This review originally appeared in Shelf Awareness for Readers, and is reprinted here with permission.

John Sandford’s Silken Prey finds Minnesota law enforcer Lucas Davenport entangled in deadly political machinations, when the governor asks him to clear the name of a state senator caught with child pornography on his computer only days before the election. Lucas’s investigation leads him to the disappearance of a political fixer named Bobby Tubbs, known for his dirty tricks. No one has seen Tubbs since the day the child porn was discovered, and he’s soon presumed dead by Lucas and his colleagues at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Lucas suspects Tubbs was working for the beautiful, young, and rich Taryn Grant, the opposing candidate in the senate race, and planted the porn as a smear tactic. Trouble is, he has no proof, and Grant’s bodyguards are a pair of former special ops guys—trained killers, they’re proud to admit—prepared to eliminate anyone getting in the way of Grant’s ambition.

Sandford’s sharp, lean writing makes even politics seem interesting, and though this is the twenty-third in the Prey series, readers should have no problem jumping right in. Davenport is a winning character, a smart investigator with a stable home life and dry sense of humor. His colleagues are amusing, too, each with a distinct personality, especially Virgil Flowers, the long-haired, cowboy-boot-wearing agent who has his own series of novels when not helping Davenport solve cases. Sandford’s fans will also recognize two lead characters from yet another series playing integral roles here. It’s like Sanford’s All-Stars, assembled in one fast-paced, entertaining read.

Nerd verdict: Silken writing

Buy it now from Amazon | From an indie bookstore

May is Mystery Month and June is International Crime Month so it’s time to submit your nominations for the third annual Stalker Awards, given to crime novels you’re obsessed with and the authors who write them. You can be obsessed with the authors, too, but please stay legal.

Anyone from anywhere can submit nominations and vote, as long as you’re passionate about crime fiction. If you’ve ever seen the winners lists for different awards and thought, “Huh? Who picks these things?” let us know what you read and loved.

All nominees must’ve had a release or been released in the US in 2012 (original publication, not re-release, OK if it’s a foreign title available for the first time in the US last year).

Fill out the form below, and submit before 9 p.m. PST on Wednesday, May 29. Nominate three in each category, and rankings will count so place your absolute favorite first. Include titles and authors for all nominations, except for the final two categories, which are only about authors.

I’ll announce nominees by the end of the month, at which time voting will begin. See last year’s winners here.

Let the stalking begin!

I went into this movie not knowing what to expect, since I really enjoyed the first one, but thought IM2 was too loud and chaotic. And this time Jon Favreau handed over directorial duties to Shane Black, who also cowrote the screenplay with Drew Pearce. Black is known for writing the Lethal Weapon movies, as well as the underrated The Long Kiss Goodnight and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a witty noir thriller in which Black directed Robert Downey Jr. in a comeback starring turn after the actor’s stints in prison.

The two have another winner on their hands with this latest collaboration, a big summer blockbuster that showcases more of Tony Stark’s humanity than the last installment.

The adventure starts in 1999 in Switzerland, where Tony meets a couple of brilliant scientists, Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). Killian tries to get Tony interested in his think tank, while Maya is experimenting with an idea called Extremis, or the rewiring of DNA that would enable a damaged body to do neat things like heal itself and regenerate new limbs.

These scientists come back to haunt Tony in the present, just as he’s facing down a global villain called The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), who Really Hates America, is killing innocents, and threatening to kill many more. The plot spins and twists from there so I won’t say more about it.

I do want to mention, though, the writing and acting. As mentioned, Downey has to spend more time as just Tony in this one, which is a joy to watch because what grounds the franchise is his presence, not the flying iron suit. His chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts was already evident in the previous movies, and Pepper is even more Tony’s equal here.

Downey also has some great interaction with a child actor named Ty Simpkins, who impressively maintains verbal volleys with Downey without being too precocious.

Can’t reveal much about Kingsley’s performance without possibly giving away spoilers, but the man sure seems to be having more fun than he’s had in years on screen, and we are right there with him. And one of my favorite things about this movie is that the screenwriters gave even bit players funny one-liners and memorable moments.

But it all comes down to the central character. Yes, the movie has wowza action scenes involving the superhero, but we get to see a lot of the man who built him, and that beneath the glowing arc reactor is a beating human heart.

Nerd verdict: Bright and glowing Iron Man 3 

Photos: Marvel.com

P.S. Are you still here? Just checking to see whether you like hanging around until the very end of things, because like other Marvel movies, you should stay until after all the credits have rolled by.

May always brings me a sense of excitement because it makes me think of possibilities, all the good things that May happen, and there are supposed to be flowers from all the April showers, right? Not that I know anything about rain, living in Southern California.

But I do know a little about books, so here’s the May Nerdy Special List, with recommendations from my blogger pals and me. Be sure and visit their sites for more reviews and fun bookish features.

From Jen at Jen’s Book Thoughts:

The Broken Places by Ace Atkins (Putnam, May 30)

Ace Atkins’s third Quinn Colson book takes an exceptional crime series and makes it even better. Colson has to battle escaped convicts on one hand, a questionable clergyman on the other, and the wrath of nature with both hands full. The plot is engaging, as any good novel should be, but what ratchets up the quality of The Broken Places is an incredibly well-developed theme (that also happens to be the title of the novel), the awe-inspiring use and depiction of nature, an enveloping atmosphere, a multi-voice approach that is pitch perfect, and some of the strongest characters in crime fiction. It doesn’t matter what section of the bookstore or library you shelve The Broken Places in, it’s an outstanding read.

Buy it from Amazon | IndieBound

From Danielle at There’s a Book:

Julie at Girls Just Reading has two recommendations, one in women’s fiction, the other in crime fiction:

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman (Pamela Dorman Books, May 28)

This book has something for everyone: mystery, love story, family drama, and an eccentric Southern town. The main character, Teddi, is either someone you want to know or someone you aspire to be. She is tied to her family’s farm in Kentucky, but made her grown-up life in Charleston. Ms. Hoffman has a knack for creating genuine characters, and novels  you want to read from cover to cover in one sitting, even if you can’t. It’s obvious she’s done her research on wildlife for this. Looking For Me is a novel you can get lost in anywhere.

Buy it from Amazon | IndieBound

A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Dutton, May 28)

This is the third installment in the Danish author’s Department Q series. While it might not be the best or the most succinct, it is definitely worth picking up. I love the way Mr. Adler-Olsen writes the crime part of the novel. You always know slightly more than Detective Carl Morck and his assistant Assad, but not enough to solve the case or even figure out the killer’s identity. Assad is very much an intriguing character. His past remains curious to me after reading this novel.

If you haven’t read any of the Department Q novels, then you must start with The Keeper of Lost Causes, The Absent One, and then this one, as there is a lot of background about the relationships that you need from the previous books.

Buy it from Amazon | IndieBound

From Rory at Fourth Street Review:

A Dual Inheritance by Joanna Hershon (Ballantine, May 7)

This multigenerational, multicontinental novel centers around two men who meet during their senior year at Harvard. Ed, an ambitious but poor son of a boxer and plumber from Dorchester, pursues a friendship with the charming, wealthy, and charismatic Hugh. Although their friendship disintegrates over the mutual love of a woman, their lives keep intersecting unexpectedly, often too close for comfort. Hershon’s novel focuses on differences of class, love (in all its forms), and how the decisions we make can resonate throughout our entire lives. Reminiscent of novels by Jeffrey Eugenides, Richard Russo, and Philip Roth, A Dual Inheritance is not an easy read, but this darkly compelling, character-driven novel will be well worth the time you spend on it. Curl up on the sofa and spend a weekend getting lost in the richly textured world Hershon creates.

Buy it from Amazon | IndieBound

PCN’s Recommendation:

Silken Prey by John Sandford (Putnam, May 7)

My choice might seem obvious to some of you, but I’m not a loyal Prey fan. I read one book from this series many years ago, and never picked up another until now. Which made me question why, because I found Lucas Davenport sharp and witty, and Sandford’s prose lean and incisive, making me enjoy a story that involves dirty dealings in politics, something I have zero interest in. Silken Prey has an intriguing villain with narcissistic personality disorder, which Sandford portrays in both amusing and terrifying ways. Kidd and LuEllen, and Virgil Flowers, who star in two other series from the author, also make an appearance. If you have not kept up or never tried this series, now’s the time to pounce on some Prey.

Buy it from Amazon | IndieBound

This review originally appeared in Shelf Awareness for Readers, and is reprinted here with permission.

Daria Gibron, the formidable ex-agent for Shin Bet (Israeli Secret Service) from Dana Haynes’s Crashers and Breaking Point, gets to be front and center in the author’s Ice Cold Kill. Now working mostly as an interpreter in the US, Daria receives an urgent e-mail from an old acquaintance that lures her to New York City, where she narrowly but cleverly escapes the trap set for her.

Placed on the wanted list by American and international government agencies, she has no choice but to join forces with a well-known terrorist. The two go on the run in different European cities, while trying to shut down a horrific conspiracy. The world may consider her a threat, but she may be the only one who can save it.

Daria is an adrenaline junkie who has incredible physical assets, both in looks and skills. Sometimes protagonists who are good at everything are boring and unbelievable, but Daria is someone to root for, and her hardscrabble background as an orphan justifies her toughness and survival skills. Her relationships with both her temporary ally and the man she’s pursuing are complicated, resulting in surprising revelations.

Haynes sometimes shifts the point of view abruptly and without chapter breaks, which might cause some disorientation, but it’s not difficult to get back on track as the explosive action and cinematic language propel the plot forward. It’s easy to “see” many scenes as if they’re on a screen, like watching a Hollywood summer blockbuster that’s happening all in your mind.

Nerd verdict: Propulsive Kill

Buy it now from Amazon | Buy it from an indie bookstore

Several weeks ago, while on Twitter, I saw Jon Jordan of Crimespree Magazine mention that a book he was reading had a really creepy cover. He had a picture link so of course I clicked on it. And then screamed. This was the book.

There is no way I could have that cover staring at me from my nightstand while I sleep! The book could be the most brilliant one in years and I wouldn’t be able to read it unless the cover changes.

This made me start thinking about other covers I’ve come across recently that freaked me out too much for me to read it. Here’s one:

Ahhhhh! I might’ve thrown this across the room when I first pulled it out of the package it came in. I had to get it out of the house immediately. Another one that made my skin crawl:

While I can see how clever this design is, incorporating the stethoscope into the snake, I am deathly afraid of snakes so I couldn’t even touch this one.

This next one I really wanted to read because of the author’s interesting backstory, but the decapitated doll’s head did me in.

I’m not proud of the fact covers can scare me so easily, but that’s the way it is. I often read late into the night and just can’t deal with creepy images bleeding into my dreams. Removing the dust jacket doesn’t work because I still have to put it somewhere, and I prefer not to have a snake or Bloody Face Man hiding in a drawer and jumping out at me when I reach in for a paper clip.

Any recent book covers scare you away from reading them?

My birthday was last week, and every year, I do something that scares me a little. I figure if I get through that, I’d be able to handle whatever else comes my way the rest of the year.

So last week, I went down to Marina del Rey to try paddleboarding. I’m scared of drowning because I almost drowned twice as a child, once before learning to swim, and once after. Despite lessons with the Red Cross, and my following instructions exactly, I never became a strong swimmer, and can’t tread water at all. There’s something about my bony body that just wants to sink. My swimming instructors were confounded, too.

Even though I fully expected to go in the water while paddleboarding, I put on a long-sleeved shirt and yoga pants. Mr. PCN, in a surf tee and swim trunks, asked me in the car, “You’re wearing a bathing suit underneath, right?”

“Nope.”

“You brought a change of clothes?”

“No.”

“Are we renting wetsuits?”

“Nah.” After he gave me a strange look, I added, “Maybe this will make me try harder to stay on the board. I don’t want to give myself permission to fall because I’m wearing something water-friendly.”

Mr. PCN shrugged.

When we got to the marina, the paddleboard rental guy also looked at my street clothes as if thinking, “Okaayyy, crazy lady.”

“Do first-timers go in the water often?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, no hesitation.

The winds were strong that day, causing choppy waters. For the first ten minutes, I paddled while on my knees because my board never felt steady enough for me to stand up. But then we moved away from the main channel and toward where boats were docked, where the water was calmer.

I got up in steps. First I stuck my butt up, then I was in chair position, then finally I was standing straight up. And I stayed standing! The wind was blowing through my hair, the sun was shining, the view was better from up there—what in the world had I been afraid of?

I paddled along like that for a while, feeling the stress of the day and my fears draining from me. I was top of the world, or at least queen of the harbor.

Then this motorboat came up from behind, too close. Its wake rocked my board hard. As I wobbled like a gymnast who’d just landed badly on the balance beam, I was sure I’d go in the water, but I fell to my knees and managed to hang on. I breathed a sigh of relief when the boat moved farther away.

But I found myself unable to get up again. That close call robbed me of all my confidence. It was scarier to stand up again than it was originally when I didn’t know anything about paddleboarding. Part of my brain said, “Next time, you may not be so lucky. Play it safe and stay on your knees. You can still make it back to the dock in dry clothes.”

I did that—paddle while on my knees—for the next few minutes. Until another part of my brain said, “Are you kidding me?! If you fall, you’re supposed to get back up again. You didn’t even fall in the water, and you’re gonna stay on your knees? You’ll just let that man in the boat ruin your day?”

While my brain fought with itself, I started paddling harder and faster. Mr. PCN, alongside me on his own board, said, “Uh-oh, I’ve seen that look before. She’s getting mad. ”

And I realized I was mad. I was doing so well! Now look at me, all small and scared. Without further internal debate, I stood up.

Other boats zipped by, kicking up big waves. I hung on. We were going against the wind, and my arms were screaming in protest. I kept paddling.

As we approached the dock, the rental guy tried to hide his surprise that I wasn’t soaking wet. When we got close, he told us to stop paddling and let him guide us in with a really long paddle.

“We do it this way because people come in too fast, crash the board against the dock, and knock themselves off,” he explained.

I started to relax, exhausted but exhilarated that I’d had a good day. Then I noticed the guy was pulling me in too fast. He was going to crash my board and throw me off! Seriously??

I’d already handed over my paddle so I couldn’t stop my forward trajectory. There was only one thing to do: wait for the crash to throw me off, but use the momentum to launch myself at the dock. I dangled there briefly until the rental guy reached down and helped me up, apologizing profusely.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “You’re not the first person who tried to knock me off my feet today. But I’m fine.”

I thought about all this when the news these past several days made me want to cry and hide and not go outside again for a while. But I remember what it felt like after that first boat tried to capsize me, and I tell myself:

Stand up and keep paddling.

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