Mystery
June 2026
Recent Releases
A Very Vexing Murder
by Lucy Andrew

Harriet Smith isn't the gullible girl she appears to be in Jane Austen's Emma, but a clever young con woman. Known in the village of Highbury as someone who can help with delicate matters, she's hired by Mrs. Churchill to break up her nephew's engagement and get back the jewelry she thinks his betrothed stole. But there's also a killer about, and Harriet is afraid it's someone from her past. Try these next: Vanessa Kelly's Emma Knightley mysteries; Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar's Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator.
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton
by Jennifer N. Brown

History professor Alison Sage finds a manuscript containing the lost prophecies of Elizabeth Barton, a 16th-century nun who went against Henry VIII and was killed. Invited to a conference in Canterbury where Barton lived, Alison hears rumors of treasure, and then a shocking murder occurs. Covering both Alison's and Elizabeth's times, this is a well-researched, suspenseful debut. Try this next: A.D. Bell's The Bookbinder's Secret.
Moonlight Murder
by Uzma Jalaluddin

Kausar Khan moved away from Toronto's Golden Crescent neighborhood 18 years ago after her teenage son's hit-and-run death. Returning to be near family, she needs her to use her aunty detective skills when her granddaughter's high school friend goes missing and is later found dead. Investigating the new case, Kausar sees links to her son's killing in this "stellar" (Booklist) 2nd outing. Try these next: Ausma Zehanat Khan's Inaya Rahman novels.
How to Cheat Your Own Death
by Kristen Perrin

After her artist mother finds a new apprentice dead on her doorstep with her heart removed, amateur sleuth Annie Adams heads to London to help. She learns the case has ties to her village of Castle Knoll and also connects to a prediction by a fortune teller. Switching to 1968, Annie's great aunt Frances enjoys life in swinging Soho until a friend is killed and her heart removed. This dual-timeline mystery is the 3rd Castle Knoll novel but can work for newcomers. Try this next: Jess Armstrong's The Curse of Penryth Hall.
The Tuxedo Society
by Paul Rudnick

Struggling New York City actor Andrew Birnbaum goes with his best friend to an exclusive Tuxedo Society dinner, where Andrew learns that due to his improv and acting skills, he's being recruited to join an espionage group made up of LGBTQIA+ people. Jetting around the world, Andrew and the group look for missing jewels and protect the United States' popular first lady in this fun, action-packed 1st adventure. For fans of: lighthearted spy stories; Steven Rowley's The Guncle.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Syosset, New York 11791
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