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| Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle CosimanoWhat it's about: In her witty 4th outing, Finlay Donovan heads to Atlantic City with her two kids, her nanny Vero, her ex-husband, and her mother. They aim to find Vero's kidnapped childhood crush and get back a stolen car...but a murder puts a kink in their plans.
Read-alikes: Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels; The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz; Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. |
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| Last Seen in Havana by Teresa DovalpageWhat it's about: In the present day, newly widowed Miami baker Mercedes Spivey returns to Cuba to take care of her sick grandmother and look into her mother's decades-long disappearance. In the 1980s, an idealistic young American falls for a Cuban soldier and makes the island her home.
Series alert: This dual timeline mystery is the 4th in the Havana mystery series, but readers who appreciate novels with a strong sense of place can begin here. |
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A Chateau Under Siege
by Martin Walker
What it's about: When a French intelligence official is stabbed during an historical reenactment, Bruno, the mayor of Sarlat, must protect the victim's daughters, friends and secrets while investigating.
Series alert: This is the latest addition to the Bruno, Chiuef of Police series following To Kill a Troubadour.
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Revenge of the Stormbringer
by Peter Tremayne
What it is: In Summer, AD 672, when one of the Daughters of the Storm, a female warrior assigned to Princess Gelgeis, and the stewardess of the royal house are murdered, Fidelma and Eadulf are drawn into a ‘locked room' mystery that must be solved before the fair celebrating the king and queen's wedding commences.
Reviewers say: "A plethora of potential suspects, dark secrets from the past, and deadly revenge all play a role in this multilayered, complex, atmospheric, locked-room mystery." (Booklist)
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| California Bear by Duane SwierczynskiWhat it is: The Bear, a serial killer in hibernation for decades, is stirring due to an investigation by an ex-cop and an ex-con in this "tour de force" (Publishers Weekly) that also includes a teen girl detective with cancer and a genealogist in a troubled marriage.
For fans of: Michael Connelly; She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper. |
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| Village in the Dark by Iris YamashitaWhat it is: This atmospheric, fast-paced crime novel is narrated by three Alaskan women: former police detective Cara, who learns her husband and young son, whom she thought had died accidentally, were likely murdered; Ellie, a grief-stricken hotel owner; and Mia, a young Indigenous woman in danger.
Sequel alert: Though this is a sequel to City Under One Roof, readers can start here. |
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| Still Life by Val McDermidHow it starts: In February 2020, DCI Karen Pirie, head of Scotland's Historic Cases Unit, investigates two cold cases and deals with skeletal remains, art forgery, secret identities, and more. Meanwhile, the killer of her true love gets out of prison and COVID-19 hits.
Why you'll like it: Fans of Tana French will enjoy the complex characters and deft writing in this 6th in a series (which is fine for newcomers). |
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| No Strangers Here by Carlene O'ConnorIntroducing: When veterinarian Dimpna Wilde's elderly father, who's also a vet, is accused of murder, she returns home to prove his innocence. But she's got DI Cormac O'Brien to contend with, and she needs to take over her dad's practice due to his memory issues.
Why you'll like it: If you like Tana French, you'll appreciate this 1st in the County Kerry series for its evocative setting, smart plotting, and appealing characters. |
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| Missing, Presumed by Susie SteinerMeet our hero: Smart, single (but lonely and looking) DS Manon Bradshaw stars in this intricate police procedural and series starter that details the high-profile case of a missing Cambridge graduate student. Meanwhile, Manon also looks into the death of a Black teen and tries to help his younger brother.
Why you'll like it: Tana French fans will like the authentic characters, engaging story, and the interplay of the personal and professional. |
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| The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart TaylorWhat it is: Though she visited Ireland when her cousin Erin disappeared there 23 years earlier, Maggie D'arcy found little except a desire to be a cop. Now a New York homicide detective, she returns after the Garda find Erin's scarf in a wooded area while they are searching for another woman.
Why you'll like it: If you read Tana French, you'll be right at home here with the Dublin setting, complex plotting, and authentic characters. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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