I’ve got several pieces of news to share with you all that has occurred recently… not all of it good, unfortunately.
The good first. New York Times best selling author Laura Lippman will be putting out three more novels, a short story collection, and a nonfiction personal essay collection, though whether any of this will be a continuation of her existing Tess Monaghan Mystery Series or not is still unconfirmed.
Next, Sarah Stewart Taylor will be releasing The Mountains Wild, a new mystery about a police detective returning home to Ireland after a relative disappears in the Wicklow Mountains. There will be at least one sequel to this new novel, making it a series. Taylor is also the author of the existing Sweeney St. George Mystery Series, though she hasn’t written any entries in this for over a decade, making this a return to us!
Unfortunately, the rest of the month’s news is absolutely nowhere near as positive. There have been two deaths recently in the mystery world, both authors featured on the site. First, Orania Papazouglou, who wrote as Jane Haddam, has passed. Haddam was the author of the very popular Gregor Demarkian Mystery Series, the Patience Campbell Mystery Series, and recently began the Georgia Xenakias Mystery Series.
Finally, the other loss is Sarah Andrews, who also passed recently. Sarah Andrews wrote the Em Hansen Mystery Series and the Valena Walker Mystery Series.
Both authors will be greatly missed, and I’m sure I’m just one of many to extend condolences to the families and friends of both authors.
Ellen Byron says
So sad when there’s a loss in our mystery community. It leaves a void. Condolences to their families.
Sandy says
I’m so glad I clicked on this e-mail! I loved Sarah Stewart Taylor’s cemetery series and I wanted to re-read them but I couldn’t remember the authors name. I’m sorry she hasn’t written any more.
robin in oregon says
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Jane Haddam. Her Gregor Demarkian series was one of my favorites and reread many times. My sympathies to her family, I believe she had two sons. She will be missed.
Martha Knox says
When an author dies it’s as though their world and beloved characters died with them. I will miss Bill Crider too. I’ll never forget his quirky wonderful books and people who inhabited them.
Sharon in MD says
I’m so sorry to hear of their passing. My condolences to the families of Orania Papazouglou and Sarah Andrews.
Lacey Sheridan says
Sad news; a light goes out when a writer dies.
Bek says
Oh, no. Lighting a candle that their families may find peace and solace.
TXRed says
So glad to hear Sarah Stewart Taylor is back writing books; I’ve read all her Sweeney St. George books and have watched for years for more. She’s a specialist in funerary (? – related to death and funerals) art, such as black jet jewelry worn in the past by women in mourning, burial artifacts such as urns, mourning clothes and customs, etc. It’s been a long time since I read the books but I enjoyed them and learned about an interesting subject while reading a cozy mystery series. I hope Ms. Taylor continues the Sweeney St. George series.
TXRed says
The death of Sarah Andrews, whose sleuth was Em Hanson, a geologist specializing in forensic geology, grabbed my reading interest as I was an exploration geologist briefly in the early 80s until the big oil slump in Houston hit and we lost our jobs and many lost their homes in foreclosure. I found Sarah Andrews knew her geology so her character Em Hanson to me was very credible. Reading her books brings on nostalgia for me on my career as geologist that ended too fast. I moved on to a longer, successful career as a litigation paralegal, which fit in perfectly with my love for reading cozy and classic mysteries as well as newer detective series. Interesting enough, on the subject of books/reading, my first career, in the 70s, was Library Technician at a large university library – I should have kept that job as I had access to over a million books!! And as the new mysteries and other books were first put out, I’d check them out and be in Reading Heaven.
Glenmary says
I loved Em Hansen mysteries, and have wondered why no new stories were coming out. Now I know. Too bad. I’m saddened by this news.
She Em Davenport says
When TENSLEEP was first published, I remember reading and loving it so much. Here was a book about a woman in geology, something unheard of, especially in a mystery. Thousands of books later, I still remember this one.
Shari says
As a geologist, I was so excited to read Sarah Andrews’ books. I loved them all and hoped she would come out with a new one. Alas, I will have to re-read them. So sad.