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"Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." ~ Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), American actor, politician, and former president
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| City of Jackals by Parker BilalMystery. In 2005, Cairo, Egypt struggles with an influx of refugees who are fleeing trouble in their homeland of Sudan. In the midst of this, private investigator Makana is hired to investigate the disappearance of a missing Sudanese university student. Makana, who's Sudanese himself, finds the case slow going at first, but a decapitated head pulled from the river near where he lives just might open up the case. This intelligent 5th in a series by Parker Bilal (a pseudonym of author Jamal Mahjoub) can be read on its own; it's also a nice choice for fans of Michael Pearce's Cairo-set Mamur Zapt historical mysteries who'd appreciate a look at modern Egypt. |
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| Trail of Echoes by Rachel Howzell HallPolice Procedural. Newly divorced Los Angeles homicide detective Elouise "Lou" Norton grew up in the projects, so her new case hits a bit close to home: a serial killer is targeting talented girls from a poor area, and the first victim lived in the same tough complex where Lou grew up. With its realistic dialogue and gritty feel, this well-wrought 3rd Detective Elouise Norton novel provides a riveting look at L.A., which should please fans of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch as well as those of Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins (who will also be happy to find another justice-seeking African American detective). |
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| Collecting the Dead by Spencer KopeCrime Fiction. Talented FBI tracker Magnus "Steps" Craig, known as the "human bloodhound," has a bit of an advantage over his coworkers: he can see a person's "shine." (Shine is specific to individuals, can't be erased, and marks where he or she's been.) Even as Steps and his partner Jimmy (one of only three people who know Step's secret) hunt one murderer, they investigate a crime scene which bears the shine of a serial killer, someone they've been pursuing for years. If you enjoyed David Baldacci's Memory Man, where a PI has the amazing ability to remember everything, or John Connolly's Charlie Parker novels and their supernatural elements, we have a feeling you'll want to try this gripping debut. |
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| Buffalo Jump Blues: A Sean Stranahan Mystery by Keith McCaffertyMystery. Several bison have fallen to their deaths, herded over a Montana cliff in a disturbing replication of a Native American hunting technique -- except these animals are left to suffer and no one plans to eat them. When Sheriff Martha Ettinger and her deputy (and current lover) Harold Little Feather investigate, they find the corpse of a Native American nearby and more questions arise. Meanwhile, fishing guide/artist/PI Sean Stranahan helps track down a friend of beautiful Ida Evening Star, but it isn't long before Sean finds his case intersecting with Martha's (his recent lover). With plenty of quirky characters, environmental issues, and an atmospheric outdoorsy setting, this 5th in the Martha Ettinger and Sean Stranahan mysteries might appeal to fans of C.J. Box and Craig Johnson. |
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| Missing, Presumed: A Novel by Susie SteinerMystery. Though told from the viewpoints of several characters, Missing, Presumed focuses on 39-year-old Cambridgeshire Detective Sargent Manon Bradshaw, who's single and unhappy about it (making her a regular on internet-dating sites). Working with DC Davy Walker on the high-profile disappearance of Edith Hind -- a beautiful Cambridge graduate student whose father is surgeon to the Royal Family -- Manon digs into the Edith's past as the clock ticks and hopes of finding her alive start to diminish. Readers who appreciate Elizabeth George's richly detailed, intricately plotted police procedurals will want to check out this novel. |
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| The Art of Murder: A Dead-End Job Mystery by Elaine VietsCozy Mystery. While touring a gorgeous mansion-turned-museum in Fort Lauderdale, PI Helen Hawthorne and her friend Margery meet Annabel, an up-and-coming artist...and witness her death. Hired to find out how Annabel's tea was poisoned and by whom, Helen goes undercover once again in her 15th outing, which provides a colorful look at the art world. Meanwhile, Helen's PI husband tries to sort out who the "Gold Ghost" is as numerous gold coins and valuables disappear from exclusive high-rise apartments. Readers looking for humor and Florida sunshine in a lighthearted package will want to check out The Art of Murder. For more cozy Florida fun, try Blaize Clement's Dixie Hemingway mysteries. |
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| Deadly Election by Lindsey DavisHistorical Mystery. In July 89 A.D., 29-year-old Flavia Albia returns to Rome on business; since her father retired, she's in charge of the family auction house and his detective work. When her workmen find a body in a chest slated to be sold at auction, she tries to sort out who the victim was; at the same time, her would-be suitor, Faustus, asks for help with a friend's political campaign, which could prove deadly. Already read this 3rd outing? Look for The Graveyard of the Hesperides, which was just released (and if you haven't already, be sure to check out the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries starring Flavia's father). Interested in more mysteries populated with ancient Romans? Try books by Stephen Saylor and Ruth Downie. |
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| Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu XiaolongPolice Procedural. While poetry-loving up-and-coming Chief Inspector Chen Cao hosts a small housewarming party in his highly coveted (though small) new apartment in overcrowded Shanghai, a corpse is discovered in a canal 20 miles away. Cao investigates and learns that the murdered young woman was a National Model Worker, and thus a symbol of China and a tool of propaganda for the Communist party; he also finds his case hampered by people scared to talk and the tense political climate. This 1st in a series that now numbers nine won the Anthony Award for best first novel in 2001. For another look at policing in contemporary China, read Peter May's China novels, starting with The Firemaker. |
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| Paw and Order: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer QuinnHumorous Mystery. Chet the dog hilariously narrates his adventure-filled days with his human, PI Bernie Little. Though the duo normally reside out west (Chet's not 100% sure about the state), man and dog are currently on the East Coast after finishing up a job. Since they're so close to Washington, D.C., they head north to visit reporter Suzie Sanchez, Bernie's sometime girlfriend, but when they get to her house, a handsome Brit is leaving. After the man ends up dead, Chet and Bernie find themselves in the path of a powerful operative with links to an international conspiracy -- and a strange "bird" and a guinea pig named Barnum are involved, too. Animal lovers will wolf down this delightful 7th in a series; newcomers can start here or pick up the 1st book, Dog On It. |
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| The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi RyanMystery. Formerly a popular Boston TV news reporter, Jane Ryland wouldn't reveal her source when the station was sued and now she's working for a local newspaper. Things get worse before they get better when Jane's secret source is killed and she investigates a candidate's secret mistress days before a pivotal Senate election. Meanwhile, there might be links between all of this and a possible serial killer investigation by handsome police detective Jake Brogan. Library Journal says "readers who crave mystery and political intrigue will be mesmerized" by this suspenseful 1st Jane Ryland novel. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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