Rating: 
Summary: Tight, Tense, and Compelling.....
Review: "It was the nightgown that hooked me." Meet Molly Blume, modern Orthodox Jew, true crime writer, and freelance reporter for the local crime sheet throwaway you find at supermarkets and drug stores. She's tough, wise, independent, sassy, and now intrigued by the hit and run blurb she's just written up. What was a twenty-something woman, with no identification, doing in Laural Canyon near Lookout Mountain at two in the morning, dressed only in her nightgown? Who was she running from, and why was she left, seriously injured, in the road to die? Like an itch that just has to be scratched, Molly is determined to find out. As she begins investigating, the pieces of the puzzle don't quite fit together, and the deeper she digs into the victim's, Lenore Saunders, life, the more she finds that secrets, lies, and maybe even murder from the past, led to that fateful night..... Award winning author, Rochelle Krich introduces a new and captivating heroine, and readers who enjoy her marvelous Jessie Drake series won't be disappointed. Ms Krich's compelling story line is tight and tense, and filled with wit, vivid scenes, and clever twists that keep the reader off balance and guessing to the end. But it's her brilliant characterizations that make this novel sparkle. These are real people, sometimes heroic and well meaning, but often flawed and chasing internal demons, and Ms Krich has a talent for breathing life into even the most minor character as the story comes alive on the page. With its stunning climax and satisfying ending that ties up all the loose ends, Blues In The Night is the first of what promises to be a terrific new series, and a book that belongs at the top of every mystery lover's "must read" list.
Rating: 
Summary: Another episode in the life of a spunky sleuth
Review: "It was the nightgown that hooked me. Sunday, July 13. 1:46 A.M. Near Lookout Mountain and Laurel Canyon. An unidentified woman in her twenties, wearing a nightgown, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that left her unconscious and seriously injured. There were no witnesses." So begins Blues in the Night, Agatha Award winner Rochelle Krich's first novel starring Molly Blume (shades of James Joyce's Ulysses), a 29-year-old, five-feet-four blonde divorcee who is a freelance reporter for Crime Sheet, a weekly Los Angeles tabloid. A lovable character who is Modern Orthodox Jewish (an oxymoron?) by religion, Molly is not only a true-crime writer but also an amateur sleuth who wears short skirts, loves to play mah jongg, and, although not having a well-stocked frige, hordes a serious stash of junk food. Intrigued by the newspaper snippet of the hit-and-run accident off Mulholland Drive, Molly visits the hospital and talks with 26-year-old Lenore Saunders, who is recovering from the trauma, but who remembers nothing of the accident. She does, however, whisper three names to Molly: Robbie, Max, and Nina. The plot thickens when a nightshift nurse discovers Lenore's dead body, her wrists slit open. Was it suicide or murder? Was Lenore an angel, a tragic figure who killed her infant son while suffering from a postpartum psychosis? Or was she a devil, a manipulative schemer who planned the murder even before Max was born. Suspicious that something is rotten in the state of Denmark, Molly digs into the case and finds stubborn resistance from Lenore's mother, Betty Rowan; Lenore's ex-husband, Robbie Saunders; Lenore's best friend, Nina Weldon; and Lenore's shrink, the brilliant and ambitious Dr. Lawrence Korwin. Even Molly's L.A.P.D. buddy, Detective Andy Connors, is skeptical that murder is involved--until Molly begins to dig into the past and fit the pieces of the puzzle together. And, of course, by asking too many questions of too many people, Molly puts her own life in jeopardy. The solution of the mystery, and the pulse-pounding climax of the tale, occurs when Molly discovers Lenore's secret diary and the identity of the killer is revealed--at peril to Molly's life. A tangential romantic theme involves Zack Abrams, a high-school Romeo who, years ago, jilted Molly and left her heartbroken but who now reappears in her life as the rabbi of a nearby schul. Molly is a spunky character; she has chutzpah. And Rochelle Krich's novel, like her heroine, is zesty, with engaging humor, wit, and wisdom, and numerous Yiddish proverbs, parables, and bon mots thrown in. One is particularly arresting: "The truth does not always set you free." One fondly hopes that the adventures of Molly Blume will continue.
Rating:
Summary: Tight, Tense, and Compelling.....
Review: "It was the nightgown that hooked me." Meet Molly Blume, modern Orthodox Jew, true crime writer, and freelance reporter for the local crime sheet throwaway you find at supermarkets and drug stores. She's tough, wise, independent, sassy, and now intrigued by the hit and run blurb she's just written up. What was a twenty-something woman, with no identification, doing in Laural Canyon near Lookout Mountain at two in the morning, dressed only in her nightgown? Who was she running from, and why was she left, seriously injured, in the road to die? Like an itch that just has to be scratched, Molly is determined to find out. As she begins investigating, the pieces of the puzzle don't quite fit together, and the deeper she digs into the victim's, Lenore Saunders, life, the more she finds that secrets, lies, and maybe even murder from the past, led to that fateful night..... Award winning author, Rochelle Krich introduces a new and captivating heroine, and readers who enjoy her marvelous Jessie Drake series won't be disappointed. Ms Krich's compelling story line is tight and tense, and filled with wit, vivid scenes, and clever twists that keep the reader off balance and guessing to the end. But it's her brilliant characterizations that make this novel sparkle. These are real people, sometimes heroic and well meaning, but often flawed and chasing internal demons, and Ms Krich has a talent for breathing life into even the most minor character as the story comes alive on the page. With its stunning climax and satisfying ending that ties up all the loose ends, Blues In The Night is the first of what promises to be a terrific new series, and a book that belongs at the top of every mystery lover's "must read" list.
Rating:
Summary: Another episode in the life of a spunky sleuth
Review: "It was the nightgown that hooked me. Sunday, July 13. 1:46 A.M. Near Lookout Mountain and Laurel Canyon. An unidentified woman in her twenties, wearing a nightgown, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that left her unconscious and seriously injured. There were no witnesses." So begins Blues in the Night, Agatha Award winner Rochelle Krich's first novel starring Molly Blume (shades of James Joyce's Ulysses), a 29-year-old, five-feet-four blonde divorcee who is a freelance reporter for Crime Sheet, a weekly Los Angeles tabloid. A lovable character who is Modern Orthodox Jewish (an oxymoron?) by religion, Molly is not only a true-crime writer but also an amateur sleuth who wears short skirts, loves to play mah jongg, and, although not having a well-stocked frige, hordes a serious stash of junk food. Intrigued by the newspaper snippet of the hit-and-run accident off Mulholland Drive, Molly visits the hospital and talks with 26-year-old Lenore Saunders, who is recovering from the trauma, but who remembers nothing of the accident. She does, however, whisper three names to Molly: Robbie, Max, and Nina. The plot thickens when a nightshift nurse discovers Lenore's dead body, her wrists slit open. Was it suicide or murder? Was Lenore an angel, a tragic figure who killed her infant son while suffering from a postpartum psychosis? Or was she a devil, a manipulative schemer who planned the murder even before Max was born. Suspicious that something is rotten in the state of Denmark, Molly digs into the case and finds stubborn resistance from Lenore's mother, Betty Rowan; Lenore's ex-husband, Robbie Saunders; Lenore's best friend, Nina Weldon; and Lenore's shrink, the brilliant and ambitious Dr. Lawrence Korwin. Even Molly's L.A.P.D. buddy, Detective Andy Connors, is skeptical that murder is involved--until Molly begins to dig into the past and fit the pieces of the puzzle together. And, of course, by asking too many questions of too many people, Molly puts her own life in jeopardy. The solution of the mystery, and the pulse-pounding climax of the tale, occurs when Molly discovers Lenore's secret diary and the identity of the killer is revealed--at peril to Molly's life. A tangential romantic theme involves Zack Abrams, a high-school Romeo who, years ago, jilted Molly and left her heartbroken but who now reappears in her life as the rabbi of a nearby schul. Molly is a spunky character; she has chutzpah. And Rochelle Krich's novel, like her heroine, is zesty, with engaging humor, wit, and wisdom, and numerous Yiddish proverbs, parables, and bon mots thrown in. One is particularly arresting: "The truth does not always set you free." One fondly hopes that the adventures of Molly Blume will continue.
Rating:
Summary: Another episode in the life of a spunky sleuth
Review: "It was the nightgown that hooked me. Sunday, July 13. 1:46 A.M. Near Lookout Mountain and Laurel Canyon. An unidentified woman in her twenties, wearing a nightgown, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that left her unconscious and seriously injured. There were no witnesses." So begins Blues in the Night, Agatha Award winner Rochelle Krich's first novel starring Molly Blume (shades of James Joyce's Ulysses), a 29-year-old, five-feet-four blonde divorcee who is a freelance reporter for Crime Sheet, a weekly Los Angeles tabloid. A lovable character who is Modern Orthodox Jewish (an oxymoron?) by religion, Molly is not only a true-crime writer but also an amateur sleuth who wears short skirts, loves to play mah jongg, and, although not having a well-stocked frige, hordes a serious stash of junk food. Intrigued by the newspaper snippet of the hit-and-run accident off Mulholland Drive, Molly visits the hospital and talks with 26-year-old Lenore Saunders, who is recovering from the trauma, but who remembers nothing of the accident. She does, however, whisper three names to Molly: Robbie, Max, and Nina. The plot thickens when a nightshift nurse discovers Lenore's dead body, her wrists slit open. Was it suicide or murder? Was Lenore an angel, a tragic figure who killed her infant son while suffering from a postpartum psychosis? Or was she a devil, a manipulative schemer who planned the murder even before Max was born. Suspicious that something is rotten in the state of Denmark, Molly digs into the case and finds stubborn resistance from Lenore's mother, Betty Rowan; Lenore's ex-husband, Robbie Saunders; Lenore's best friend, Nina Weldon; and Lenore's shrink, the brilliant and ambitious Dr. Lawrence Korwin. Even Molly's L.A.P.D. buddy, Detective Andy Connors, is skeptical that murder is involved--until Molly begins to dig into the past and fit the pieces of the puzzle together. And, of course, by asking too many questions of too many people, Molly puts her own life in jeopardy. The solution of the mystery, and the pulse-pounding climax of the tale, occurs when Molly discovers Lenore's secret diary and the identity of the killer is revealed--at peril to Molly's life. A tangential romantic theme involves Zack Abrams, a high-school Romeo who, years ago, jilted Molly and left her heartbroken but who now reappears in her life as the rabbi of a nearby schul. Molly is a spunky character; she has chutzpah. And Rochelle Krich's novel, like her heroine, is zesty, with engaging humor, wit, and wisdom, and numerous Yiddish proverbs, parables, and bon mots thrown in. One is particularly arresting: "The truth does not always set you free." One fondly hopes that the adventures of Molly Blume will continue.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful New Series
Review: BLUES IN THE NIGHT is the first entry in a new series by Rochelle Krich. The protagonist, Molly Blume, writes true-crime books and works as a free-lance reporter who collects data from the LAPD for local newspapers to use for their "neighborhood crime" sections. As the book opens, she comes across a police report that warrants special attention: an unidentified woman, wearing a nightgown, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. As Molly says, "It was the nightgown that hooked me." Molly wants to know why a woman would have been out on Laurel Canyon, in the middle of the night, in a nightgown. Luckily she has a friend in the LAPD, Detective Andy Connors, but Connors can't tell her much this time, because the police don't know much. That doesn't stop Molly, though, any more than Connors' importuning does. Molly's inquisitive nature can't let this drop, even when it becomes apparent that her investigating is putting her in danger. Molly is a likeable, believable character. In fact, all the characters in BLUES are believable and fully drawn. Molly and her family are Modern Orthodox Jews and Krich weaves that seamlessly into the story; there's nothing gimmicky about it, nor are the explanations of their religious practices didactic. Krich's skill isn't limited to fully-developed characters. Her deft touch makes Los Angeles and its environs come alive. Her plotting is exquisite. Calling BLUES IN THE NIGHT a page turner may not do it justice, because so often books described that way are plot-driven to the exclusion of everything else. But this is a page-turner in the best possible sense; it's a hard book to put down because the reader is soon as obsessed as Molly with unraveling the backstory on the woman in the nightgown. Besides, who could resist a book by an author with the sense of humor to have this Molly quoting that other Molly's soliloquy from Ulysses?
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful New Series
Review: BLUES IN THE NIGHT is the first entry in a new series by Rochelle Krich. The protagonist, Molly Blume, writes true-crime books and works as a free-lance reporter who collects data from the LAPD for local newspapers to use for their "neighborhood crime" sections. As the book opens, she comes across a police report that warrants special attention: an unidentified woman, wearing a nightgown, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. As Molly says, "It was the nightgown that hooked me." Molly wants to know why a woman would have been out on Laurel Canyon, in the middle of the night, in a nightgown. Luckily she has a friend in the LAPD, Detective Andy Connors, but Connors can't tell her much this time, because the police don't know much. That doesn't stop Molly, though, any more than Connors' importuning does. Molly's inquisitive nature can't let this drop, even when it becomes apparent that her investigating is putting her in danger. Molly is a likeable, believable character. In fact, all the characters in BLUES are believable and fully drawn. Molly and her family are Modern Orthodox Jews and Krich weaves that seamlessly into the story; there's nothing gimmicky about it, nor are the explanations of their religious practices didactic. Krich's skill isn't limited to fully-developed characters. Her deft touch makes Los Angeles and its environs come alive. Her plotting is exquisite. Calling BLUES IN THE NIGHT a page turner may not do it justice, because so often books described that way are plot-driven to the exclusion of everything else. But this is a page-turner in the best possible sense; it's a hard book to put down because the reader is soon as obsessed as Molly with unraveling the backstory on the woman in the nightgown. Besides, who could resist a book by an author with the sense of humor to have this Molly quoting that other Molly's soliloquy from Ulysses?
Rating:
Summary: Molly Has Me Hooked!
Review: Fans of Rochelle Krich's previous thrillers already know what a marvelous talent she has for extracting the ultimate in chills and suspense out of what at first glance might appear to be the most ordinary of events, but her latest novel "Blues in the Night" takes a slightly more bizarre approach to murder: as her spunky new series heroine, writer/freelance reporter Molly Blume, puts it, "It was the nightgown that hooked me!" And Ms. Krich and Molly have me hooked! Molly's job at "Crime Sheet" involves reporting daily crimes in the LA area in digest form for her readers; her insatiable curiosity about the how's and why's of the darker aspects of human behaviors fuels the longer, more detailed true crime books which she also publishes (under an assumed name for her own protection). When an unidentified woman...clad only in a flimsy nightgown...is found fatally injured late at night high up on Mulholland Drive, the apparent victim of a hit-and-run accident, Molly wants to know why. Once she tracks Lenore Saunders to her bedside in the intensive care unit, their tantalizingly brief conversation leaves her with just three names and a plethora of unanswered questions. As she gradually puts faces to those names, Molly finds herself increasingly involved in the tragic events of Lenore's past. Because she refuses to believe that her initial sympathy for a fearful and deeply troubled woman has been completely misplaced, Molly is determined to uncover an underlying rationale for murder...murder which her instincts tell her must have its roots in human dysfunctionality and blackmail. Another sudden death provides shocking confirmation of her theories and leads her to the terrible truth about why Lenore had to die...a truth which also puts her own life in danger before she can write '30-' to her investigation. Novels that I find truly memorable...those rare reads which I savor and treasure...are books that successfully combine rock-solid story-telling with charismatic characterizations in an atmosphere or environment that is either unfamiliar to me or somewhat different from what I tend to think of as run-of-the-mill genric backgrounds. "Blues in the Night" was absolutely this kind of thriller. Rochelle Krich has chosen to place Molly (her family and friends) within an Orthodox Judaic framework, and that decision on her part added enormously to my pleasure in the novel as a whole. It gave me an entre into as well as an opportunity to relish a world that is not my own. "What's not to like?" Molly is a MENSCH! More please!
Rating:
Summary: Post Partum Blues, That Is
Review: I picked up Krich's Blues in the Night because I was interested in the depression theme and the Orthodox Jewish protagonist. I came away satisfied. The descriptions of the Jewish community are especially fascinating, with family and traditions. Molly Blume is a true crime writer who is engaging right away. She's looking for a topic for her new book, but gets hooked on more than one level. Molly had a friend who was murdered and is working that out emotionally by examining other crimes. I wanted to hear more about this part of Molly's life.
Molly investigates a hit-and-run that turns into a suicide, that turns into a murder. The victim has a history of post partum depression. I won't say more, so the author can make the revelations. As Molly learns more about the woman, the information takes us on just enough twists. This is the beginning of a new series. I'll read the next one too.
Rating:
Summary: KRICH DOES IT AGAIN!!
Review: In line with Fertile Ground and Fair Game, among others, Rochelle Krich has once again created a wonderful protagonist. The story revolves around a true-crime writer who gets her leads while writing the crime sheet for the local paper. This one caught Molly from the first line and it will catch you too. The sense of place is vivid and the ethnic background adds to the flavor of the story. While this book has a wonderful sense of place, it also gives an insight into the characters that brings them to life in a way rarely found in mystery fiction. It takes a special author to keep me up reading all night. Ms. Krich has done it before and continues with this entry into her list of winners.
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