New Mysteries – August 2009

Awakening S.J. Bolton, M BOL – Clara Benning is a reclusive veterinary surgeon who is called in when a local man dies from a snakebite. However, the postmortem shows that the concentration of venom is much higher than what could be found in a single snake.

The Baker Street Letters Michael Robertson, M ROB – Two lawyers, who happen to lease offices at 221B Baker Street, begin receiving mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes.

Below Zero C.J. Box, M BOX – Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is embroiled in a series of killings that may have a connection to a massacre that happened six years ago in Winterkill.

Boneman’s Daughters Ted Dekker, M DEK – Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, must take on a deranged serial killer, the Boneman, to save his daughter.

Cecilian Vespers Anne Emery, M EME – A special choir is studying the early traditional music of the Catholic Church when a controversial participant is murdered just before evening vespers.

The Extra Elizabeth Sims, M SIM – Rita Farmer is flat broke and studying to become a lawyer. Decked out in a police uniform as an extra in a movie shoot, she finds herself in the middle of a vicious assault.

The Fate of Katherine Carr Thomas H. Cook, M COO – George Gates was once a travel writer who was fascinated by the places where people disappeared, until the day his eight-year-old son vanishes.

Fire and Ice J.A. Jance, M JAN – Seattle investigator J.P. Beaumont is confronted with a grisly series of murders. Meanwhile sheriff Joanna Brady investigates a homicide in the Arizona desert.

Floodgates Mary Anna Evans, M EVA – Faye Longchamp and her team of archaeologists are fighting to save New Orleans’ past, but are horrified when they discover a corpse that is too new be an archaeological find.

The Frightened Man Kenneth Cameron, M CAM – An American with a past is in London in 1900 when a terrified man tells him that he is being pursued by Jack-the-Ripper.

Greedy Bones Carolyn Haines, M HAI – Southern belle Sarah Booth Delaney returns home from Hollywood to help save her hometown from the outbreak of a vicious illness.

Her Royal Spyness Rhys Bowen, M BOW – Lady Georgiana, 34th in line to the throne, returns in her third adventure.

Ignorance of Blood Robert Wilson, M WIL – In the wake of a terrorist attack on Seville, Inspector Jefe Javier Falcón is determined to bring the real perpetrators to justice.  By the author of A Small Death in Lisbon.

The Innocent Spy Laura Wilson, M WIL – London, June 1940.  The body of silent screen star Mabel Morgan is found impaled on an iron fence.  Detective Ted Stratton is not convinced that this was a suicide.

Jelly’s Gold David Housewright, M HOU – Rushmore McKenzie is a retired St. Paul policeman and an unexpected millionaire.  He learns about eight million dollars in mob-connected stolen gold that is still missing and becomes intrigued.

The Killings on Jubilee Terrace Robert Barnard, M BAR – Faithful viewers of the soap opera Jubilee Terrace loved Vernon Watts, but his fellow cast-members knew him for what he was.  Was his death accidental? Or not?

Liars Anonymous Louise Ure, M URE – Jessie Dancing’s past catches up with her following the death of real estate tycoon Darren Markson.

The Lord of Death Eliot Pattison, M PAT – Shan Tao Yun is a former Bejing investigator who has been exiled to Tibet. When a high-profile murder occurs near Mt. Everest, he is commanded to discover the killer.

The Magician’s Death P.C. Doherty, M DOH – Sir Hugh Corbett has been told to steal a book of secrets written by Roger Bacon.  Murder and mayhem result as he tries to decipher the secrets of England’s most outstanding scholar.

Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop Lee Goldberg, M GOL – Adrian Monk, the obsessive-compulsive investigator, must help Captain Stottlemeyer who has been arrested for the killing of another cop.

Murder on a Midsummer Night Kerry Greenwood, M GRE – It’s 1929, and slightly bored Phryne Fisher has been called on to find out if the son of a Pre-Raphaelite model has died by homicide or suicide.

The Neighbor Lisa Gardner, M GAR – A young mother disappears from her South Boston home. Detective Sergeant D.C. Warren finds that the picture of family normalcy turns murkier below the surface of their seemingly wholesome life.

Palos Verdes Blue John Shannon, M SHA – Jack Liffey, Los Angeles’ most famous child-finder, is hired to find Blue, the missing teenage daughter of his ex-wife’s best friend.

Persona Non Grata: A Novel of the Roman Empire Ruth Downie, M DOW – Gaius Petrius Ruso needs to give up his career as a military doctor in Roman Britannia and head back to his family in Gaul, but not all is well on the home front.  A great series.

Sworn to Silence Linda Castillo, M CAS – Former Amish, now police chief, Kate Burkholder of Painters Mill, Ohio, is confronted with a murder that is horrifyingly similar to ones that had happened 16 years ago.

There’s Something About St. Tropez Elizabeth Adler, M AD – Malibu P.I. Mac Reilly and Sunny Alvarez find themselves in the middle of romance, luxury, adventure, and mystery. Great beach reading.

New Fiction – August 2009

The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafón, F RUI – The author of The Shadow of the Wind returns with a young man who writes sensationalist novels in a Barcelona mansion.

Any Minute Joyce Meyer, F MEY – Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success, but what happens when her car plunges off a bridge into a river?  What will she discover after her death?

The Apostle Brad Thor, F THO – When American doctor Julia Gallo is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action.

Burn Linda Howard, F HOW – Money changes Jenner Redwine’s life when she wins the lottery, but it also costs her plenty.

The Castaways Elin Hilderbrand, F HIL – Intrigue and mystery surround the death of a couple off the coast of Nantucket. By the author of A Summer Affair.

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder Rebecca Wells, F WEL – The author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood returns with another southern charmer.

The Devil’s Punchbowl Greg Iles, F ILES – Penn Cage, the new mayor of Natchez, Mississippi realizes that one of the riverside gambling boats may not be what it seems.

The Doomsday Key Jams Rollins, F ROL – Three murdered people, on three continents, have a horrifying connection: all the victims are marked by a Druidic pagan cross. Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force are in a race against time.

Dune Road Jane Green, F GRE – Kit Hargrove is doing well after her divorce and finds the job of her dreams, assisting the blockbuster novelist, Robert McClore.

Exiles in the Garden Ward Just, F JUS – Alec Malone, son of a powerful U.S. Senator, becomes an outsider as he chooses photography as his profession, and then turns down an assignment to cover the war in Vietnam. An absorbing book.

The Fixer Upper Mary Kay Andrews, F AND – Out of options, Dempsey Jo Killebrew reluctantly accepts her father’s offer to help refurbish Birdsong, the old family place in Guthrie, Georgia.

Gifts of War Mackenzie Ford, F FOR – A battlefield promise sends a British soldier on a romantic mission during World War I.

Hope in a Jar Beth Harbison, F HAR – On the eve of their 20th high school reunion, erstwhile friends, Allie and Olivia, realize that although their dreams may be unrealized, that there is, indeed, hope in a jar.

The Husband Habit Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, F VAL – The author of The Dirty Girls Social Club relates the story of Vanessa, who falls for men who are attached to someone else.

Killer Summer Ridley Pearson, F PEA – Sun Valley sheriff Walt Fleming returns in another thriller featuring an annual wine auction attracting high rollers from across the country.

Let the Great World Spin Colum McCann, F MCC – August 1974. The people of lower Manhattan stare in disbelief at the Twin Towers as they glimpse a mysterious tightrope walker.  In the streets below, ordinary lives become extraordinary.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People Farahad Zama, F ZAM – What does an Indian man do when his retirement becomes too monotonous? Open a marriage bureau, of course!

Mist Carla Neggers, F NEG – Lizzie Rush uncovers evidence that thrill-seeking billionaire Norman Estabrook may be part of a criminal network.  Her dangerous game of cat and mouse may have devastating consequences.

The Moon Looked Down Dorothy Garlock, F GAR – Young Sophie Heller and her family were able to escape Nazi Germany, but as war fever sweeps their small town in Illinois, they become targets of suspicion and a vicious attack.

The Penny Pinchers Club Sarah Strohmeyer, F STR – Avid consumer, Kat, finds that drastic times call for drastic measures. Can hardship lead to happiness?

A Plague of Secrets John Lescroar, tF LES – A murder case is plagued by lies and secrets, but there is one secret that attorney Dismas Hardy is duty-bound to protect.

Return to Sullivans Island Dorothea Benton Frank, F FRA – Aspiring writer, Beth Hayes, returns to her family’s summer home in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Shadow of Betrayal Brett Battles, F BAT – The meeting place was carefully chosen: an abandoned church in rural Ireland.  But then something went horribly wrong and Jonathan Quinn was faced with four dead bodies and one astounding clue.

The Shimmer David Morrell, F MOR – Police officer Dan Page traces his wife’s disappearance to Rostov, Texas where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators each night.

A Short History of Women Kate Walbert, F WAL – A portrayal of the complicated legacies of mothers and daughters, chronicling five generations of women from the close of the 19th century through the early years of the 21st.

Six Suspects Vikas Swarup, F SWA – The author of Slumdog Millionaire returns with a tale of murder, corruption and opportunity in New Delhi, India.

Summer House Nancy Thayer, F THA – Three generations of strong-willed women must each wrestle with life-changing decisions.

The Wedding Girl Madeleine Wickham, F WIC – From the author of The Gatecrasher comes an entertaining story about an elaborate wedding that may come undone by a secret that catches up with the bride.

New Fiction – July 2009

All Other Nights Dara Horn, F HOR – Jacob Rappaport, a Jewish soldier in the Union army is ordered to kill his own uncle in New Orleans, who is plotting to assassinate President Lincoln.

Assegai Wilbur Smith, F SMI – Leon Courtney is professional hunter in British East Africa, who guides the rich and powerful on safaris in 1913.

Black Water Rising Attica Locke, F LOC – Down-on-his luck lawyer, Jay Porter, tries to make a new start in Houston, 1981. But saving a woman from drowning isn’t a good beginning. Great reviews for a debut novel.

Cemetery Dance Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, F PRE – William Smithback Jr., a prominent New York Times reporter is killed by a man who was supposedly buried ten days earlier.

Die For You Lisa Unger, F UNG – Isabel Raine thought she had it all, until the morning her husband, Marcus, kisses her goodbye and simply vanishes.

Figures in Silk Vanora Bennett, F BEN – Two sisters discover passion during the War of the Roses — one with the king, the other in the world of silk.

The Four Corners of the Sky Michael Malone, F MAL – A sprawling novel featuring Navy pilot Annie Peregrine-Goode and the con-artist father who left her when she was seven.

Fugitive Philip Margolin, F MAR – International intrigue and murder is the focus when con man  Charlie Marsh is suspected of killing a United States congressman.

Heartless Diana Palmer, F PAL – Secrets and passion abound on Comanche Wells Ranch as Jason returns to find that Gracie is all grown up.

House Secrets Mike Lawson, F LAW – Joe DeMarco works as a fixer for the Speaker of House and takes a dangerous ride through the halls of power.

In the Kitchen Monica Ali, F ALI – Executive chef, Gabriel Lightfoot, is doing well running the kitchen at the Imperial Hotel, but several complications intervene.

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi Geoff Dyer, F DYE – Jaded journalist Jeff Atman parties in Italy during the Venice Biennale. Does he later travel to the holy city of Varanasi, India?

John the Baptizer Brooks Hansen, F HAN – An epic narrative of the life of John the Baptist.

Knock Out Catherine Coulter, F COU – FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are back and faced with the terror of  a young girl and a madman.

The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún J.R.R. Tolkien, F TOL – Two newly published legends from Northern antiquity from the beloved author.

The Lovers John Connolly, F CON – After losing his private investigator’s license, Charlie Parker is at loose ends until he begins a different type of investigation: an inquiry into the death of his father.

Matters of the Heart Danielle Steel, F STE – Danger and obsessive love entrap photographer Hope Dunne as she meets famous Irish author, Finn O’Neill.

Medusa Cliver Cussler with Paul Kemprecos, F CUS – The NUMA team faces what may be their most perilous mission of all.

My Father’s Tears and Other Stories John Updik, eF UPD – The noted author’s final collection of short stories.

Once a Runner John L. Parker, Jr., F PAR – The magazine, Runner’s World, considers this “the best novel ever written about running.”

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Katherine Howe, F HOW – Following the death of her grandmother, Connie Goodwin is drawn into the mysteries of the family house, including an ancient key within a 17th century Bible.

Relentless Dean Koontz, F KOO – Bestselling novelist, Cullen Greenwich, lives a charmed life.  But one critical book reviewer disrupts and soon terrorizes his family and his life.

Road Dogs Elmore Leonard, F LEO – Condo, Jack and Dawn are back in action in another trademark Leonard novel.

Roadside Crosses Jeffery Deaver, F DEA – The Monterey Peninsula is stunned when roadside crosses are found along local highways — not as memorials, but as announcements of  a murderer’s intention to kill.

The Scarecrow Michael Connelly, F CON – Jack McEvoy, from The Poet, is back and is being laid-off as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He decides to go out with a bang, to write the murder story of his career.

Sisters & Husbands Connie Briscoe, F BRI – The sequel to Sisters & Lovers finds three sisters, Beverly, Charmaine and Evelyn facing marital issues in suburban Washington, D.C.

Strangers Anita Brookne, rF BRO – The author’s elegant style is evident in this story of an ordinary man whose longings, doubts, and fears are universal.

You or Someone Like You Chandler Burr,F BUR – Anne Rosenbaum leads a life of Los Angeles privilege as the wife of a Hollywood executive. She finds herself leading a book club for the film industry elite.

The Wish Maker Ali Sethi, F SET – This acclaimed debut novel features a fatherless boy growing up in a family of outspoken women in contemporary Pakistan.

New Fiction – June 2009

Admission Jean Hanff Korelitz, F KOR – For years Portia Nathan has avoided the past, hiding behind her busy career as a Princeton University admissions officer.

Brimstone Robert B. Parker, F PAR – Guns-for-hire Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole in a follow-up of their adventures in Resolution and Appaloosa.

Brooklyn Colm Tóibín, F TOI – In the early 1950’s Eilis Lacey crosses the ocean from Ireland to make a new life for herself in Brooklyn.

Censoring an Iranian Love Story Shahriar Mandanipour, F MAN – An acclaimed Iranian author explores what it’s like to live, love and be an artist in the Iran of today.

The Color of Lightning Paulette Jiles, F JIL – Former Kentucky slave, Britt Johnson and his family travel to an uncertain destiny in the American West of 1863.

Deadlock Iris Johansen, F JOH – United Nations artifact expert, Emily Hudson is held hostage by an evil captor determined to find a missing link to a legendary treasure.

Etta Gerald Kolpan, F KOL – Beautiful and refined, Etta Place captivated the nation at the turn of the last century.  Here is her life as imagined by the author in this debut novel.

The Family Man Elinor Lipman, F LIP – A contemporary comedy of manners featuring Henry Archer and complications with his ex-wife.  Amusing.

Figures in Silk Vanora Bennett, F BEN – Two sisters discover passion during the War of the Roses — one with the king, the other in the world of silk.

First Family David Baldacci, F BAL – Private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are brought into a terrifying situation involving the abduction of the President’s child from Camp David.

A Fortunate Age Joanna Smith Rakoff, F RAK – The lives of several Oberlin graduates are traced as they chase their dreams in Brooklyn at the turn of the 21st century.

The Geometry of Sisters Luanne Rice, F RIC – The complexity of emotions between sisters is revealed through the lives of three remarkable sets of siblings.

Intent to Kill James Grippando, F GRI – Was the hit-and-run accident that killed his wife, Chelsea, really an accident? Ryan James, a Boston sportscaster, has to find out, especially when he gets an anonymous tip: “I know who did it.”

The Last Secret Mary McGarry Morris, F MOR – Nora Hammond seems to have the perfect life, until she learns of her husband’s longtime affair, and when a terrible incident from her own youth is revealed.

Laura Rider’s Masterpiece Jane Hamilton, F HAM – An entertaining comedy by the author of The Book of Ruth.

Lavender Morning Jude Deveraux, F DEV – Jocelyn Minton is a woman torn between two worlds. A mysterious bequest from a loving mentor becomes an introduction to mystery and romance.

Loitering with Intent Stuart Woods, F WOO – Stone Barrington is not having a good week and some discreet detective work in Key West doesn’t make it any better.

The Lost Quilter Jennifer Chiaverini, F CHI – A quilt that was sewn by a runaway slave is treasured by master quilter Sylvia Compson, who uncovers the story of Joanna.

Nightwalker Heather Graham, F GRA – What happens in Vegas sometimes doesn’t stay there.

Prayers for Sale Sandra Dallas, F DAL – Colorado, 1936. Hennie Comfort is 86 and has lived in Middle Swan all her life. Her friendship with newcomer 17-year-old Nit Spindle changes both of their lives.

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet Reif Larsen, F LAR – Twelve-year-old genius T.S. Spivet learns that he has received a prestigious prize from the Smithsonian and then starts out on a wild cross-country trip. Great illustrations and great reviews.

Stone’s Fall Iain Pears, F PEA – The story of the wealthy, influential John Stone and the mystery of his death.  By the author of  An Instance of the Fingerpost.

The Strain Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, F TOR – A vampiric virus infects New York City. The contagion must be stopped before it infects the country.

The Story Sisters Alice Hoffman, F HOF – Three sisters, Elv, Claire, and Meg, each have a fate that they must meet alone. Vintage Hoffman.

Summer on Blossom Street Debbie Macomber, F MAC – Knitting and life.  They’re both about beginnings and endings.

Sunnyside Glen David Gold, F GOL – Charlie Chaplin is the central figure in this sprawling novel depicting the tumultuous years following World War I.

Thanks for the Memories Cecelia Ahern, F AHE – Hope, love and second chances await two strangers, Joyce Conway and Justin Hitchcock, whose lives are at a crossroads.

Water, Stone, Heart Will North, F NOR – Newly divorced, Andrew Stratton travels to an English village to learn the art of building stone walls. A lyrical first novel.

Waveland Frederick Barthelme, F BAR – Three very out-of-order lives try to find or reinvent themselves in the tattered landscape of Mississippi, post-Katrina.  Love, regret and redemption.

The Weight of Heaven Thrity Umriga, F UMR – After the loss of their only son, Frank and Ellie Benton continue to struggle, but hope that a job in far-off India will help them begin again.

New Mysteries, June 2009

About Face Donna Leon, M LEO – Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti and his wife Paola meet a mysterious woman at dinner party.  Is she somehow connected with a suspicious death and illegal garbage hauling?

The Joys of My Life Alys Clare, M CLA – May 1199.Queen Eleanor has summoned five members of Hawkenlye Abbey to the Île d’Oléron to discuss the building of a chapel dedicated to the queen’s son, King Richard.

Borderline Nevada Barr, M BAR – Anna Pigeon is trying to recuperate on a rafting trip with her new husband, Paul, but an attempted murder pulls her into a labyrinth of intrigue.

Cream Puff Murder Joanne Fluke, M FLU – Hannah Swensen’s boyfriend becomes a murder suspect in this latest entry in the author’s bakery series.  Recipes, of course, included.

Cursed Carol Higgins Clark, M CLA – Private investigator Regan Reilly returns to her old haunts in L.A. to help out a friend find the “no good bum” who owes her $100,000.

Dante’s Numbers David Hewson, M HEW – A celebration in Rome of a new film version of Dante’s Inferno ends in chaos with one man dead, and the film’s star and a priceless relic missing. Detective Nic Costa finds himself in a terrifying limbo.

Dead Man’s Puzzle Parnell Hall, M HAL – Puzzles abound: who killed cranky hermit, Old Man Overmeyer?

Death and the Lit Chick G.M Malliet, M MAL – Chick lit mystery writer Kimberlee Kalder is being honored at an exclusive writers’ conference at Dalmorton Castle in Scotland. You know what happens next!

Dropped Dead Stitch Maggie Sefton, M SEF – Kelly’s friend Jennifer is a top-notch knitter and party girl. One night a stranger follows her home, and in the aftermath, Jennifer looks to her close-knit friends for support.

Execution Dock Anne Perry, M PER – Victorian police commander William Monk is confronted with evil of the sex industry in the dark alleys along the River Thames.

Fatally Flaky Diane Mott Davidson, M DAV – Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz encounters the bride from hell as well as another murder.  Goldy goes undercover in her chef’s outfit.

Frame Work Anne G. Faigen, M FAI – When Sarah Brandau travels to Prague for a literary conference, her innocent purchase of an ornate frame plunges her into danger.

Grave Goods Ariana Franklin, M FRA – England, 1176.  Adelia Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death, is called upon by Henry II to examine the skeletons of two individuals found in the ashes of Glastonbury Abbey.

Just Take My Heart Mary Higgins Clark, M CLA – The veteran mystery author returns with the story of a legal battle over the guilt or innocence of man accused of murdering his wife.

The Killing Way Tony Hays, M HAYS – Arthur has united most of Britain’s clans, but does not yet hold supreme power.  When Merlin is blamed for the brutal murder of a young woman, Arthur’s reputation is at stake.

The Long Fall Walter Mosley, M MOS – Leonid McGill is an old-school private investigator, but the Manhattan of the 21st century has gotten a bit fancier.

Malice Lisa Jackson, M JAC – Deception and betrayal confront New Orleans detective Rick Bentz as he is forced to confront the ghosts of his past.

Mating Season Jon Loomis, M LOO – Detective Frank Coffin, who moves to Cape Cod to escape from his panic attacks, finds that murder can happen even in a small town when heiress Kenji Sole is killed.

A Quiet Flame Philip Kerr, M KER – After being falsely accused of being a war criminal, ex-Berlin policeman Bernie Gunther is now in Argentina.  It’s 1950 and he is being  pressured by the local police to help in a case that began in 1930.

The Risk of Darkness Susan Hill, M HIL – A widowed husband’s grief turns to violence and terror. Chief inspector Simon Serrailler finds himself with romantic concerns as well as police issues in his third outing.

Shadow and Light Jonathan Rabb, M RAB – Berlin, 1927: the heyday of the Weimar Republic and German cinema is producing acclaimed films. The death of a studio executive exposes the desperate side of Germany.

She Shoots to Conquer Dorothy Cannell, M CAN – Amateur sleuth Ellie Haskell is stranded at Mucklesfeld Manor and finds herself in the middle of a TV reality show.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Alan Bradley, M BRA – Great reviews accompany this debut novel that revolves around Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old science prodigy and her search for the murderer of the man she found in her cucumber patch.

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built Alexander McCall Smith, M MCC – Mma Ramotswe is in personal need of her own formidable detection talents in this latest outing in the popular series.

True Detectives Jonathan Kellerman, M KEL – The disappearance of Caitlin Frostig isn’t a usual case for theat-odds step-brothers, Moses Reed and Aaron Fox, as they descend into the seamy side of Los Angeles.

Wormwood Susan Wittig Albert, M ALB – Ex-lawyer and current herbalist China Bayles visits an historic Shaker Village for a brief respite and finds herself entwined in a modern-day mystery.

Wrongful DeathRobert Dugoni, M DUG – Successful attorney David Sloane takes on a challenging case in a suit against the U.S. government in the wrongful death of a national guardsman killed in Iraq.

New Mysteries – April 2009

All the Colors of Darkness Peter Robinson, M ROB – When the body of a man is discovered near Eastvale, all signs point to suicide. At least Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot believes that to be the case.

August Heat Andrea Camilleri, M CAM – Sicilian inspector Salvo Montalbano spends a hot summer attempting to solve a sinister and perplexing case.

Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon Nancy Atherton, M ATH – Aunt Dimity helps out Lori Shepard when the Renaissance Festival that comes to the village of Finch presents a dark layer of intrigue.

Batter Off Dead Tamar Myers, M MYE -Mennonite innkeeper Magdalena Yoder gets caught up in a case of hotcake homicide.

Blood and Bone William Lashner, M LAS -Kyle Byrne, the illegitimate son of a Philadelphia lawyer, finds himself a suspect in the death of his father’s law partner.

Bright Futures Stuart M. Kaminsky, M KAM – In the wake of his wife’s death in a hit-and-run accident, Lew Fonesca has moved to Sarasota, Florida  His gloomy life consists of small-time criminal investigations until an accused murderer turns to him for help.

Dead or Alive Michael McGarrity, M MCG – Retired Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kerney is back in action after the murder of a good friend.

Degrees of Separation Sue Henry, M HEN – Alaska’s Jessie Arnold returns to the sled-dog trail only to stumble upon something unexpected across her path.

Dog On It Spencer Quinn, M QUI – Chet, the wise, lovable canine narrator, along with his Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private eye, investigate the disappearance of a missing teenager.

Don’t Look Twice Andrew Gross, M GRO -A drive-by shooting rocks upscale Greenwich, Connecticut and a bystander is left dead. Detective Ty Hauck is pulled into what seems to be a vicious case of retribution.

Fatal Lies Frank Tallis, M TAL -In turn-of-the-century Vienna, Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt is confronted with the mysterious death of a young cadet.  He turns to Dr. Liebermann, an expert in Freudian psychology.

Fed Up Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant, M CON -As Chloe Carter helps her chef boyfriend compete for the starring role of a new television program, one person drops dead after eating his cuisine.

Hangman Blind Cassandra Clark, M CLA – November, 1382.  The month of the dead.  Abbess Hildegard rides out for York and the Abbey of Meaux.

In a Gilded Cage Rhys Bowen, M BOW – Turn-of-the-century Irish immigrant Molly Murphy finds herself in jail for a few hours and meets some Vassar suffragists and lands a new case.

Lethal Legacy Linda Fairstein, M FAI – The New York Public Library houses dazzling treasures — and deadly secrets.

The Lost Witness Robert Ellis, M ELL -Los Angeles detective Lena Gamble is in disgrace with her higher-ups, but is tossed a difficult murder case that may finish her career for good.

The Mao Case Qiu Xiaolong, M XIA – The author of Death of a Red Heroine, returns with Chief Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Department who is in charge of the cases that are considered politically “sensitive.

Murder in the Latin Quarter Cara Black, M BLA – The murder of a Haitian academic in the Left Bank of Paris is more than a simple problem for Leduc Detectives.

Oolong Dead Laura Childs, M CHI – The latest in the Tea Shop mysteries features the opera boosters, the Bravissimo Club, of Charleston, South Carolina

. The Renegades T. Jefferson Parker, M PAR -Modern day outlaws are still found in the new American West.  Charlie Hood prefers to ride alone, especially after his partner is shot dead in the passenger seat.

Revenge on the Spellmans Lisa Lutz, M LUT -Isabel Spellman is back on the case and back on the couch in court-ordered therapy.

Safer Sean Doolittle, M DOO – The Callaway’s hope that they’ve moved to a safe, Midwestern town, but find themselves in a harrowing situation.

The Séance John Harwood, M HAR -A gothic thriller set in late Victorian England, finds Constance Langton inheriting Wraxford Hall, where a family disappeared years before.

The Shanghai Moon S. J. Rozan, M ROZ – Chinese-American private investigator Lydia Chin is brought into a case that involves a cache of jewelry that was left in Shanghai during World War II.

Three Silent Things Margaret Mayhew, M MAY – The colonel, newly settled in the peaceful Dorset village of Frog’s End, make inquiries of his own following the death of a once-famous actress.

Whisper to the Blood Dana Stabenow, M STA -Alaskan trooper Jim Chopin and Kate Shugak investigate the murder of two opponents of a planned gold mind expansion inside a national park.

Wild Sorrow Sandi Ault, M AUL – Bureau of Land Management agent Jamaica Wild stumbles across a frozen corpse and soon finds herself stalked by an unidentified killer on the wintery mesa.

New Fiction Books – February 2009

Arctic Drift Clive Cussler, F CUS – Dirk Pitt returns in another tale of adventure and derring-do.

Beat the Reaper Josh Bazell, F BAZ – This debut thriller features Peter Brown, a Manhattan medical intern, who before he became involved with the Federal Witness Protection Program was a mob hit man.  Can he escape his past? “Darkly comic.”

The Bodies Left Behind Jeffery Deaver, F DEA – A night time call to 911 brings Brynn McKenzie to a scene of horror and a forced flight into the woods of Wisconsin.

Black Ops W.E.B. Griffin, F GRI – Presidential Agent Charley Castillo learns of a several assassinations that have targeted members of his team from the Office of Organizational Analysis.

Born to Run James Grippando, F GRI – Intrigue and murder at the top levels of government confront Miami criminal defense lawyer, Jack Swyteck.

The Book of Unholy Mischief Elle Newmark, F NEW – In Venice, 1498, rumors abound about an ancient book that holds the secrets to unimaginable power.

The Charlemagne Pursuit Steve Berry, F BER – Attempting to learn the story of his father’s death, Cotton Malone uncovers a bizarre tale of Charlemagne’s tomb and the Nazis.

The Darker Side Cody McFadyen, F MCF – A thriller that involves a psychopath and murder and a woman with a dark secret.

Eclipse Richard North Patterson, F PAT – California lawyer Damon Pierce takes on a nearly impossible case: the defense of an African freedom fighter who is accused of murder.

The Hour I First Believed Wally Lamb, F LAM – Teacher Caelum Quire and his wife Maureen move to Littleton, Colorado and both get jobs at Columbine High School shortly before the notorious shootings.  By the author of She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True.

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet Colleen McCullough, F MCC – Elizabeth and Jane’s younger sister is rescued from a dreary fate in this sequel to Pride and Prejudice.

Just After Sunset: Stories Stephen King, F KIN – A new collection of stories by the master of horror fiction.

Lark and Termite Jayne Ann Phillips, F PHI – Starred reviews have been given to this tale of grief and survival in 1950’s West Virginia.

Last of the Old Guard Louis Auchincloss, F AUC -The author relates the stories of two remarkable men, Adrian Suydam and Ernest Saunders.

The Leper Steve Thayer, F THA – World War I veteran John Eric Severson is torn from the life and woman he loves and confined to a remote leper’s colony.

A Lion Among Men Gregory Maguire, F MAG – This third volume of the Wicked series features the Cowardly Lion.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County Tiffany Baker, F BAK -Enormous Truly has a bleak existence on her upstate New York farm in this magical novel that critics say should “race up the bestseller lists.”

A Mercy Toni Morrison, F MOR – In the 1680s the slave trade was just beginning.  Jacob, an Anglo-Dutch trader reluctantly takes a small slave girl as  payment for a bad debt from a plantation owner.  A searching story by the award-winning novelist.

The Messenger Jan Burke, F BUR – Who is Tyler Hawthorne? Why is Adrian deVille so desperate to find him? And why does Amanda Clarke find him so attractive?

The Northern Clemency Philip Hensher, F HEN – This British suburban drama features two families, the Glovers and Sellers over the course of 20 years during the Thatcher era.  Nominated for the Man Booker Prize.

A Promise to Believe In Tracie Peterson, F PET – The prolific author begins a new series featuring three sisters who operate a roadhouse along a Montana stage coach line.

Show No Fear Perri O’Shaughnessy, F OSH – Nina Reilly is featured in her first murder investigation, back to the case that ignited her commitment to fight for justice.

Sicilian Tragedee Ottavio Cappellani, F CAP – Moody aristocrats, vain politicians, inept gangsters, shabby actors and high-tech killers are all part of this Italian novel featuring modern-day Sicily.

Songs for the Missing Stewart O’Nan, F ONA – College-bound Kim Larsen disappears from her small Lake Erie town on a quiet summer day.

Still Alice Lisa Genova, F GEN – Psychology professor Alice Howland is 50 years old when she realizes she is becoming increasingly disoriented and forgetful.  Great reviews.

The Treasure Iris Johansen, F JOH – Two treasure hunters embark on a perilous journey to find an legendary religious relic and thereby earn their freedom.

The Weapon David Poyer, F POY -U.S. Navy Commander Dan Lenson is handed another assignment: with his elite team, he must defuse emerging naval threats that threaten  from around the globe.

Your Heart Belongs to Me Dean Koontz, F KOO – A young man receives some very troubling messages after his heart transplant.

New Fiction – December 2008

The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday Alexander McCall Smith – Isabel Dalhousie returns to help a doctor who has been disgraced by allegations of scientific fraud

Company of Liars Karen Maitland – In 1348 the Black Plague is gripping England. Nine desperate strangers try to outrun certain death by traveling through the country.

Cross Country James Patterson – Detective Alex Cross pursues the most ruthless killer he’s ever encountered. 

A Cure for Night Justin Peacock – Forced to resign from his prestigious Manhattan law firm for drug abuse, Joel Deveraux becomes a public defender in Brooklyn. 

 Dark Summer Iris Johansen – Veterinarian Devon Brady never suspects that Ned, a wounded black lab, will plunge her into a whirlwind of terror and destruction.

 Deaf Sentence David Lodge – Desmond Bates is a recently retired linguistics professor and vexed by his encroaching deafness and at loose ends with his life.

 Devil’s Brood Sharon Kay Penman – The long-awaited third book in the author’s trilogy of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquataine concludes their timeless stories.

 The Eleventh Man Ivan Doig – A college football team from Montana is scattered around theglobe during World War II. One teammate’s assignment is to chronicle the story of each member of his team.

Exposed Alex Kava – FBI Agent Maggie O’Dell and Assistant Director Cunningham believe they are responding to a threat made at Quantico. Instead they walk into a trap.

Extreme Measures Vince Flynn – Counterterrorism operative, Mitch Rapp, wages war against a bin Laden wannabe whose group is about to descend on America.

The Fire Katherine Neville – Finally, twenty years after the publication of The Eight, comes a continuation of the global adventure.

First Daughter Eric Van Lustbader – After his troubled youth, Jack McClure becomes a top ATF agent.  A call from his friend, the newly elected president, ramps up a search for a kidnapped child.

 The Glass of Time: The Secret Life of Miss Esperanza Gorst Michael Cox – A story of murder, love and revenge in Victorian England.

The Gate House Nelson DeMille – The author returns to the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island and the changing world of ultra-WASP John Sutter.

Heat Lightning John Sandford – The author’s latest outing features Minnesota investigator Virgil Flowers and a disturbing series of murders.

Hot MahoganyStuart Woods – Stone Barrington is trying to enjoy a quiet meal at Elaine’s restaurant when he is drawn into the cutthroat world of priceless antiques.

 I See You Everywhere Julia Glass – The intertwined lives of two sisters, the conscientious older sister and the younger, a daring rebel, are depicted over the course of 25 years.

The Lucky One Nicholas Sparks – On a tour of duty in Iraq, U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a young woman that eventually changes his life. 

Lulu in Marrakech Diane Johnson – Lulu Sawyer arrives in Morocco, hoping to rekindle a romance with Englishman Ian Drumm, and also to begin her assignment as an undercover agent for the CIA.

 A Most Wanted Man John Le Carré – Issa, a young Russian man smuggled into Hamburg, meets up with Annabel, a civil rights lawyer, and Tommy Brue as they become victims of rival intelligence operations in the War on Terror. 

One Fifth Avenue Candace Bushnell – Living in New York City’s most elite apartment building, five women pursue relationships and personal dreams in a privileged world.

 An Outrageous Affair Penny Vincenzi – A family saga  tells the story of Caroline and her two daughters, Chloe and Fleur, and their lives in wartime England to 1950’s Hollywood.

 The School on Heart’s Content Road Carolyn Chute – Egypt, Maine is the setting for this story of Mickey Gammon, a 15-year-old dropout, and his introduction into the secretive world of the “Settlement” and its leader, known as “The Prophet.”

A Stopover in Venice Kathryn Walker – Romance, art history, mystery and Venice!

Testimony Anita Shreve – A prestigious boarding New England boarding school is rocked by a sexually explicit videotape that includes several students.

Too Close to Home Linwood Barclay – In a quiet suburb, in a house only one door away, a family is murdered for no apparent reason.

 What Happened to Anna K. Irina Reyn – An inventive, modern-day retelling of Anna Karenina takes place in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Whiskey Rebels David Liss – Ethan Saunders, a former spy for Washington during the Revolution, follows a trail that leads him to Alexander Hamilton and to the rebellious whiskey-makers who are fiercely opposed to taxation.

The Widows of Eastwick John Updike – Alexandra, Jane and Sukie return to the town of Eastwick and find themselves dealing with the legacy of their evil deeds

New Fiction – October 2008

American WifeCurtis Sittenfeld – Alice falls in love with boisterous Charlie Blackwell, a wealthy son of a prominent Republican family. Eventually her path takes them to the White House.

Everything Under the SkyMatilde Asensi – This literary thriller involves newly widowed Elvira De Poulain in a hunt for the lost treasure of China’s first emperor.

Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3Annie Proulx – A new collection of stories by the noted short story author.

The Given DayDennis Lehane –At the end of World War I, America was a country torn by political and civil unrest. This large scale novel centers on the events surrounding the Boston Police Strike of 1919. Starred reviews.

GoldengroveFrancine Prose – The well-known author returns with a moving novel that centers on a young girl who faces the sudden loss of her sister.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – A wonderful story about a unique book club that became an alibi to protect its members from arrest by the Germans during WWII.

The Heretic’s DaughterKathleen Kent – Martha Carrier and her daughter, Sarah, face the horrors of the witchcraft hysteria that enveloped Salem, Massachusetts.

HomeMarilynne Robinson – The author of Gilead, returns to the small Iowa town to tell the story of the Broughton family.

It’s a CrimeJacqueline Carey – Mystery reader, Pat Foy, is astonished when her husband, Frank is arrested for accounting fraud at LinkAge.

Just BreatheSusan Wiggs – Cartoonist Sarah Moon finds she has to tackle real life when her situation begins to mirror her comic strip alter ego.

The KeepsakeTess Gerritsen – When a preserved “mummy” is discovered in the basement of Boston’s Crispin Museum, an archeologist turns up missing as well.

Killer View Ridley Pearson – Sun Valley Sheriff Walt Fleming has a horrible situation to face when a skier is missing.

The King’s GoldArturo Pérez-Reverte – Captain Alatriste returns to Seville, Spain in 1626 following the bloody siege of Breda. More swashbuckling!

The Legal Limit Martin Clark – Legal intricacies and family secrets involve an attorney, Mason Hunt and his imprisoned brother, Gates.

Liberty Garrison Keillor – A spectacular Fourth of July in Lake Wobegon is only the beginning is this tale from the heartland.

The Little Book Selden Edwards – Wheeler Burden, 47, is living in San Francisco in 1988, and suddenly finds himself wandering in a city and time he knows mysteriously well: Vienna, 1897. Intriguing.

My Husband’s SweetheartsBridget Asher – When Lucy discovers that her cheating husband is dying, she decides to call the other women in his life to come help.

Night of Thunder Stephen Hunter – Bob Lee Swagger faces off the Dixie gangsters when his daughter’s life is at stake.

Off Season Anne Rivers Siddons – After her husband’s death, Lilly travels to the coast of Maine to try to deal with her loss.

The Other Queen Philippa Gregory – This little known story of Mary, Queen of Scots centers on her time as the “guest” of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his new wife, Bess of Hardwick.

Pecking Order Omar Tyree – Ambitious Ivan Davis jumps into the high-stakes world of industry promotions and celebrity parties in Southern California.

The Road Home Rose Tremain – Following his wife’s death, Lev leaves Eastern Europe for London and finds work in a posh restaurant and a room in the home of an Irishman who has also lost his family.

Rough Justice Jack Higgins – There is intrigue in the halls of power and blood in the streets.

The Sealed LetterEmma Donoghue – Based on a scandalous divorce case that gripped England in 1864, the author blends fact and fiction to create a drama of friends, lovers, and divorce.

Sinner Ted Dekker – The author’s next installment in the Paradise series confronts a force of raw evil.

Supreme Courtship Christopher Buckley – The U.S. President, annoyed that the Senate has rejected his nominees for the Supreme Court, nominates a popular TV judge (think Judge Judy).

This Must Be the Place Anna Winger – Berlin is a strange city for a young American named Hope until she develops an unlikely friendship with a failed actor, Walter.

Tsar Ted Bell – Somewhere in Russia lives a man so powerful that no one even knows his name. Counterspy Alex Hawke faces a global nightmare of epic proportions.

Various Flavors of Coffee Anthony Capella – Robert Pinker, a struggling young artist, accepts a job as a coffee taster and a composer of a “vocabulary of coffee” to describe the many subtle flavors of the brew.

New Fiction – September 2008

The Beach House Jane Green – When she learns she may lose her beloved house, Nantucket resident Nan takes out an ad — rooms to rent for the summer.

The Betrayal: The Lost Life of Jesus Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear – An alternate story of the life of Jesus, with notes and a bibliography.

Breath Tim Winton – On the wild coast of western Australia, two boys fall into the thrall of Sando, a big-wave surfer.

The Condition Jennifer Haigh – The McKotch family is devastated upon learning about the medical condition of their only daughter.

The Court of the Air Stephen Hunt – Fantasy and adventure merge in this tale of two orphans, Molly Templar and Oliver Brooks, as they battle to save civilization.

Death Angel Linda Howard – Drea Rousseau flees from crime boss boyfriend, Rafael Salinas, but after taking part of his fortune with her, can she hide?

December Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop – This emotional portrait of a family in crisis, features 11-year-old Isabelle who inexplicably stopped speaking nine months earlier.

Enlightenment Maureen Freely – Social and political complexities along with murder and espionage are featured in this tale of modern Turkey.

Exiles Ron Hansen – In December 1875 the steamship Deutschland ran aground in the Thames estuary. This shipwreck greatly affected the poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Fearless Diana Palmer – Trouble and temptation clash in the Texas town of Jacobsville.

The Franchise Babe Dan Jenkins – Jack Brannon, golf writer, is bored with the men’s professional golf tour, and so he begins covering the LPGA and young Ginger Clayton, the franchise babe.

Gossip of the Starlings Nina de Gramont – As one reviewer writes: “You want a story about prep school? This is a story about prep school.”

House Rules Mike Lawson – Joe DeMarco, secret troubleshooter for the Speaker of the House, is sent on a quest for the truth after two foiled terrorist attacks and a new law is passed targeting Muslims.

The Island of Eternal Love Daina Chaviano – Alone in Miami, Cecilia yearns for the island she left behind. A story of Cuba.

The Law of Second ChancesJames Sheehan – Convict Henry Wilson has eight weeks to live, but will Jack Tobin, a Florida trial lawyer, decide to work on his case?

Mistress of the Sun Sandra Gulland – A fascinating look at the life of Louise de la Valliere as she becomes the mistress of Louis XIV.

Morality Tale Sylvia Brownrigg – The perils and pleasures of a second marriage are portrayed in this comic novel.

My Sister, My Love: The Intimate Story of Skyler Rampike Joyce Carol Oates –The prolific author tells the story of a family that is quite similar to a recent infamous case.

No Choice but Seduction Johanna LindseyDanger and intrigue await Katey Tyler on her grand tour of Europe written by a “master of historical romance.”

No One You Know Michelle Richmond – A family drama that focuses on the search for a sister’s killer that leads to secrets, revelations, and damaged lives.

Palace Council Stephen Carter – A political thriller set during the era of Watergate and the Vietnam War written by a highly regarded author.

Promise of the Wolves Dorothy Hearst – Many generations ago, wolves and still-evolving humans communicated and hunted together. Then everything changed and war began.

The Richest Season Maryann McFadden – After more than a dozen moves in 25 years of marriage, Joanna Harrison is lonely and tired of being a corporate wife. Faced with another move, she runs away to Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Say Goodbye Lisa Gardner – Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent, is searching for a serial killer who may not even exist.

Secrets of a Shoe Addict Beth Harbison – Four friends are in need of thousands of dollars, and fast. The secret that kept Sandra’s shoe addiction alive may be the perfect plan.

Silent Thunder Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen – An American maritime museum has acquired a former Soviet submarine. Is it a trap? Marine architect Hannah Bryson investigates.

The Sister Poppy Adams – Two sisters, reclusive Ginny and her younger sister Vivien meet again after nearly fifty years.

Sweet Love Sarah Strohmeyer – A novel about the power of love … and desert.

This Charming Man Marian Keyes – Four women explore how their love for one man, the debonair Paddy de Courcy, has shaped their lives.

Valfierno: The Man Who Stole the Mona LisaMartin Caparrós – On August 22, 1911, the world was shocked to learn that the Mona Lisa had been stolen from the Louvre. A fictional version of the real life crime.