Splendid Reviews for A Basket of Trouble

I'm as pleased as punch about the latest reviews that have come in for my latest release, A Basket of Trouble, the third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series. I hope those of you who read my blog but haven't yet had a chance to read this book will pick it up and read it. If you like it, please spread the word like Kait and Julie did!

Four stars from Kait Carson on Amazon, January 6, 2014:

Claire Hanover is at it again. She pledges to help her younger and rather insecure brother and sister-in-law make a success of their recently purchased trail ride business in the Garden of the Gods. When a charismatic trail ride leader is found trampled to death it threatens the business. Who wants to risk riding a killer horse? It also opens the door to overt jealousy on the part of competing, but well established riding firms. In true Groundwater tradition, the book combines human potential and growth with the hot button issue of immigration reform all wrapped in a solid and seamless mystery. This is a book that sneaks up on you from behind. It's a quick and easy read, but the story and the characters are unforgettable.

Five stars from Julie Lence on Goodreads, February 1, 2014:

Beth Groundwater's third installment of the Claire Hanover mystery series, A Basket of Trouble, is a fast-paced, enjoyable read. Set near Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, the story centers around the riding stable Claire's brother has just opened, which is great for me because I love anything to do with horses and cowboys! Immediately following the opening of Gardner Stables, one of the trail riders turns up dead. Soon after, another ranch hand is killed, putting into motion Claire's sleuthing skills.

Ms. Groundwater has woven a clever whodunit. She has brought back some memorable characters from Claire's first mystery to aide Claire in determining who the killer is from a colorful list of suspects. With a few twists and turns, and more insight to Claire and her personal life, A Basket of Trouble will keep you guessing until the very end. And if you're fond of horses, you'll fall in love with Gunpowder from the start and champion him throughout the story. I look forward to the next installment of Claire's mystery series.

Sunday Signing in Breckenridge and a 5-Star Review!

Along with my two appearances on Saturday in Monument, Colorado, and Glendale, Colorado tomorrow (see post below), I will be signing copies of my latest release, A Basket of Trouble, and my other books, at The French Kiss boutique in Breckenridge, Colorado on Sunday. I'll also be handing out my sleuth Claire Hanover's "Tips for Making Perfect Gift Baskets." The full details are:

Sunday, December 1, 2013, Noon – 2PM
Signing by Local Mystery Author Beth Groundwater
The French Kiss
226 South Main Street, Breckenridge, CO 80424  

And, I just received a wonderful 5-star review for A Basket of Trouble from Lori Caswell on her Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book blog. Read it HERE!

Review of A BASKET OF TROUBLE in Kings River Life and Free Book Contest!

Yesterday, a review of my latest release, A Basket of Trouble, the third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series that features trail riding, appeared in the webzine, Kings River Life Magazine. In conjunction with the review, the magazine is offering a book giveaway contest for a free autographed copy of the book for those who leave a comment on the review. Please check out the review, and good luck in the contest!

Also, I submitted an article to the Mystery Readers Journal titled, "A Basket of Trouble on Horseback," for the Fall, 2013 Murder in Transit issue. That issue was just released and my article was included, so if you are a subscriber, please look for my byline. If you aren't a subscriber, now might be the time!

Great Reviews for A BASKET OF TROUBLE!

The third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, A Basket of Trouble, will be  released on November 8th. The reviews have already started rolling in, and I'm very pleased so far! Below are some quotes from reviews to date that I know about, along with links to where you can read the full text on-line (sometimes only available to subscribers).

“Groundwater combines a satisfying mystery with aspects of riding life and a look at the illegal immigration issue. A good choice for fans of small-town amateur sleuths.”
   -- Booklist, Oct 1, 2013

“Groundwater’s well-crafted cozy comes complete with numerous red herrings and a picturesque setting.”
   -- Publishers Weekly, Sep 30, 2013

“This book had everything I want in a cozy mystery. It featured multidimensional characters, a twisting plot, and a location I want to visit.”
   -- Mystery Books Examiner, July 15, 2013

“The latest starring Claire (To Hell in a Handbasket, 2012, etc.) packs in more action than a typical cozy.”
   -- Kirkus Reviews, August 11, 2013

“Horse lovers and mystery fans will enjoy A BASKET OF TROUBLE.”
   -- Clare O'Beara, Fresh Fiction, October 9, 2013

“This one is not easy to figure out! Throughout the story the themes of self-esteem, personal perception and sibling rivalry are explored. Ms. Groundwater brings the social issue of immigration reform to the table through the Mexican farm hands in her story. She also introduces us to and enlightens us about the benefits of Hippotherapy and the tragedy of Alzheimer's. All of these issues and themes are seamlessly blended together in a gripping cozy mystery that you do not want to miss. Check out A BASKET OF TROUBLE!”
   -- Viki Ferrell, Fresh Fiction, October 9, 2013

“This is a very entertaining mystery with likable and engaging characters.”
   -- a 4-star review by Lis C, a Goodreads reader

Fans of the series have had a long wait for the third book to appear, four years after the second installment in Claire's adventures, To Hell in a Handbasket, came out in hardcover in 2009. The reason is because I changed publishers between the two books, and Midnight Ink wanted to republish the first two in trade paperback and ebook before bringing out the third. The long wait is almost over, and I hope everyone who reads A Basket of Trouble agrees that the wait was worth it!

A Great Review for Fatal Descent and Other Links

I'm thrilled with a recent review that compared Fatal Descent, the latest release in my RM Outdoor Adventures series, with mysteries written by Nevada Barr and Dana Stabenow, both authors I greatly admire! As the reviewer said, "Groundwater has written yet another exciting and suspense-filled mystery that speeds along with a swift pace to its extremely compelling conclusion." You can read the full review on the Kings River Life Magazine website. You can also enter a contest there until August 10th to win an autographed copy of the book!

Sisters in Crime is also featuring the cover of the book on their website in the rotation at the bottom of the page. The rotation cycles through four displays of members' recent releases.

I've recently finalized plans to speak in the Local Author Series conducted in the Timberline Campus Library at the Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado on October 8th. You can read about the event, me and my books at their Local Author Series website.

Finally, the Summer Issue of Books and Banter features Fatal Descent in its mystery section. Just click on the words "Summer Issue" to read the PDF file.

An Early Review, A Signing, and A Galley Proof to Work On

Advanced Review Copies (ARCs) of my November release, A Basket of Trouble, the third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, are apparently going out to reviewers, because one reviewer has already published her 5-star review of the book! You can read Lynn Farris's review in her Mystery Books Examiner on-line column HERE. I'm thrilled with what she had to say about A Basket of Trouble, especially, "This aspect of the book makes it a great option for book clubs to consider"!

As for my RM Outdoor Adventures series, I finished up my Colorado book signings for the newly-released third book in it, Fatal Descent, with a signing at the Broadway Book Mall in Denver this past Sunday. I teamed up with fellow Colorado mystery author Bonnie Biafore, and you can see us both in the photo below.

And lastly, I just received the galley proofs for A Basket of Trouble, so I will be hard at work over the next couple of weeks, picking through it for any errors. Wish me luck!

June Reader Reviews

I've been very happy with the reviews from readers that my books have received on the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads website in June.

I'm thrilled that my new release, Fatal Descent, the third book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series, received four 5-star reviews on Amazon in June! Also, it has received two 5-star reviews from Barnes and Noble readers in June. Last but not least, Goodreads readers gave it three 5-star reviews and one 4-star review. And that's it, there are no lower-rated reviews. I'd like to see more reviews on all three sites for the book, but I sure can't complain about the average ranking of the reviews it has gotten so far!

And that's not all.

My other mysteries have received some great reviews in June, too. Deadly Currents, the first book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series, received a 4-star review on Amazon in June.  It also received a 4-star review from a Goodreads reader in June.

A Real Basket Case, the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, was given two 4-star reviews by Amazon readers in June. It's average ranking is now 4.2 stars out of 5, with 24 reviews total. It also received a 4-star review from a Goodreads reader in June.

I can add all of these lovely reader reviews to the good reviews that my books have received from professional reviewers. Many readers, myself included, look not just at the professional reviews for books, but also at the informal impressions of books shared by readers on various reading social networks. I'd love to have more, of course. So, if you've read and liked my books and "hang out" at a reading social network on-line, please state your impressions in a review. Not only does it stroke my ego (!), but it helps other readers find and enjoy my mystery novels.

A Day in the Life of Mandy Tanner and An Enthusiastic Review and Giveaway

Today, Mandy Tanner, the whitewater river ranger/rafting guide protagonist of my RM Outdoor Adventures series (and recent release book 3 in that series, Fatal Descent), is visiting Dru's Book Musings to talk about a day in the life of a whitewater rafting guide. I hope you'll stop by the blog HERE and ask Mandy (or me) a question. Whitewater rafting guides work VERY hard for very little money, especially on multiday river trips. I hope reading about Mandy's typical day will give you a little more respect for what your whitewater rafting guide does for you. After taking that roller coaster ride through the rapids, be sure to give your guide a big tip!

Also, the book review blog, Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book has given Fatal Descent a very enthusiastic 5-star review HERE. She's also giving away her review copy to one commenter, so leave a comment to enter the contest!

Publishers Weekly Reviews FATAL DESCENT

I am so, so thrilled with the great review that Publishers Weekly just published of Fatal Descent, the third book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series that will be released on June 8th (though you can order copies now).

"The tension runs high in Groundwater’s absorbing third RM Outdoor Adventures mystery … Scenic descriptions and folklore add atmosphere to a suspenseful tale." -- Publishers Weekly (for full review, go HERE)

A Great Review for To Hell in a Handbasket

I recently found a great review from a mystery reader/reviewer for the second book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, To Hell in a Handbasket. The Mysteries and My Musings blog said: "This was a great adventure murder mystery that will be hard to top." Read the full review HERE. Featuring winter sports such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, To Hell in a Handbasket makes for a great winter holiday read! Amazon and Barnes & Noble both still have the book on sale for 21-33% off list price, depending on format. Got any mystery readers on your holiday gift list?

Review for A Real Basket Case

I just ran across a lovely review from a mystery reader/reviewer for the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, A Real Basket Case. Read it HERE. Amazon and Barnes & Noble have both books in the series on sale for 21-33% off list price, depending on format. Got any cozy mystery readers on your holiday gift list?

A 5 Star Review for TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET!

This 5 star review for To Hell in a Handbasket floored me, and definitely gave me something to be thankful for the day after Thanksgiving:

Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book's review of To Hell in a Handbasket.

Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book is a very popular book review blog, and I am as pleased as punch that Dollycas loved To Hell in a Handbasket so much that she posted such a wonderful review on her site!

Buying Readership

A recent New York Times article described how Todd Rutherford started a company, GettingBookReviews.com (now defunct), to collect money from self-published authors in exchange for generating positive 5-star reviews on Amazon for their books--sometimes hundreds of reviews. And the "reviewers" that he paid to write those reviews usually never read the books. Also, the NYT piece quotes Mr. Bing Liu, a data mining expert, who "estimates that about one-third of all consumer reviews on the Internet are fake."

One self-published author who paid for 300 of those positive reviews is none other than John Locke, who is widely touted as a successful self-published writer and who has published a book on How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months! However, nowhere does he say in that book that he bought reviews. Also, part of his payment to GettingBookReviews.com included compensating the reviewers for buying their copies of his books (that they didn't read) on Amazon. So, he was paying people to buy his books!

And you know what? It worked. People were sucked in by all those positive reviews and bought his books. He made a boatload of money.

And I, who stick to the high road, who has never paid for a review or paid someone to purchase my book on-line, haven't.

My mystery novels have received positive reviews from all four of the "big four" established review publications (Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly), none of which I paid for or even asked for. And my books have received positive reviews from ethical independent reviewers such as Kevin Tipple and Lori Caswell, again which I have not paid for.

Locke admits to buying reviews because "Reviews are the smallest piece of being successful, but it's a lot easier to buy them than cultivating an audience."

And cultivating an audience is what I've been working VERY hard at for many, many years. It's enough to make an honest author weep in frustration.

What can YOU do about this scandal? First, if you enjoyed reading a book by your favorite author, write a heartfelt positive review for it and post it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, or wherever YOU go to for on-line customer reviews. Help raise the percentage of real, honest reviews on-line. Second, take on-line customer reviews of books, especially on Amazon, with a sizable grain of salt. Compare them to reviews from professional reviewers. Look at what else those customer reviewers have reviewed and if they've ever given a review for a book that's less than 5-stars.

Educate yourself! Hopefully, a side benefit will be that you won't be taken in by fake rave reviews and you won't waste your money on bad books. There are plenty of good books to go around. I hope you'll include mine in your list:

A Real Basket Case
To Hell in a Handbasket
Deadly Currents
Wicked Eddies

I'm in the News!

I've got two bits of good news to share today:

A 4-star review in The Mystery Reader for Wicked Eddies:

http://www.themysteryreader.com/cozy.html  (shows the date & # of stars)
http://www.themysteryreader.com/groundwater-wicked.html  (the review itself)

Also, I have a fundraiser signing today at the Next Page Bookstore in Frisco, Colorado. Ten percent of the store's proceeds will support the Gore Range Chapter of Colorado Trout Unlimited. Please take a look at an article about the event, me and Wicked Eddies in the Summit Daily News.

Thank you, Kirkus Reviews!!

Whoo hoo! I'm excited. Kirkus Reviews came through for me again with another good review for one of my books. They gave away quite a bit of the plot of Wicked Eddies (release date May 8) in the body of the review, so I'm not going to quote it all here, but here's the last line:

"Once again, Groundwater, mixing mystery with outdoor adventure, comes up with an excursion that will please most comers."

-- Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2012

The Writer's Chatroom and MORE!

Today from 5 - 7 PM MST, 7 - 9 EST, I will be hanging out at The Writer's Chatroom, answering questions from participants and discussing whatever topics of interest come up. Please come join me there! One lucky participant will win an autographed copy of A Real Basket Case!

Also, fellow Colorado author and publisher, Terry Wright, has spotlighted me on the Author Showcase section of his website. You can see my page HERE. Thanks, Terry!

Also, also, Kevin Tipple, one of my favorite reviewers (for his insightful and always interesting reviews) just posted his review of Deadly Currents on his blog, Kevin's Corner. I hope you'll read not only that review but also check out some of the other reviews on his blog. Thanks, Kevin!

More Good Reviews for Deadly Currents

Most of the reviews for my Deadly Currents mystery novel came out before or around the time of its release in March. However, some good ones have trickled in lately, and I can't help bragging about them. :)

The first is in the Summer, 2011 issue of the Mysterical-e ezine, an excellent collection of mystery/suspense/thriller short fiction and nonfiction. Go to the website to read the whole review, but I loved the last two lines:

"There’s lots of suspects, plenty of excitement, and even some time for romance. Groundwater knows her business and has made this not only exciting but also realistic."

Also, the Mild to Wild blog, a (Rafting) Guide's Life Blog, had these words of praise for the book:

"The Mild to Wild staff has discovered a great new book release called Deadly Currents. Combining murder mystery and the adventure of whitewater rafting in Colorado, we found this book to be a great read in the comforts of our beds, sitting around the campfire, or in on a cot and under the stars!"

Follow the link to read the rest of the review, and if you've got a hankerings to ride the rapids of the upper Arkansas, this outfitter is one of the best.

Lastly, avid mystery reader and reviewer Kari Wainwright posted the following review on the DorothyL mystery discussion email list:

"Deadly Currents by Beth Groundwater

Running the Arkansas River rapids in the Colorado Rockies is not for the meek. A Class V rapid can toss a raft and its riders head-over-heels into the foaming water and turn them into human debris dodging rocks and other dangers in the whitewater.

Deadly Currents protagonist, Mandy Tanner, has left her river guide job to turn to law enforcement as a river ranger. In her twenties and new to the profession, she has much to learn, both on the job and in her personal relationships. But she is gutsy and hardworking, so the reader feels she can tackle any task she takes on. Except for one. Struggling to rescue two whitewater “swimmers,” she’s only able to save one. The other, Tom King, dies.

At first, King’s death looks like possible negligence on the part of the rafting company, owned by Mandy’s Uncle Bill. She’s grateful to learn that it wasn’t Bill’s fault because King was murdered.

Even though Mandy is warned to stay out of King’s death investigation, the young woman gets involved with the possible suspects, stirring up more turmoil than even a Class V rapid can cause. King, a rich developer, had no love for the river or the natural beauty near Salida, Colorado, which earned him enemies. He also had business rivals. Plus a wife, a mistress and a son, who all had problems with him. There’s a virtual plethora of people who could have wanted him dead. And some of them don’t like Mandy asking questions.

The author creates colorful characters to people this small Rocky Mountain town. My only dislike with characterization was that sometimes Mandy’s reactions to her boyfriend and brother were on the immature side. On the other hand, that makes her more human and leaves her room to grow in future books.

Groundwater has definitely done her research in the world of rafting on the Arkansas near Salida. She brings it to a frothy, churning life, which is one reason I loved the book. My husband and I have rafted the Arkansas through the Royal Gorge twice, having exciting incidents happen each time, once culminating with my husband becoming a “swimmer.” Even though Mandy wasn’t there to pull him out of the water, he survived. Deadly Currents makes me wish I could go again, but with a bum knee, that’s out of the question for me. So when I get the urge to go for another wild ride, I’ll just have to pick up a Mandy Tanner RM Outdoor Adventure Mystery."

Many thanks to Kari, the Mild to Wild rafting guides, and Mysterical-e!

Many Thanks to my Goodreads Reviewers!

It's been three months since Deadly Currents, the first book in my new Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventure mystery series, was released by Midnight Ink in trade paperback and ebook formats. The book has received excellent professional reviews from Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Scene magazine and more. And I'm very, very grateful for those. But the reviews that really warm my heart are the amateur reviews from plain old readers on the Goodreads social network.

As of this writing, Deadly Currents has been placed on the book lists of 250 Goodreads readers and has received 41 ratings and 25 verbal reviews. The average rating, on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best) is a 4. I'm thrilled with that! And reading the insightful comments of readers about the book is pure pleasure. Here are some samples:

"I was surprised by how much I liked this one. It was given to me and I'm not into rafting at all. Well, at least I wasn't. Now I'd like to try. Along with the rafting and scenery details, the mystery was well crafted and pulled me along at a great pace. I thought the main character was very fleshed out. I'll read more of this series."


"I really enjoyed this book. It was great to read a cozy set in a different setting and Beth is obviously very knowledgeable on the subject of white water rafting!"


"This is a new series for Beth Groundwater and it is as good as her earlier one.
...
I didn't figure out "who dunnit" until Groundwater was ready to let me, which is always a good thing. Now, waiting impatiently for her next book."


"Now you can enjoy whitewater rafting to your heart’s content—from the cozy comfort of home! This book had everything: a spunky protagonist, a picturesque Colorado setting, and a plot that kept me twisting in the wind (or churning in the water . . .?) until the final chapter. I predict that this will be another winning series for Beth Groundwater."


"I went to high school in Colorado... and I just loved learning about the culture of river rafting... something I am deathly afraid of since I can't swim! I thought the characters were great and loved how Groundwater pegged the stereotypical Coloradoan! The storyline was great too! It kept me guessing...I look forward to some more books by this author."

Goodreads book reviews are syndicated widely, including to Worldcat (and to libraries all over the world through that system), Google Books, Blio, Stanza, Better World Books, Alibris, and Facebook. Goodreads applications are available on the Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, Android (f0r mobile phones), iPhone and iPad, among other devices. And when Lifehacker, a website dedicated to making life easier with technology, asked thousands of its readers where they got their book recommendations, 39% picked Goodreads. That was well over the 26% who picked Amazon, the 13% who picked Shelfari, and the 11% who picked LibraryThing.

Given this information, the most important place on the web to collect good reviews for your book is Goodreads. And Goodreads readers have come through in spades for Deadly Currents. I am so very grateful that not only did so many folks on Goodreads enjoy reading the book, they took the time to give it a high rating and explain why they enjoyed it. Many thanks to you all!

Yet Another Great Review for Deadly Currents!

The spring issue of Mystery Scene Magazine arrived at my house today, and I was thrilled to see that it included a wonderful review of Deadly Currents! I'd been crossing my fingers that one would appear in the magazine ever since the reviewer, Leslie Doran, caught me at the Left Coast Crime conference in Santa Fe in March and introduced herself. She asked me to sign her ARC (Advance Review Copy) of Deadly Currents, told me she enjoyed reading the book and had just sent in her review, though she couldn't guarantee it would be accepted.

Thank goodness it was accepted! Leslie's review appears on page 59, right after the review of Michael Connelly's The Fifth Witness. Great placement! The last line of the review makes a beautiful pull quote:

"The amiable cast, along with Groundwater's fascinating firsthand knowledge of rafting, makes this a series worth watching."

((blush)) Thanks so much, Leslie! I hope my blog readers have a chance to get their hands on a copy of Mystery Scene and read the review for themselves. It's a great magazine for and about the mystery community, and I always look forward to reading the issues--even when there's no mention of me and my books. :)

A Review from the 2000 Year Old Librarian

Doris Ann Norris is affectionately known by her many, many friends as the "2000 year old librarian." A retired library director, she is renowned in the world of mystery fiction. She served for five years as the Library Liaison on the national board of Sisters in Crime. She will be feted at the 2012 Bouchercon conference as the Fan Guest of Honor. I first met Doris Ann at a Mayhem in the Midlands mystery conference in Omaha, Nebraska, and I immediately felt a kinship with her as we swapped recommendations of favorite mystery books and authors.

When Doris Ann speaks, people listen, because she's known to have impeccable taste in mysteries. That's why I was absolutely thrilled when she posted a glowing review of my recent Deadly Currents release on the DorothyL email discussion list of lovers of the mystery genre. When I emailed her to thank her and ask her if I could share the review on my blog and website, she said, "You're welcome and you can certainly print any part you want. I'm looking forward to the next one..."

So, I won't copy her whole review here (you can search the DorothyL archives for that), but here are my favorite parts:

"Beth Groundwater has left wicker for water in Deadly Currents. Her new series features a river ranger (and former guide), Mandy Tanner of Salida, Colorado as she helps to make the Arkansas River safe for tourists and casual and more ardent adventurers who love (or just want to try) whitewater rafting.
...
Fast-moving and exciting, Deadly Currents is a most enjoyable mystery with a strong heroine of whom I wish to see more. From the blurb on the back of the book, I had no trouble seeing Beth as a 'river rat' and find these adventures more entertaining than gift baskets. Get on board for this series."

- Doris Ann Norris, the 2000-year-old librarian


Thank you, Doris Ann! In a related note, over 180 library systems that subscribe to the Worldcat Interlibrary Loan network already have copies of Deadly Currents on their shelves. Pick up a copy from your favorite bookstore or library and read it now!