM Adams

    JM ADAMS has more than 15 years of on-air television journalism experience, reporting for CBS and NBC news affiliates across the United States. Highlights from his career include sea patrols with the Navy after the 9/11 attacks and reporting on location from Kuwait, Iraq, and a number of hurricane disaster zones across the country. Adams was briefly detained in East Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Second Term is his debut novel.

    Adams lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a pair of Cavashons who appear to have taken over the house.

    TG Wolff Review

    Second Term is a Political Thriller. Cora Walker represents the best of US intelligence and skills. Sixteen years after leading a campaign to protect the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, she is pressed into action again. This time, she is defending the Capital and Speaker of the House against a homegrown attack.

    Bottom line: Second Term is for you if you love tense, political thrillers built from today’s headlines.

    Strengths of the story. This story is told in three parts. First is a 2012 invasion of the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The second is 2028, post presidential election and set the scene for Cora as the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. The third is January 2029 and the chaos accompanying a president who does not want to step down.

    The first thing that pops out about this story is the intensity. Adams doesn’t waste words as he builds worlds both in Libya and Washington, D.C. We see both worlds through the eyes of the efficient, no-nonsense Cora Walker. The intensity drives the pacing and, for me, kept the pages turning.

    The texture to this book is notable. JM Adams takes us to the places he has been not just through visual description but through sounds and smells. It adds a layer to the scenes making them richer and more real.

    Cora Walker is a strong character who acts independently and according to her moral code. The things she does engaging the enemy places her with other elite fictional agents like Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne. She is a fun hero to cheer for.

    Where the story fell short of ideal: While not short of ideal, readers are either going to love or going to hate how the main story presents a sadly easily imagined attack on US democracy by an egomaniac president who can’t accept losing and attacks everyone and everything in an effort to win.

    Thrillers are one of the hard genres to resolve the storylines without breaking logic. The Benghazi story line was especially tight and stood up well. I would have liked a bit more detail on what happened, but that is a personal preference. For Parts 2 and 3, Cora acted true to her character with no flaws in her decisions. I did take some issue with the actions of other characters in developing the situation Cora had to fight her way out of. If you can get past those and/or focus on Cora, you’ll enjoy one heck of a...

  • Welcome to Mysteries to Die For.

    I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. These are arrangements, which means instead of word-for-word readings, you get a performance meant to be heard. Jack and I perform these live, front to back, no breaks, no fakes, no retakes.

    For Season 6, Jack and I have again decided to go ad-free. I do this because I love mysteries, Jack does it because he loves me. Jack maybe a starving college student but it’s because… We do ask you support the writers of our show. This week it’s Chuck Brownman. Check him out, buy and read her stories, help other readers find him. Make writing for Mysteries to Die For the best decision he could have made. In your review, tell him Tina and Jack said ‘Bonjour’.

    This is Season 6, Things that Go Jack in the Night. This season contains truly imaginative mysteries around one of the most common words in the English language. From the brandy distilled from hard cider known as applejack to that nefarious one-eyed jack, to the animals, vegetables, fruits, tools, weapons, and slang, the way the word “jack” is used in the English language is truly unique, inventive, and too numerous for us to count. And yes, it is also the name of my piano player and producer.

    For Episode 10, a jackknife is the featured jack. This is Jack the Knife by Chuck Brownman

    ABOUT Jackknifes

    A jackknife is a clasp knife, one where the blade folds into the handle and have been around since antiquity. The term jackknife dates to the mid seventeenth century and arose in the north of England or in Scotland. The question is where did the “jack” come from. According to Word Origins, the leading explanation is that it comes from a blend of “jack of the leg”. In the north of England and Scotland, the knives are known as “jocktelegs”. The jack is from the use of that word to denote a generic man, and the leg is thought to refer to the fact that the handles of such knives were often carved in shape a human leg. To this day, jambette (little leg) is used in French dialect to refer to a clasp knife.

    Alternate theory is that it comes from the name of a seventeenth-century Flemish maker of knives, Jacques de Liège. There is evidence of clasp knives bearing his or a similar name once existed. Jacques de Liège could easily become Jack the Leg in the mouths of non-French speakers.

    The earliest known appearance of a form of jackknife or jockteleg is in an inventory of the wares of the late merchant William Mackerrell of Newcastle upon Tyne from November 13, 1642

    https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/jackknife

    ABOUT Chuck Brownman

    Chuck Brownman has spent the last twenty-five-plus years working on becoming an “overnight writing sensation.” Concentrating on writing mystery / suspense short fiction, his work has been published in several anthologies, including the 2019 Eyes of Texas anthology (Down & Out Books), Volumes 4 and 5 of the annual Death Edge Tales anthology, and a Book-of-the-Month club anthology. He won the 2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Short Story Contest, and he was a finalist in the 2015 Criminal Element short fiction contest. His stories also appeared on the mysterynet.com site.

    In his “real life,” Chuck is a Houston-based corporate and energy attorney, advising and working for some of the country’s most entrepreneurial companies. He is also an adjunct professor of law, and has spoken at legal seminars for many years.

    WRAP UP

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