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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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Summary: Blues in the Night
Review: Molly Blume is a true crime writer and a freelance reporter on the crime scene. She assembles odd and unusual crimes for the local independent throwaway. Her curiosity is piqued by an odd crime up near Lookout Mountain in Los Angeles. A woman in a nightgown was badly injured by a hit-and-run driver late one night. The woman, Lenore Saunders, lived over two miles away so the first question was why she would be wandering in that neighborhood in her nightgown. Molly cannot just write this up for the paper and leave it. Then, when Lenore dies, an apparent suicide, she becomes even more obsessed with finding out what actually happened. Molly's voice is refreshing. It is funny without being smart-aleck and wisecracking. While I enjoy the "smart-ass" sleuths, I get a bit tired of all that irrelevance. It is refreshing to read about a woman who loves her family, spends time with them, and takes time off to celebrate religious holidays. She is not a loner walking those mean streets. She is part of a larger whole and that makes her a better woman. Nonetheless this is hardly a cozy. Although the violence takes place off stage, there is an edge to the novel, a perception of evil, of corruption, of deceit. Order is not completely restored by the end of this book even though all the ends are tied up. Integral to the book is Judaism, the Orthodox variety that requires its adherents to follow basic laws. That does not mean a reader must be Jewish to understand and enjoy this book. It is a story that will appeal to all sorts of people. But the Jewish law and world view make up the cornerstone of the story and Molly is unabashedly a religious woman. It is not a flagrant display or a demand that you or I must follow suit, but simply a fundamental part of her life. Within the book is a collection of intriguing and colorful characters, not least of whom is Molly's grandmother, Bubbie G. Bubbie G has a Yiddish saying for every occasion and it is great fun to see her take on the situation. She is usually right too. Then there is Jake, the young rabbi who had been one of Molly's brief loves in high school but who now may be more than that. Always haunting her is Molly's friend Aggie who had been murdered some years before. I hope we hear that story one day. The book takes place in Los Angeles, a favorite location of crime writers. Ms. Krich does an outstanding job of setting the place and putting the readers into it. And she has made as her own Jewish Los Angeles, an extremely interesting place to visit. The plot is complex and intricate, weaving red herrings and possible solutions in and out until the very end. One of the threads deals with postpartum depression and psychosis, and we learn about more that phenomenon. What is truth? we must constantly ask ourselves and sometimes truth seems to be in the shifting sands. But the denouement is satisfying and complete and concludes a very enjoyable book. I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: No self-respecting mystery fan can afford to pass this one up. Rochelle Krich's writing is so fluid she carries you easily through the book from first page to last. Molly Blume is a smart, funny, talented heroine, with character traits that we can all see in ourselves. Not since the days of Dell Shannon has there been an author whose characters come alive like Krich's, characters who make you feel you are part of their lives. You cheer for Molly as she pursues her investigations, relate to her family and wish for good things to happen to her personally. The book also tackles a difficult subject - postpartum depression - very sensitively and delicatley. If I had one complaint about this book it is that it ends far too soon to suit me. This is a book to read over and over again.
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Summary: Blues in the Night by Rochelle Majer Krich
Review: Rochelle Krich has created a new series protagonist and this first book in that series is a delight! Molly Blume has everything I seek in a character; she's serious about her work, but has a great sense of humor, is resourceful, and seemingly at the top of her form in her profession. What's more, she interacts with a coterie of compelling characters, and they bring out the best in her.
The story begins when Molly, the crime writer for an L.A. newspaper, learns that a woman in a nightgown is a hit-and-run accident victim. Drawn to learn what brought the woman out to the dark road, Molly goes to her bedside. The woman, Lenore, whispers the names of three people. Molly and the reader are hooked!
Delving into the case with Molly is only part of the draw. The contrast between Lenore's bleak history and Molly's own loving Orthodox Jewish family life is part of the attraction of this book. Unlike Jessie Drake, Rochelle Krich's other serial protagonist, Molly is not grappling with her religious identity. Her spiritual life glows with a steady light that illuminates the world around her. I found myself yearning for a fragment of the inner peace and sense of continuity that Molly's family life gives her. I needed to remind myself that Molly is a fictional character, so realistically were some scenes and interior monologues drawn.
Krich has a splendid way of building suspense and propelling the plot to its conclusion, in this case a most surprising yet seamlessly fitting one. I thoroughly enjoyed Blues in the Night, and, while I miss Jessie Drake, I hope to see much more of Molly Blume in the future.
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Summary: Start of what promises to be a great series
Review: Rochelle Krich has, temporarily I hope, abandoned Jesse Drake for a new series featuring young, divorced Molly Blume (with requisite literary references) who is a journalist covering the crime beat in the Los Angeles area as well as writing true crime books under another name. "Blues in the Night" begins when a young woman in a nightgown is seriously injured by a hit and run driver late at night, Molly is intrigued. She visits the woman in the hospital, but she is under sedation and mutters a few words, including names, that Molly finds incomprehensible at first. A message from the woman on her answering machine sends Molly back to the hospital where she discovers that the woman has supposedly committed suicide. Molly doesn't buy it and begins to dig deeper. Was Lenore a victim or a manipulative predator? Molly finds many conflicting opinions and then another murder raises the stakes. This is a great start to what promises to be an intriguing series. Molly's Orthodox Judaism is a very important part of who she is and I found the rituals, etc. fascinating without ever losing anything from the plot of the book. I do want more Molly. "Blues in the Night" is highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: True crime reporter investigates a mysterious death.
Review: Rochelle Krich introduces a new character, Molly Blume, in her latest novel, "Blues in the Night." Molly writes short features and full-length books about true crimes, and she is fascinated by one in particular. A woman named Lenore Saunders is hit by a car while wandering around in her nightgown near Laurel Canyon in California. Why was Lenore wearing a nightgown and from whom was she running? Did the driver hit Lenore on purpose or was it an accident? Molly starts to dig into Lenore's background, and she find out that it is a sordid one. Lenore's ex-husband, Robbie, is a shady businessman with political aspirations and a penchant for womanizing. Lenore's mother is a cold-hearted, selfish and materialistic person, who has always put her own needs ahead of her daughter's. Lenore, unsurprisingly, has a history of psychiatric problems and a desperate need to be loved and cared for. Molly Blume, on the other hand, is lucky enough to be part of a large and loving Jewish family. Divorced from her own womanizing husband, Molly finds out that Zach Abrams, a former boyfriend, is back in town. Abrams has become a rabbi, and he seems interested in picking up where he and Molly left off years ago. Molly, however, is reluctant to trust Zach, since he has hurt her once before. Molly methodically starts to interview all of Lenore's family, friends and acquaintances, to see if she can unearth some clues about what really happened to Lenore. Molly is nosy and tenacious, like all good reporters, but she also has a kind heart and the ability to put people at ease. Naturally, Molly puts herself in danger by asking too many people too many questions, as she gets closer to the truth about Lenore. I recommend "Blues in the Night." It is a workmanlike, fast-paced mystery, featuring a fresh new face in Molly Blume.
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Summary: well crafted and exciting mystery
Review: She is a woman blessed with great parents and good friends. Her faith in the Jewish Modern Orthodox religion sustains her and perhaps that is why Molly Blume is a true crime writer and a columnist for Crime Sheets for the local independent papers. One police report catches her interest concerning Lenore Saunders who was out in the middle of the night miles from her house wearing only a nightgown. Molly is so curious that she visits Lenore in the hospital where she blurts out three names to her: Robbie, the ex-husband, Max, the two month old son she killed while in a post partum depression and Nina, her best friend. Further investigating leads Mollie to learn that Lenore was visiting Robbie because she was afraid and wanted to spend the night. She also called Molly telling her she was afraid before she hung up and visited Robbie. Molly is convinced that Lenore was murdered in her hospital room and she wants to find out who did it, not realizing that by her actions she is putting herself in danger. BLUES IN THE NIGHT is an excellent novel that gives readers a glimpse into the customs and culture of the orthodox Jew. The mystery is well crafted and exciting but the protagonist is the star of this work. She is strong-minded yet flexible and willing to help a person in trouble. Although she wants to write a book about Lenore, her main goal is to see justice done. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Krich's Best Work Yet!
Review: The writing is confident, poised, intelligent and crisp, punctuated with humor, wit and Yiddish bon mots. The plot, with its serpentine twists and turns, is a page-turner. Molly Blume is an extremely likable heroine you can easily cozy up to and she will most likely join the pantheon of the female detectives we know and love so well like Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum. Particularly commendable is Krich's realistic rendering and respectful portraiture of the modern orthodox Jewish world. Kudos to Krich for navigating the tricky divide between loyalty to her craft and integrity to her community, a delicate balancing act she pulls off exceptionally well.
All around, a terrific read!
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Summary: Delightful mix of romance and suspense
Review: This delightful mix of romance and suspense, charismatic characters that inspire interest set in the always quirky Los Angeles, made for a really good read. Molly Blume is a Modern Orthodox divorced crime reporter with a couple of true crime books under her belt. She has a family that is loving and close, but not too close, and a job that she loves. When her high school sweetheart Zack Abrams dumped her, she moved on and in fact married, albeit badly. But Zack comes back to town as the new Rabbi of Molly's ex's synagogue and before you can say Yenta, they are out on a date while Molly wonders if history is going to repeat itself. Meanwhile, Molly is intrigued by a story of a hit and run that happened in a ritzy area of town during the middle of the night, but what intrigues her most is that the woman was hit while wearing a nightgown. While she pursues her story, the Rabbi pursues her. Krich was thoughtful enough to include a page of pronunciations for the Yiddish scattered throughout the book, but some of the explanations inserted into the story were distracting. Despite that minor grievance, I thoroughly enjoyed this book reminiscent of early Faye Kellerman, and I'm looking forward to the next one in this new series.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful mix of romance and suspense
Review: This delightful mix of romance and suspense, charismatic characters that inspire interest set in the always quirky Los Angeles, made for a really good read. Molly Blume is a Modern Orthodox divorced crime reporter with a couple of true crime books under her belt. She has a family that is loving and close, but not too close, and a job that she loves. When her high school sweetheart Zack Abrams dumped her, she moved on and in fact married, albeit badly. But Zack comes back to town as the new Rabbi of Molly's ex's synagogue and before you can say Yenta, they are out on a date while Molly wonders if history is going to repeat itself. Meanwhile, Molly is intrigued by a story of a hit and run that happened in a ritzy area of town during the middle of the night, but what intrigues her most is that the woman was hit while wearing a nightgown. While she pursues her story, the Rabbi pursues her. Krich was thoughtful enough to include a page of pronunciations for the Yiddish scattered throughout the book, but some of the explanations inserted into the story were distracting. Despite that minor grievance, I thoroughly enjoyed this book reminiscent of early Faye Kellerman, and I'm looking forward to the next one in this new series.
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