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Detective Hannah McCabe #1
The Red Queen Dies
Frankie Bailey introduces readers to a fabulous new protagonist and an Alice in Wonderland-infused crime in this stunning mystery, which kicks off an exciting new series set in the near future.
The year is 2019, and a drug used to treat soldiers for post-traumatic stress disorder, nicknamed "Lullaby," has hit the streets. Swallowing a little pill erases traumatic memories, but what happens to a criminal trial when the star witness takes a pill and can't remember the crime? When two women are murdered in quick succession, biracial police detective Hannah McCabe is charged with solving the case. In spite of the advanced technology, including a city-wide surveillance program, a third woman is soon killed, and the police begin to suspect that a serial killer is on the loose. But the third victim, a Broadway actress known as "The Red Queen," doesn't fit the pattern set by the first two murders.
With the late September heat sizzling, Detective Hannah McCabe and her colleagues on the police force have to race to find the killer in a tangled web of clues that involve Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Fast-paced and original, this is a one-of-a-kind mystery from an extremely talented crime writer.
The year is 2019, and a drug used to treat soldiers for post-traumatic stress disorder, nicknamed "Lullaby," has hit the streets. Swallowing a little pill erases traumatic memories, but what happens to a criminal trial when the star witness takes a pill and can't remember the crime? When two women are murdered in quick succession, biracial police detective Hannah McCabe is charged with solving the case. In spite of the advanced technology, including a city-wide surveillance program, a third woman is soon killed, and the police begin to suspect that a serial killer is on the loose. But the third victim, a Broadway actress known as "The Red Queen," doesn't fit the pattern set by the first two murders.
With the late September heat sizzling, Detective Hannah McCabe and her colleagues on the police force have to race to find the killer in a tangled web of clues that involve Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Fast-paced and original, this is a one-of-a-kind mystery from an extremely talented crime writer.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2013
29 people are currently reading
1183 people want to read
About the author
Frankie Y. Bailey
34 books69 followersWhere did you grow up?
I grew up in the country (now suburbs) about five miles outside Danville, Virginia, the "Last Capital of the Confederacy," also famous as "the bright leaf tobacco market of the world" and the home of Dan River Cotton Mills. As you might imagine, Southern history and tradition played important roles in my upbringing. The first history book I remember reading in school was about Virginia history not U.S. The first speech I ever memorized was Patrick Henry's fiery "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" - which I later recalled with some irony when I learned the truth about the founding fathers and slavery. However, I am still a proud Virginian.
I was the oldest of two children, one girl and one boy. My parents were Danville natives. When I was a child, my maternal grandmother lived with us and provided supervision while my parents were at work. My mother came from a large family, so I had a bunch of aunts, uncles, and cousins on her side. Some of my favorite family photos were taken at my Uncle Jimmy's house when we all gathered there on Christmas evening. My father was an only child. His father was a farmer, and even though my father worked in Dan River Mills all his life, in summers he lived for his garden and sold what he grew. (But it has still taken me years and years to learn to love collard greens. Corn bread, yes. Collard greens only recently.)
As the oldest child, I learned to be properly bossy when dealing with my younger brother. Now that we're both grown-ups (most of the time), we are able to carry on intelligent conversations and even view each other with some affection. But, as he will tell you, the nickname that I gave him when he was a toddler - and that nobody else in the world calls him - still automatically pops out of my mouth. Luckily, his wife has figured out who I mean when I call and ask to speak to "Head."
Enough about family. When did you start to write?
I don't remember when I didn't write. I was a shy child, and it was one of those things that I could do alone. In my teens, I discovered mysteries and wrote my first fan letter to a writer -- Richard Martin Stern -- who thrilled me to my toes by writing back. I even persuaded my parents to sign me up for the Famous Writers course on short stories. I never finished the course, but I did read the books they sent me on writing. I even have my graded short stories stashed away somewhere.
My "career" as a mystery writer didn't begin until after I had attended Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!!! At Tech, I started out intending to be a veterinarian, but ended up with a double major in Psychology and English. It was while I was living in Seattle and serving in the U.S. Army as a food inspector, that I began to write fiction again. My first book was a romantic suspense novel. The second was a mystery. Both went into my desk drawer, but I still have the drafts (badly typed and covered in red ink). My third book was non-fiction, and I wrote it after I had finally finished my dissertation in criminal justice a U Albany. The research for that third book, Out of the Woodpile: Black Characters in Crime and Detective Fiction, led me to mystery workshops and conferences. I begin to think again about writing mysteries. When I moved from Frankfort, Kentucky, where I was teaching, back to Albany, I joined a writing group. That was when I began to make a serious effort to write a mystery that I hoped might eventually be published.
What else do you do for fun?
Read, travel - travel every chance I get - go to movies, see friends, plan my dream house...all the usual stuff. One of these days, I intend to learn French and actually get that black belt I've always wanted in karate (if only I can find the discipline to start lessons again and this time stick with it).
I grew up in the country (now suburbs) about five miles outside Danville, Virginia, the "Last Capital of the Confederacy," also famous as "the bright leaf tobacco market of the world" and the home of Dan River Cotton Mills. As you might imagine, Southern history and tradition played important roles in my upbringing. The first history book I remember reading in school was about Virginia history not U.S. The first speech I ever memorized was Patrick Henry's fiery "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" - which I later recalled with some irony when I learned the truth about the founding fathers and slavery. However, I am still a proud Virginian.
I was the oldest of two children, one girl and one boy. My parents were Danville natives. When I was a child, my maternal grandmother lived with us and provided supervision while my parents were at work. My mother came from a large family, so I had a bunch of aunts, uncles, and cousins on her side. Some of my favorite family photos were taken at my Uncle Jimmy's house when we all gathered there on Christmas evening. My father was an only child. His father was a farmer, and even though my father worked in Dan River Mills all his life, in summers he lived for his garden and sold what he grew. (But it has still taken me years and years to learn to love collard greens. Corn bread, yes. Collard greens only recently.)
As the oldest child, I learned to be properly bossy when dealing with my younger brother. Now that we're both grown-ups (most of the time), we are able to carry on intelligent conversations and even view each other with some affection. But, as he will tell you, the nickname that I gave him when he was a toddler - and that nobody else in the world calls him - still automatically pops out of my mouth. Luckily, his wife has figured out who I mean when I call and ask to speak to "Head."
Enough about family. When did you start to write?
I don't remember when I didn't write. I was a shy child, and it was one of those things that I could do alone. In my teens, I discovered mysteries and wrote my first fan letter to a writer -- Richard Martin Stern -- who thrilled me to my toes by writing back. I even persuaded my parents to sign me up for the Famous Writers course on short stories. I never finished the course, but I did read the books they sent me on writing. I even have my graded short stories stashed away somewhere.
My "career" as a mystery writer didn't begin until after I had attended Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!!! At Tech, I started out intending to be a veterinarian, but ended up with a double major in Psychology and English. It was while I was living in Seattle and serving in the U.S. Army as a food inspector, that I began to write fiction again. My first book was a romantic suspense novel. The second was a mystery. Both went into my desk drawer, but I still have the drafts (badly typed and covered in red ink). My third book was non-fiction, and I wrote it after I had finally finished my dissertation in criminal justice a U Albany. The research for that third book, Out of the Woodpile: Black Characters in Crime and Detective Fiction, led me to mystery workshops and conferences. I begin to think again about writing mysteries. When I moved from Frankfort, Kentucky, where I was teaching, back to Albany, I joined a writing group. That was when I began to make a serious effort to write a mystery that I hoped might eventually be published.
What else do you do for fun?
Read, travel - travel every chance I get - go to movies, see friends, plan my dream house...all the usual stuff. One of these days, I intend to learn French and actually get that black belt I've always wanted in karate (if only I can find the discipline to start lessons again and this time stick with it).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 13, 2013
The Red Queen Dies by Frankie Y. Bailey is a conventional crime procedure that takes place in 2019. From what I've researched about this author is that this is generally the genre she writes in. It's obvious this isn't her first rodeo into the crime/mystery genre.
The Red Queen Dies opens with a press conference referencing the deaths of two Albany women. An annoying reporter suggests that the police are hiding information from that public that there is a serial killer walking free on the streets of Albany, NY. Although the big brother system that exists in this alternate universe should be able to catch the killer, the solar flares are screwing up any images they may find.
Eventually the novel moves on to introduce the leading lady Hannah McCabe.Hannah McCabe is a detective for the Albany police and is brought in to investigate a new murder that may, or may not, be connected to the other two women's deaths. Initially, there isn't much to connect the deaths until the clues start falling into place. McCabe and her partner Baxter are in a race against time to prevent anymore killings.
What I liked about this novel is also what I loathed most. The novel is set in an alternate universe that is 2019. There are similarities to our world but the differences are not given enough depth. The Red Queen Dies gives readers items such as brain-wave controlled wheelchairs, android hosts, pills that erase memories, and 90 degree weather during October in New York. All these instances occur but are never expounded upon. I wanted more of this science fiction but it was never given. Not all things are bad in The Red Queen Dies, but I had to get my gripe out of the way.
Hannah McCabe is definitely an interesting leading lady. I want to get to know more about her. She lives with her father and has quite a sad history with her brother. I won't spoil that... readers should read the story for themselves. I also like the dynamic that she shares with Baxter. They are definitely a great duo that compliment each other.I enjoyed the connection to Alice in Wonderland. That's an interesting story to use as a driving force for the killer. Initially I didn't see the deal but the ending wrapped that up nicely.
Overall, Frankie Y. Bailey will definitely be on the list of authors I need to read more of. Although The Red Queen Dies leaves me in wont of more I won't hold that against it. I am interested in learning more about the characters introduced so hopefully that will be done in follow-up novels. Fans of mystery crime thrillers will want to read this novel. Especially those who are looking for a leading lady that is far from the norm represented in novels like these.
The Red Queen Dies opens with a press conference referencing the deaths of two Albany women. An annoying reporter suggests that the police are hiding information from that public that there is a serial killer walking free on the streets of Albany, NY. Although the big brother system that exists in this alternate universe should be able to catch the killer, the solar flares are screwing up any images they may find.
Eventually the novel moves on to introduce the leading lady Hannah McCabe.Hannah McCabe is a detective for the Albany police and is brought in to investigate a new murder that may, or may not, be connected to the other two women's deaths. Initially, there isn't much to connect the deaths until the clues start falling into place. McCabe and her partner Baxter are in a race against time to prevent anymore killings.
What I liked about this novel is also what I loathed most. The novel is set in an alternate universe that is 2019. There are similarities to our world but the differences are not given enough depth. The Red Queen Dies gives readers items such as brain-wave controlled wheelchairs, android hosts, pills that erase memories, and 90 degree weather during October in New York. All these instances occur but are never expounded upon. I wanted more of this science fiction but it was never given. Not all things are bad in The Red Queen Dies, but I had to get my gripe out of the way.
Hannah McCabe is definitely an interesting leading lady. I want to get to know more about her. She lives with her father and has quite a sad history with her brother. I won't spoil that... readers should read the story for themselves. I also like the dynamic that she shares with Baxter. They are definitely a great duo that compliment each other.I enjoyed the connection to Alice in Wonderland. That's an interesting story to use as a driving force for the killer. Initially I didn't see the deal but the ending wrapped that up nicely.
Overall, Frankie Y. Bailey will definitely be on the list of authors I need to read more of. Although The Red Queen Dies leaves me in wont of more I won't hold that against it. I am interested in learning more about the characters introduced so hopefully that will be done in follow-up novels. Fans of mystery crime thrillers will want to read this novel. Especially those who are looking for a leading lady that is far from the norm represented in novels like these.
September 28, 2013
DNF at 41%. Review to come.
I feel really disappointed. This book sounded like something that would be right up my street, and I was really excited to read it as part of the Classics Retold challenge. However, I didn't really get on with the book. I found the prose a little too overly detailed and it didn't read easily. Don't take this as me being 'thick', I've studied literature solidly, read Middlemarch etc, what I mean by not reading easily is that it didn't seem to flow for me. I couldn't really lose myself in the book and found it difficult to pay attention to all that was going on.
The events hadn't really unfolded when I decided to put the book down. Initially I thought I'd wait a little while and pick it back up, but I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that I probably won't. It does have some intriguing characters and an interesting plot line, I just felt that the pace was a little slow for me and the relation to Alice in Wonderland hadn't really come into it. Honestly, the main reason for my requesting it was to see how it compares but it wasn't what I expected from the book unfortunately. I finished this book at 41% so I gave it a good go, it just wasn't for me.
I feel really disappointed. This book sounded like something that would be right up my street, and I was really excited to read it as part of the Classics Retold challenge. However, I didn't really get on with the book. I found the prose a little too overly detailed and it didn't read easily. Don't take this as me being 'thick', I've studied literature solidly, read Middlemarch etc, what I mean by not reading easily is that it didn't seem to flow for me. I couldn't really lose myself in the book and found it difficult to pay attention to all that was going on.
The events hadn't really unfolded when I decided to put the book down. Initially I thought I'd wait a little while and pick it back up, but I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that I probably won't. It does have some intriguing characters and an interesting plot line, I just felt that the pace was a little slow for me and the relation to Alice in Wonderland hadn't really come into it. Honestly, the main reason for my requesting it was to see how it compares but it wasn't what I expected from the book unfortunately. I finished this book at 41% so I gave it a good go, it just wasn't for me.
June 11, 2018
OK, I added a star because this was set in my hometown of Albany NY. This was written several years ago, and I can't believe I hadn't heard about it until recently. So much about it is quintessentially Albany - not just the setting, but the comments, the way people act towards each other, etc. I usually get annoyed and distracted reading books set in places I know because the author changes so many things that it doesn't really seem like the place. Pretty much every place mentioned in this book, with the exception of specific stores, exists. That was a lot of fun.
The mystery itself was a bit hard to follow in the beginning, maybe because I only read it in snippets. There are too many story lines going in all directions (although I imagine that is what some police investigations are like.) It became more cohesive as I read on, but I still am not 100% sure of why Vivian Jessup was killed. I must go back and read more closely. One of the characters was really far fetched, but the book wasn't supposed to be completely realistic since it was set in the near future.
The mystery itself was a bit hard to follow in the beginning, maybe because I only read it in snippets. There are too many story lines going in all directions (although I imagine that is what some police investigations are like.) It became more cohesive as I read on, but I still am not 100% sure of why Vivian Jessup was killed. I must go back and read more closely. One of the characters was really far fetched, but the book wasn't supposed to be completely realistic since it was set in the near future.
January 27, 2016
This book is really on the fence for me. On one hand I loved the twists and turns and on the other I was disappointed in the lack of character development.
When Bailey focuses on the case the story is great. I was constantly coming up with my own theories for 'who done it', and ultimately even I was surprised by some of the reveals. This part of the story was fresh and exciting. It seemed fairly realistic with it's leads and dead ends and breaks which is always nice. When we travel into Hannah McCabe's personal life is where things seem to start to fall out. There's a great story, a great case with all kinds of interesting turns and then we get random scenes that leave you wondering 'why?'.
Unfortunately, it's all of the 'personal life' scenes that left me going, why even bother to add this? There's a short chapter more than half-way through the book where our MC goes to a lover's house. We the reader never even knew there was a guy in her life. We then leave the scene with it adding nothing to the story and not even a name to go with this mystery man. He's never brought up again. There's constant talk of conspiracy around her family and for half of the book we're wondering what it could be and then it's merely a flash in the pan, there and gone. Again, never really brought up again.
Ultimately I left the book feeling like the author tried to go too many ways at once in an attempt to give her character some substance. Oddly, at the same time I felt like the murder mystery side of this was tied off nicely. I do plan to pick up the sequel, mainly because I want to see if we get more of a look into this character and her partner but also because the actual case was interesting. There's so much room for expansion in this book and this world that I NEED to know if it's pursued. I'm intrigued but not hooked yet, we'll have to see what the sequel holds.
When Bailey focuses on the case the story is great. I was constantly coming up with my own theories for 'who done it', and ultimately even I was surprised by some of the reveals. This part of the story was fresh and exciting. It seemed fairly realistic with it's leads and dead ends and breaks which is always nice. When we travel into Hannah McCabe's personal life is where things seem to start to fall out. There's a great story, a great case with all kinds of interesting turns and then we get random scenes that leave you wondering 'why?'.
Unfortunately, it's all of the 'personal life' scenes that left me going, why even bother to add this? There's a short chapter more than half-way through the book where our MC goes to a lover's house. We the reader never even knew there was a guy in her life. We then leave the scene with it adding nothing to the story and not even a name to go with this mystery man. He's never brought up again. There's constant talk of conspiracy around her family and for half of the book we're wondering what it could be and then it's merely a flash in the pan, there and gone. Again, never really brought up again.
Ultimately I left the book feeling like the author tried to go too many ways at once in an attempt to give her character some substance. Oddly, at the same time I felt like the murder mystery side of this was tied off nicely. I do plan to pick up the sequel, mainly because I want to see if we get more of a look into this character and her partner but also because the actual case was interesting. There's so much room for expansion in this book and this world that I NEED to know if it's pursued. I'm intrigued but not hooked yet, we'll have to see what the sequel holds.
September 16, 2013
Disclaimer: I have known Frankie for years, having first met her when she came to my store in May 2001 for a mystery author event, and have thoroughly enjoyed her previous books. That has had no effect on this review.
Favorite authors surprise us sometimes by heading off in a direction we don’t expect and that’s the case with The Red Queen Dies by Frankie Y. Bailey. The beginning of a new series, it made me sit up and pay attention because it never crossed my mind that she would add a science fiction flavor to her mysteries. Does it work? Yes, I really think it does because it’s not the least bit heavy-handed and true mystery fans are unlikely to be miffed by it.
In essence, Ms. Bailey has created an alternate universe that’s just a little different from our own world—well, except for the little detail of a UFO visit a few years ago. Mostly, we just see small technological changes that could very well happen in my lifetime. The reader doesn’t have to struggle to understand all the fancy stuff, although I would like to know what the acronym ORB (a sort of glorified smartphone) stands for.
Meanwhile, we still have a standard police procedural with detective partners Hannah McCabe and Mike Baxter investigating what appears to be a serial killer. The first two murders are rather mundane at first glance but the public’s attention is drawn to the investigation when a famous actress becomes the third victim. The public’s fear is also being heightened by the provocations of a well-known “threader” (a sort of reporter) who seems to have a very low opinion of the Albany Police Department. (It should be noted that the serial killings that take place in this book are not nearly as gruesome and lurid as can be found in other police procedurals.)
Two other crimes, both involving citizens who were the victims of assaults, are part of the story but neither has any real effect on the primary investigation, nor is the drug called “Lullaby” of any particular importance (but I suspect it will be in future books). There are some interesting and very diverse elements that come to light regarding the serial killings including the actress’ affinity for Alice in Wonderland and a summer camp that took place years ago but the real crux of the story is the workings of a police investigation that appears on more than one occasion to be heading nowhere.
Character development takes something of a backseat to the plot in this first title in the series but there is an interesting revelation about Hannah’s childhood that leads the reader to an understanding of Hannah’s personality but also to more questions. I’m looking forward to getting to know Hannah and Mike and their colleagues much better in future volumes.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, September 2013.
Favorite authors surprise us sometimes by heading off in a direction we don’t expect and that’s the case with The Red Queen Dies by Frankie Y. Bailey. The beginning of a new series, it made me sit up and pay attention because it never crossed my mind that she would add a science fiction flavor to her mysteries. Does it work? Yes, I really think it does because it’s not the least bit heavy-handed and true mystery fans are unlikely to be miffed by it.
In essence, Ms. Bailey has created an alternate universe that’s just a little different from our own world—well, except for the little detail of a UFO visit a few years ago. Mostly, we just see small technological changes that could very well happen in my lifetime. The reader doesn’t have to struggle to understand all the fancy stuff, although I would like to know what the acronym ORB (a sort of glorified smartphone) stands for.
Meanwhile, we still have a standard police procedural with detective partners Hannah McCabe and Mike Baxter investigating what appears to be a serial killer. The first two murders are rather mundane at first glance but the public’s attention is drawn to the investigation when a famous actress becomes the third victim. The public’s fear is also being heightened by the provocations of a well-known “threader” (a sort of reporter) who seems to have a very low opinion of the Albany Police Department. (It should be noted that the serial killings that take place in this book are not nearly as gruesome and lurid as can be found in other police procedurals.)
Two other crimes, both involving citizens who were the victims of assaults, are part of the story but neither has any real effect on the primary investigation, nor is the drug called “Lullaby” of any particular importance (but I suspect it will be in future books). There are some interesting and very diverse elements that come to light regarding the serial killings including the actress’ affinity for Alice in Wonderland and a summer camp that took place years ago but the real crux of the story is the workings of a police investigation that appears on more than one occasion to be heading nowhere.
Character development takes something of a backseat to the plot in this first title in the series but there is an interesting revelation about Hannah’s childhood that leads the reader to an understanding of Hannah’s personality but also to more questions. I’m looking forward to getting to know Hannah and Mike and their colleagues much better in future volumes.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, September 2013.
June 17, 2017
The Red Queen Dies
By : Frankie Y. Bailey
The year is 2019, and a drug used to treat soldiers for post-traumatic stress disorder, nicknamed "Lullaby," has hit the streets. Swallowing a little pill erases traumatic memories, but what happens to a criminal trial when the star witness takes a pill and can't remember the crime? When two women are murdered in quick succession, biracial police detective Hannah McCabe is charged with solving the case. In spite of the advanced technology, including a city-wide surveillance program, a third woman is soon killed, and the police begin to suspect that a serial killer is on the loose. But the third victim, a Broadway actress known as "The Red Queen," doesn't fit the pattern set by the first two murders.
What did I think:
3 stars
Its basically a mess in my opinion, there's too much going on in the story, there was only a few things I did actually lile and they were:
1: the historical facts about Albany , Abraham Lincoln, and John Wilkes Booth and Henrietta Irving.
2:the parts about Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard Of Oz
3: Once again parts where it mentioned an old black and white movie : Them (1954)
And that's because I grew up watching those types of movies and that one is one of my all time favorite movies.
4:At one point a author had an idea that the author of Alice In Wonderland was Jack The Ripper.
Can't see how others give this a four to five star rating, the only way I will ever pick up book 2 is if I find it in my local Dollar Tree.
June 14, 2013
The Red Queen Dies is a futuristic crime novel, set only a few years in the future, in 2019. This doesn't really seem far enough in the future to account for all of science fiction elements. The novel is the first in a new series.
Hannah McCabe, the biracial police detective, makes an interesting protagonist. When two young women are murdered, Hannah catches the cases. Then an older woman is murdered, her death doesn't exactly match the pattern of the previous two, but there are plenty of similarities. Two big differences: age and celebrity. The two younger women were attractive young women, but had nothing outstanding in their lives to attract attention. The third woman, however, was a famous Broadway actress known as the Red Queen for her red hair and her association with Alice in Wonderland.
In addition to the investigation into these three deaths, there is a kind of sub-rosa mystery going on, something elusive; the reader gets a few hints, but not until the end is the idea definitive.
Hannah McCabe makes a good protagonist, and I enjoyed the relationship she has with her father. The tension between Hannah and her brother---not so much---but perhaps the next in the series will make his inclusion more relevant. In TRQD, the relationship feels more of a distraction, but seems to be setting up an easier relationship in the future that will be more helpful in future novels.
I look forward to more books featuring Hannah McCabe.
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Mystery. Sept. 10, 2013. Print version: 304 pages.
ISBN-10: 0312641753
Hannah McCabe, the biracial police detective, makes an interesting protagonist. When two young women are murdered, Hannah catches the cases. Then an older woman is murdered, her death doesn't exactly match the pattern of the previous two, but there are plenty of similarities. Two big differences: age and celebrity. The two younger women were attractive young women, but had nothing outstanding in their lives to attract attention. The third woman, however, was a famous Broadway actress known as the Red Queen for her red hair and her association with Alice in Wonderland.
In addition to the investigation into these three deaths, there is a kind of sub-rosa mystery going on, something elusive; the reader gets a few hints, but not until the end is the idea definitive.
Hannah McCabe makes a good protagonist, and I enjoyed the relationship she has with her father. The tension between Hannah and her brother---not so much---but perhaps the next in the series will make his inclusion more relevant. In TRQD, the relationship feels more of a distraction, but seems to be setting up an easier relationship in the future that will be more helpful in future novels.
I look forward to more books featuring Hannah McCabe.
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Mystery. Sept. 10, 2013. Print version: 304 pages.
ISBN-10: 0312641753
September 10, 2013
Women are dying. The police may not want to admit it but they have a serial killer on their hands. The reason the police may not want to admit it is because the city had eyes everywhere. There are cameras watching every person's moves. Yet the killer is smart and conniving. The killer is able to move around the city without the police seeing the killer. As if a killer on the loose is not enough for Hannah to handle but yet she also has to deal with a street drug called "Lullaby". Lullaby erases the memories of anyone who takes the pill. Are the murders connected with Lullaby?
I have never read anything by this author before. I was intrigued by the concept of this book. A futuristic, murder, mystery story. I have always been a fan of murder mysteries. Futuristic stories are gaining more popularity. Author, Frankie has a real knick for storytelling. I enjoyed all of the characters. They had a good working relationship with each other. Hannah is a strong female lead. She takes everything in strides. Her and her partner, Baxter made a good team. Baxter is the rookie and you can tell it but as the story progressed, he grew.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the world that Frankie built. I could picture a world where Hannah existed. This is what I enjoy about these futuritic stories. I want to imagine that this world really could exist. If you love a good police protocol story with great characters than you should check out this book. The Red Queen Dies will take you on a roller coaster ride that you will want to ride again and again!
I have never read anything by this author before. I was intrigued by the concept of this book. A futuristic, murder, mystery story. I have always been a fan of murder mysteries. Futuristic stories are gaining more popularity. Author, Frankie has a real knick for storytelling. I enjoyed all of the characters. They had a good working relationship with each other. Hannah is a strong female lead. She takes everything in strides. Her and her partner, Baxter made a good team. Baxter is the rookie and you can tell it but as the story progressed, he grew.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the world that Frankie built. I could picture a world where Hannah existed. This is what I enjoy about these futuritic stories. I want to imagine that this world really could exist. If you love a good police protocol story with great characters than you should check out this book. The Red Queen Dies will take you on a roller coaster ride that you will want to ride again and again!
August 15, 2013
Book Review & Giveaway: I took one look at the book cover for The Red Queen Dies by award-winning author Frankie Y. Bailey and was intrigued. Was this a horror novel, a fantasy novel, a mystery? I had to learn more. Then I read the concept when I was approached to take part in the Partners in Crime virtual book tour, and jumped on it with both feet because the concept is so unusual!
There is no short answer to what comprises The Red Queen Dies. It’s a mystery/thriller police procedural with strong ties to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Beyond the Looking Glass. It also gives a nod to The Wizard of Oz. Lastly, it’s a near-future novel but it has links to Lincoln’s assassination.
Sound complicated and unlikely? Well complicated yes, but it actually all makes perfect sense in a down-the-rabbit-hole kind of way when you’re reading it. I’m just glad I wasn’t the police officer assigned to this case. And instead of loping off heads like the Red Queen, we’ll play the Cheshire Cat and gift one of you with a copy in our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=6387.
There is no short answer to what comprises The Red Queen Dies. It’s a mystery/thriller police procedural with strong ties to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Beyond the Looking Glass. It also gives a nod to The Wizard of Oz. Lastly, it’s a near-future novel but it has links to Lincoln’s assassination.
Sound complicated and unlikely? Well complicated yes, but it actually all makes perfect sense in a down-the-rabbit-hole kind of way when you’re reading it. I’m just glad I wasn’t the police officer assigned to this case. And instead of loping off heads like the Red Queen, we’ll play the Cheshire Cat and gift one of you with a copy in our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=6387.
March 27, 2014
I'm tempted to dismiss this mystery as an "old lady" style book. No offense to anyone because that does direct attention to the books one superior quality. The author is a woman. The detective is a woman, the victims (of course) are women, many of the secondary characters are women. I've read gender bias free books before and the female character are limited to the rogue female who detects against orders, the victim (of course) and a minor character or two.
That is not much to base a favorable review on. There are negatives. The Alice in Wonderland gets totally swallowed in a mess of other literary references and historical facts. So the title is basically just that - a title. Oddly, the book is set in 2019. There are a few sci fi conceits and references to a less than wonderful future, but I couldn't figure out the need for this basically wasted device. This book will probably be coming out in paperback in 2019. Many ardent mystery readers won't even read it till after that date. Or maybe it will all make more sense in an alternate universe.
That is not much to base a favorable review on. There are negatives. The Alice in Wonderland gets totally swallowed in a mess of other literary references and historical facts. So the title is basically just that - a title. Oddly, the book is set in 2019. There are a few sci fi conceits and references to a less than wonderful future, but I couldn't figure out the need for this basically wasted device. This book will probably be coming out in paperback in 2019. Many ardent mystery readers won't even read it till after that date. Or maybe it will all make more sense in an alternate universe.
August 31, 2013
I won an ARC on Goodreads and I highly recommend it.
Bailey's known for non-fiction titles including Out of the Woodpile: Black Characters in Crime and Detective Fiction, and in The Red Queen Dies she's given us a first-rate police procedural, with a catch. The novel is set in the fall of 2019, in an Albany, NY that bears some resemblance to what that city might be in the near future, but is somewhat of a parallel universe. Two young women have been killed by a hypodermic needle of phenol to the heart. A "threader" (apparently the internet citizen journalist of the future) is giving the investigators a hard time, and then a Tony Award winning actress who played Alice In Wonderland as a child and is now referred to as the "Red Queen" is found dead by the same means. Are two murderers at play, or could there be a link between the three victims? Bailey gives us great characters, and plenty of distractions as the case proceeds through to its solution. First of a series.
Bailey's known for non-fiction titles including Out of the Woodpile: Black Characters in Crime and Detective Fiction, and in The Red Queen Dies she's given us a first-rate police procedural, with a catch. The novel is set in the fall of 2019, in an Albany, NY that bears some resemblance to what that city might be in the near future, but is somewhat of a parallel universe. Two young women have been killed by a hypodermic needle of phenol to the heart. A "threader" (apparently the internet citizen journalist of the future) is giving the investigators a hard time, and then a Tony Award winning actress who played Alice In Wonderland as a child and is now referred to as the "Red Queen" is found dead by the same means. Are two murderers at play, or could there be a link between the three victims? Bailey gives us great characters, and plenty of distractions as the case proceeds through to its solution. First of a series.
August 20, 2021
What I liked most about this book was also the same thing I found to be a problem. I liked that the story was original with ties to Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. However, the ties to the novels also felt forced. What should have resonated with the main character as “hmm, that’s a coincidence” was taken as evidence. There were also elements that were introduced and never brought back again, making the reader wonder why they were in the story at all. Nonetheless, the dialogue was consistently good, the pace satisfying, and the ending came together well. I would want to read more in this series, if only to find out what Baxter was really up to.
August 5, 2015
Sigh. 3.5
The ending is what saves this for me. I went into this with all the wrong expectations. I wanted this to be a crazy psychological thriller-y retelling of Alice in Wonderland but it ended up being a mostly boring police procedural novel. So I think if I had known what I was getting into it would have been better. But just so you know, the synopsis is VERY misleading. There is specifically ONE mention of the drug "Lullaby: and its use. ONE. So I don't know why they felt the need to include it in the summary. But anyway. On to the next.
The ending is what saves this for me. I went into this with all the wrong expectations. I wanted this to be a crazy psychological thriller-y retelling of Alice in Wonderland but it ended up being a mostly boring police procedural novel. So I think if I had known what I was getting into it would have been better. But just so you know, the synopsis is VERY misleading. There is specifically ONE mention of the drug "Lullaby: and its use. ONE. So I don't know why they felt the need to include it in the summary. But anyway. On to the next.
August 6, 2019
Okay
Abrupt ending. to a convoluted plot that never really resolves a lot of threads. I held on because of the supposed Alice in Wonderland component, but it was minimal and forced.
Abrupt ending. to a convoluted plot that never really resolves a lot of threads. I held on because of the supposed Alice in Wonderland component, but it was minimal and forced.
September 30, 2019
I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. It was creative and meant to be a Dystopic near future mystery. I thought it was a page turner But there were some pieces left out and some questions that were never answered.
September 22, 2013
Did anyone actually read this book? I have an advanced reading copy and there are numerous errors...and I'm only on chapter 8! Maybe someone should actually proofread this book.
February 14, 2020
I loved Bailey's Lizzie Stuart series.
I love Alice in Wonderland.
I love mystery and some sci-fi.
This book seemed like a perfect combination from the cover blurb.
I don't even know where to begin. There's a brief mention in the beginning about some weird alien encounter that may or may not have happened a few years back. It apparently causes excitement on the anniversary. Aside from a few references to it, this event doesn't play a part in the story.
Same thing with the Alice in Wonderland stuff. There's a tie in at the end, but no, it really doesn't play an important part in the story, aside from something to throw in to try to tie some obscure things together.
There are also references to the Yellow Brick Road, and the assassination of Lincoln, and baseball scattered throughout the book. They're all things the detectives are looking at in hopes of solving the mystery, but rather than seeming like leads, it's more like a random thought occurs to McCabe or Baxter and they go racing down the rabbit trail (and I don't mean the White Rabbit). I've seen this book described as a police procedural. It makes me worry a bit about how detectives are solving crimes if that's so.
It was written in 2013, set in 2019, and there's just enough future stuff to feel "off" rather than prescient.
Because I really liked Lizzie Stuart, I kept reading. I wanted to like Hannah McCabe. I don't dislike her. I just don't really care about her, or her dad, or her brother or their backstory. It made me sad because I wanted to. The end of the book offers a lot of hints at future stuff. I'll read the next book because someone already bought it for me. I'm hoping I like it more.
I love Alice in Wonderland.
I love mystery and some sci-fi.
This book seemed like a perfect combination from the cover blurb.
I don't even know where to begin. There's a brief mention in the beginning about some weird alien encounter that may or may not have happened a few years back. It apparently causes excitement on the anniversary. Aside from a few references to it, this event doesn't play a part in the story.
Same thing with the Alice in Wonderland stuff. There's a tie in at the end, but no, it really doesn't play an important part in the story, aside from something to throw in to try to tie some obscure things together.
There are also references to the Yellow Brick Road, and the assassination of Lincoln, and baseball scattered throughout the book. They're all things the detectives are looking at in hopes of solving the mystery, but rather than seeming like leads, it's more like a random thought occurs to McCabe or Baxter and they go racing down the rabbit trail (and I don't mean the White Rabbit). I've seen this book described as a police procedural. It makes me worry a bit about how detectives are solving crimes if that's so.
It was written in 2013, set in 2019, and there's just enough future stuff to feel "off" rather than prescient.
Because I really liked Lizzie Stuart, I kept reading. I wanted to like Hannah McCabe. I don't dislike her. I just don't really care about her, or her dad, or her brother or their backstory. It made me sad because I wanted to. The end of the book offers a lot of hints at future stuff. I'll read the next book because someone already bought it for me. I'm hoping I like it more.
July 28, 2025
This book was interesting enough when I was reading it but once I put it down I had to force myself to pick it up again- it just wasn’t engrossing enough. There are a lot of sub-plots which are pointless and made me lose interest. There are a lot of aside chapters about the characters outside of work, yet we still know very little about them or even what they look like. The sci-fi aspects are interesting enough but also unnecessary/underdeveloped. Some of the more intriguing aspects were left unresolved (who’s the mystery man McCabe met (in that one random chapter)? Why was the third victim killed???) And the twists were too obvious (character A must have assumed a new identity. Character B isn’t who (s)he claims. Surprise! They’re the same person! … … …shocker). I 100% agree with another review who stated this book has “a convoluted plot that never really resolves a lot of threads.” For me, this was an interesting concept that still needed some major editing before publication.
December 28, 2018
A detective novel set in Albany, NY in 2019 when a third- party candidate for president may win. His opponent has said he’s ‘rallying angry, frightened people to commit hate crimes.’ At a rally he called on supporters to reclaim ‘America for Americans.’ (2) I love that about genre novels that they can get away with creating a (very near, next week) future, or a past to talk about the present.
I quite liked this novel about an APD detective. I hope my library system has book #2 in the series. Read for Read Harder Challenge #21 Mystery by POC/ LGBTQ. I borrowed this from inter library loan.
I quite liked this novel about an APD detective. I hope my library system has book #2 in the series. Read for Read Harder Challenge #21 Mystery by POC/ LGBTQ. I borrowed this from inter library loan.
June 25, 2020
A little uneven, with too much detail in some spots and not enough in others, especially related to the characters and how they look. And not nearly enough about Alice in Wonderland/The Red Queen. Just another gritty murder mystery and a serial killer, set in Albany. With a few details about famous people who have been in Albany, including Nabokov, hunting butterflies, and Lincoln attending a play in which his future murderer starred. Oh, and it's set in 2019, which was slightly ahead of the 2013 publishing date but some really advanced tech, after I read it in 2020....
March 11, 2019
This book was good, but not great. The mystery was compelling enough to keep me going, but I didn’t find the writing itself particularly gripping. Also, near the beginning of the book, I was very overwhelmed with the number of characters and background details introduced who didn’t seem to be particularly important to the story. Some of that may just be world-building for the series in general, but I found it distracting. All that being said, I do plan on reading the next book in the series.
October 23, 2018
I have had this book on my shelf for a while. Of course I bought it because its' title is an Alice in Wonderland reference however, this book really didn't have much to do with Alice in Wonderland. This is a mystery about an actress who was found murdered. She was known for her role as the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland.
See my full review on my blog.
See my full review on my blog.
May 14, 2018
Read the first 100 pages. Bored.
Barbara Rogan approach: If the first 100 pages are boring, then read the ending. If it is good, then go back and fill in the middle. Otherwise, be done with it.
I'm done with this. Too many story lines. Slight alternate reality but not enough building of the world. Not an interesting mystery.
Barbara Rogan approach: If the first 100 pages are boring, then read the ending. If it is good, then go back and fill in the middle. Otherwise, be done with it.
I'm done with this. Too many story lines. Slight alternate reality but not enough building of the world. Not an interesting mystery.
February 12, 2019
Actual rating 3.5
This was a fun and fast-paced dystopian detective book that, while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was a really engaging read. It has been a while since I hopped into a mystery or a dystopian so I really enjoyed getting a two for one on two of my favorite genres. If you like fun fast paced mysteries with a retelling flare I would suggest picking this one up.
This was a fun and fast-paced dystopian detective book that, while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was a really engaging read. It has been a while since I hopped into a mystery or a dystopian so I really enjoyed getting a two for one on two of my favorite genres. If you like fun fast paced mysteries with a retelling flare I would suggest picking this one up.
February 21, 2019
This was a fun read since I'm a Capital Area native. The editing could have been better, I proud of myself retiring the urge to break out my red pencil. As far as the story, it was your basic police procedural with a local flair and a number of literary references. I liked the references, as well as the twists and turns as the story progressed.
June 15, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. I did enjoy the characters, the Albany setting, and the "near future" slightly sci-fi ambiance, but the story pacing felt rushed, and some of the promising subplots didn't seem to go anywhere.
August 11, 2017
An unusual book, but the plot is a bit complicated.
February 25, 2018
Enjoyable and fun mystery. Set in an alternate time but with familiar settings and history. Enjoyed the characters. Will read the next one.
June 12, 2018
Got better as it went along.
August 23, 2018
I liked the prose and the characters very much, but I'm not sure I care for the parallel universe and at times the storytelling was convoluted.
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