BOOK LOONS Reviews, reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Death Goes Postal: "Authors of the Paco and Molly series, Rosemary & Larry Mild, have created a new series, the Dan & Rivka Sherman Mysteries. The Shermans have given up their successful professional careers to become the owners of The Old Victorian Bookstore in Annapolis, Maryland.

To their dismay, instead of living the quiet life of booksellers, they become enmeshed in a search for fifteenth-century typesetting artifacts. The brother of the last owner of the bookstore gave his life to protect their whereabouts. Someone joins their literary critique group to suss out the location of the very valuable antiques. Life turns from a mercantile enterprise to mugging, robbery, kidnapping, and murder. Not at all what they bargained for.

The Internet, a young boy's term paper, the U.S. Mails, the FBI and Scotland Yard all become a part of this delightful mystery. Death Goes Postal is a fun new addition to the mystery field."

Death Goes Postal by Rosemary and Larry Mild, Magic Island Literary Works, October 23, 2012. 304 pages, ISBN: 978-0983859710

"Dan and Rivka Sherman are given an opportunity to become book shop owners and although they are a tad bit unsure about changing careers, it is a dream of theirs an offer almost to good to pass up. So they don't!

In the meantime, Professor Abner Frame is murdered in England. He has found some valuable typesetting artifacts. The kind someone will and has killed for. Abner sent clues to his discovery to his sister in America. Unfortunately, his sister has cancer and his brother-in-law has Altzheimer's . She sold their bookstore to Dan and Rivka and then she quietly passed on. Dan and Rivka had no idea what bonus lurked in their new bookstore.

Dan and Rivka also run a writer's group to wit there are four new male members. All four are of a questionable background. Who are they? Why join the group now? Etc. And as one or more of them search for the clues to the artifacts &emdash; kidnapping, muggings, robbery, and more occur. Who is behind it all?

The quiet little bookstore becomes the focal point of a major scandal. And Rivka is caught in a deadly trap. Can Dan figure it out in time?

DEATH GOES POSTAL is a delightful international cozy that has us searching for clues, figuring who is who, and determining where do the clues lead. It is well written, informative, and fun. It is an easy, fast read, one you won't want to put down but rather want to read to the end in one sitting.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.8."

Review: Death Goes Postal by Rosemary & Larry Mild.

"Dan and Rivka Sherman have recently become the owners of the Olde Victorian Bookstore in Annapolis, Maryland. What they didn't know beforehand was that owning a bookstore could lead to murder and mayhem.

Professor Abner Fraume, was protecting rare 15th century typesetting artifacts when he was murdered. However, Fraume was smart and hid the artifacts and sent his sister Edythe with three separate letters involving clues for their location. Now that Dan and Rivka own the bookstore, they become entangled in this mystery involving lost artifacts and a murderer that will do whatever he can to locate them.

Death Goes Postal is a wild ride of thrills as Dan and Rivka try and uncover the identity of the villain. There is a mystery critique writers group, that hold their meetings at the bookstore, and they have a few new members. They are certain that one of those members is the killer, but which one?

I liked the historical aspect of finding the artifacts, and the international intrigue with robbery, muggings and murder. Death Goes Postal is a unique, new look at cozy mysteries set within a bookstore environment, and with two likeable sleuths (and a bookstore cat named Lord Byron) was a very enjoyable read."

"Rosemary and Larry Mild, have created an exciting new mystery series featuring reluctant amateur sleuths, Daniel and Rivka Sherman. The Shermans have given up successful professional careers as engineer and editor to become booksellers in The Olde Victorian book store in Annapolis, Maryland. Rare fifteenth century typesetting artifacts journey through time to the present, leaving behind not only their original innovation but a horrifying imprint of murder, robbery, kidnapping, and mugging in their wake. Professor Abner Fraume, brother of the bookstore's former owner, possesses these artifacts and gives his life to protect their whereabouts. A greedy colleague poses as one of several newcomers to a literary critique group sponsored by The Olde Victorian Bookstore. This villain leaves a trail of disaster in Bath England; Annapolis Maryland and the Deep South. Dan and Rivka Sherman risk life and limb solving puzzles to locate the hidden artifacts and unmask the manic-depressive suspect behind the crimes. The conundrum's path involves the internet, a young lad's term paper, the U.S. Mails, the FBI, and Scotland Yard. Is it any wonder that Death Goes Postal?"

In Bath, England, Professor Abner Fraume was killed by Professor Emil Kravitz who was intent on taking possession of certain property he thought was in Fraume's possession. After hours of searching Fraume's home and office all he found was the name and address of the professor's sister who lived in the United States.

Edythe Fraume Bender and her husband Bernard owned The Olde Victorian book store in Annapolis, Maryland. Unfortunately, they were searching for a buyer for their beloved shop due to Bernard's dementia and Edythe's cancer. Her brother, Abner, had been sending her hints as to the whereabouts of his collection of fifteenth century typesetting artifacts and research in case of his unexpected death.

Edythe finally found the perfect buyer for their shop, but she died of cancer before she could tell them about the artifacts and the clues. New owners Dan and Rivka Sherman were shocked when a series of crimes were committed related to the book store and its employees. Little did they know the perpetrator was hiding in their midst via a popular critique group that met weekly hosted by the couple.

What followed was a tale of danger and horror to all who stood in the way of Kravitz and his goal to obtain the historical items and took the investigation from England to the United States.

The newly created characters are interesting and the bookshop makes a great base for new mystery stories. The pace of this story works well as does the unique way clues are presented to Edythe and later the Sherman's. The authors provide clues in such a way that readers can also try to solve the puzzle, which is a fun way to keep them engaged in the tale. One interesting technique the Mild's use for this book is that the killer is known from the beginning, but the suspense is still taut and the storyline intriguing. Fans of the authors and their previous mysteries will enjoy this new series.

"Death Goes Postal by Rosemary and Larry Mild is a really enjoyable and erudite mystery with some wonderful characters. Gentle, learned Professor Abner Fraume is brutally murdered in Bath, England, for the sake of some of Herr Koenig's printing artifacts and rare manuscripts, but not before he managed to send three important, clue-bearing letters to his sister Edythe in the States. Pensioner Edythe is battling cancer as well as caring for her husband Bernie suffering from advanced alzheimers, but who is brought alive by snippets of poetry. And then there are the Shermans, Daniel and Rivka, who buy The Old Victorian Bookshop from Edythe, and unwittingly buy themselves into a very dangerous situation as Abner's murderer. The Shermans have to solve puzzles to stay one step ahead of the villain.

The novel is superbly written. Everyone we meet is complex and portrayed in great and convincing detail. We are both moved and motivated by the courageous Edythe and appalled by the evil obsession of Professor Emil Kravitz. The settings are evocative and atmospheric. There is intrigue, deception and tension, and also happiness, sadness and terror; this apparently cozy mystery keeps you on the edge of the seat and unable to stop reading. There is a useful printing glossary at the beginning, so we understand the terminology used in the book. It is always nice to learn something from a book and to be entertained by it at the same time. The best news is that there is to be a series of mysteries involving the Shermans. Excellent!"

"Abner Fraume is killed by Emil Kravitz for some research work and artifacts that are worth a lot of money. However, they were not in Abner's possession. He did send his sister Edythe clues as to the whereabouts of the artifacts. So, Emil heads to America to find Abner's letters and the clues they contain. Edythe has cancer and her husband Bernie has Alzheimer's and she is worried about the bookstore they own called Olde Victorian Bookstore. She talks to their customers Rivka and Daniel Sherman who run their mystery critique group and asks them to buy the shop. The Shermans agree and shortly after Edythe succumbs to her illness. Things start happening around the shop and they learn from their employee Liz about the letters from Edythe's brother and the research he did. They learn of Abner's murder and realize that Emil is looking for what they have in their possession. Emil kidnaps Rivka and Daniel, with the help of FBI, tries to find where he has taken her and to get her back.

There is a lot going on in this book. People are not who they seem to be. They decide the murderer has to be one of the new members of their critique group. They don't know who to trust and each is interrogated after Liz is attacked and the bookstore is broken into. Lots of twists and turns in this story, including Abner's two children meeting for the first time. Each part of the story is tied up at the end and everything is explained in detail.

It has a well-written plot that is easy to read. Nice way to pass time reading such an enjoyable tale that keeps you guessing from the first."

"Death Goes Postal By Rosemary and Larry Mild, a mesmerizing mystery that enchants from the first page to the last, Death Goes Postal heralds the advent off a charming new series. Filled with captivating characters and a plot to die for, Death Goes Postal takes readers on a wild and wildly entertaining ride. Death Goes Postal features reluctant amateur sleuths Dan and Rivka Sherman. Presented with an offer too good to refuse, the Shermans give up their successful professional careers to become owners of The Olde Victorian Bookstore in Annapolis, Maryland. But owning this bookstore turns out to be anything but by the book. Rare fifteenth-century typesetting artifacts leave a horrifying imprint in their wake: mugging, robbery, kidnapping and murder. Risking life and limb, Dan and Rivka must piece together cryptic clues to solve this perilous puzzle and unmask the ruthless suspect behind the crimes. Will Dan & Rivka close the book on this crime spree once and for all?"

Husband-and-wife mystery novelists Rosemary and Larry Mild unveil a new mystery series with the release of Death Goes Postal this Fall. Death Goes Postal features reluctant amateur sleuths Dan and Rivka Sherman. Presented with an offer too good to refuse, the Shermans give up their successful professional careers to become owners of The Olde Victorian Bookstore in Annapolis, Maryland. But owning this bookstore turns out to be anything but by the book.

Rare fifteenth-century typesetting artifacts journey through time to the present, leaving behind not only their original innovation, but a horrifying imprint in their wake: mugging, robbery, kidnapping and murder.

Professor Abner Frame, brother of the bookstore's former owner, possesses these artifacts and gives his life to protect their whereabouts. A greedy colleague poses as one of several newcomers to a literary critique group sponsored by the bookstore. The villain leaves a trail of destruction all the way from Bath, England, to Annapolis, to the Deep South.

Risking life and limb, Dan and Rivka must piece together cryptic clues to solve this perilous puzzle and unmask the ruthless suspect behind the crimes. But the path to finding answers is hardly straight and narrow. The circuitous conundrum includes the Internet, a young lad's term paper, the U.S. mail, the FBI, and Scotland Yard. With so much at stake, and so much danger at hand, is it any wonder that Death Goes Postal?

A mesmerizing mystery that enchants from the first page to the last, Death Goes Postal heralds the advent of a charming and inventive new series. Filled with captivating characters and a plot to die for, Death Goes Postal takes readers on a wild and wildly entertaining ride.

*  9  *

*  10  *