Frontpage La Floridiana DVD Enthusiast Matt's Rail Digital Divide Movie Review Mike's Rant Patty's website PCR Archives 2002 2001 2000 Crazed Fanboy homepage --------------------------- So you don't believe that supernatural/paranormal mysteries are coming into their own? When out of print mysteries are getting reprinted and finding new life and readers, I call that a "super-natural" sign of popularity for our sub-genre. Two classic supernatural/paranormal classics are finding new life this summer. Chris Gentry's WHEN SPIRITS WALK and Prudy Taylor Board's BLOOD LEGACY will be reprinted under the Mystery Writers of America imprint at iUniverse. When they are available and ready to spring into your hot little hands, Murder on the Woo Woo Express will announce it. In Gentry's words: "WHEN SPIRITS WALK came out in the late eighties as an occult/horror book during the tail end of the horror market flush that glutted the market during that decade. There was no such thing as a 'paranormal mystery' then. The book takes place on the Navajo reservation and my protagonist is a deputy tribal officer who investigates a missing child's case from the early thirties. Murders that have suddenly started occurring on the reservation are "paranormally" gruesome and the deputy suspects his murderer isn't human. There are three murders committed by real people in the book as well. There is also a psychic Hopi girl. The book is a mystery, a romance and an accurate portrayal of Indian life on the reservation." BLOOD LEGACY by Prudy Taylor Board, was originally published by Pocket Books. This story features a detective who solves Florida murders on the Florida west coast that are tied to vampires. Vampires? Now that sounds like my cup of tea. Keep tuned to MURDER ON THE WOO WOO EXPRESS for publication dates.

It's hard to believe MURDER ON THE WOO WOO EXPRESS has been on track since February. We've had some wonderful reviews. I want to encourage publishers and authors who have supernatural/paranormal books to please send them to the Express. We have some great reviewers and readers who are looking for the next great supernatural mystery.

This is a very specialized sub-genre, one that I feel is just coming into its own. I'm very happy to see we have news to report in our Haunting News and Briefs section of the Express. Keep the new book releases and items of interest to supernatural mystery writers coming.

This past June 22nd, I was delighted to be part of the Florida Writers Association's Author Expo. It was a day long event with children's programming in the morning and adult fare in the afternoon/evening. I was one of the guests and did a presentation on "the supernatural mystery and why it was so successful." I had a blast and by the time my presentation ended, I had one woman ready to go out and write a mystery. Now I call that successful.

This month we welcome two new reviewers. Teri Davis does a wonderful overview of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. This guy is popular. His books are good. Michelle Corby does an indepth review of "Back to Salem" by Alex Marcoux. This book was a Lambda Literary Award finalist nominee. I hope you enjoy these books and pass along the word about MURDER ON THE WOO WOO EXPRESS.

Patty G. Henderson

BACK TO SALEM Author: Alex Marcoux Harrington Park Press Hardcover/Softcover Available at Amazon.com Back to Salem is the perfect combination of metaphysics, mystery, love and adventure. Jesse Mercer is a best selling mystery writer. She and Taylor Andrews, the main lead in the latest movie adaptation of Jessie's book, find themselves living out the book's plot line and reliving their past lives during the Salem witch trials. The two star crossed lovers become suspects in the death of Taylor's husband. As both women begin to recall parts of their past, they also realize there are others who have traveled from the past into the present with them. The relationship between Jesse and Taylor truly came alive for me. Alex Marcoux has captured a relationship that transcends time. They have something so special, that it makes us hope to find something like it for ourselves. Back to Salem has a great sense of place and Marcoux has filled the book with some nice detail. Jesse, Taylor and the other characters are believable and compelling. The only complaint I have with this book is that I was able to get to the bottom of the mystery before Jesse Mercer did. This isn't to say that Jesse isn't a strong sleuth, because she is, but perhaps Marcoux can get her protagonist to catch on a bit quicker to the clues before the readers do. But this doesn't detract from the enjoyment of Back to Salem. Marcoux creates a many-layered story that will keep you turning the pages. I recommend Back to Salem for lovers of paranormal mysteries. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Author Alex Marcoux and her series character, Jesse Mercer, are two names you won't want to forget. Reviewed by Michelle Corby for MURDER ON THE WOO WOO EXPRESS

STORM FRONT Author: Jim Butcher Publisher: Roc Paperback, 322 pages Available at Amazon.com	FOOL MOON Author: Jim Butcher Publisher: Roc Paperback, 342 pages Available at Amazon.com	GRAVE PERIL Author: Jim Butcher Publisher: Roc Paperback, 384 pages Available At Amazon.com
If you were a wizard what specific problems would you have? Would you have problems being around complex electrical devices and computers? Probably. The main character of this trilogy is an unusual detective named Harry Dresden. Harry lives in Chicago in the basement/sub-basement of a building which also serve as his office. The police utilize his talents(?) when they find a situation that has no logical basis and might have some unexplainable (supernatural) explanation. Harry frequently gets himself into situations that do not allow for an easy solution. With the help of his friends, he manages to financially squeeze by and emotionally challenge him. The three books are simply a reflection of Harry's everyday life as a wizard detective. He has an assistant, a talking skull named Bob. Obviously, Bob doesn't fit into the human life of Chicago as well as Harry does. Harry's vehicle, an old Volkswagon with mismatched parts, matches his life with is full of adventure, laughter, and even some love. I do recommend that the trilogy be read in order, even though a reader could probably enjoy these light-hearted books without the character development of the other books. These books are light cozies, but thoroughly enjoyable with much action throughout all of them. The plot development is logical, laughable frequently, and completely enjoyable. Harry and Bob become characters that I strongly feel I would recognize on the street and be immediately attracted to after reading the Jim Butcher books. (Okay, a talking skull would be noticed and a little different.) I challenge anyone to read this trilogy without smiling. It can't be done. Reviewed by Teri Davis for MURDER ON THE WOO WOO EXPRESS EMAIL: SoDeadme@aol.com