Mystery
July 2018
Recent Releases
The Lonely Witness
by William Boyle

Starring: Amy Falconetti -- a former party girl now volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister for the elderly in her Brooklyn neighborhood -- who witnesses a murder and takes the weapon instead of calling the cops.

For fans of: character-driven gritty mysteries with strong senses of place like those by George Pelecanos, as well as William Boyle's earlier novel Gravesend, in which Amy plays a role.

Reviewers say: "this is crime fiction at its best: immersive, intense, and darkly illuminating" (Publishers Weekly). 
Murder at the Mansion: A Victorian Village Mystery
by Sheila Connolly

What happens: Hotel administrator Kate loses her job due to a change in ownership and returns to her small hometown of Asheboro, Maryland. She's agreed to help the town revive itself, focusing on a recently acquired historic Victorian mansion. Kate thinks turning Asheboro into a living-history town will save it -- but the murder of a town council member at the mansion complicates things.

Series alert: This 1st in a new cozy mystery series has a small-town setting, Civil War history, and a touch of romance.
A Howl of Wolves
by Judith Flanders

Starring: deliciously witty (and sometimes snarky) London editor Samantha "Sam" Clair in her fun 4th outing.

What happens: At a play featuring actor friends, Sam and her Scotland Yard detective boyfriend Jake Field investigate when a "dummy" hanging on the stage turns out to be a body, that of the unpopular director.

Who it's for: those who like mystery novels with theater settings, amusing looks at the world of book publishing, or British dry wit.
The Word Is Murder
by Anthony Horowitz

What happens: In this delightful fair play mystery (the 1st in a proposed series), a London murder brings together acerbic PI Daniel Hawthorne with writer Anthony Horowitz (yes, the author is a character), who chronicles the case, acting as a modern-day Watson.

Who it's for: Sherlockians, Golden Age mystery fans, and those who relish innovative, original crime novels.

Author buzz: Not only is Anthony Horowitz the author of the bestselling books Magpie Murders and Moriarty, he also wrote the Alex Rider spy series for kids and created the acclaimed TV show Foyle's War.
A Taste for Vengeance: A Bruno, Chief of Police Novel
by Martin Walker

Starring: recently promoted Bruno, now policing more of France's Périgord region, bringing him new bosses and new responsibilities.

What happens: A missing British tourist is found dead -- as is her companion, a mysterious Irishman who may have ties to the IRA. Also, the top teenage player on the rugby team that Bruno coaches is pregnant, just as she was bound for the national team.

Series alert: This is the charming 11th Bruno novel that beautifully describes village life, the French countryside, and the mouthwatering cuisine and wine that Bruno so enjoys.
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