[bksvol-discuss] Fw: Mystery July 2009
- From: "Amber Wallenstein" <amber.wallens@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:36:24 -0400
New and Recently Released!
Sworn to Silence - by Linda Castillo
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 06/23/2009
ISBN-13: 9780312374976
ISBN-10: 0312374976
Mystery. Painters Mill, populated by both Amish and "English" folks, is
normally a quiet Ohio town. But that changes--and not for the first time--when a
murdered girl is found with a Roman numeral carved on her abdomen. Sixteen
years earlier, a serial killer with the same M.O. preyed on the town--could
he be back or is another killer at work? Police Chief Kate Burkholder, who grew
up Amish, has a secret about the previous killings--and it's one that could
destroy her new life. If you like Chelsea Cain's suspense novels, pick up
romance author Linda Castillo's fast-paced foray into crime--Booklist calls
Sworn
to Silence "consistently chilling" and "a crackling good series opener."
Gone Tomorrow: A Reacher Novel - by Lee Child
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 05/19/2009
ISBN-13: 9780385340571
ISBN-10: 0385340575
Crime Novel. "Suicide bombers are easy to spot," Jack Reacher tells us in the
opening line of Gone Tomorrow--and then proceeds to explain how the middle-aged
Caucasian woman sitting near him displays all 11 of the tell-tale behavioral
indicators. But why would she want to blow herself up at 2:00 AM in a mostly
empty Manhattan subway car? To answer that question, Reacher will have to deal
with the FBI, Al-Qaeda, and a couple of very dangerous women. In this 13th
novel featuring the ex-Army MP who's now something of a drifter, "Child sets
things up subtly and ingeniously" (Publishers Weekly). If you like suspenseful
stories with über-resourceful, loner heroes, check out one of Reacher's
adventures.
First Chapter
The Cold Light of Mourning: A Mystery - by Elizabeth J. Duncan
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 04/27/2009
ISBN-13: 9780312558536
ISBN-10: 0312558538
Cozy Mystery. In a small Welsh town, middle-aged Canadian expatriate Penny
Brannigan works as a manicurist and artist. Though the death of her elderly best
friend has upset her, Penny's life is still quite calm--until a bride
disappears after Penny does her nails. Since Penny was one of the last people to
see Londoner Meg Wynne Thompson, she is questioned by the police--and she's
soon doing her own investigating after she sees a photo of the bride that
strikes
her as odd. Winner of the Minotaur/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional
Mystery Novel Award, The Cold Light of Mourning features a touch of romance,
delightful descriptions of Wales, and charming characters.
Dark Horse: A Walt Longmire Mystery - by Craig Johnson
Publisher: Viking
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 05/28/2009
ISBN-13: 9780670020874
ISBN-10: 0670020877
Western Mystery. Walt Longmire, the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, has a
confessed killer sitting in his jail. The only problem is that he doesn't
think Mary Barsad actually killed her husband, Wade Barsad (though Wade
supposedly put all of Mary's horses in the barn and then set it ablaze). To get
at the truth, Walt poses as an insurance investigator and tries to find out who
else wanted Wade dead--and discovers that almost everyone who knew him
did. This 5th Walt Longmire novel is "among Johnson's best" (Booklist, starred
review) and is "stunningly descriptive and compulsively readable" (Kirkus
Reviews, starred review).
Hard Stop: A Sam Acquillo Hamptons Mystery - by Chris Knopf
Publisher: Permanent Press
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 05/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9781579621834
ISBN-10: 157962183X
Mystery. Sam Acquillo left the corporate life behind...when he was forced out
by his firm's chairman of the board, George Donovan. Now, Donovan wants Sam
working for him again, though not at his old job. Instead, he wants Sam to use
the abilities he was known for in the corporate world--his tenaciousness
and his smarts--to find Donovan's mistress, consultant Iku Kinjo. Sam, who now
works as a carpenter, agrees because he needs the money...and because he
remembers Iku from work and knows she isn't the type to just disappear.
Booklist says that this 4th in the series is "another clever caper." If you like
the snappy dialogue in books by Robert Parker and Elmore Leonard, give Chris
Knopf a shot.
Bookmarked for death - Barrett, Lorna
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 2009
ISBN-13: 9780425226414
ISBN-10: 0425226417
Cozy Mystery. Once a struggling town, Stoneham, New Hampshire is now enjoying
a renaissance--thanks to booksellers like Tricia Miles, proprietor of Haven't
Got a Clue. It's a great place to find a good mystery to read--or to solve
..To celebrate her bookstore's anniversary, Tricia Miles hosts a book signing
for bestselling author Zoë Carter. But the event takes a terrible turn when
the author is found dead in the washroom. Before long, both police and
reporters
are demanding the real story. So far, the author's obnoxious assistant/niece
is the only suspect. And with a sheriff who provides more obstacles than
answers, Tricia will have to take matters into her own hands--and read between
the lines to solve this mystery..
Stone's Fall: A Novel - by Iain Pears
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 05/05/2009
ISBN-13: 9780385522847
ISBN-10: 0385522843
Historical Mystery. In 1909 London, wealthy financier John Stone falls to his
death. Was it an accident? And what of the daughter named his will, the child
his young widow knew nothing about? To answer these questions, Pears takes
readers to 1890 Paris and 1867 Venice. The critics adore this twisty,
well-plotted
book: in starred reviews, Kirkus Reviews says it is "learned, witty and
splendidly entertaining" and Booklist calls it "one of the best historical
mysteries
of the last several years." If you enjoy Pears' latest, be sure to check out An
Instance of the Fingerpost, which is similar in its complexity and vastness
of scope.
First Chapter
Cut, crop & die : a Kiki Lowenstein scrap-n-craft mystery - Campbell-Slan,
Joanna
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 06/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780738712512
ISBN-10: 0738712515
Cozy Mystery. All it took was one scone. When the hot-tempered (and widely
hated) hobbyist Yvonne Gaynor eats a tainted pastry at Kiki's scrapbooking crop
party, it triggers an allergy that leads to Yvonne's death. Even worse, the
police suspect foul play when they realize that someone tampered with the treats
and swiped the victim's allergy medication. An expert at stealing design ideas,
Yvonne had enough enemies to fill a memory album. Soon, the scrapbooking
community pins her murder on Kiki's friends and our ace scrapper finds herself
dealing with anti-Semitic threats at the shop, a quarrelsome pre-teen daughter
at home, a meddlesome mother-in-law, and constant financial pressure. Despite
help from the handsome yet annoyingly coy Detective Detweiler, Kiki has her
work cut out for her in solving the crime.
If You Like Janet Evanovich...
You've probably heard of Stephanie Plum--she's the Jersey-girl bounty-hunter
heroine of Janet Evanovich's bestselling novels. Stephanie's not so much
talented
as lucky (though she is a great liar). As filled with humor and romance as a
Boston cream doughnut is with yummy pudding, these novels are pure pleasure
for readers who like their novels populated with unforgettable, wise-cracking
characters (such as gun-toting Grandma Mazur). Of course, there's no one
quite like Stephanie (just ask the two men in her life, Ranger and Morelli),
but until you've tagged Finger Lickin' Fifteen, which was recently published,
check out some of the books below.
Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos - by Donna Andrews
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 11/01/2002
ISBN-13: 9780312983192
ISBN-10: 0312983190
Humorous Mystery. Just because the British surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia,
way back in 1781 doesn't mean that anyone in the town has forgotten--indeed,
they celebrate every year. This year's anniversary is bigger than ever with a
colonial craft fair, party, and reenactment. But not all is going
smoothly--blacksmith
Meg Langslow's future mother-in-law is the organizer and she's driving everyone
crazy by banning modern clothing, calculators, etc. Then there's a murder--and
the body's found in Meg's craft booth. If you like Stephanie Plum's humor, love
her unusual family, and would enjoy stories that aren't as gritty, you
should meet Meg. Readers can start with this 3rd in the series or pick up the
1st, the award-winning Murder, with Peacocks.
Agnes & the Hitman - by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 08/26/2008
ISBN-13: 9780312363055
ISBN-10: 0312363052
Humorous Mystery. Agnes is a food writer who's hit more than one cheating man
with a pan. Shane kills people for a living. The two meet when someone breaks
into Agnes' old southern mansion and threatens her with a gun. Despite Agnes'
skill with a skillet, Shane's uncle, an ex-mobster, calls him home to Keyes,
South Carolina, in order to protect Agnes. Sparks fly between the two even as
more strangers with guns show up and Agnes prepares the house for her
goddaughter's
southern mafia wedding. Agnes & the Hitman is plumb full of the wackiness,
romance, eccentric characters, and humor found in Janet Evanovich's books (and
if you like the mysterious Ranger, you'll probably like Shane!).
First Chapter
Tilt A Whirl: A John Ceepak Mystery - by Chris Grabenstein
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 09/20/2005
ISBN-13: 9780786715848
ISBN-10: 0786715847
Mystery. Sea Haven police officer John Ceepak is an extremely honest ("I will
not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate those who do") ex-Army MP who loves
Springsteen and hates to drive. His partner/chauffeur is rookie summer cop
Danny Boyle, our 24-year-old narrator, who's lived in Sea Haven his entire life.
Nothing much ever happens in the little tourist town, until one bright Saturday
morning when a billionaire real-estate mogul is gunned down in an empty
amusement park, and the two cops are suddenly turning this way and that in
order to solve the bloody crime. Though darker than the Stephanie Plum novels,
Tilt A Whirl, the 1st in an entertaining series, shares their witty narration,
eccentric characters, and Jersey setting.
Dead Witch Walking - by Kim Harrison
Publisher: Eos
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 05/01/2008
ISBN-13: 9780061567193
ISBN-10: 0061567191
Urban Fantasy Crime Novel. Witch Rachel Morgan works as a runner (i.e. a bounty
hunter) in Cincinnati, where she rounds up werewolves, leprechauns, and
the like. In this 1st in a series, she's tired of working for the government
and wants to quit--but the last person who did so was killed. Not one to shy
away from danger, Rachel leaves anyway. If you enjoy the supernatural aspects
in Stephanie Plum's Between-the-Numbers adventures (Visions of Sugar Plums,
Plum Lovin', etc.), give this series a sample; just like Stephanie, Rachel is
sassy, witty, and a creative thinker...especially when she's in danger. And,
if you find you like Dead Witch Walking, check out Jim Butcher's books about
wizard detective Harry Dresden.
First Chapter
The Spellman Files - by Lisa Lutz
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 03/13/2007
ISBN-13: 9781416532392
ISBN-10: 1416532390
Mystery. In San Francisco, 28-year-old private investigator Isabelle "Izzy"
Spellman works for her parents' detective agency as does her 14-year-old sister
Rae (their brother, the perfect and non-nosey one in the family, is a lawyer).
The fact that the Spellmans are outlandishly dysfunctional, have trouble
with boundaries, and are prejudiced against dentists (including the one Izzy
starts dating) just adds to the fun--but then things take a bit of a serious
turn when a family member goes missing. This "hilarious debut" (Kirkus
Reviews), the 1st in a series, will especially appeal to those Evanovich fans
who
are fond of Stephanie Plum's crazy family life.
First Chapter
Bubbles Unbound - by Sarah Strohmeyer
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 03/01/2002
ISBN-13: 9780451205445
ISBN-10: 0451205448
Mystery. If you think a Pennsylvania-beautician counterpart to Stephanie Plum
sounds like fun, you should get to know Bubbles Yablonsky. Sure, there are
differences--Bubbles is the mother of a teenager and she's studying to be a
reporter--but both Stephanie and Bubbles are divorced from cads they caught
cheating on them and have wacky older female relatives who like to help. In
Bubbles' 1st outing, she goes on a newspaper assignment with a hunky
photographer
and soon finds herself in the presence of a dead retiree in a park in the dark.
It isn't long before she thinks his murder is linked to the decade-old
supposed suicide of a high school cheerleader. But can she prove it?
First Chapter
Other related posts:
- » [bksvol-discuss] Fw: Mystery July 2009 - Amber Wallenstein
