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| The Woman in the Library by Sulari GentillThe letters: Hannah, a published author, provides chapters from her work-in-progress to Leo, a longtime fan, who chattily emails his feedback...but his correspondence grows disturbing.
The book: In Hannah's novel, after a disturbing incident at the Boston Public Library, four visitors strike up a friendship, but one of them may be a killer.
For fans of: twisty novel-within-a-novel mysteries, Anthony Horowitz's books, Eva Jurczyk's The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, and Jane Pek's The Verifiers. |
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| The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions: The Ultimate Miss Phryne Fisher Story Collection by Kerry GreenwoodWhat it is: a witty, entertaining collection of 15 stories (including four new ones), all starring the elegant, irrepressible Phryne Fisher, who amuses herself solving crimes in 1920s Australia.
Stories include: "Puttin' on the Ritz," "Overheard on a Balcony," "The Bells of St. Paul's," "Carnival," "Marrying the Bookie's Daughter."
Reviewers say: "delightful" (Kirkus Reviews); "a favorite sleuth who dispenses justice in her own inimitable way" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Something Wicked by David HousewrightThe setup: Cop turned unofficial PI Rush McKenzie is taking it easy in St. Paul, Minnesota, after investigating a case that almost killed him. But then his wife's friend needs help after her wealthy grandmother dies.
What happens: Rush stays at the deceased woman's luxury hotel, located in a 19th-century castle situated by a lake, but his inquiries are thwarted by a cremated body and feuding relatives. Then there's a second death.
Read this next: For another mystery series starring a cop who left the force after a large payday, pick up Stephen Mack Jones' August Snow series, which is set in Detroit. |
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| The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini NagendraStarring: Kaveri Murthy, a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes and mathematics fan who's moved to Bangalore in 1921 after her arranged marriage to handsome young doctor Ramu.
What happens: When a party at the Century Club ends with a murder and a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri investigates, going everywhere from shacks and brothels to an Englishman's mansion.
For fans of: Alexander McCall Smith, Sujata Massey, Vaseem Khan, and lighthearted mysteries with charming characters. |
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| Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman1924 Manhattan: After sewing in a factory all day, Vivian escapes to the Nightingale, a speakeasy run by Honor "Hux" Huxley where people dance and drink together, no matter their class, race, or sexual orientation.
What happens: Vivian finds a murdered man outside the club, and then gets caught in a police raid. When Hux bails her out of jail, she asks Vivian to help find out who the dead man was and who wanted him dead.
For fans of: evocative New York City-set historical mysteries with entertaining characters, such as Stephen Spotswood's Pentecost and Parker mysteries. |
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| The Key to Deceit by Ashley WeaverStarring: Electra McDonnell, who's part of a family of locksmiths and safecrackers and occasionally helps out British intelligence.
What happens: In 1940 London, Electra's given a new job from handsome Major Ramsey: she's to unlock a strange bracelet found on the body of a drowned woman. Electra makes quick work of the lock, then she and the major try to find out if the victim was a spy, and if so, who she was working for.
Series alert: Following A Peculiar Combination, The Key to Deceit is the 2nd in a fun series and a "thoroughly ingenious blend of rom-com and spy cozy" (Booklist). |
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| The Killer in the Choir by Simon BrettFriends and neighbors: Fifty-somethings Carole, who's retired, and Jude, who works as a healer, live in the seaside Sussex village of Fethering.
What happens: An elderly man dies after falling down the stairs, then his daughter accuses her stepmother of murder at the funeral. Since the widow is a dedicated member of the community choir, Carole and Jude join it and investigate.
Series alert: The 19th Fethering cozy mystery features humor, red herrings, and entertaining characters. The 21st novel, Death and the Decorator, comes out this month. |
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| Star Island by Carl HiaasenMissing: Ann DeLusia, the secret body double of pop star Cherry Pye, who struggles with addictions and doesn't always make it to events.
What happens: Cherry's entourage (a mixed bag, to be sure) has to rescue Ann from an obsessed paparazzo who thinks she's Cherry, while also keeping Ann's existence a secret not only from Cherry's adoring public, but also from Cherry herself.
Why you might like it: Star Island is "classic Carl Hiaasen -- demented, hilarious, and utterly over the top" (Booklist) and features a creatively wacky plot that pokes fun at the world of celebrity.
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| Trouble Is What I Do by Walter MosleyWhat happens: A 92-year-old Black Mississippi bluesman, Catfish Worry, is targeted by an infamous assassin. New York detective Leonid McGill takes the case to keep Catfish safe and to get a message to Catfish's wealthy white granddaughter, to let her know of her heritage.
Want a taste? "They both wore new blue jeans, checkered blue work shirts, and hard leather shoes that had counted more miles than a Fitbit could imagine."
Series alert: This is the 6th and most recent Leonid McGill mystery and it offers compelling dialogue, fascinating characters, and a gritty look at contemporary New York City. |
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| Tie Die by Max TomlinsonStarring: unlicensed PI Colleen Hayes, who spent ten years in prison for killing her abusive ex and who is the mother of an adult daughter in a cult.
How it begins: Though he was a British rock star as a teen, 29-year-old Steve Cook now works construction in 1978 San Francisco and is dad to a difficult 11-year-old girl.
What happens: When his daughter is kidnapped, desperate Steve turns to Colleen for help. Knowing what it's like to lose your child, Colleen investigates in this compelling, atmospheric follow-up to Vanishing in the Haight, which introduced the resilient PI.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Atlantic County Library System | 40 Farragut Avenue, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 625-2776 | www.atlanticlibrary.org
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|  | Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson
Atlantic County Board of Commissioners, Maureen Kern, Chairwoman |
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