The Red Queen Dies--A Mystery

July 1, 2013
Set in Albany, N.Y., in 2019, this intriguing series opener from Bailey (Death’s Favorite Child and three other Lizzie Stuart mysteries) introduces biracial police detective Hannah McCabe, who gets on the trail of a serial killer that a blogger (now known as a “threader”) and political gadfly has dubbed the “Albany Ripper.” The first two victims are young local women, with no apparent connection, but the third is visiting actor Vivian Jessup, who played the Red Queen in a Broadway production of Alice in Wonderland. Albany history and plenty of old movie lore supplement the sleuthing. Readers will enjoy this mildly disorienting future, in which much remains the same (e.g., the city still can’t get no respect) while much has changed (e.g., the Yankees have been on a losing streak for years). The big weakness is the ending, which is a little too convenient and leaves some issues unresolved. Agent, Josh Getzler, Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency.

August 1, 2013
Bailey's Future Lite procedural leads detectives through the past in search of a killer's motives. In the parallel-ish world of 2019, Detective Hannah McCabe, of the Albany PD, is unlucky enough to catch a case of what seems to be serial murder. The first two victims have a telltale sign left by the killer, but McCabe suspects that the recent murder of Tony-winning actress Vivian Jessup is the latest in the series even though Vivian has a few years on the other two victims. Hannah and her partner, Mike Baxter, start to find indications that might connect Vivian to the other murders despite the fact that she evidently ran with a different crowd. But the closest thing Hannah and Mike can get to a suspect is the wealthy Ted Thornton, who's romantically linked to the recently deceased. The only other clue the detectives have is the possibility that the murder was related to Vivian's lifelong interest in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Hannah can rely on her erudite dad as a sounding board; her troubled relationship with her brother Adam, which still weighs heavy on her mind, is another story. It's never clear why this tale of a serial murder investigation is set in the future or what it gains from that setting apart from a certain unwelcome opacity. Bailey (Forty Acres and a Soggy Grave, 2011, etc.) has done better work.

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September 1, 2013

When a news blogger spreads rumors that a serial killer is targeting Albany, NY, the local cops are more than irritated. But lead investigator Hannah McCabe is really flummoxed when a famous actress, Vivian Jessup, becomes the third victim. Uncanny connections between the actress (known for Alice in Wonderland roles) and the symbolic trophies (also Alice-related) left with the earlier two victims have McCabe scrambling. Troubling links with a powerful developer who had a relationship with the actress (and who also made monetary connections to a long-ago science summer camp that the first two victims attended) complicate the investigation further. Over the course of an intense few weeks, McCabe and her colleagues somehow must winnow down the suspect pool and stop the madness. VERDICT Bailey (Lizzie Stuart series) has crafted an ambitious police procedural series debut that is set in the near future. While not particularly dystopian, Bailey's cultural references will appeal to those who appreciate futuristic speculation. Even more engaging are the literary allusions to Lewis Carroll and L. Frank Baum. Although a bit awkward at the beginning with an abundance of characters, this is an ideal pick for folks who crave psychological puzzles.

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