Masks of Murder

“… there is more here than a simple whodunit. Abrupt and unexpected death doesn’t give the deceased any opportunity to tidy up loose ends. Author Canby adeptly makes this point while presenting a well thought out false trail for his detectives to follow in his debut novel. The book is short, concise and well written in a straightforward manner that takes us step by step to a surprising conclusion. It evokes the frustration of the detectives who must deal with lies, dead-end logic and racial tensions. The plot moves on two distinct yet parallel planes, powerfully suggesting that we often do not completely know or understand even those in our lives who are closest to us.”—Carl Brookins, author. Reviewed for Mystery Scene, holiday issue, Number 82, 2003.

“[C. C. Canby] … examines the razor-thin difference between evil and innocence, as [Detective] Lanslow follows the case through twists and turns to a conclusion that flips the whole story upside down.”—Jake Zisla, staff writer for the White Bear Press, Wed., December 3, 2003.

"C. C. Canby takes us on a chilling trip into a killer's mind in his new thriller, Masks of Murder. The intricate, complex plot kept me turning the pages until late at night. The ending blew me away."—Dean Hovey, author of Where Evil Hides and Hooker.

"C. C. Canby's excellent first novel, Masks of Murder, is filled with creepy, yet appealing characters and a unique and compelling plot. Once started, I was obliged to finish it even if it meant staying up into the wee hours. I suggest you leave the lights on because Masks of Murder can be spine chilling. Even so, at the end you'll be wishing for more."—Bruce Southworth, mystery reviewer for the Minnapolis Star & Tribune.

"C. C. Canby has written an exciting police procedural in the tradition of Christine McGuire and Paul Bishop"—Harriet Klausner, reviewer for Blether: the Book Review Site. (Masks of Murder received the Blether Gold Award with a rating of 10: "A truly exceptional read, the finest example of a genre, a book with which the reviewer can find no fault, and which will usually have universal appeal.")

"In a word WOW! Canby provides interesting characters, sharp dialogue and plenty of thrills, this exciting first novel succeeds in whetting the appitite for more."—Pat Frovarp, owner/proprietor of Once Upon A Crime, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"A new mystery writer has been added to the scene, and he is somewhat of a mystery man himself. MASKS OF MURDER is the introductory fiction work of C.C. Canby. Canby is the pseudonym of a retired professor of sociology and social psychology. His expertise in these areas is felt throughout MASKS OF MURDER as the plot takes the reader through twists and turns on the trail of a killer…For the reader more interested in the intricacies of human relationships and motivations than in violence and gore, this book fills the niche. C.C. Canby’s initial fictional offering, MASKS OF MURDER, leaves the reader looking forward to more."—Deb Jones, for Roundtablereviews.com.

"C C Canby has used his background in sociology and social-psychology to weave a fascinating tale of how the mind and psyche can be warped with horrific results. Mask Of Murder is a very polished debut novel. The plot and characterization are realistic and compelling and make for a true page-turner."—Roberta Austin, for murderandmayhem.com.

“This is an excellent first novel. It is an exciting police procedural with a plot that contains characters which are appealing and humorous. There is a sense of mystery about some of the characters that is difficult to comprehend. The author takes the reader into the killer's mind with an attempt to understand his motivation. The reader is carefully taken through [Detective] Lanslow’s investigations to the surprising and unexpected conclusion."—Barbara Buhrer, for Reviewingtheevidence.com, January 2004

“… exciting action in the style of James Patterson, but with a subtle noir touch, that would keep the reader intrigued and thrilled.” —Narayan Radhakrishnan (for newmysteryreader.com)

"Throughout this interesting first mystery, the reader experiences a unique perspective of a murderer, supported by a whole family of weird relations who talk about the necessity of his actions while bemoaning the danger he brings to them all. Their greatest concern is his killing of a detective, as well as the rape of a young college girl. It is the job of the dead cop’s younger partner to figure out who this strange killer and his cortege is while trying to hold together a very strained relationship with his fiancé. The action is good and the author will keep you guessing all the way through. He does an especially good job with his characters and in capturing the setting of the twin-cities area of Minnesota. We scored this mystery four hearts." —Bob Spear, for Heartlandreviews.com

"Intricately woven and methodically presented, the plot unfolds … . Along with gripping settings and a fabulous SWAT scene, much of the action in this book happens in the minds behind the daily masks the characters wear. … With a high drama twist of irony, the threads of the story deftly come together. I sit, stunned. I wonder about people I've known in the past, people I think I knew pretty well. Could it be that I didn't really know them after all? Read this book this summer and see what you think — it's a chiller and a fascinating trip into the dark depths of the human mind." —Denise Williams, for the Hugonian, June 2004.

"Working off the premise that what people appear to be in public may be far different than in private, this complex and interesting novel slowly moves forward in a literary style. …Much like the cover illustration, which depicts an actor putting on a mask, the mask covering the killer's face is gradually removed.…By novel's end, one man's inner delusions are revealed, as are the permanent repercussions of his actions." —Kevin Tipple, The Blue Iris Journal.com.

ISBN:1-930922-04-3 Hardcover 5.5" X 8.5", 256 Pages Price: $17.95 Publisher: j-Press Publishing 4796 126th St. N. White Bear Lake, MN 55110 Phone/Fax: 651-429-1819 E-Mail: sjackson@jpresspublishing.com Distributed by: Ingram, Baker & Taylor Orders may be made directly through j-Press by phone or by internet. Wholesale orders may be placed by phone.	Masks of Murder by C.C. Canby When Christine Mallard finds her husband, Detective Zeke Mallard, brutally murdered in their own garage, it is up to Zeke's partner, rookie Detective Richard Lanslow, to solve the murder. In tandem with his new partner, veteran Detective Dean Brooks (a former detective in the Los Angeles Police Department), Lanslow begins an investigation. There are no clues, only the repeatedly stabbed body. Lanslow's investigation soon reveals his former partner's off-duty life is quite different than what the young detective had imagined. There is a beautiful young girl, and a jealous lover who quickly becomes a prime suspect—a young, street-savvy black man named Andrew White who harbors a deep hatred of white cops. We readers know, however, that Andrew has only witnessd the crime, not committed it, and that Lanslow and Brooks are on the wrong trail. And we even know the killer's first name. Who is the man we know only as "Dorian", who later commits a second murder which, through bizarre circumstances, actually increases the detective's suspicion of Andrew White? And who are the strange characters with whom Dorian consorts, including the mysterious "little man", beset with horrible dreams; the worrying giant named Conrad; the pudgy sage named Gary; and the lesbian named Linda? Things are not what they seem in this intricately woven plot. With the help of a famous criminologist, Detective Lanslow begins to grow skeptical of how the theory of Zeke's murder case has been constructed. Acting on the advice of the professor, the case takes a turn that even Lanslow cannot believe, despite the evidence he and Brooks have collected—and comes to a crashing, jaw-dropping conclusion.
Reviews “… there is more here than a simple whodunit. Abrupt and unexpected death doesn’t give the deceased any opportunity to tidy up loose ends. Author Canby adeptly makes this point while presenting a well thought out false trail for his detectives to follow in his debut novel. The book is short, concise and well written in a straightforward manner that takes us step by step to a surprising conclusion. It evokes the frustration of the detectives who must deal with lies, dead-end logic and racial tensions. The plot moves on two distinct yet parallel planes, powerfully suggesting that we often do not completely know or understand even those in our lives who are closest to us.”—Carl Brookins, author. Reviewed for Mystery Scene, holiday issue, Number 82, 2003. “[C. C. Canby] … examines the razor-thin difference between evil and innocence, as [Detective] Lanslow follows the case through twists and turns to a conclusion that flips the whole story upside down.”—Jake Zisla, staff writer for the White Bear Press, Wed., December 3, 2003. "C. C. Canby takes us on a chilling trip into a killer's mind in his new thriller, Masks of Murder. The intricate, complex plot kept me turning the pages until late at night. The ending blew me away."—Dean Hovey, author of Where Evil Hides and Hooker. "C. C. Canby's excellent first novel, Masks of Murder, is filled with creepy, yet appealing characters and a unique and compelling plot. Once started, I was obliged to finish it even if it meant staying up into the wee hours. I suggest you leave the lights on because Masks of Murder can be spine chilling. Even so, at the end you'll be wishing for more."—Bruce Southworth, mystery reviewer for the Minnapolis Star & Tribune. "C. C. Canby has written an exciting police procedural in the tradition of Christine McGuire and Paul Bishop"—Harriet Klausner, reviewer for Blether: the Book Review Site. (Masks of Murder received the Blether Gold Award with a rating of 10: "A truly exceptional read, the finest example of a genre, a book with which the reviewer can find no fault, and which will usually have universal appeal.") "In a word WOW! Canby provides interesting characters, sharp dialogue and plenty of thrills, this exciting first novel succeeds in whetting the appitite for more."—Pat Frovarp, owner/proprietor of Once Upon A Crime, Minneapolis, Minnesota. "A new mystery writer has been added to the scene, and he is somewhat of a mystery man himself. MASKS OF MURDER is the introductory fiction work of C.C. Canby. Canby is the pseudonym of a retired professor of sociology and social psychology. His expertise in these areas is felt throughout MASKS OF MURDER as the plot takes the reader through twists and turns on the trail of a killer…For the reader more interested in the intricacies of human relationships and motivations than in violence and gore, this book fills the niche. C.C. Canby’s initial fictional offering, MASKS OF MURDER, leaves the reader looking forward to more."—Deb Jones, for Roundtablereviews.com. "C C Canby has used his background in sociology and social-psychology to weave a fascinating tale of how the mind and psyche can be warped with horrific results. Mask Of Murder is a very polished debut novel. The plot and characterization are realistic and compelling and make for a true page-turner."—Roberta Austin, for murderandmayhem.com. “This is an excellent first novel. It is an exciting police procedural with a plot that contains characters which are appealing and humorous. There is a sense of mystery about some of the characters that is difficult to comprehend. The author takes the reader into the killer's mind with an attempt to understand his motivation. The reader is carefully taken through [Detective] Lanslow’s investigations to the surprising and unexpected conclusion."—Barbara Buhrer, for Reviewingtheevidence.com, January 2004 “… exciting action in the style of James Patterson, but with a subtle noir touch, that would keep the reader intrigued and thrilled.” —Narayan Radhakrishnan (for newmysteryreader.com) "Throughout this interesting first mystery, the reader experiences a unique perspective of a murderer, supported by a whole family of weird relations who talk about the necessity of his actions while bemoaning the danger he brings to them all. Their greatest concern is his killing of a detective, as well as the rape of a young college girl. It is the job of the dead cop’s younger partner to figure out who this strange killer and his cortege is while trying to hold together a very strained relationship with his fiancé. The action is good and the author will keep you guessing all the way through. He does an especially good job with his characters and in capturing the setting of the twin-cities area of Minnesota. We scored this mystery four hearts." —Bob Spear, for Heartlandreviews.com "Intricately woven and methodically presented, the plot unfolds … . Along with gripping settings and a fabulous SWAT scene, much of the action in this book happens in the minds behind the daily masks the characters wear. … With a high drama twist of irony, the threads of the story deftly come together. I sit, stunned. I wonder about people I've known in the past, people I think I knew pretty well. Could it be that I didn't really know them after all? Read this book this summer and see what you think — it's a chiller and a fascinating trip into the dark depths of the human mind." —Denise Williams, for the Hugonian, June 2004. "Working off the premise that what people appear to be in public may be far different than in private, this complex and interesting novel slowly moves forward in a literary style. …Much like the cover illustration, which depicts an actor putting on a mask, the mask covering the killer's face is gradually removed.…By novel's end, one man's inner delusions are revealed, as are the permanent repercussions of his actions." —Kevin Tipple, The Blue Iris Journal.com.
About the Author C. C. Canby (a pseudonym) is a Minnesota-based free lance writer. A retired professor of sociology and social-psychology, he has written extensively, mostly in the academic genre, including an introductory sociology textbook. His education includes bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees in sociology and social-psychology. He taught at Central Missouri University and Century Community College in Minnesota for over thirty-one years. He retired in 1999 and took up writing fiction seriously, an activity he says is far harder than scholarly writing. Masks of Murder is his debut novel. He is married, has two married children and one newly minted grandchild. He is presently busy trying to think up another plot for his next novel.