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| Death of an Unsung Hero: A Lady Montfort Mystery by Tessa ArlenWhat it's about: In 1916, Haversham Hall is a hospital for World War I officers suffering from shell shock (though some locals feel the men are simply malingerers). After one of the men is murdered and another patient is blamed, Lady Montfort and housekeeper/quartermaster Mrs. Jackson are on the case in this nicely plotted, richly detailed 4th in a series.
For fans of: Charles Todd, Jacqueline Winspear, country house mysteries, and stories set in England during World War I. |
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| The Glass Room: A Vera Stanhope Mystery by Ann CleevesWhat happens: When DI Vera Stanhope's neighbor Joanna goes missing, Vera finds her at a country house writers' retreat -- but a man's been murdered and Joanna's discovered standing over the body, holding a knife.
Is it for you? Yes, if you'd like a modern take on the traditional English mystery and appreciate fully realized (and realistically flawed) characters.
Media buzz: This is the 5th entry in the consistently satisfying, atmospheric series that's the basis for the popular British crime show Vera. |
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| Antique Blues: A Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery by Jane K. ClelandWhat it's about: Antiques expert and bride-to-be Josie Prescott agrees to appraise two pieces for her friend Mo: her dad's vintage guitar and a Japanese woodblock print Mo bought from her sister's unpleasant boyfriend. When it seems like at least one of these is a fake and a murderer strikes, amateur sleuth Josie investigates.
Series alert: This is the 12th in an engaging cozy series that features sympathetic characters, intriguing details about antiques, and a charming coastal New Hampshire setting. |
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| Crimson Lake by Candice FoxFeaturing: former Sydney cop Ted Conkaffey, who's innocent but was charged with the brutal rape of a teen and freed due to lack of evidence.
What happens: Ted's notoriety, the threat of rearrest at any time, and continual harassment send him north, to the crocodile-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake. There, he rents a shack and helps convicted killer turned PI Amanda Pharrell (who may also be innocent) with a case.
Is it for you? Definitely, if you like Australian crime fiction or gritty, atmospheric mysteries peopled with intriguing characters. |
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| Now May You Weep by Deborah CrombieWhat happens: London DI Gemma James and her best friend Hazel travel to Scotland, ostensibly for a cookery class...but Hazel, who's married, secretly plans to meet up with her ex, a distillery owner, who's soon murdered. Meanwhile, Gemma's lover, Scotland Yard Supt. Duncan Kincaid, deals with a custody battle involving his former mother-in-law.
Who should read it: Fans of Scotch whiskey will especially enjoy this intricately plotted 9th Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James mystery.
Reviewers say: "many-layered, deceptively mellow, packing quite a kick" (Booklist). |
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Three may keep a secret
by Susan Van Kirk
What it's about: Haunted by a brutal event from her past, retired teacher Grace Kimball is hired to research the dark history of the small town of Endurance in the wake of two murders, a local celebration and her growing attraction to her employer.
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| Bryant & May and the Bleeding Heart: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher FowlerWhat it's about: Something odd is going on in London...again. The Peculiar Crimes Unit's octogenarian police detectives Arthur Bryant and John May investigate the disappearance of seven Tower of London ravens and the death of a teen who'd claimed he'd seen a reanimated corpse. And then there are the budget cuts they have to deal with.
Series alert: This cleverly plotted, darkly humorous 11th in the Peculiar Crimes series will please fans and newcomers alike. |
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The Devil May Care
by David Housewright
"Riley Brodin is the granddaughter of Walter Muehlenhaus--a man as rich, powerful, and connected as anyone since the days of J. P. Morgan. Despite her family's connections, it's McKenzie she reaches out to when her relatively new boyfriend goes missing. Despite his reservations about getting involved with the Muehlenhaus family--again--McKenzie agrees to look for one Juan Carlos Navarre. What he finds, though, is a man who appears to be a ghost. The house--mansion, really--he told Riley he owned is actually a rental, barely lived in and practically devoid of personal effects. The restaurant he claimed to own is owned by another and Navarre merely an investor. He apparently has no friends, no traceable past, and McKenzie isn't the only one looking for him. Whoever Juan Carlos Navarre is and wherever he's gone, the one thing that is clear is that he's trouble, and is perhaps someone--as Riley's family makes clear--better out of the picture. Unfortunately for everyone, McKenzie likes trouble and trouble likes him"
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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