|
|
|
|
| Play the Fool by Lina ChernIntroducing: Katie True, a lonely 29-year-old tarot card reader who works a dead-end job at a shop in a mall and dreams of better things.
Trouble ahead: Katie reads cards for an injured man, and before he leaves, spies a photo on his phone of what appears to be the dead body of a woman who works at a nearby shop. Determined to do right by her friend, Katie teams up with a local cop and her super-smart brother.
Reviewers say: a "good-natured romp" (Publishers Weekly); "Katie will captivate readers with her wry sense of humor and self-deprecating asides" (Library Journal). |
|
| Ozark Dogs by Eli CranorFamily feuds: In a small town full of secrets in Arkansas's Ozark Mountains, the Fitzjurl and Ledford families have hated each other for years. Now, high school senior Joanna Fitzjurl is missing.
Revenge is served: The Ledfords see Joanna as payment for the killing of their family member by Joanna's dad -- but Joanna's grandfather, who was a sniper in Vietnam, will do anything to get back the granddaughter he raised.
Read this next: For more Southern noir novels, try books by S.A. Cosby, Brian Panowich, David Joy, or Daniel Woodrell. |
|
| Fixit by Joe IdeKidnapped: Grace, the ex-girlfriend of PI Isaiah "IQ" Quintabe, is taken by one of IQ's most dangerous enemies, and he needs to get to her quick. But he's hampered by LAPD detective Winnie Hando, who wants to solve the case before IQ can.
Series alert: This action-packed 6th IQ novel is fine for new readers, and series fans will definitely want to read it.
For fans of: gritty Los Angeles-area mysteries, such as Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels, Michael Connelly's crime novels, or Gar Anthony Haywood's Aaron Gunner mysteries. |
|
| A Death in Denmark by Amulya MalladiIntroducing: Gabriel Præst, an elegant blues-loving PI and former Copenhagen cop who was fired for leaking details about corruption.
What happens: Præst agrees to help his lawyer ex-lover prove that a Muslim immigrant isn't guilty of the murder he's been convicted of, in a case with ties to Denmark's role in World War II.
For fans of: evocative Scandinavian crime fiction with intriguing detectives; well-researched fast-paced mysteries. |
|
| Symphony of Secrets by Brendan SlocumbThe prelude: The Delaney Foundation hires expert Bern Hendricks to authenticate a newfound work by famed composer Frederic Delaney, who worked in 1920s and '30s New York City.
The problem: What Bern and a computer savvy friend discover could upend their lives and the music world -- and there's a murder to deal with too.
Why you might like it: With chapters set in the past and the present, this "superb novel" (Kirkus Reviews) offers fascinating characters, a compelling plot, and an insightful look at racism in classical music. |
|
| Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas1893 London: Inquiry agents Cyrus Baker and Thomas Llewelyn hunt for a missing British Museum volunteer who'd found a heart-shaped ruby in the chest of a heretofore ignored female mummy.
What happens: The mummy might be Cleopatra, a murdered man is found in the Thames, and our delightful duo travel the city looking for answers.
Series alert: This is the atmospheric 14th in the Barker and Llewelyn mysteries, but newcomers can start here. Those who want to start with the pair's 1st outing can check out Some Danger Involved. |
|
| In the Shadow of Vesuvius by Tasha AlexanderWelcome to... Pompeii in 1902, where Lady Emily Ashton and her husband Colin, an agent for the British Crown, have traveled see the ruins at the invitation of a friend.
Unexpected events: Not only does Lady Emily find modern remains amidst ancient ones, but a young woman shows up claiming to be Colin's daughter. Meanwhile, in 79 CE, Greek poet Kassandra, who was once enslaved, pens her story.
Series alert: Richly detailed and atmospheric, this is the 14th Lady Emily Ashton mystery. The 17th, A Cold Highland Wind, is due in October. |
|
| Terns of Endearment by Donna AndrewsStarring: Virginia blacksmith Meg Langslow, an amateur sleuth who's a mother of two and part of a large family of animal lovers.
What happens: Meg's famous naturalist grandfather is lecturing on a cruise, so his friends and family get discounted rates and go too. When a malfunctioning ship strands them near the Bermuda Triangle and a dead body is found, Meg and her relatives investigate.
Series alert: This is the 25th entry in this fun series and can be enjoyed by anyone; the 33rd book, Birder, She Wrote, arrives in August. |
|
| The Dark Angel by Elly GriffithsThe trip: Asked to help identify Roman-era bones found in a picturesque hilltop town in Italy, English forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway makes a vacation of it, taking her young daughter Kate along.
What happens: Threats and a modern murder have Ruth watching her back while pondering a link between the old and the new. Meanwhile, worried dad DCI Harry Nelson -- who fathered Kate during an affair with Ruth -- shows up even as trouble brews for him back home.
Series alert: This entertaining 10th Ruth Galloway mystery has a vibrant setting and complex characters. Looking for the latest entry? The 15th book, The Last Remains, came out in April. |
|
| All the Devils Are Here by Louise PennyCity of Light: Canadian Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is in Paris with his wife visiting friends and family when his billionaire godfather is almost killed by a car. Certain this wasn't an accident, Gamache investigates, getting help from his family.
Series alert: This Agatha Award winner is the 16th in an acclaimed series and a fine starting place for those who haven't met Gamache.
Read this next: If you want more Paris and love character-driven mysteries with a strong sense of place, try Cara Black's Aimee Leduc novels. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Atlantic County Library System | 40 Farragut Avenue, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 625-2776 | www.atlanticlibrary.org
   |
|  | Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson
Atlantic County Board of Commissioners, Maureen Kern, Chairwoman |
|
|
|