Mystery. What's in a name? In Mrs. Gentle's case, it's an apt description of how the lady presents herself, but in reality, she's not all that tender. Scottish policeman Hamish MacBeth tries to tell his friends and neighbors this, but they think Lochdubh's newest resident is very agreeable. Ayesha, Mrs. Gentle's Russian maid, knows the truth since she's being threatened with deportment by her boss. Swayed by Ayesha's beauty and plight, Hamish asks her to marry him--but before the nuptials can occur, Ayesha disappears...and Mrs. Gentle is murdered. Death of a Gentle Lady, the 24th in M.C. Beaton's popular series, includes "charming details of Highland life and a crackerjack mystery to boot" (Kirkus Reviews).

Crime Novel. When a bad cop goes good, expect trouble. After the police chief of Gas City unexpectedly loses his wife to cancer, her death causes him to question the morality of his longstanding deal with the local mob boss. The agreement has kept crime contained to one small part of town, but now that the head cop has a conscience and is ordering raids on places that are supposed to be left alone, the whole city is at risk. Oh, and a serial killer, "Beaver Cleaver," is at work. Critics love Estleman's Gas City and are calling it "magnificent" (Booklist), "a novel to savor" (Chicago Tribune), and "arguably one of the best of the year" (Publishers Weekly).

Police Procedural. Stephen Bryan, a gay Cambridge film professor, is found viciously beaten to death in his own home--and his face is especially damaged. Detective Inspector Will Grayson and his loyal partner, Detective Sergeant Helen Walker, check into the man's past: Was this a hate crime? A one-night stand gone bad? An angry ex? Or could it have something to do with the academic's planned biography of a 1950s film noir star, whose family doesn't want him meddling about? Bryan's death isn't the only thing Will is dealing with--he has a newborn at home. Fans of British police procedurals and those who like the author's Charlie Resnick and Frank Elder novels should grab this one quick.

Historical Western Mystery. Are you ready to do some "deducifying"? Then saddle up with the Amlingmeyer bothers, Old Red and Big Red. In 1893 San Francisco, the two cowboy aficionados of Sherlock Holmes are trying to obtain work as PIs, but while they don't land jobs as Pinkerton detectives, they do find a case. After an old friend takes a shot at them in Chinatown and then turns up dead, the Reds move into action. The police call the death a suicide, but the brothers don't think that's what happened. If you're looking for a fast-paced mystery that will make you laugh, pick up this "rollicking" and "hilarious" (Publishers Weekly) 3rd novel in the clever Holmes on the Range series.

Mystery. Eighteen female bodies have been discovered at a Shanghai construction site. It appears that a serial killer has been at work, one who likes to subject his victims to "live" autopsies. In their 3rd outing, Detective Li Yan and his sometime-lover, American pathologist Margaret Campbell, work with Mei-Ling, the deputy head of Shanghai's serious case squad who has more than professional feelings for Li. With the Summer Olympics beginning August 8th in Beijing, you may be curious about life in modern China; author Peter May's The Killing Room gives you a peek in a suspenseful novel that combines a "beautifully depicted Chinese culture" (Library Journal) with enough forensic details to please CSI fans.

Mystery. Death by fear? That's what it looks like when a woman dies during an Easter séance at the notorious Hadley House in the small town of Three Pines. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec investigates the death of the well-liked villager while dealing with internal police politics that threaten his career and reputation. Fans of traditional British mysteries will enjoy the charming village setting as well as the delightfully eccentric characters (the artistically minded will particularly like talented middle-aged painter Clara Morrow). Though this is the 3rd book in this fascinating series, newcomers can start here.

Historical Mystery. In the fall of 1931, the hops crops are ready for harvest. Hoppers--temporary workers consisting of Gypsies and families from London on working vacations--pour into rural towns. But in the small Kent village of Heronsdene, every year when the hoppers arrive, so do mysterious fires. Maisie Dobbs, a London psychologist and investigator, and her assistant, Billy (himself a regular hopper), look into the matter for a client who wants to buy a brickworks in the village, but is worried about vandalism. What Maisie and Billy uncover is a secretive town where no one wants to talk about the fires or the infamous WWI Zeppelin raid on the town. This is the delightful Masie's 5th case.

Historical Mystery. In 1922, the North-West Frontier Provence in British India is the site of conflict between the Brits and the local tribes. Into this rough land comes an American heiress, Lily Coblenz, intent on seeing the "real India." Assigned to watch over her is Scotland Yard Detective Joe Sandilands. Also included in their party is a Pathan prince, a female doctor, a businessman, and a RAF pilot. The danger to the group becomes imminent when the prince is murdered, hostages are taken, and Joe is given one week to figure it all out. This excellent 3rd in a series should please fans of traditional mysteries who'll love its diverse cast of characters and well-plotted mystery.

Historical Mystery. After her friend is accused of murder, Ursula Marlow, an Oxford-educated heiress, aspiring journalist, and suffragette, feels compelled to investigate, even though the evidence clearly suggests the woman is guilty. But Ursula's search takes an even more personal turn when she discovers that her father has unsettling ties to the case. Seeking the truth, she obtains help from her father's trusted counselor, Lord Oliver Wrotham, and eventually sets sail for South America. This winning debut effectively combines history, mystery, and romance into a fast-paced, entertaining tale; The Serpent and the Scorpion, the 2nd novel featuring this charming young heroine, is due out in August.

Historical Mystery. In 1909 Manhattan, a sadistic killer has killed one heiress and left another, Nora Acton, physically injured and unable to recall anything about the attack. Dr. Stratham Younger, one of Sigmund Freud's followers, investigates and psychoanalyzes the teenaged Nora in an attempt to reclaim her memories. But Dr. Younger finds more than he bargained for--there's politics, money, and, of course, sex. Freud, who's in America for his one and only visit, assists in the case. This first novel by Yale law professor Jed Rubenfeld should please fans of The Alienist, particularly those who liked its depiction of turn-of-the-century New York City.

Cozy Mystery. Old bones create havoc at the campus of the fictitious Kenan College in Raleigh, NC. When an archaeologist discovers a 70-year-old body with a bullet through its skull while excavating the school's historic Bloodsworth House, he asks Simon Shaw, the leading authority on the house's history, for help. Simon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning history professor, quickly identifies the woman as a Bloodsworth heiress who disappeared in the 1920s--but who killed her? Shaw researches the matter, but someone doesn't like his snooping and tries to kill him. Kirkus Reviews calls Simon Said, the 1st in a series, "an accomplished debut." Fans of academic mysteries should especially enjoy this campus case.

Mystery. Texas heiress Abby Rose spends her days lounging by the pool--after the recent death of her father, she's got plenty of money, and after her recent divorce, she's at loose ends. But she finds a new direction in life after she stumbles upon her gardener's body in the greenhouse--the same gardener who had, hours earlier, nervously asked to speak to her and her twin sister. Curious and feeling an obligation to her former employee, Abby decides to dip her toe into the amateur-investigation waters. A handsome six-foot-tall Houston police detective tries to dissuade her, but of course doesn't succeed. If you're thirsting for a fun, quick read, try Pick Your Poison.