Historical Mystery. Could King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's youngest son, who was thought to have died in prison, still be alive? In 1818 Paris, at least one man, Chrétien Leblanc, thinks so--but he's been killed. In his pocket is the name Hector Carpentier. Hector, a poor medical student, knows nothing about the dead man, but he finds himself working with detective Vidocq (whom the The Washington Post calls "utterly compelling") to investigate the murder. If you like Bayard's latest, be sure to check out his earlier books, The Pale Blue Eye, with Edgar Allan Poe as the detective, and Mr. Timothy, featuring Charles Dickens's character, Tiny Tim.

Crime Caper. There are security guards, and then there "pulses." Highly trained and hypersensitive, pulses watch over the crown jewels and other priceless items. Otto Starks is a pulse. But things haven't been going so well lately--he keeps getting burned by the infamous Rat Burglar, who steals art and returns it to its rightful owners, and he's in danger of losing his job (which would be a pain since he owes a bookie money). He's also having trouble proposing to his girlfriend (who thinks he's a baseball talent scout). Things go from bad to worse when the Rat Burglar strikes again. This fast-paced "fantastically imagined novel" (Booklist) will please readers who delight in witty, romantic stories.

Mystery. What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas, thankfully, otherwise we'd never find out about tough, crime-solving kitty Midnight Louie's latest adventure. In Cat in a Sapphire Slipper, Louie and his owner, Temple Barr, must solve a crime and clear Matt, Temple's current boyfriend (her longtime beau, magician Max Kinsella, disappeared a while back...but will he reappear now?). While attending a bachelor party for the ex-mobster who's marrying Temple's Aunt Kit, Matt and the other revelers are kidnapped and taken to one of Nevada's legal brothels...where Matt just happens to find a dead prostitute. This is the 20th book in this fast-paced, fun series.

Police Procedural. If you've missed jazz-loving, all-around good guy Charlie Resnick, he's back after almost ten years. In the 11th book to feature the Nottingham cop, all is certainly not well: his live-in love, DI Lynn Kellogg, finds herself in the middle of a gang fight; there's a police shortage, forcing the near-retirement Charlie into a murder case; and another murder may be linked to gun running and human trafficking. The critics love John Harvey's latest: Publishers Weekly says Resnick "makes a welcome and brilliant return" and The Independent (London) calls Cold in Hand "unputdownable." Never met Charlie? Pick up the 1st in this fine series, Lonely Hearts.

Historical Mystery. In 1795 England, young Mary Finch has left her teaching post (gladly) in order to visit her wealthy uncle at his estate on the Suffolk coast. Because of a family estrangement, she doesn't really know her uncle, and it turns out that she never will--when she arrives, he is dead. Mary, presumed to be his heir, stays on and finds herself in the middle of murder, coded military information, and matters of national importance. As the Napoleonic wars rage, she wonders which of her new companions she can trust...and which is a traitor. Readers who like authentic historical details will appreciate The Blackstone Key, a debut novel and the 1st in a trilogy.

Police Procedural. It's sad but true--Scottish Detective Inspector John Rebus is retiring (even though he's never been one to play by the rules, it's mandatory for 60-year-olds). With only days to go before it's all over, Rebus is given one of his most interesting and dangerous cases. It starts off simply enough--a dissident Russian poet in Scotland on a book tour has been murdered. It looks like a violent mugging, but Rebus discovers that an elite delegation of Russian businessmen is in town and that they've been hanging out with local crime boss Big Ger, which suggests that there's a whole lot more going on. Library Journal calls Exit Music, the 17th novel in the series, "a fitting end to the storied career of one of Edinburgh's finest."

Humorous Mystery. It's pretty difficult to be a PI when you can't pass the licensing exam (after two tries) and the state of Tennessee shuts down your office--but bumbling detective Teddy Ruzak is going to do his best. After all, if you don't have a client and you're just nosing around yourself, you aren't really a PI are you? So, Teddy snoops around, trying to find out who killed Cadillac Jack, the homeless man he'd spoken with while moving stuff out of his office. With help from a new dog and a new female friend, Amanda, Teddy just might figure it all out. If you like wacky crime novels, check out this 2nd in a series--Teddy's been compared to everyone from Columbo to Stephanie Plum.

Mystery. Politicians in Alaska (what a timely topic!) deal with a murder in their midst when a promising young legislator is accused of killing a legislative assistant (to be fair, he was found standing over her dead body). Nik Kane, an ex-cop (and an ex-con), is hired to investigate the case and is soon knee deep in dirty politicians. Author Mike Doogan knows his material--he's a member of the Alaska House of Representatives and a third generation Alaskan. Capitol Offense, the 2nd in the Nik Kane series, has "nonstop action, fully drawn characters, and a heart-stopping finale" (Library Journal). The 1st book in the series is Lost Angel; the 3rd, Skeleton Lake, was released in August.

Mystery. After having succeeded wildly at the business of making money, George Juliard decides to enter the British political arena by standing for Parliament. And he wants his somewhat-estranged 17-year-old son, Ben, to help him. Ben, who just wants to be a jockey, obeys his father and gives up horses in order to help his father's campaign. But Ben soon discovers that politics can be even more dangerous than the racetrack when several attempts are made on George's life. If you'd like a mystery that deftly examines the relationships between fathers and sons and offers a look at British politics, check out Dick Francis' 10 LB. Penalty.

Historical Mystery. It's 1964 in Los Angeles, the Civil Rights movement is in full swing, and Easy Rawlins has a nice, stable job as a school janitor. But when he is called on to do a favor for some friends--locate their son, 23-year-old Brawly Brown, and convince him to come home--his calm life goes out the window. It seems Brawly has gotten himself mixed up with a radical black resistance group called the Urban Revolutionary Party (aka the First Men), and it isn't too long before Easy finds a dead body on a doorstep. Anyone who wants to know more about the racial politics of the 1960s will enjoy this 7th entry in Walter Mosley's acclaimed series.

Mystery. Troubled Russian Police Detective Arkady Renko is assigned a case that no one else wants to touch--there are reports that Joseph Stalin's ghost is hanging out in the Moscow subway. Renko knows that if Stalin's ghost were in Russia, he wouldn't be in the metro, and he links the hauntings to a group of reactionaries intent on turning back time to the old Stalinist days (the dead dictator has a two-to-one approval rating). Interested in modern Russia? Grab this suspenseful novel, the 6th in the well-done series that began with Gorky Park.

Mystery. Senior Illinois senator Lyle Simmons (who one day hopes to be president) returns home from a political fundraiser and finds his wife bludgeoned to death. Among the likely suspects is political lobbyist Jonell Marbury, who works for a powerful firm on K Street. But has Jonell been set up? Author Margaret Truman was the only child of 33rd U.S. president Harry S. Truman; she died on January 29, 2008 at the age of 83. This is the 23rd novel in her Washington, D.C.-set series. If you're intrigued by mysteries written by the children of presidents, check out Elliott Roosevelt's historical series, which features his mother, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, as the detective.