"The Dark Room" by Minette Walters

Minette Walters is not a "cozy" mystery writer by any means, and some of her scenes remind the reader that murder is not a puzzle for armchair detectives: it is a cold, cruel, violent act with sad consequences.

Nevertheless, her murder mysteries can rival Agatha Christie's. They are plausable, beautifully written and often difficult to predict.

I'm currently listening to "The Dark Room" on CD (it's amazing how much I look forward to emptying the dishwasher and peeling potatoes when I have a good book in my CD player). I've read the book twice before, and I'm really enjoying hearing it again.

The story's premise may sound cliched (woman with amnesia suspected of killing her wayward boyfriend and the best friend who stole him), but it's executed with such quirkiness that it will have you guessing till the last page.

A Speed Interview with the author of "THE SARI SHOP WIDOW"

In the cyber studio today, we're hosting an award-winning writer, Shobhan Bantwal, whose book "THE SARI SHOP WIDOW" is #2 on the best seller list (Kindle version).

1. Shobhan, you have an unusual name - if you Google it, your author page comes up as number 1. What does your name mean and how to you pronounce it?

My name is unusual not just for Americans but even in India, where I was born and raised, Shobhan is not a very common name. It is a variation on the word “Shobha,” which means beauty. It is pronounced Show-bun like the movie Shogun.

2. If you had to sell "THE SARI SHOP WIDOW" to a Hollywood producer, what one sentence would you use?

THE SARI SHOP WIDOW offers all the thrills, colors, tastes, and textures of India - “Bollywood in a Book.”

3. Why the title?

Set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey’s Little India, this is the story of a young businesswoman who rediscovers the magic of love, family, and her roots as she fights to save her failing sari boutique, hence the title “THE SARI SHOP WIDOW.”

4. What is your favourite spice?

I don’t have one particular favorite, but I like cumin and coriander.

5. Did you use it in the book?

I have not used it in this book when I describe cooking, at least not specifically by their name.

6. Chicken Korma or Chicken Biryani for you?

I love biryani, so I would go with the chicken biryani.

7. Give us a buy-now link for "THE SARI SHOP WIDOW".

Buy THE SARI SHOP WIDOW now at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Sari-Shop-Widow-Shobhan-Bantwal/dp/0758232020/

View the book trailer on YouTube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9uRlbkxxes

For more information on Shobhan Bantwal’s new and other books and to enter a drawing to win a number of prizes, please go to her website’s “Contests” page and sign up between Sept 1 and Sept 30, 2009 at www.shobhanbantwal.com

Full September Virtual Tour Details - http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/07/sari-shop-widow-by-shobhan-bantwal.html

Thanks!

Visiting Bookland Heights

Yvonne Walus together with her "Murder @ Play" is visiting Bookland Heights today. Check out what she has to say about her book.

4-book review for "The Seventh Taboo"

This is a great review for my Wild Rose Press book, "The Seventh Taboo". The review is by The Long and The Short of It. Enjoy!