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The Outsider
by Stephen King
What happens: An eleven-year-old boy's violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City's most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King's propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense.
Is it for you? Yes, especially if you are a fan of Stephen King. An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.
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Probable Claws
by Rita Mae Brown
What it's about: Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her friends and animal companions pursue the threads of a mystery dating back to Virginia's post-Revolutionary past, when their 18th-century predecessors struggled with the challenges of the fledgling country. In the present day, Harry's new friendship with Marvella Lawson, doyenne of the Richmond art world, leads her to rediscover her own creative passions--and reveals evidence of an all too contemporary crime.
Series alert: Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown return with the 27th book in their bestselling Mrs. Murphy series, as mysteries past and present converge in Albemarle County, Virginia.
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Beyond the Pale
by Clare O'Donohue
What happens: For college professors Hollis and Finn Larsson, a simple undercover errand becomes a deadly jaunt across Ireland in this edge-of-your-seat suspense novel from bestselling author Clare O'Donohue
It's an easy, twenty-minute job. At least, that's the pitch from Interpol to professors Hollis and Finn Larsson. Going undercover to procure a priceless rare book manuscript means an all-expenses paid trip abroad. A little danger thrown into the mix may even spice up their marriage. Soon after landing in the Emerald Isle, they realize the job is anything but easy. Their contact is a no-show and they're left with fifty thousand euros, a death threat, and some serious questions. Ducking and dodging their way across Ireland, Hollis and Finn must hunt down the priceless manuscript and a missing agent while trying to stay one step ahead of a dangerous and unknown enemy.
Series alert: This is the 1st book in the new World of Spies Mystery series.
Is it for you? "Armchair travelers will delight in the colorful descriptions of Ireland, while mystery buffs who enjoy charming sleuths will appreciate the quick-witted couple"--Library Journal
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Angels flight : Library Edition
by Michael Connelly
An activist attorney is killed in a cute little L.A. trolley called Angels Flight, far from Harry Bosch's Hollywood turf. But the case is so explosive -- and the dead man's enemies inside the LAPD are so numerous -- that it falls to Harry to solve it. Now the streets are superheating. Harry's year-old Vegas marriage is unraveling. And the hunt for a killer is leading Harry to another high-profile L.A. murder case, one where every cop had a motive. The question is, did any have the guts?
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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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| A Different Kind of Evil by Andrew WilsonStarring: the "Queen of Crime" herself, Agatha Christie.
What it is: a sequel to A Talent for Murder and an homage to Golden Age mysteries that finds Christie traveling to the Canary Islands, where she investigates the suspicious death of a British agent on Tenerife.
Try this next: Nicola Upson's atmospheric Josephine Tey mysteries (the 1st is An Expert in Murder), which also feature a real mystery author turned fictional detective. |
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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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| The Heavens May Fall by Allen EskensStarring: Minnesota private detective Max Rupert and attorney Boady Sanden, friends who find themselves on opposite sides of a case.
What happens: Max and Boady both confront personal demons and their own convictions about guilt and innocence during the trial of a man who has been charged with the murder of his wife.
Why you might like it: This 3rd book featuring Max has legal drama, compelling characters, and an ending you won't see coming. |
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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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| Seeking Whom He May Devour: Chief Inspector Adamsberg Investigates by Fred Vargas; translated from the French by David BellosWhat happens: Residents of a French Alpine village disagree on whether the killer of sheep and later a woman is a large wolf, a werewolf, or a person. With his ex-girlfriend living in the area, eccentric Commissaire Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg is drawn into the curious case.
Series alert: This is the amusing, engrossing 2nd Chief Inspector Adamsberg investigation after The Chalk Circle Man; the 8th book translated to English, A Climate of Fear, was released last year. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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