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Indian country is presented in all its flamboyant glory in this fast-paced mystery that introduces a character soon to become familiar and well-loved by readers of mystery: Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Navaho Tribal Police. So, too, is Indian lore as Leaphorn and anthropologist Bergen McKee track a killer who leaves a corpse with a mouth full of sand, but no other clues and no trail -- the dread Navaho Wolf-Witch. The Legendary Lieutenant's apprentice Jim Chee has not yet been invented in this first volume of what will become one of the finest series of its kind.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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BIA Investigator, Emmett Parker and Anna Turnipseed, FBI Special Agent are called in the middle of the night to investigate the brutal murder of a police officer and his wife. The police vehicle has been burned, but a window was broken to allow the chindis to escape. Small aircraft tracks are found nearby. Could this crime have been committed by drug runners or is there something more sinister? A police chase through the Chuska Mountains to prevent the fulfillment of a Navaho myth merges Native American mythology and superstition with madness in this novel of suspense you can’t put down.

Reviewed by Natalie M., Morrison Regional

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Opening upon the grisly scene of the murder of a tribal policeman and his wife, the book details a dangerous and puzzling investigation involving drug-dealing gangs on the Big Rez (Window Rock), incest, Navajo religious beliefs and practice, and a mounting number of murder victims. Mitchell's deft style and knowledge of the setting put the reader right into the action.
-Jim, Charlotte, NC

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Tempe Brennan, top forensic anthropologist, returns to Montreal, Canada in Kathy Reichs’ third novel. Tempe finds herself caught in the middle of a biker war, where seemingly unrelated victims from as far south as North Carolina become linked with the remains of motorcycle gang members. Tempe’s Harley-loving nephew comes for a visit just as she begins her journey into the dark world of motorcycle gangs. Reichs has once again turned out an intriguing suspense novel reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell. Readers will race along with Tempe as she battles to take the killers off the street before her nephew is murdered.

Reviewed by Christine B., South County Regional

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The first in a series, Roman Blood, introduces Gordianus the Finder, private investigator of ancient Rome. Cicero is about to defend Sextus Rocious against a charge of patricide and needs Gordianus’s help. As he looks for the facts in the case Gordianus must wind his way through a miasma of greed, deceit, and murder. From the decadence of the ruling elite to the hopelessness of the poor, Saylor brings the ancient world to life with all its sights, sounds, and smells. A fictional telling of an actual case, Roman Blood is a fascinating mix of scholarship and storytelling, and a mighty fun read to boot.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Excellent series for historical mystery book lovers. I have enjoyed all of these and the many non-fiction books they have lead me to read.
-Kim, Charlotte, NC

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Vicki Holden, is Hi Sei Cinihi, Woman Alone, an Arapaho attorney returning as an outsider to the Wind River Reservation, in Wyoming. In The Story Teller, Vicki is commissioned by her tribe to find a missing ledger stored in a museum in Denver that depicts Arapaho history. The curator insists that no such document exists except in the mind of an old story teller, even after an Arapaho student is viciously murdered while searching for it. Coel blends the traditional with the contemporary to weave a mystery much like Tony Hillerman’s Navaho police procedurals, but at her own voice and pace.

Reviewed by Natalie M., Morrison Regional

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In the latest of the Candi and Simone Covington mysteries, Candi and daughter Simone put their sleuthing skills to the test while trying to find out who has killed Cricket Childs and kidnapped her daughter, Morgan. Simone, who narrates the story, gives imaginable descriptions of the characters as she sets the stage for murder. Set in rural Otis, South Carolina, this is a place visited by all of us at some point in our lifetime. DeLoach weaves a tale in her downhome style which links the past to the present while uncovering those responsible for this crime. A fun-read for all of us who like to snoop.

Reviewed by Alecia M., West Boulevard Branch

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Kathy Reich's second offering is just as much a cliff-hanger as her first, Deja Dead. Forensic anthropologist, Dr. Tempe Brennan, who splits her year between working for the Province of Quebec and teaching at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, finds herself with two enigmas. She has exhumed the body of a nun who is being considered for cannonization but whose bones tell a different story from the official one, and Tempe wants to know why. Even more horrifying and dangerous are the deaths at a remote Canadian farmhouse that lead to South Carolina, Texas, and back to Quebec. Throw in a sister who is trying to find herself in what may be a cult and a growing attraction for Detective Andrew Ryan, and the plot flies. This one can't be put down.

Reviewed by Marti L., Mountain Island Branch

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Native Alaskan Kate Shugak lives in a small cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. A wonderfully drawn character, capable of living off the bounty of wild Alaska. She is funny, tough and honors her Aleut heritage. Breakup is the spring thaw, that includes rampaging bears, family feuds, and a plane crash almost in Kate’s back yard. She is slowly drawn into solving problems around her, acts as clan leader and a voice for native concerns in changing times. The descriptions of the Alaskan bush make for great arm chair travel, with an intriguing plot, but Kate’s character and cultural heritage sets this book apart.

Reviewed by Carol M., Main Library

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Once again, James Lee Burke takes us on a ride through the steamy underbelly of Louisiana with Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux. Robicheaux, a recovering alcoholic, has many personal demons, and one that haunts him now is the memory of his mother who disappeared in 1967. As Dave delves into his mother’s past, he also tries to uncover evidence that would exonerate Letty Labiche, a death row inmate who butchered the man who molested her as a child. These two intertwined cases send Dave and his bumbling sidekick, Clete Purcell, into a seedy underworld of pimps, hookers, psychopathic killers and corrupt politicians. Burke is a master storyteller with a gift for action and dialogue, but perhaps the best aspect of his writing is his vivid depiction of southern Louisiana culture. You can almost see the Spanish moss in the trees and smell the Cajun gumbo

Reviewed by Bryon C., North County Regional

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A plane crash in the western North Carolina mountains has Tempe Brennan rushing to the scene to aid in recovery and identification of the victims. When she finds a severed foot that cannot be matched to any of the passengers, she faces opposition that hampers her investigation. The scene of the book shifts from the mountains to Charlotte, N.C. to Montreal and back again as Tempe enlists the help she needs. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion as the cause of the plane crash is discovered and a gruesome series of murders are uncovered near the crash site. The return of familiar characters and the introduction of some interesting new ones make Fatal Voyage a welcome addition to this popular series.

Reviewed by Karen K., Morrison Regional

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A delegation of six monks, including super sleuth Brother Cadfael, set out from Shrewsbury to Wales to obtain the holy bones of Saint Winifred for the abbey. All goes well for the monks until the day of the meeting of the Gwytherin village leader, Rhisiart, and the English prior. On that day, Rhisiart is found murdered, and it’s up to his daughter and Brother Cadfael to find the killer. Accusations fly and fingers point in many directions. Using reason and psychological skill, Cadfael eliminates possible suspects until he finally narrows it down to the perpetrator. The suspense of the story, along with the humor and charm of Brother Cadfael, will leave the reader waiting for the next adventure.

Reviewed by Christie B., Independence Regional

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Barry Clayton lived in the mountains of North Carolina until he became a police officer in Charlotte. When his father is diagnosed with Alzheimers and has trouble managing the family funeral home, Barry comes home to help out. After a mourner at a funeral kills two people and wounds Barry, the sheriff is happy to have Barry’s help. While there are other murders and the evidence piles up, it is the characters that make the book so appealing. Barry’s interaction with his family, especially his father, is poignant. Changing careers is never easy and Barry’s decision to continue the family’s undertaking business is an emotional one. This first novel by a local author is definitely worth reading.

Reviewed by Karen K., Morrison Regional

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A debut by a 21-year-old author that wins the St. Martin's Press PWA Prize for Best First PI novel is pretty impressive, and this book lives up to its billing. Wayne Weston is found dead of an apparent suicide and his wife and six-year-old daughter are missing. Weston's father hires private detectives Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard to investigate the death and find the missing woman and child. Is the Russian mob involved or is a wealthy real estate tycoon calling the shots? Plot twists, a little romance, and strong characterization make this an engrossing read. Myrtle Beach is the setting for part of the story, adding a local flavor. Look for more adventures with the Perry/Pritchard detective agency.

Reviewed by Dale C., South County Regional

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It's an unusual December in Rome, snow is blanketing the city and there is a bloody murder in the Pantheon. David Hewson's The Sacred Cut begins with a gruesome killing and the action spins forward at breakneck speed to an amazing conclusion. Detective Nic Costa and partner Gianni Peroni arrive on the scene of the brutal slaying only to have their investigation brushed aside by US agents. The plot thickens as one agent, Emily Deacon, is assigned to work the case with the Italian cops. It doesn't take long for Costa and company to realize they are involved in a gruesome conspiracy that took seed years before. The Sacred Cut is David Hewson's third novel in the Nic Costa series. For any reader who loves fully developed characters, intriguing plots and compelling writing try The Sacred Cut.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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C. J. Box has made the crime novel his own. Box uses this genre as his voice and he has much to say. Open Season is his first novel and features Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett who will grab your interest and affection from the first page. He is fiercely honest and loyal to his family and friends, and to himself. Pickett is also determined to find the truth and see justice done at any cost. When outfitters, or hunting guides, turn up murdered in his district Pickett finds the quick answers offered by the local sheriff less than satisfying. His search for the truth is fast paced and relentless. This suspenseful story will hold you right to the last page; Joe Pickett will hold on well past that.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Montezuma is not happy. Strange things are happening, and omens from the east are not helping. When an intended sacrificial victim screams what sounds like omens and then leaps to his death, cheating the gods, a fast-paced mystery is set in motion. Sorcerers sought by Montezuma to explain the unexplainable disappear, and the emperor sees a connection between these events. Yaotl, a slave of the chief minister, is given the task of finding the missing sorcerers and bringing them to Montezuma. Yaotl has a major problem; his master wants these missing sorcerers brought to him first. Ah, but that is only the beginning of his troubles! Levack brings a new series to lovers of historical mysteries, and brings the world of the Aztecs to life in all its bloody splendor.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Grave Surprise, the second installment of Harris’s Harper Connelly series finds Harper and step-brother/manager Tolliver in Memphis. Harper, who was struck by lightning as a child was left with the ability to locate graves and determine the cause of death. Requested by an Anthropology professor at a local college, Harper is demonstrating her skills in an ancient cemetery, when she finds more than what she bargained for. The “new” corpse happens to be the body of a child she was unable to locate two years previously in Nashville. The police and FBI find this to coincidental and detain her for further questioning. What was supposed to be an easy job for Harper turns out to be one of the strangest she has yet.

Reviewed by Sherry J., Sugar Creek

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Bureau of Land Management Agent Jamaica Wild and her wolf, Mountain, burst onto the mystery fiction scene in Wild Indigo. Jamaica witnesses the death of a Tanoah Pueblo man – killed by stampeding buffalo. While everyone around her seems to want to write this death off as a suicide, or content to just leave it be, that just doesn’t set well with Jamaica. Then when the leaders of the tribe seem determined to blame the stampede on Jamaica things really heat up. This exciting debut, written with great respect for the Pueblo and their mystical traditions, marks the birth of a great new series.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) does not disappoint fans with her 23rd mystery, Innocent in Death. Lt. Eve Dallas, homicide cop in 2060, has an innocent victim-a man with no secrets, respected, even loved. Who would kill such a man? While working the case, another problem emerges that throws her off-stride. An old lover of husband Roarke shows up-and she's anything but innocent! Robb's series has endured because the characters are so believable. While there is plenty of action, suspense and humor, it is the author's characters that pull you back again and again.

Reviewed by Cynthia P., Independence Regional

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Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge has to take matters during some police work with a shrug. Case in point--working in the small community of Dudlington, Rutledge arrives to investigate the attack on Constable Hensley in the spooky Frith’s Wood. He’s shot and wounded by an arrow-- no less--and Hensley’s fellow community residents respond with mixed concern and little interest in assisting Rutledge. It appears though that the wounded constable was quietly pursuing an old criminal matter which morphs into a part of Rutledge’s current investigation. Accompanied by the ghostly voice of Hamish (a deceased soldier) and a mysterious Meredith Channing, Rutledge makes many interview rounds in 1919 Dudlington to put to bed the crimes and personal threats in this nicely written mystery.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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Ever had dinner at Costco? Well if you have, this is the book for you, if not than you need to read it to see where all the fun is. Of course the fun is in New Jersey with Stephanie, Morelli, Lulu and the rest of the crazy gang in the Burg. When hottie, Ranger, asks Stephanie to do him a favor and bug her ex-husband's office, she didn’t realize she would be wanted in connection with the jerk's disappearance. Exploding beavers, those darn people at the cable company, flamethrowers and a little grave robbing are what you are in for when you check out this hysterically funny fast-paced read.

Reviewed by Sherry J., Sugar Creek Branch

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Luis Gonzolo is the sheriff of Angustias, a small town in the mountains of central Puerto Rico. While visiting his wife’s family in the coastal town of Rincon he gets caught up in a nasty little police cover-up that turns out not to be so little. Set in 1987, this fine police procedural shines a light on the truth that the smuggling of illegal immigrants, and all the brutality that goes with it, is not limited to the US-Mexico border. A man murdered while trying to steer a boat full of such cargo from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico sets this action-packed novel in motion. Be warned, not every question is fully answered, but then they aren’t in the real world either.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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The latest Harry Bosch novel is something of a departure for Michael Connelly’s bread-and-butter character. Harry has another new job and another new partner, and right from the first page the chase is on to find a murderer. But this time it looks like the murder might just be the tip of an iceberg that includes terrorists and the kind of super-sized threat to the entire city of Los Angeles that normally one associates with an episode of 24. Connelly assures us early on that Harry “would be willing and able to go the distance – whatever that entailed – to get the job done” and this amazingly fast-reading page-turner keeps that promise.

Reviewed by Robert S., Matthews Branch

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Seattle’s Special Homicide Investigations Team member J.P. Beaumont is finally back! Beau is asked by the state’s Attorney General to begin a confidential investigation into the murder of an ex-con that begins to show similarities to another investigation. Meanwhile Beau’s partner in work and life, Melissa Soames, is conducting a routine check on registered sex offenders when she comes upon a disturbing pattern. Mel and Beau team up to catch the mysterious nun on the run when the pattern begins to suggest an inside job at the state crime lab and a connection to Beau’s case. What looks like a simple murder turns into a case of corruption, conspiracy and multi murders. Grab this exciting new edition to the J.P. Beaumont series and delve into the world of J.P. Beaumont.

Reviewed by Sherry J., Sugar Creek Branch

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Here is a magnificent mix of mystery, cyber punk, alternative history, and literary noir. In a 21st century both familiar and odd we meet Ashraf Bey al Mansur, Pashazade. Raf, as he is called, is not as he seems. Raf has come to El Iskandryia at the behest of his Aunt Nafisa to meet his potential bride, Zara. Raf's real identity is one of many mysteries here; even he isn't sure just who he is. He knows he has served time in an American prison for a murder he didn't commit. He also knows that he has undergone genetic and cyber augmentations. He soon learns that his life depends on him solving the mysteries surrounding his aunt's death. What a start to Grmwood's Arabesk trilogy!

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Turner is a man seeking peace and a little private time to lick his wounds. After the horrors of his time as a policeman in Memphis and then as an inmate, he needs to lose himself in the middle of nowhere for a while. The little cabin he finds for rent outside Cypress Grove seems the perfect place. After all, there is no one else around except for Nathan, a fellow loaner perfectly content to sit quietly on the porch sipping bourbon while listening to the crickets. Well, it’s perfect for a while, but the world always finds such a man, and Turner is no different. Still, this small Southern town has its own ways of healing the wounded.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Kinsey has tackled some tough cases in the past but this one hits close to home for her. Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone is asked to perform a routine background check into her neighbor’s caregiver. What should be a simple case turns deadly as Kinsey battles the evils of elder abuse, fraud and identity theft. Kinsey juggles this tragic case as well as her other cases of automobile insurance fraud and apartment squatting to make this novel a rollercoaster of emotions. Author, Sue Grafton, and her intrepid P.I. Kinsey encounter these and several other social tragedies as she slowly builds the tension in this latest installment in her alphabetical mystery series.

Reviewed by Sherry J., Sugar Creek Branch

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Meet V.I. "Vic" Warchawski, a tough-as-nails Chicago P.I. When her cousin, ex-hockey star Boom Boom Warchawski, drowns on a busy delivery dock, V.I. becomes suspicious of how he died. While investigating the cause of his death, she is drawn into the dark underbelly of the Great Lakes shipping industry. The story unfolds slowly and lulls you into a false sense of security, until the first attempt on Vic's life. After that it is a wild ride to the end with our heroine tirelessly putting the pieces of the case together, even in her dreams. Recommended for all hard-boiled detective fans.

Reviewed by Christie B., Independence Regional

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Welcome to the world of Sonchai Jitpleecheep – devout Buddhist and Royal Thai police detective in Bangkok. Jitpleecheep is called on to investigate the gruesome murder of CIA operative, Mitch Turner. The case seems a slam dunk, but nothing is ever that simple in Bangkok. Soon the pages are teaming with CIA agents, prostitutes of various genders, a corrupt Thai army general, a number of Muslims, and a Japanese tattoo artist. Burdett pens a gripping mystery, but the real treat is seeing your own society through an outsider’s eyes. Jitpleecheep is perplexed by Americans and other Westerners. His observations, though gentle, are often dead-on and hilarious. It helps soften the blow that he turns his eye and sharp wit on his own too.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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As contemporary art dealer Ethan Muller discusses his current predicament with his girl friend Marilyn, she takes a positive tact to the issue. “You know, [she says] I love that you’re solving a murder mystery. That’s what we need around here, a good murder mystery.” At that moment, Ethan sharply disagrees but the reader knows better. A unique art collection falls into Ethan’s possession and he is stunned to discover its models are apparently murder victims. Is the eccentric missing artist involved in this—or instead some type of genius? Author Jesse Kellerman creates some master strokes himself with an enjoyable, inventive mystery of the amateur sleuth art dealer investigating for answers in a case which dates back generations for a thorough explanation.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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Michael Cox broke out on the literary scene with his enchanting Victorian mystery The Meaning of Night, ensnaring readers and leading many of us to believe it could not be topped. However Cox has once again shown his amazing talent for gothic inspired elegance and page turning plots in his sequel The Glass of Time. The intricately woven saga revolves around a “Great Task” presented to the young Esperanza Gorst as she is sent to enter the service of the great Lady Tansor. Wrapped in mystery and intrigue even the young lady herself knows not her purpose but only that it shall soon unfold. Reminding readers of Wilkie Collins, Cox is a rare modern treat for the gothic literary lover who has exhausted the classics.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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Working as a young rookie cop in Sea Haven—“this eighteen-mile-long strip of sand-in-your shoes paradise down the Jersey Shore”--Danny Boyle often feels life is good. That beach environment is nice but also sometimes very unsafe. Danny’s partner, John Ceepak, by chance unearths a clue--leading to additional ones--in that same beach which links ultimately to a series cold case murders. Ceepak, a former MP from the Iraq War, pushes relentlessly into this uncomfortable investigation as the murder appears to have resurfaced after a 15-year break. Boyle dutifully follows Ceepak as the events unfold—devoted to the “thirty-six-year-old Eagle-Scout-slash-Jarhead” who does not ever lie. This book is the third of a clever, inventive, and funny series by Chris Grabenstein.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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First published in the early 50s, Ross MacDonald’s The Way Some People Die has the wonderful flair of classic noir fiction. Former cop and respectable private investigator Lew Archer is hired to search for a missing daughter for a refined, aging widow, Mrs. Samuel Lawrence. Her daughter, Galatea (“Galley”), is a young, independent adult, but Mrs. Lawrence is worried and apparently with just cause. Galley had quietly married a man of means but he works as a mobster. His sudden disappearance with a large amount of money sets his associates on his trail and Archer follows suit. From Santa Monica to San Francisco, this lone wolf detective tirelessly follows the case to its final end with his wise-cracks and an eye for justice.

Reviewed by Lawrence T., South County Regional

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Cold Dish opens Johnson’s series featuring Walt Longmire, Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Johnson introduces a great cast of characters, especially Longmire and his pal Henry Standing Bear. Longmire has been set adrift by the loss of his wife. Henry, or as Walt often calls him, the Cheyenne Nation, has decided it’s time to free his friend from grief and sets a plan in motion – Walt wants no part of it. Oh yeah, there’s also a mystery to be solved; one of four young men guilty of the violent sexual assault of a young Cheyenne girl, is found murdered. The four received minor punishment and it seems someone isn’t satisfied. Thus begins a great series in the noir tradition and Johnson’s perfect timing and humor promise hours of reading pleasure.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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This is the second installment of the Her Royal Spyness series. Georgina is asked by the queen to play host to Princess Hannalore of Bavaria while she stays in England. She is eighteen and just out of the convent and proves a challenge for Georgiana. When people are murdered and the main link is that she and Hanni were there when the murders took place she must find out who did it and why. This is a fast pace read with twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Reviewed by Rachel K., University City Regional

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A new coauthor and a new husband and wife duo mean lots of new possibilities for adventure. The Fargos, Sam and Remi, are professional treasure hunters. They already have enough money to do whatever they like so they look for lost artifacts to donate to museums and countries. While on a quest in America, they find a WWII German mini-submarine. This sends them off in another direction. They head for Europe to find a set of Napoleonic wine bottles. Of course, they are only steps ahead of the villains. They travel through several countries dodging bullets. Think Indiana Jones style adventure.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Virgil Flowers, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, just wants to fish. It's his vacation. Instead he gets called to go solve a murder at the Eagle's Nest, a women's only hotel in the woods. All the women want is a nice place to vacation, the woods, a spa, boy toy waiters and each other. There's sex and a country band. The band has a great lead singer. Did one of these cause the murder? There's jealousy and a love triangle. There's an old murder and a second new murder. Virgil will have to work hard to solve this one. Virgil Flowers is a fun new character on the mystery scene. Minnesota has both cities and country, so there are lots of places for murders.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Why is a 40 year old murder causing so much trouble today? How does her uncle and father (both cops) fit into it? Where is Lamont Gadsden, and can he be found before his aunt dies? Is the political campaign that her cousin Petra is working on, involved? Does it have anything to do with the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? V.I. Warshawski has too many questions and not enough answers. She gets even more questions when she and a nun she's interviewing are fire bombed! Where does that fit? To find out the answers, follow V.I.Warshawski, female detective, through Chicago's past and present. Another great addition to this series.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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A school reunion. A murdered founder. A house full of suspects. It has the elements of a classic whodunit. Emily and Ollie, Chicago police detectives are called to a former school for children with autism. The founder, Dr. Schermerhon has been found murdered by what appears to be stab wounds and other gruesome injuries. The suspects include former staff, students who are now adults, and their parents. As the detectives probe into the present and past, they learn about autism as well as Dr.Schermerhorn's methods. Who would have wanted to kill the well-renowned man? Maybe someone who knew the ugly truth about him. This startling read is told in Emily's voice with detours into the past and present of other characters.

Reviewed by Jeanenne R., Steele Creek Branch

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Little does attorney Paul Madriani know when he befriends Katia, a Costa Rican woman, he will be implicated in a homicide. Katia is visiting a rare coin dealer and ex-CIA agent obsessed with pictures Katia’s mother took in Colombia. He delays her return home trying to pinpoint the site of the pictures. Katia escapes on the night an assassin comes to kill her and the coin dealer and steal these pictures. Katia is apprehended, charged with murder; Madriani comes to her defense. When the Feds become involved, Madriani and investigator Harry Hinds hustle to clear Katia. They don’t realize they will uncover one of Castro’s closely guarded secrets. Martini takes time to set his characters and plot in place, then unleashes a harrowing, heart-stopping tale with stunning factual roots.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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This is the latest installment of the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries. While on a trip to the country to do research for a book of architectural follies at Appsworth Hall, a home that is reputed to have the best grotto in the country, Daisy gets pulled into the mystery surrounding the death of Lord Rydal. This is a man who has no tact and is rumored to be having an affair with one of the guests at Appsworth Hall while pursuing the hand in marriage of another. He is killed when the grotto explodes. The suspect list is a long one and Daisy helps her husband and the local constabulary figure out who did it. This is a well written mystery that will keep readers guessing as to the solution until the very end.

Reviewed by Rachel K., University City Regional

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