The Foreign Service Journal, November 2015

48 NOVEMBER 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Lord Fish: Chronicles of Xax Ted Cross, Breakwater Harbor Books, 2015, $2.99/Kindle, 72 pages. Norse and Viking mythology comes to life in this collection of three short stories and a novelette. Ted Cross weaves elements of his preceding fantasy work, The Shard , into Lord Fish . The novelette “Dragon’s Play” follows a group of young Vikings who sneak into a dragon’s lair to find the lost talisman that holds the luck of their clan. They are shocked at what they discover. In the title short story, “Lord Fish,” newly minted noble Lord Midas meets his nemesis in the realm’s most famous knight and must survive combat against the deadly warrior. Midas makes another appearance in “Stolen Castle.” When he is denied entrance to his long-deserted residence, he must find a way back into his rightful home. “Arrival” tells the tale of a group of scientists from Earth who come to colonize the planet of New Eden, along with one unexpected guest. Cross’ fans will appreciate the familiar worlds and characters in Lord Fish , and new readers will find these stories an excellent introduction to his work. A Time to Kill, A Time to Die: An Al Pennyback Mystery Charles Ray, Uhuru Press, 2015, $12.50/paperback; $3.50/Kindle, 240 pages. Private detective Al Pennyback returns in A Time to Kill, A Time to Die , this time seeking answers regarding a man who was executed after spending 10 years on death row. Henry Raylon—convicted of rape and murder—is found innocent shortly after his lethal injection when new DNA evi- dence surfaces that clears him of the crimes. The judge who sentenced Henry to die receives a threatening note, and Al is hired to figure out who wrote it. As he immerses himself in the mystery, Pennyback uncovers prosecutorial mis- conduct on a grand scale and a murderer on the loose. People associated with the case begin to die, and Al finds himself in a race against time to catch the killer before anyone else gets hurt. Readers can expect all the action, plot twists and surprises that Charles Ray is known for in his mystery writing with this 22nd book in the Al Pennyback series. Charles Ray served in the U.S. Army for 20 years before join- ing the Foreign Service for a 30-year career during which he served as ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe. A former newspaper and magazine journalist, Ray’s first full-length work was Things I Learned from My Grandmother About Leadership and Life (PublishAmerica, 2008). He has since published dozen s of fiction and non-fiction books. Now retired, Ray resides in Maryland and devotes his time to writing and public speaking. Buffalo Soldier: Mob Justice Charles Ray, Uhuru Press, 2015, $10.50/paperback; $4.99/Kindle, 234 pages. The eleventh installment of the “Buffalo Soldier” series, Mob Justice tracks Sergeant Ben Carter and his detachment as they stop in the town of Trinity on their way to Fort Union. This rest stop proves to be no respite: An angry lynch mob is threatening the sheriff and demanding he turn over a man accused of murder. The sheriff asks for Ben’s help to maintain order, but things are not quite what they seem—the wanted man might actually be innocent. The more he learns, the more Ben questions what side of justice he’s actually on. The Buffalo Soldiers find them- selves caught up in the murky politics and intrigue of the small mining town. Once again, Charles Ray delivers an entertaining account of the unpredictable events that Sgt. Carter continually faces on the Western frontier. Murder Most Unfortunate: A Rick Montoya Italian Mystery David P. Wagner, Poisoned Pen Press, 2015, $26.95/hardcover; $15.95/ paperback, 250 pages. Professional translator and amateur sleuth Rick Montoya returns in the third install- ment of David Wagner’s mystery series. An interpreter job at an art seminar takes him to beautiful Bassano del Grappo, located on a hillside near Ven- ice. Rick’s plans to explore the city are quickly put on hold when one of the seminar’s professors turns up dead. He is once again pulled in to an investigation, which also includes finding two long-missing paintings by master artist Jacopo da Bassano. Betta Innocenti, the daughter of a local gal- lery owner, joins Rick in his quest, and the pair make a startling discovery: The very people who might know about the lost