New Fiction – October 2009

The Confessions of Edward Day Valerie Martin, F MAR – Edward Day is a New York actor in the 1970’s who life in changed after he is saved from drowning off the Jersey shore.

Day After Night Anita Diamant, F DIA – Based on the true story of the October 1945 rescue of more than two hundred prisoners from an internment camp, as told through the eyes of four young women.

Down in the Flood Kenneth Abel, F ABE – Former New Orleans prosecutor Danny Chaisson’s latest case is bid-rigging. But a gathering storm named Katrina blasts his world apart.

An Echo in the Bone Diana Gabaldon, F GAL – The continuation of the story of the 18th century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th century wife, Claire Randall.

Fear the Worst Linwood Barclay, F BAR – Tim Blake’s desperate search for his daughter leads him into a dark world of corruption, exploitation, and murder.

A Gate at the Stairs Lorrie Moore, F MOO – A much heralded novel.  The author’s first in over a decade, focuses on the anxiety and disconnection of post 9/11 America.

Her Fearful Symmetry Audrey Niffenegger, F NIF – The author of The Time Traveler’s Wife, opens her new book with a letter that alters the fate of every character.  Great reviews.

Homer & Langley E.L. Doctorow, F DOC – Homer and Langley are brothers living as recluses in their once grand New York Fifth Avenue mansion, but the epic events of the century seem to pass through their cluttered house.

The Hunted Brian Haig, F HAI – Kidnapped, beaten and forced to relinquish his business and his fortune, Alex Konevitch escapes from Russia to the United States, only to be accused by his own government of stealing millions.

Inherent Vice Thomas Pynchon, F PYN – The psychedelic 60’s in L.A. finds Doc Sportello helping an ex-girlfriend who’s in love with a land developer who might be the target of a kidnapping.  Paranoia runs deep.

Intervention Robin Cook, F COO – New York City medical examiner, Jack Stapleton is featured in a vintage Cook thriller that involves DNA science, biotechnology and religion.

Juliet, Naked Nick Hornby, F HOR – What happens when a washed-up musician looks for another chance?  As he releases the acoustic version of his greatest album, Juliet, Tucker Crowe is about to find out.

Little Bird of Heaven Joyce Carol Oates, F OAT – When Zoe Kruller is found murdered, the police target two suspects, her estranged husband Delray Kruller and her longtime lover, Eddy Diehl.

The Magicians Lev Grossman, F GRO – High school senior, Quentin Coldwater loves a series of fantasy novels set in an enchanted land called Fillory.  Unexpectedly, he finds himself admitted to a secret college of magic in upstate New York.

Mercury in Retrograde Paula Froelich, F FRO – When mercury is in retrograde, the only guarantee is that anything that can go wrong, will.

No Time to Wave Goodbye Jacquelyn Mitchard, F MIT – The Cappadora family, first introduced in The Deep End of the Ocean, are confronted once again with the terrible events of the past.

Once on a Moonless Night Dai Sijie, F DAI – The author of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress returns with a tale of love and the power of a lost language.

Prospect Park West Amy Sohn, F SOH – Four stay-at-home mom (“sahms”) provide entertaining drama in this tale of an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood.

The Puzzle King Betsy Carter, F CAR – Simon Phelps and Flora Grossman find their way to New York City before World War II and become the last hope of their families’ escape from Europe.

Rebel Yell Alice Randall, F RAN – Arden Jones, Jr. an eminent black conservative and White House advocate at the Pentagon, collapses at the Rebel Yell restaurant.

Resurrecting Midnight Eric Jerome Dickey, F DIC – International assassin Gideon is in Argentina facing his fiercest adversary yet.

A Separate Country Robert Hicks, F HIC – The author of The Widow of the South returns to the tumultuous years following the Civil War, with the love story of Confederate general John Bell Hood and his wife, Anna Marie.

Short Girls Bich Minh Nguyen, F NGU – The author Stealing Buddha’s Dinner tells the story of Van and Linny Luong, two sisters who share a secret, but are unable to confide in each other.

South of Broad Pat Conroy, F CON – The author’s long awaited novel, his first in fourteen years, features a changing southern culture through the stories of a group of teenagers who face the future in 1969.

The Spire Richard North Patterson, F PAT – Mark Darrow becomes a college president of his alma mater,  and then begins to investigate a long-ago murder that was allegedly committed by his best friend.

Vanished Joseph Finder, F FIN – Roger Heller vanishes after he and his wife are attacked.  The only one who has a chance of finding him is his brother, Nick, an investigator with a private intelligence firm.

The White Queen Philippa Gregory, F GRE – The author of The Other Boleyn Girl begins a new series set amid the feuds of England known as the Wars of the Roses.

The Year of the Flood Margaret Atwood, F ATW – An inventive apocalyptic novel by the author of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Sewickley’s Favorite Books – Summer 2009

The Following books were rated 5 stars by the participants in the Adult Summer Reading Program. Click on the Book Jackets to read more about the books and even reserve them!

Accidental Mother, by Rowan Coleman

Alexandria, by Lindsey Davis

All Around the Town, by Mary Higgins Clark

Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown

The Appeal, by John Grisham

Arctic Drift, by Clive Cussler

Beach Music, by Pat Conroy

Big Four, by Agatha Christie

Blood Work, by Michael Connelly

Blow Out, by Catherine Coulter

A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, by Bill O’Reilly

Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

A Case of Need, by Michael Crichton

The Cat Who Went Up the Creek, by Lilian Jackson Braun

Chasing Smoke, by Bill Cameron

Columbine, by Dave Cullen

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

The Cradle Will Fall, by Mary Higgins Clark

Crazy Love, by Leslie Morgan Steiner

Cross Country, by James Patterson

A Cry in the Night, by Mary Higgins Clark

Cutting for Stone, by A. Verghese

Danse Macabre, by Laurell K. Hamilton

Dark Summer, by Iris Johansen

A Day Late and a Dollar Short, by Terry McMillan

Dear and Glorious Physician, by Taylor Caldwell

Death in Hyde Park, by Robin Paige

Domestic Affairs, by Eileen Goudge

Dying for Revenge, by Eric J. Dickey

The Edge, by Catherine Coulter

Executive Privilege, by Phillip Margolin

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

The Faithful Spy, by Alex Berenson

Farewell To Arms, by Ernest Hemingway

Fatally Flaky, by Diane Mott Davidson

Fault Line, by Barry Eisler

Fearless Fourteen, by Janet Evanovich

Fidelity, by Thomas Perry

Finding Nouf, by Zoe Ferraris

Finger Lickin Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich

Fire and Ice, by J.A. Jance

First Family, by David Baldacci

Fortune Hunter, by Diane Farr

Foul Play, by Janet Evanovich

Francesca’s Party, by Patricia Scanlan

Gifts of the Heart, by Bettie Youngs

A Good Woman, by Danielle Steel

The Gospel of Wealth and Other Timely Essays, by Andrew Carnegie

The Grand Finale, by Janet Evanovich

The Great Books, by Bruce Meyer

Grow Organic, by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser

Growing Up Again, by Mary Tyler Moore

Handle with Care, by Jodi Piccoult

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by JK Rowling

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Horse Boy, by Rupert Isaacson

In Her Defense, by Stephen Horn

Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri

It Only Takes a Momenti by Mary Jane Clark

The Judgement of Paris, by Ross King

Junk Beautiful: Room-by-Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style, by Sue Whitney & Ki Nassauer

Kaffe Knits Again, by Kaffe Fassett

Keeping Faith, by Jodi Picoult

King’s Oak, by Anne Rivers Seddons

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hoseini

The Last Hurrah, by Edwin O’Connor

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo

Light in the Forest, by Conrad Richter

Lights Out Tonight, by Mary Jane Clark

Loitering with Intent, by Stuart Woods

London Bridges, by James Patterson

Long Lost, by Harlan Coben

Look Again, by Lisa Scottoline

Love, Medicine, and Miracles, by Bernie Siegel

Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines, by Kay Gardiner

Meltdown, by Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

The Memory Collector, by Meg Gardiner

The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan

Midnight in Sicily, by Peter Robb

Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley

My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant

Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult

Off Season, by Ann Rivers Siddons

One Day at a Time, by Danielle Steel

The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

Perfectly Imperfect, by Lee Woodruff

Porch Stories, by Jewel Parker Rhodes

Real Sex, by Lauren Winner

Running Hot, by Jayne Krentz

Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall

The Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly

The School of Essential Ingredients, by Erica Buermister

Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

Shadow Music, by Julie Garwood

Sharpe’s Tiger, by Bernard Cornwell

The Silent Speaker, by Rex Stout

Soul Stories, by Gary Zukav

Still Alice, by Lisa Genova

Still Watchi, by Mary Higgins Clark Summer at Tiffany, by Marjorie Hart
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, by James Patterson Sweetheart, by Chelsea Cain
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley Swimsuit, by James Patterson
Tail Spin, by Catherine Coulter Sidney Crosby: Taking the Game by Storm, by Gare Joyce
TeaTime for theTraditionally Built, by Alexander McCall Smith Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
To Have and Have Not, by Ernest Hemingway To the Death, by Patrick Robinson
Today, I am a Ma’amValerie Harper Total ControlDavid Baldacci
Trunk Music, by Michael Connelly Under Enemy Colors, by S. Thomas Russell
The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella Walk Away the Pounds: The Breakthrough Six-week Program that Helps you Burn the Fat, Tone Muscle, and Feel Great without Dieting, by Leslie Sansone
Warlock: a novel of Ancient Egypt, by Wilbur Smith Wedding Ring, by Emilie Richards
Weep No More My Lady, by Mary Higgins Clark While My Pretty One Sleeps, by Mary Higgins Clark
The Whole World Over, by Julia Glass Wicked Prey, by John Sandford

New Nonfiction Books – August 2009

The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal Ben Mezrich, 338.761 MEZ 2009 – Two Harvard undergraduates looking for a way to win social success, hacked into the university’s computer system.  The framework for Facebook was born in a Harvard dorm room.

The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us and What We Can Do About It Joshua Cooper Ramo, 973.931 RAM 2009 – How to thrive in a world of unpredictability.

American Passage: The History of Ellis Island Vincent J. Cannato, 325.7 CAN 2009 – Between 1892 to 1924 over twelve million immigrants passed through the gates at Ellis Island.

And Then the Roof Caved In: How Wall Street’s Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees David Faber, 332.63 FAB 2009 – The author relates the story behind the economic crisis: the defining theme of which has been greed, coupled with the regulatory failure of the government.

Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown Edmund L. Andrews, 332.722 AND 2009 – Even as a New York Times economics reporter, the author succumbed to the temptation of subprime lending and became part of the economic catastrophe.

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle Chris Hedges, 302.23 HED 2009 – The author asserts that a culture that cannot distinguish between reality and illusion dies; the society that retreats into fantasy will eventually turn to demagogues and charlatans.

Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur Pamela Slim,658.11 SLI 2009 – How to make a getaway from the corporate grind.

The Evolution of God Robert Wright, 200.9 WRI 2009 – The author presents a sweeping journey through history and the development of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

A Failure of Capitalism: The Crisis of ‘08 and the Descent Into Depression Richard A. Posner, 330.973 POS 2009 – The author presents a non-technical examination of the current financial disaster and the efforts to cope with it.

Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled and Knuckleheaded Quest for the Rocky Mountain High Mark Obmascik, 796.522 OMB  2009 – A look inside the culture of the mountaineering obsessives who try scaling all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains in one year, to become part of an elite group known as the  Fourteneers.

Holy Roller: Finding Redemption and the Holy Ghost in a Forgotten Texas Church Julie Lyons, 289.9 LYO 2009 – An inspiring story of a journalists firsthand investigation into the results of faith and prayer in the lives of society’s overlooked people.

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan Doug Stanton, 958.1047 STA 2009 – The dramatic account of a small band of Special Forces soldiers who secretly entered Afghanistan following 9/11 and rode to war on horses against the Taliban.

How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In Jim Collins, 338.7 COL 2009 – Every institution is vulnerable to decline, but it can be avoided. By the author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t.

How Rome Fell Adrian Goldsworthy, 937.09 GOL 2009 – During the second century, the Roman Empire controlled most of the known world.  By the end of the fifth century, the empire had disintegrated, a shadow of its former might.

The Language of Things: Understanding the World of Desirable Objects Dyan Sudjic, 745.401 SUD 2009 – An informative look at the intersection between art, design, and commerce.

The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America’s Promise Joe Scarborough, 320.52 SCA 2009 – A new take on the nation’s political and economic situation.

Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the Coming Crisis of the Supreme Court James MacGregor Burns, 347.7326 BUR 2009 – A penetrating look at the nation’s top court by a noted author.

Portfolios of the Poor: How the World’s Poor Live on $2 a Day Daryl Collins, et.al., 339.46 POR 2009 – About 40% of the world’s people live on incomes of $2.00 a day or less. How do the poor find solutions to living on such an amount? A thoughtful report on the “bottom billion.”

Renegade: The Making of a President Richard Wolffe, 324.973 WOL 2009 – The story of how a political newcomer with no money became the world’s most powerful leader.

Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon Craig Nelson, 629.45 NEL 2009 – The dramatic story of the first trip to the moon aboard the 30-story-high Apollo II-Saturn V spaceship.

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work Matthew B. Crawford, 331 CRA 2009 – The author discusses the experience that was once quite common: the activity of making and fixing things with our hands.

Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot Bruce and Andrea Leininger, 133.90135 LEI 2009 – The parents of James Leininger were puzzled and disturbed by the nightmares their two-year-old son was having.  They set out on a journey of discovery that led to one conclusion.

Stay Close: A Mother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction Libby Cataldi, 362.29 CAT 2009 – The poignant story of a mother’s love and her struggles with her son’s drug addiction.

Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played L. Jon Wertheim, 796.342 WER 2009 – All the details of the classic tennis match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on July 6, 2008.

The Third Reich at War Richard J. Evans, 940.53 EVA 2009 – A narrative of the war along with the personal stories from a wide range of people during the rise and demise of German military might.

The Whole Five Feet: What the Great Books Taught Me About Life, Death, and Pretty Much Everything Else Christopher R. Beha, 011.73 BEH 2009 – The Harvard Classics were compiled a century ago by Charles Eliot.  The author decides to revisit these classic books over the course of a year.

You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon, but Get Lost in the Mall Colin Ellard, 153.752 ELL 2009 – How has modern culture become so directionally challenged?

New Biographies – August 2009

Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life Dara Torres with Elizabeth Weil, B TORRES – From the Olympic medalist who competed at the age 41, comes a memoir about aging gracefully and pursuing your dreams.

Bad Girls Go Everywhere: The Life of Helen Gurley Brown Jennifer Scanlon, B BROWN – The life of the longtime editor of Cosmopolitan and an influential feminist.

The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought to You by Pop Culture Nathan Rabin, B RABIN – As a child and teenager, pop culture was the author’s means of escape.  Today, pop culture is his life.

Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs: The Making of a Surgeon Michael J. Collins, B COLLINS – The story of a construction worker who decided to become a doctor and his path to becoming a surgeon.

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story C. David Heymann, B KENNEDY – The complex relationship between RFK and Jackie Kennedy is depicted by a Kennedy biographer.

The Bolter Frances Osborne, B SACKVILLE – The author relates the story of her great-grandmother, Idina Sackville, and her adventurous and scandal filled life as the “high priestess” of the “Happy Valley Set” in Kenya.

Closing Time: A Memoir Joe Queenan, B QUEENAN – The humorist turns his sights on his own coming-of-age in Philadelphia during the 1960s.

Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival Norman Ollestad, B OLLESTAD – Trained by he father from the age of three to become a “Boy Wonder,” the skills he learned saved his life at age eleven when he and his father were victims of an airplane crash during a blizzard.

Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie Richard Hack, B CHRISTIE – The romance, scandal and betrayal that marked the life of the  popular novelist is presented in an intimate biography.

Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip Matthew Algeo, B TRUMAN – After his term as president, Mr. and Mrs. Truman decided to hit the road.

Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood Michael Lewis, B LEWIS – The author explores the difference between the idea of fatherhood and his actual experiences.

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir Neil White, B WHITE – Following conviction for bank fraud, the author spent a year in a prison in Carville, Louisiana, housed in the last leper colony in mainland America.

The Lady in Red: An Eighteenth-Century Tale of Sex, Scandal and Divorce  Hallie Rubenhold, B WORSLEY – The marriage of Lady Seymour Dorothy Fleming and Sir Richard Worsley might have been a fairy tale marriage, but ended in one of the most scandalous and publicized divorces in history.

Lance: The Making of the World’s Greatest Champion John Wilcockson, B LANCE – The remarkable and controversial life of the seven time winner of the Tour de France.

Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon Buzz Aldrin with Ken Abraham, B ALDRIN – The flight of Apollo 11 made Aldrin one of the most famous persons on the planet; here is the rest of his story.

My Remarkable Journey Larry King, B KING – The life of the iconic interviewer as he looks back over 50 years in broadcasting.

Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal Julie Metz, B METZ – Julie Metz’s life changes forever when her husband suddenly collapses and dies.  She soon learns that he had another life that he had kept hidden from her.

Perfectly Imperfect: A Life in Progress Lee Woodruff, B WOODRUFF – The author of In an Instant, the chronicle of her husband’s recovery from an injury sustained in Iraq, now looks at her life in terms both personal and universal.

Prairie Tale: A Memoir Melissa Gilbert, B GILBERT – The child star of Little House on the Prairie tells the story of her life and her recovery from self-destructive behavior.

Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend Bill Russell, B RUSSELL – The great basketball player discusses his relationship with one of the best coaches in all of sports.

Right Time, Right Place: Coming of Age with William F. Buckley Jr. and the Conservative Movement Richard Brookhiser, B BROOKHISER – The author became a National Review senior editor at age 23.  He tells the story of his relationship with the conservative icon throughout their tumultuous friendship.

Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend Larry Tye, B PAIGE – The great story of athlete, showman, and philosopher, Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

A Son of the Game: A Story of Golf, Going Home, and Sharing Life’s Lessons James Dodson, B DODSON – The author of Final Rounds, returns to the world of golf and to the famous courses at Pinehurst, North Carolina to recover a lost passion and to share that passion with his son.

Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne James Gavin, B HORNE – A portrait of the celebrated singer and actress.

We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals Gillian Gill, B VICTORIA – An enduring love story and the most influential marriage of the 19th century is related in this personal history by a noted author.

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America Douglas Brinkley, B ROOSEVELT – The “naturalist president” set aside more than 230 million acres of wild America for posterity between 1901 and 1909, making conservation a universal endeavor.

Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa Mark Seal, B ROOT – In January 2006, Joan Root, a sixty-nine-year-old naturalist and filmmaker was murdered in her home on the shore of a beautiful Kenyan lake.  The author explores this real-life mystery and the remarkable life of a noted conservationist.

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 Non-Fiction – June and July 2009

The Addict: One Patient, One Doctor, One Year Michael Stein, 362.293 STE 2009 – The world of prescription drug addiction seen through the  story of a woman whose life was taken over by her desire for the next pill.

The American Future: A History Simon Schama, 973 SCH 2009 – The noted historian looks at the multiple crises facing the United States with references to America’s past history.

Are You Kidding Me? The True Story of Rocco Mediate’s Extraordinary Battle with Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open Rocco Mediate and John Feinstein, 796.352 MED 2009 – The dramatic showdown at the 2008 U.S. Open.

The Armchair Birder: Discovering the Secret Lives of Familiar Birds John Yow, 598 YOW 2009 – Interesting facts about the lives of birds outside your window. Columbine Dave Cullen, 371.782 CUL 2009 – A recounting of the horrific events at Columbine High School.

Complexity: A Guided Tour Melanie Mitchell, 501 MIT 2009 – Fascinating and elusive questions are presented that the science of complexity is attempting to answer.

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite David E. Kessle, r613.2 KES 2009 – Why is it so difficult to resist certain foods and so easy to overindulge?

Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud Robert Pinsky, ed., 808.81 ESS 2009 – A wide range of poetry for speaking and listening enjoyment.

Faith Under Fire: An Army Chaplain’s Memoir Roger Benimoff, 956.7044 BEN 2009 – The author’s time as an Army chaplain in Iraq created a crisis of faith and a turning point in his life.

The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found Mary Beard, 937.7 BEA 2008 – A penetrating look at the world famous archaeological site.

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship Jeffrey Zaslow, 302.34 ZAS 2009 – Eleven childhood friends formed a special bond growing up in Ames, Iowa.  A bond that has lasted through the years.

Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde Jeff Guin, 364.1552 GUI 2009 – The real story of Bonnie and Clyde is different from the myths that have grown up around them. Fascinating.

The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son Rupert Isaacson, 618.92 ISA 2009 – The author was devastated with his son’s diagnosis of autism. Discovering his son’s connection with animals, they went to Mongolia.

House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street William D. Cohan, 332.66 COH 2009 – With the collapse of Bear Stearns in March 2008, the meltdown on Wall Street officially began. How and why?

K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America’s Most Unlikely Tourist Peter Carlson, 947.085 CAR 2009 – The true story of a stranger in a strange land: Khrushchev’s tour across America in 1959.

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto Mark R. Levin, 320.52 LEV 2009 – The talk radio host discusses a conservative approach to government that includes greater freedom for individual Americans.

A Lion Called Christian Anthony Bourke and John Rendall, 599.757 BOU 2009 – The heartwarming story of he reunion of two young men and their pet lion, Christian.

Old World Daughter, New World Mother: An Education in Love and Freedom Maria Laurino, 306.874 LAU 2009 – The author of Were You Always an Italian? returns with a spirited look at life as a second-generation American.

One Hundred Essential Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know: Math Explains Your World John D. Barrow, 510 BAR 2009 – The uses of mathematics in explaining many of life’s most intriguing questions are entertainingly presented.

One Square Inch of Silence Gordon Hempton and John Grossmann, 333.78 HEM 2009 – Silence is our nation’s fastest-disappearing resource. The author is recording the natural terrestrial soundscapes before they vanish.

Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World’s Holy Dead Peter Manseau, 203.7 MAN 2009 – The author traces the trail of religious relics over the centuries.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg, 232.9 SPA 2009 – An inspirational tour of Jewish culture during the time of Jesus.

Soldiers Once: My Brother and the Lost Dreams of America’s Veterans Catherine Whitney, 305.90697 WHI 2009 – When the author’s brother, a Vietnam veteran, died, he was 53 years old and living in poverty and had not seen his family in 16 years.

Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be Chris Gardner, 158.1 GAR 2009 – The author of The Pursuit of Happyness presents a look at  beginning anew.

The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Glamorous Story of Power, Profits, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe Lauren Goldstein Crowe and Sagra Maceira de Rosen, 338.76 CRO 2009 – The behind-the-scenes story of the one of the most talked-about brands. “A smart, sexy business book.”

Unfinished Business: What the Dead Can Teach Us About Life James Van Praagh, 133.91 VAN 2009 – Emotional stories from a well-known medium.

The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education Craig M. Mullaney, 958.104 MUL 2009 – The author had been graduated from West Point, attended Oxford as a Rhodes scholar, but was he prepared for war in Afghanistan?

Valkyrie: The Story of the Plot to Kill Hitler, By Its Last Member Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, 943.086 BOE 2009 – The author’s patriotism turned to disgust as he learned of the atrocities of the SS. He and his brother joined a conspiracy to kill Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler.

Weather’s Greatest Mysteries Solved! Randy Cerveny, 304.2 CER 2009 – Sample mystery: Why did T. Rex become extinct? And there’s many more weather conundrums in this fascinating book.

Why Don’t Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What it Means for the Classroom Daniel T. Willingham, 370.1523 WIL 2009 – Why can kids remember the smallest details from their favorite television program, yet miss the most obvious questions on theiw history test?

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.