William Dietrich, Napoleon’s Pyramid (Feb., Harper hc, 24.95). A young assistant to Ben Franklin wins an old and reportedly cursed medallion in a card game. That night, he’s framed for murder. He’s able to escape France by agreeing to join Emperor Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt. There he finds a secret reason for the expedition: the medallion may hold secrets to the creation of the pyramids. Signing?

Deborah Donnelly, Bride and Doom (Jan., Dell pbo, 6.99). Somehow, mixed into her own wedding, Seattle ceremonial planner Carnegie Kincaid finds baseball, bimbos and murder. 6^th in this light-hearted series. Signing.

Robert Dugoni, Damage Control (Feb., Warner hc, 24.99). Seattle attorney Dana Hill’s stresses have amplified: her husband is having an affair, she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, and her twin brother has been killed in a robbery. To distract herself from the other horrors, she throws herself into searching for her brother’s killer only to find that someone is working ahead of her to erase any traces. Signing. In paper, The Jury Master (Jan., Warner, 7.99).

Alan Gold, True Faith (Jan., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 2^nd Portland mystery based on a true crime: journalist and critic Lou Tedesco is accused of the murder of a philandering rabbi. He sets out to clear his name.

Frederick Highland, Night Falls on Damascus (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). In 1930s Syria, Insp. Nikolai Faroun is captivated by the beautiful Vera Tamiri and perplexed by the murder investigation where he meets her. He begins to grasp that this case has unseen depths and may reach to past terrors. Signing.

India Ink, Glossed and Found (Jan., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 3^rd Bath and Body mystery from Yasmine Galenorn: the shop’s new make-up artist drowns and Persia senses foul play. Signing.

J.A. Jance, Web of Evil (Jan., Touchstone hc, 25.95). In her second appearance, Ali Reynolds is establishing her new life in Sedona when her soon-to-be ex is found murdered, leaving a big estate and a pregnant girlfriend. Ali is the sole heir and, it seems, the prime suspect. Signing.

Jayne Ann Krentz, White Lies (Jan., Putnam hc, 24.95). Clare Lancaster is a “Level Ten para-sensitive…a human lie detector”. Seven months ago she found out she is part of a large and important family in California. Her talents are making it very difficult to fit in. Signing. In paper, All Night Long (Feb., Jove, 7.99).

Kevin O’Brien, Killing Spree (Jan., Pinnacle pbo, 6.99). In Seattle, a string of murders happened years ago and was never solved. Virtually forgotten, a new murder brings it alive and makes a Seattle woman feel that she’s somehow a piece of the puzzle. Signing. Tammy recommends.

David Ossman, The Ronald Regan Murder Case (Dec., Bear Manor Media tpo, 19.95). A new comedy-mystery novel by a founding member of the legendary Firesign Theatre.  The book is set in Malibu, Mulholland and Musso’s and in CBS Radio’s Studio A during 1945, and introduces George Tirebiter, then a 25-year-old comedy star, in his first “celebrity detective” role. Signing.

Jonathan Raban, Surveillance (Jan., Pantheon hc, 24.00). In the not too distant future, Seattle residents are caught in a web of intrigue, fear and fraud as the government’s ever-present surveillance takes it’ toll on the citizens it is designed to protect.

Candace Robb, The Guilt of Innocents (Jan., Heineman UK hc, 36.50 est.). In York’s winter, 1372, Owen Archer is brought into a strange case by his adoptive son Jasper. A river pilot has been found dead in a river, but he didn’t drown. The local                                                             Vicar, master of a small grammar school, is distrusted due to his unpopular beliefs. How does all this fit and will Jasper find investigation as glamorous as he’d imagined? Signing.

Dana Stabenow, A Deeper Sleep (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 24.95). A man who has gotten away with crimes before has literally gotten away with murder. Kate Shugak is determined to see that he never does again. But is that a promise she can keep? 15^th in this Edgar-winning series. Signing LCC. In paper, Blindfold Game (Dec., St. Martin’s, 6.99), her stand-alone novel of national security.

Allen Wyler, Dead Head (Feb., Tor pbo, 7.99). A brain surgeon is kidnapped by terrorists and told to do what they demand or his daughter will die. He can’t believe they think he can do their bidding, but he must try. Signing.

 

     Now in Paperback

Patrick McManus, The Blight Way (Jan., Simon & Schuster, 14.00).

Bill Merritt, A Fool’s Gold (Jan., Bloomsbury, 14.95). Tammy recommends.

 

 

     Coming This Spring

Nicola Griffith & Aud Torvingen, April !!!

Michael Gruber, The Book of Air and Shadows, April

Patrick McManus & Sheriff Bo Tully, Mar.

Ann Rule, Too Late to Say Goodbye, April

 

Meg Abbott, The Song is You (Jan., Simon & Schuster hc, 23.00). Just 16 months after the infamous Black Dahlia murder, actress Jean Spangler was killed. The case immediately drew comparisons to the Dahlia. The second crime novel by the Edgar nominated writer (Die a Little, nominated for Best First, not yet in pb) takes this case as its basis, a case that is still open. Signing LCC.

Boris Akunin, Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog (Jan., Random House tpo, 9.95). 1^st in a new series with the clever Sister Pelagia who investigates when the Bishop of her remote Russian province finds his aunt’s rare dogs have been poisoned.

Conrad Allen, Murder on the Celtic (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 8^th with ship’s detectives George Porter Dillman and Genevive Masefield. While they’re used to dignitaries, aboard this crossing is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Pseudonym of Keith Miles, who also writes as Edward Marston.

Suzanne Arruda, Stalking Ivory (Jan., NAL hc, 23.95). On a photographic safari in 1920s Africa, Jade del Cameron stumbles into a quagmire of murder, poaching and German arms caches. In paper, Mark of the Lion (Dec., 14.00), the debut of the series.

Nancy Atherton, Aunt Dimity Goes West (Feb., Viking hc, 22.95). In her 12^th adventure, Lori Sheppard heads to Colorado. In paperback, Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea (Feb., Penguin, 7.99). We hope that they will soon go back to the original artwork and leave these new, artless covers behind.

Sandi Ault, Wild Indigo (Jan., Berkley, hc, 23.95). Debut. Bureau of Land Management Agent Jamaica Wild witnesses the death of a man by stampeding buffalo. Was the stampede accidental and so the death was as well, or was it planned, meaning the death was murder? A vivid cast of Southwestern characters in this catchy crime case. Signing.

Donna Ball, Rapid Fire (Dec., Signet pbo, 6.99). 2^nd with kennel owner Raine Stockton and her gold lab Cisco. Raine is asked to help track an old boyfriend who is now an eco-terrorist and back in the area.

Jo Bannister, Requiem for a Dealer (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 6^th with finder of lost things Brodie Farrell.

Jefferson Bass, Flesh and Bone (Feb., Morrow hc, 24.95). 2^nd Body Farm Novel, written by forensics expert Bill Bass and journalist Jon Jefferson. In paper, Carved in Bone (Jan., Harper, 7.99), their debut, both recommended by Fran.

M.C. Beaton, Death of a Maid (Feb., Mysterious Press hc, 23.99). 23^rd with Hamish MacBeth. In paper, Death of a Dreamer (Jan., Warner, 6.99).

Ronan Bennett, Zugzwang (Jan., Bloomsbury hc, 24.95). In the Spring of 1914, St. Petersburg’s peace is shattered by more than just political upheaval. A series of murders brings a celebrated psychoanalyst into the fray. He’s implicated in one of the crimes. While dealing with his clients and his spirited daughter, he begins to suspect that they’re all pawns in a match even more critical than the chess tournament that holds the city’s attention.

William Bernhardt, Capitol Threat (Feb., Ballantine hc, 25.95). 15^th with attorney Ben Kincaid. In paper, Capitol Murder (Feb., Ballantine, 7.99).

Steve Berry, The Alexandria Link (Feb., Ballantine hc, 25.95). Rare bookdealer Cotton Malon’s son is kidnapped and his shop attacked because he is the only man who knows where the link to the Library of Alexandria – which still exists – can be found. In paper, The Templar Legacy (Feb., Ballantine, 7.99).

Cordelia Frances Biddle, The Conjurer (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). The co-author of the popular Nero Blanc series (with her husband Steve Zettler) pens a novel set in the world in which she lives: the Biddles are one of Philadelphia’s oldest families. In her book, it is 1842, and the only daughter of a wealthy financier searches for him. She meets a young assistant to the mayor who is investigating a string of murders. Young prostitutes are being killed and both of them think a local celebrity is involved.

Claudia Bishop, Ground to a Halt (Feb., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 14^th in the Inn at Hemlock Falls series.

Eleanor Taylor Bland, Suddenly a Stranger (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 14^th with Chicago Det. Marty MacAlister. 

Giles Blunt, By the Time You Read This (Feb., Holt hc, 19.95). Grieving his wife’s suicide, Det. John Cardinal is drawn into a case that involves the strange and unsavory photos on the internet of a young girl who has ties to Algonquin Bay. As the case begins, Cardinal begins to receive anonymous letters about his wife’s death. Signing.

James O. Born, Field of Fire (Feb., Putnam hc, 25.95). What seems to begin in Florida with the explosion of a gun-runner’s car turns into a national hunt for a serial bomber. ATF agent Alex “Rocket” Duarte joins the hunt that takes him to sites of similar bombings in Virginia and Seattle.

J.S. Borthwick, Foiled Again (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 24.95). 13^th mystery from the coast of Maine with English professor Sarah Deane.

Lillian Jackson Braun, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (Jan., Putnam hc, 23.95). In paper, The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (Jan., Jove, 7.99).

Elizabeth Bright, Murder and Salutations (Dec., Signet pbo, 6.99). 3^rd in the card, craft and crime series.

Vikram Chandra, Sacred Games (Jan., Harper hc, 27.95). An epic novel – 912 pages! – of the battle between a cynical veteran Bombay detective and the criminal overlord of Mumbai. A chance phone call brings them closer together and shows them that their struggle is larger than the two of them and the implications are global. Signing?

Nora Charles, Hurricane Homicide (Dec., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 4^th in the Florida series with “sleuth of a certain age” Kate Kennedy. The author has also published as Nora Wald.

Sean Chercover, Big City, Bad Blood (Jan., Morrow hc, 23.95). Debut by a Chicago PI. Ex-reporter turned PI Ray Dudgeon takes a bodyguard gig for a film producer who saw something on the streets of the Windy City that he wasn’t meant to see. The case turns on a cache of blackmail files that everyone wants to get their hands on.

Lincoln Child, Deep Storm (Jan., Doubleday hc, 24.95). Deep below the Atlantic is a super-secret research facility. A mysterious illness is sweeping through those who work there, as well as the oil workers who give it cover on the surface. Does it have to do with the discovery that warranted the facility’s creation, or something even more sinister?

Nancy J. Cohen, Perish by Pedicure (Dec., Kensington hc, 22.00). 8^th with Florida beauty salon owner Marla Shore.

Natalie R. Collins, Behind Closed Doors (Jan., St. Martin’s pbo, 6.99). Melissa and Jannie have been best friends ever since childhood, and only Melissa knew Jannie's secret.  Now Jannie has a box entrusted to her by her friend who has disappeared, and Jannie is terrified that it is tied into her secret, especially since someone is ready to kill for it. Fran recommends.

Beverly Connor, Dead Past (Feb., Onyx pbo, 7.99). 4^th with forensic investigator Diane Fallon.

Thomas H. Cook, The Cloud of Unknowing (Jan., Harcourt hc, 23.00). A family’s history of schizophrenia, a horrible drowning, and a distraught mother’s ramblings about ancient crimes form a cloud of trouble.

Natasha Cooper, Evil is Done (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 24.95). 8^th with barrister Trish Maguire.

Robert Crais, The Watchman (Jan., Simon & Schuster hc, 25.95). A favor that Joe Pike owes is called in: protect a spoiled young girl who is set to be a federal witness against the mob. Taking her into the lurid LA underground to hide, the bodies begin to fall. Though Elvis helps to plan security, Joe begins to see that the girl herself is the biggest risk they have. Signing? In paper, The Two-Minute Rule (Jan, Pocket, 7.99).

Bill Crider, Murder Among the O.W.L.S. (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 14^th with Texas Sheriff Dan Rhodes.

Deborah Crombie, Water Like a Stone (Feb., Morrow hc, 24.95). On holiday, Duncan and Kincaid are faced with three murders of varying ages and begin to see connections. 11^th in this popular series. Signing!

Clare Curzon, The Glass Wall (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 19^th with Superintendent Mike Yeadings.

Clive and Dirk Cussler, Treasure of Khan (Dec., Putnam hc, 27.95). 19^th Dirk Pitt.

David Stuart Davies, Forests of the Night (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). When an accident leaves him blind in one eye and he’s discharged from the Army, John Hawke opens a private detective agency. In 1940s London, there is no shortage of mischief. Davies is an internationally known expert on Doyle and Holmes, and author of several pastiches. This is his first non-Holmes novel.

Keith Dixon, The Art of Losing (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). Himself heavily in debt after his 3^rd film bombs, Michael Jacobs agrees to help his producer, a man who can fix a horse race but needs a “face” for the scam. Jacobs is the one who places the bet. When the horse loses, both of them are in deep trouble with a violent underworld.

Tim Dorsey, Hurricane Punch (Feb., Morrow hc, 24.95). Returning to the comfort of Florida lunacy, Serge is faced with a rival serial killer and an approaching storm. Signed Copies Available? Tammy recommends.

Laura Durham, To Love and to Perish (Feb., Avon pbo, 6.99). 3^rd in this Agatha winning series with DC wedding planner Annabelle Archer.

Martin Edwards, The Arsenic Labyrinth (Feb., Poisoned Pen hc, 24.95). In England’s Lake District, a 10 year-old disappearance is reopened and clues lead to the creepy tunnels dug as part of a tin mine. A cop, a historian and newspaperman and a drifter intersect in the case whose solution lays in the isolated labyrinth. 3^rd in the series. Signing LCC.

Kit Ehrman, Triple Cross (Jan., Poisoned Pen hc, 24.95). In his 4^th book, horse barn manager Steve Cline is working to become a licensed PI. His father asks for help in Louisville during the lead-up to the Derby and his duties are light. Working on his final PI course project, he inadvertently stirs up trouble. Signing LCC.

Selma Eichler, Murder Can Depress your Dachshund (Feb., Signet pbo, 6.99). 14^th with NYC PI Desiree Shapiro.

Janet Evanovich, Plum Love (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 16.95). 160 pages of fun!

Mary Anna Evans, Effigies (Feb., Poisoned Pen hc, 24.95). In her 3^rd story, archaeologist Faye Longchamp travels to Mississippi to examine a Native American mound. Once there, she finds the farmer who owns the land is set to bulldoze it. Murder stops him. Signing LCC. In paper, Relics (Feb., Poisoned Pen, 14.95). Fran recommends this series.

Nancy Fairbanks, French Fried (Dec., Berkley pbo, 6.99). The 9^th in this culinary series travels to Paris. 

Linda Fairstein, Bad Blood (Jan., Scribner hc, 26.00). An explosion deep underneath NYC’s streets, in one of the huge water tunnels, takes Alexandra Çooper deep underground. In paper, Death Dance (Jan., Pocket, 9.99).

Jerrilyn Farmer, Desperately Seeking Sushi (Dec., Morrow hc, 23.95). 8^th culinary mystery with Maddie Bean.

Ariana Franklin, Mistress of the Art of Death (Feb., Putnam hc, 25.95). In medieval Cambridge, the local Jews are being blamed for the deaths of four children. Henry I needs the crimes solved so that tax revenues can once again flow. He turns to his cousin, the King of Sicily, to send one of his medical experts to help resolve the murders. The finest practitioner of the “art of death” is Adelia, who travels there with her colleagues, Simon, a Jew, and Mansur, a Moor. Janine Recommends.

Margaret Frazer, The Traitor’s Tale (Feb., Berkley hc, 24.95). 16^th in the medieval series with Dame Frevisse. In paper, The Sempster’s Tale (Jan., Berkley, 7.99).

David Fulmer, The Dying Crapshooter’s Blues (Jan., Harcourt hc, 23.00). A departure from his Storyville series: On a cold December night in Atlanta, in the 20s, professional thief and gambler Joe Rose hits town and is swept into a triangle of danger when a drunken white cop shoots a black sporting man, Jewels go missing, a vicious cop called “The Captain” and a evil beauty named Pearl encircle him. In paper, Rampart Street (Jan, Harcourt, 14.00), 3^rd in his Shamus winning St. Cyr series. Janine and JB recommend this author.

Lisa Gardner, Hide (Jan., Bantam hc, 25.00). A woman opens the morning paper and reads that she’s dead.  In paper, Gone (Dec., Bantam, 7.99).

Robert Goddard, Sight Unseen (Jan., Delta tpo, 12.00).1^st US publication. 17 years ago a child was snatched. A witness and the nanny met due to the crime and wed, but the crime eventually divided them. A recently received letter will bring the events of 17 years ago into question and leave those involved thinking that some mysteries are best left unsolved.

Lee Goldberg, Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu (Jan., Signet pbo, 6.99). A police strike gives Monk the willies. He doesn’t like the sound of “blue flu”, nor the idea that by crossing the labor lines he’ll be called a ‘scab’.  3^rd in the series of novels.

Sarah Graves, Trap Door (Jan., Bantam hc, 22.00). 9^th Home Repair is Homicide series.

Martha Grimes, Dust (Jan., Viking hc, 25.95). That this is a Richard Jury with a title that doesn’t sound like a pub is the only info we got about the 23rd book in the series.

James Grippando, When Darkness Falls (Jan., Harper hc, 24.95). Miami attorney Jack Swyteck accepts a homeless man as a client and from there nothing goes as expected. Signing. In paper, Got the Look (Dec., Harper, 7.99). 

Brian Haig, Man in the Middle (Jan., Warner hc, 25.99). Army lawyer Sean Drummond is dispatched to investigate the death of an influential official in the defense world. From there, Drummond is torn between what he finds and his loyalties to his fellow soldiers fighting and dying overseas. Janine and Bill recommend this series.

Carolyn Haines, Fever Moon (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). In the 1940s, in New Iberia, LA, a wealthy plantation owner has been savagely murdered. Some say it is the loup garon, the legend of a Cajun shape shifter. The murders continue, screwing down the lid on a small town already under the pressure of wartime poverty. 

Laurell K. Hamilton, Mistral’s Kiss (Dec., Ballantine hc, 24.95). Faerie princess and private eye Meredith Gentry faces court intrigue, sabotage and heinous crimes.

Karen Harper, The Hooded Hawke (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 9^th in her Elizabeth I mystery series. In paper, The Fatal Fashione (Dec., St. Martin’s, 6.99).

Thomas Harris, Hannibal Rising (Dec., Random House hc, 27.95). The early year’s of the famous cannibal, from his youth on the Eastern Front of WWII to being the youngest admittee to the French medical school, when he recognizes that he is, and becomes, ‘death’s prodigy’.

Ellen Hart, Night Vision (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 24.95). Jane Lawless investigates for a reclusive actress who believes that the stalker who drove her from the pictures is back.

Chuck Hogan, The Killing Moon (Jan., Scribner hc, 25.00). Don Maddox is a man who always raised fears in his hometown. Everyone is puzzled about why he’s come home, why he’s joined the police, and why he’s asking so many questions about his fellow cops in his off-hours. Then a murder brings in the Mass. State Police.

Linda Howard, Drop Dead Gorgeous (Dec., Ballantine pbo, 7.99). 2^nd Blair Mallory.

Charlie Huston, No Dominion (Dec., Del Rey tpo, 13.95). 2^nd with NYC Vampyre PI Joe Pitt. Classic Huston writing – touch, dark noir with gallows humor - with a bite. Janine recommends. Signing.

Greg Iles, True Evil (Dec., Scribner hc, 25.95). The quiet life of a doctor in Natchez, MS, is about to end. An undercover FBI agent comes to him to tell him that his wife has visited a divorce attorney. Worse still, the feds have been watching the lawyer because the spouses of many of his clients have died under mysterious circumstances.

Susan Isaacs, Past Perfect (Feb., Scribner hc, 25.00). Katie Schottland had a dream job 15 years ago as an analyst for the CIA. Mysteriously fired after two years, she’s gone on to write a successful novel about espionage and now writes for a TV version from the story. One day a former colleague calls and asks for help and, in return, promises to tell Katie why she was fired. Can Katie return to that world, even for the answers she needs?

Iris Johansen, Stalemate (Jan., Bantam hc, 26.00). Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan returns. In paper, On the Run (Dec., Bantam, 7.99).

Dolores Johnson, Pressed to Kill (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 8^th with dry cleaner Mandy Dyer.

Linda O. Johnston, Meow is for Murder (Feb., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 4^th with pet-sitter/sleuth Kendra Ballantyne.

Stuart Kaminsky, Always Say Goodbye (Dec., Forge hc, 23.95). 5^th with Lew Fonesca. In paper, Denial (Feb., Forge, 6.99). Janine recommends this series. See also Small Mystery Presses/Felony & Mayhem.

Jesse Kellerman, Trouble (Jan., Putnam hc, 24.95). An impulsive act to stop a crime lands a NYC med student in the glare of publicity. The mugger is dead and the DA wants to talk about it, his co-workers are abuzz, and the woman he saved is alarmingly grateful and not quite what she seemed to be when he stopped her from being stabbed to death. All in all, this fellow is in deep trouble. Signed Copies Available. In paper, his praised debut, Sunstroke (Dec., Berkley, 7.99).

Christine Kling, Wrecker’s Key (Feb., Ballantine hc, 24.95). 4^th mystery with Florida Keys tugboat captain Seychelle Sullivan.

William Landay, The Strangler (Feb., Delacorte hc, 24.00). In the Fall of 1963, Boston is in an uproar: JFK has been assassinated, a gang war erupts, and The Strangler is terrorizing the city. In this atmosphere operate the three Daley brothers. One is a cop, one is a prosecutor and one a master thief. When the Strangler hits too close to what they share, it forces them to peer deeply into the crimes around them – those of a killer and those of their family. Landay’s masterful debut, Mission Flats (Dell, 7.50) is a staff favorite.

Clare Langley-Hawthorne, Consequences of Sin (Feb., Viking hc, 22.95). Edwardian England is seeing some social changes. Ursula Marlow is a young heiress, an Oxford graduate, aspiring journalist and a suffragette. When a good friend is accused of murdering her lover, Ursula simply cannot buy the charges and resolves to find the truth. Her charmed life is darkened by villainy.

Joe R. Lansdale, Lost Echoes (Feb., Vintage tpo, 13.95). All his life, Harry has seen visions of violent crimes. As a college student, only alcohol helps him escape them. One night, he sees a man defeat three muggers. In this guy’s strength, Harry hopes to find answers. When an old flame asks his help to find out who killed her father, the three join forces. Edgar Winner and favorite author of Tammy’s. See also, Special Interest.

Lisa Lawrence, Strip Poker (Feb., Delta tpo, 13.00). Debut erotic thriller. The London’s elite’s new craze is strip poker, which can be great illicit fun – until blackmail becomes involved. From there, professional troublemaker Teresa Knight sees the progression to corporate and international intrigue, and murder.

John Lescroart, The Suspect (Jan., Dutton hc, 26.95). A lawyer in Dismas Hardy’s firm, Gina Roake, takes on a high profile case that seems relatively simple. All she needs to do is prove her client could not have possibly killed his wife at their mountain cabin. Then the guy runs. Signed Copies Available. In paper, The Hunt Club (Jan., Signet, 9.99).

Jay MacLarty, Choke Point (Jan., Pocket pbo, 7.99). In his 4^th appearance, courier Simon Leonidovich is asked to return a rare Chinese artifact as part of a diplomatic action. Many forces don’t want the delivery – or the diplomacy – to succeed. Favorite series of Janine’s.

Val McDermid, The Grave Tattoo (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 24.95). Heavy rains uncover a body with strange tattoos in an English bog. An old wives’ tale had said that Fletcher Christian had returned to this area of England and told his tale to Wordsworth who had penned a secret, epic poem about the events surrounding the HMS Bounty. A literary specialist becomes involved, wondering if the poem’s manuscript might be real after all. But 200 years of secrets are not easily surrendered by some. Fran recommends. Signed Copies Available.

Leslie Meier, Bake Sale Murder (Dec., Kensington hc, 22.00). 13^th with reporter Lucy Stone as a community bake sale cooks up murder.

Chris Mooney, Missing (Jan., Atria hc, 25.00). After a near brush with a killer as a girl, Darby has made a profession out of hunting criminals. Her latest case has disturbing echoes to that case from her youth and she begins to suspect that the past is not finished with her.

John Mortimer, Rumpole and the Reign of Terror (Dec., Viking hc, 24.95). While battling anti-terrorist laws and their effects on defending a client, Rumpole deals with his wife’s plans to write her memoirs and detail their love life!

Tamar Myers, Hell Hath No Curry (Feb., NAL hc, 21.95). 15^th in the Pennsylvania Dutch series. In paper, Grape Expectations (Jan., Signet, 6.99).

I.J. Parker, Black Arrow (Dec., Penguin tpo, 13.00). 3^rd mystery set in 11^th C. Japan.

Robert B. Parker, High Profile (Feb., Putnam hc, 24.95). 6^th with Jesse Stone, who is dealing with a media circus after a controversial radio host is found hanging from a tree in Paradise.

Ben Pastor, The Water Thief (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). In 304 AD, Spartianus is looking to an historical mystery dealing with Hadrian. A letter from Hadrian is said to be involved and the historian is perplexed that someone is still interested in protecting what may be a 200 year-old crime. Crimes ancient and past merge.

James Patterson, Step on a Crack (Feb., Little Brown hc, 27.99). Masked gunmen take over the funeral for the beloved First Lady, trapping 100 of the most powerful people in the US inside. The kidnappers’ seem to know what the authorities are trying to do. Is someone on the outside helping?

Richard North Patterson, Exile (Jan., Holt hc, 26.00). A Jewish lawyer in San Francisco faces the dilemma of defending a lover from law school who is accused of being the mastermind of the assassination of the Prime Minister of Israel. The lawyer has been contemplating a run for Congress but she’s Palestinian and everything will get political – and messy.

Arturo Perez-Reverte, The Sun Over Breda (Dec., Putnam hc, 24.95). 3^rd with swordsman-for-hire, Captain Alatriste of 17^th C. Spain. In paper, Purity of Blood (Dec., Plume, 14.00).

Andrew Pyper, The Wildfire Season (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). Scarred inside and out by a fire, haunted by death, fire chief McEwan lives far outside his Yukon town. Someone is about to ignite a new blaze, forcing him back into the world that he’s left.

Carol O’Connell, Find Me (Jan., Putnam hc, 24.95). Mallory travels Route 66, hunting a killer who has buried the bodies of children along that byway. Mallory not only seeks him, but part of her own past as well. Favorite series of JB and Janine, who calls this entry BRILLIANT!  Signing!

Matt Beynon Rees, The Collaborator of Bethlehem (Feb., Soho hc, 22.00). When a former student is arrested as collaborating in the murder of a Palestinian guerilla, History professor Omar Yussef knows the young man will be executed unless the true culprit is found. He suspects that man is in the guerilla’s own violent group. All are afraid of these men so it is up to Yussef to investigate.

Emilie Richards, Let There Be Suspects (Dec., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 2^nd in the Ministry is Murder series, set in small town Ohio.

J.D. Robb, Innocent in Death (Feb., Putnam hc, 25.95). 24^th with NYPD Lt.Eve Diamond. Signed Copies Available.

Gillian Roberts, All’s Well that Ends (Jan., Ballantine hc, 23.95). The last book in the Amanda Pepper series! Amanda is quitting her teaching job and moving on. In paper, A Hole in Juan (Feb., Ballantine, 6.99).

S.J. Rozan, In This Rain (Jan., Delacorte hc, 24.00). After three years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, New York City building inspector Joe Cole becomes involved in another murder, investigating into the dark shadows of the city where the rich and powerful people evade justice. Perhaps he can regain his place in the city he loves. Bill recommends.

Marcus Sakey, The Blade Itself (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 22.95). Debut that has been praised by writers such as Child, Bruen and Pelecanos. Growing up in the Irish section of Chicago, you had to be tough and have a tough reputation. Danny and Evan were reckless armed thieves until a job went bad and Evan went to prison. Danny straightened himself out and is proud of the life he now leads. But Evan is released early and, figuring Danny owes him, wants help on a job. Janine HIGHLY recommends.

Ian Sansom, The Case of the Missing Books (Jan., Harper tpo, 12.95). 1^st in a new series featuring a bookmobile attendant as an amateur sleuth. Arriving in Ireland, Israel Armstrong finds that all of the books are gone. Now, who would have stolen 15,000 books, and why?

Theresa Schwegal, Probable Cause (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 2^nd novel from the most recent winner of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Chicago rookie Ray Weiss has always wanted to be a cop. The hazing has left him with doubts, as has finding a corpse in place of his promised reward. Is this a sick joke on a young kid or something more sinister? Signing LCC. In paper, the winner, Officer Down (Nov., St. Martin’s, 23.95).

Michele Scott, Saddled with Trouble (Dec., Berkley pbo, 6.99). 1^st in a new Horse Lover’s series. Quarter horse trainer Michaela Bancroft is being divorced by her husband when her uncle is murdered. Events lead her to believe she’s next.

John Shannon, The Dark Streets (Dec., Pegasus hc, 25.00). 9^th with LA private eye Jack Liffey. He’s looking for a young film student who vanished from Koreatown. The problem is that others are looking for her too. Reissued in trade paper, The Concrete River (Dec., Pegagsus,  12.95). Liffey’s first appearance, from 1996.

David Skibbins, The Star (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). Warren Ritter is again confronted by trouble. His daughter has separated from her cop husband and a custody dispute turns deadly.  In paper, High Priestess (Feb., St. Martin’s, 6.99). One of Fran’s favorite series.

Peter Spiegelman, Red Cat (Feb., Knopf hc, 22.95). In the 3^rd book in this award winning series, John March takes the case of a surprising client – his brother. March is treated with kind pity by his family and his smug older brother has become entangled in a steamy affair and he asks March’s help to end it.  Signing?

Patricia Sprinkle, Guess Who’s Coming to Die? (Feb., Signet pbo, 6.99). 7^th with Southern magistrate MacLaren Yarbourgh.

David Stone, The Echelon Vendetta (Feb., Putnam hc, 25.95). When the CIA needs a messed settled, Micah Dalton is dispatched. When a friend appears to have committed suicide, Dalton is suspicious. When the man’s family is slaughtered, he begins to look for answers. What he learns leads him to a dangerous group of operatives working under the ECHELON project. Debut written under a pen name by a man with long  experience in the military, the intelligence world and street-level law enforcement.

Leann Sweeney, Shoot from the Lip (Jan., Signet pbo, 6.99). 4^th with Houston PI Abby Rose.

Charles Todd, A False Mirror (Jan., Morrow hc, 23.95). A love triangle turns deadly, requiring Insp. Rutledge to head to the south coast. In paper, A Long Shadow (Jan., Harper, 6.99), the 7^th. Signed Copies Available. The first book in the series,

A Test of Wills, is back in print (Avon, 6.99).

Lisa Unger, Sliver of Truth (Jan., Shaye Areheart hc, 23.00). Once again, an innocent and common act puts Ridley Jones in the crosshairs. After picking up photos from a lab she’s swept into a global web of crime. In paper, the first Jones, Beautiful Lies (Jan., Three Rivers, 13.95).

Ann Waldron, The Princeton Imposter (Jan., Berkley pbo, 7.99). 5^th academic mystery.

Derek Watson, Unquiet Spirit (Dec., Carroll & Graf hc, 25.95). A spirit haunts a school’s staircase, splitting the school’s students and may have caused one professor to die from a heart attack. Once the press gets into the mix, things get ugly – and then accusations are made that the death that left the ghost may not have been suicide.

Charlene Weir, Edge of Midnight (Dec., St. Martin’s hc, 23.95). 8^th with Police Chief Susan Wren in the small town of Hampstead, KS.

 

     Now in Paperback

Susan Wittig Albert, The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood (Feb., Berkley, 6.99).

Lori Avocato, Nip, Tuck, Dead (Dec., Avon, 6.99).

Stephen Booth, One Last Breath (Jan., Bantam, 7.50).

Barbara Cleverly, The Bee’s Kiss (Mar., Delta, 13.00).

Max Allan Collins, Road to Paradise (Dec., Harper, 7.99).

Loren D. Estleman, Little Black Dress (Jan., Forge, 6.99). Macklin. Bill recommends.

Joanne Fluke, Cherry Cheesecake Murder (Feb., Kensington, 6.99).

Christopher Fowler, Ten Second Staircase (Feb., Bantam, 6.99).

Sue Grafton, S is for Silence (Dec., Berkley, 7.99).

Jane Haddam, Hardscrabble Road (Feb., St. Martin’s, 6.99).

Laurel K. Hamilton, A Stroke of Midnight (Dec., Ballantine, 7.99).

Lyn Hamilton, The Orkney Scroll (Feb., Berkley, 7.99).

Joan Hess, Malpractice in Maggody (Dec., Pocket, 6.99).

Jack Kerley, A Garden of Vipers (Feb., Onyx, 7.99).

Michael Koryta, Sorrow’s Anthem (Jan., St. Martin’s, 6.99).

David Liss, The Ethical Assassin (Jan., Ballantine, 13.95).

Michael McGarrity, Nothing But Trouble (Dec., Signet, 7.99).

Kate Moss, Labyrinth (Feb., Berkley, 15.00). Fran recommends.

T. Jefferson Parker, The Fallen (Jan., Harper, 7.99). Janine recommends.

Rebecca Pawell, The Summer Snow (Feb., Soho, 12.00). Janine recommends.

Lisa Scottoline, Dirty Blonde (Feb., Harper, 7.99).

Lou Jane Temple, Death du Jour (Jan., Berkley, 6.99).

 

     Coming this Spring

Cara Black, Murder on the Ile Saint-Louis, Mar.

Alexa Carr (aka Jenny Siler!), An Accidental American, Mar.

Jill Churchill & Jane Jeffry, Mar.

John Connolly & Charlie Parker, May

David Corbett, Blood of Paradise, Mar.

Loren D. Estleman & Amos Walker, April

Carolyn Hart & Henrie O., April

Donna Leon, Suffer the Little Children, April

James W. Hall, Magic City, Mar.

T. Jefferson Parker, Storm Runners, Mar.

Jonathan Santlofer, Anatomy of Fear, April

Lisa Scottoline, Daddy’s Girl, Mar.

 

Asa Larsson, The Blood Split (Feb., Delacorte hc, 22.00). In her second mystery translated into English, attorney Rebecka Martinsson is back in the town where she grew up. The recent murder of a female priest has set everyone on edge and the policewoman assigned to the case is determined to crack it. Martinsson is drawn along. Winner of Sweden’s Best Crime Novel and an international bestseller. In paper, Sun Storm (Jan., Delta, 12.00), the 1^st with Martinsson, which also won Sweden’s Best First Crime Novel award.

Giulio Leoni, The Mosaic Crimes (Feb., Harcourt hc, 25.00). Recently appointed Prior for the city of Florence in 1300, Dante Alighieri is still years from writing his Inferno. Now though, it is his responsibility to investigate the murder of an artist. Mystery abounds.

Claire McNab, The Dingo Dilemma (Dec., Alyson tpo, 13.95). 4^th with Australian PI in training Kylie Kendall.

In paper

A.C. Baantjer, Dekok and Murder by Installment  (Jan., Speck tpo, 14.00). Originally published in the Netherlands in 1998, this is the 18^th of the 32 Dekok books.

Kjell Eriksson, The Princess of Burundi (Feb., St. Martin’s, 11.95). Tammy recommends.

Alana Knight, An Orkney Murder and The Stuart Sapphire (Dec., Allison & Busby, 9.95 ea.).

      From England

Andrew Martin, The Necropalis Railway (Jan., Harcourt tpo, 14.00). In 1903, a smart and ambitious young man arrives in London, luckily getting a graveyard shift for a railway. His dream job is tarnished: he’s guarding the shipping of coffins, his predecessor is missing, and his co-workers detest him. His wits are all he has.

Peter May, The Fourth Sacrifice (Feb., St. Martin’s hc, 24.95). From 2000, the 2^nd with American forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell and Beijing Det. Li Yin. Still working to get to know and understand one another’s culture, they’re faced with a series of gruesome murders. The author – a delightful man – is still the only author to come to one our signings in a kilt. Signing LCC.

Derek Raymond, Nightmare in the Street (Dec., Serpent’s Tail tpo, 14.95). The author’s last book, not published in his lifetime. When a weary Parisian cop is suspended for punching a fellow officer, his criminal enemies seek to even the score.

 

          Sherlockiana

Val Andrews, Sherlock Holmes: The Ghost of Baker Street (Nov., Breese tpo, 18.50). An American flees the Red Scare of the early 1950s and moves into a flat on Baker St. Seems the rooms are haunted by the ghost of a famous detective. Besides a  vivid portrait of British film and TV during that time, there’s a clever mystery to boot.

Peter Costello, Conan Doyle, Detective (Dec., Carroll & Graf tpo, 15.95). “True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes”, revised and updated, with 8 pages of rare photos.

Sherlock Holmes Guide to Life, Vince Emery, ed. (Sept., Vince Emery Prod. hc, 12.95). A compendium of quips and quotes from Holmes on all manner of subjects, it also includes color and black & white illustrations. [editor’s note: the catalog for this book was not available at the time the Fall newsletter went to print.]

Roger Jaynes, Sherlock Holmes and the Chilford Ripper (Nov., Breese tpo, 18.50). In a series of gruesome murders reminiscent of the Whitechapel crimes, Holmes and Watson investigate a group of deaths in a quiet Essex town. The trail leads not only back to London, but into the government.

Donald Thomas, The Execution of Sherlock Holmes (Jan., Pegasus hc, 24.00). Previously undiscovered papers tell of Holmes and Watson coming out of retirement to solve a variety of cases.

In paper

Julian Barnes, Arthur & George (Dec., Vintage, 14.95).

Carole Nelson Douglas, A Soul of Steel (Dec., St. Martin’s, 7.99). 3^rd in the series, originally titled Irene at Large, from 1992.

Audio – See the Jim French Productions in the New From the Northwest section on the first page.

 

          Small Mystery Presses

     Bitter Lemon

Luca Di Fulvio, The Mannequin Man (Jan., 14.95). Genoa is beset by a garbage strike and the police are dealing with the disappearance of files concerning arson fires, a telephone stalker and a colleague who is dying of cancer. Into this mix comes a series of mutilated bodies.

     Busted Flush

David Handler, Volume II: The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald/The Woman Who Fell From Grace (Jan., 18.00). The 3^rd and 4^th of the Stewart Hoag books, ghostwriter and reluctant sleuth, both first published in 1991.

     Felony & Mayhem (all 14.95)

Margery Allingham, Look to the Lady (Dec.). 3^rd Albert Campion, aka The Gyrth Chalice Mystery and Police at the Funeral (Feb.), the 4^th, both from 1931.

Robert Barnard, Death and the Chaste Apprentice (Feb.) Satirical crime at an arts festival, from 1989.

Anton Gill, City of the Dead (Feb.) 3^rd ancient Egyptian mystery from 1993 – first US publication.

Matthew Head, The Cabinda Affair (Dec.). 2^nd with Dr. Mary Finney, African sleuth from 1949.

Reginald Hill, Death of a Dormouse (Dec.). 1987 thriller published under the name Patrick Ruell.

Christopher Hyde, A Gathering of Saints (Feb.). WWII thriller from 1996.

Stuart Kaminsky, Black Knight in Red Square (Feb.). 2^nd  in the Insp. Rostnikov series, from 1983.

Daniel Stashower, Elephants in the Distance (Feb.) Magicians and suspense, from 1989.

Donald Westlake, What I Tell You Three Times Is False and The Fourth Dimension Is Death (Dec.). The 3^rd and 4^th in the TV detective series, from 1987 and 1989, originally published as by Samuel Holt.

     Hard Case Crime

Lawrence Block, Lucky at Cards (Feb., Hard Case Crime, 6.99). Originally published in 1964 as The Sex Shuffle by Sheldon Lord. A card sharp decides to take a guy’s wife along with his money and doesn’t know he’s the one about to be played. First publication in 37 years!

Richard Prather, The Peddler (Dec., 6.99). The rise to the top of the San Francisco mob robs a man of his soul. From 1952, published under the pen name Douglas Ring.

     Midnight Ink

Sue Ann Jaffarian, The Curse of the Holy Pail (Feb., 13.95). In her 2^nd case, Odelia Grey looks for a missing collectable lunch box, $30,000 in cash, and the killer who poisoned one of her law firm’s clients. Signing LCC.

     Rue Morgue (all 14.95)

Catherine Aird, A Most Contagious Game (Feb.). A retired businessman discovers a 150 year-old skeleton in his just purchased Tudor mansion. Having time on his hands, he aims to get answers. From 1967, her only non-Insp. Sloan mystery.

Gladys Mitchell, The Mystery of a Butcher’s Shop (Dec.). From 1929, her second Mrs. Bradley. One of the founders of the detection club with Chesterton, Sayers and Christie, she wrote over 60 books with Mrs. Bradley.

Stuart Palmer, Nipped in the Bud (Jan.). Hidegarde Withers returns to NYC in this 1951 mystery, to help Insp. Piper on a case. 15^th in this screwball series.

     Stark House

Algernon Blackwood, Jimbo/The Education of Uncle Paul

(Jan., tpo, 19.95). Two supernatural novels from the master of mystical fantasy; both long out of print, and first published in 1909.  

A. S. Fleischman, Look Behind You, Lady / The Venetian Blonde (Nov., tpo, 19.95). Before turning to young adult writing as Sid Fleischman, he wrote some fine hardboiled books for adults, many set in the Orient, and originally published by Gold Medal. This volume also includes a new intro by the author.

Peter Rabe, My Lovely Executioner / Agreement to Kill 

(Oct., tpo, 19.95). "He had few peers among noir writers of the 50's and 60's; he has few peers today."--Bill Pronzini. 

Features a new introduction by Max Gartenberg, Peter's agent and good friend. Executioner is from 1960; Agreement is from 1957.

A Trio of Gold Medals: Vengeance Man by Dan J. Marlowe, Park Avenue Tramp by Fletcher Flora and The Prettiest Girl I Ever Killed by Charles Runyon (Feb., tpo, price not set, forecast to be 22.95 - 24.95). Three classic Gold Medal noirs, each a gem but collectively a fine representation of this paperback original publisher from the 50's and 60's. 

 

          Collections

Greatest Hits: Original Stories of Assassins, Hit Men, and Hired Guns, Robert J. Randisi, ed. (Dec., Carroll & Graf, 15.95). Paper edition of this anthology that includes stories by Lee Child, Barbara Seranella, Larry Block, Jeff Deaver and Jim Hall’s Edgar Winning short story.

The Deadly Bride – and 19 of the Year’s Finest Crime and Mystery Stories, Vol.II, Gorman & Greenberg, eds. (Jan., Carroll & Graf tpo, 16.95). Besides the year’s finest short works by the likes of Sharan Newman, James W. Hall and Jeffrey Deaver, this volume also includes an overview on the year’s mystery events – award winners, obituaries and an essay on the state of crime fiction.

Mammoth Book of Perfect Crimes and Impossible Mysteries, Mike Ashley, ed. (Jan., Carroll & Graf tpo, 13.95). The catalog says “a collection of new, unpublished, and previously hard to find stories from award-winning crime writers.”

 

Charlaine Harris, Shakespeare’s Champion (Dec, Berkley, 6.99), her 2^nd Lily Bard, from 1997, AND Last Scene Alive (Dec., Mira, 6.99), the 7^th Aurora Teagarden, from 2002.

Joan Hess, A Holly, Jolly Murder (Dec., St. Martin’s, 6.99). Claire Malloy #12, from 1997.

David Markson, Epitaph for a Tramp & Epitaph for a Dead Beat (Jan., Shoemaker & Hoard tpo, 14.00). Early hard-boiled fiction from a writer’s writer. Markson wrote just two books about NYC PI Harry Fannin and here they are in one volume. Tramp was first published in 1959 and Fannin works to find his ex-wife’s killer. Dead Beat is from 1961 and is set amidst the bohemian world of the early Beats. Should be great fun. Cover art by Robert McGinnis.

Cornell Woolrich, Night Has a Thousand Eyes (Jan., Pegasus tpo, 13.95). A classic noir thriller with a con man trying to deal with his ability to see the future. Originally published in 1945 under the name George Hopley.

 

          Special Interest

Bogie: A Celebration of the Life and Films of Humphrey Bogart (Jan., St. Martin’s hc, 35.00). An illustrated view of one the great stars in crime and mystery films ever, with a forward by his son Stephen Bogart and an appreciation by Richard Schickel. Includes 200 color and black & white photos.

Michael Lesy, Murder City: The Bloody History of Chicago in the Twenties (Feb., Norton hc, 24.95). The dark side of the Jazz Age when professionals and amateurs whacked one another with abandon. Have we really changed very much since then?

Walter Mosley, Killing Johnny Fry (Jan., Bloomsbury hc, 23.95). Billed as “a sexistential novel” and a “raw and honest portrayal of a man on a quest for sexual redemption in midlife”. When he finds his girlfriend cheating on him, he begins to question the rules that most all of us live by, and what happens when the rules are ignored. A book guaranteed to surprise you, to provoke you and to make you blush.

John Williams, Back to the Badlands (Feb., Serpent’s Tail tpo, 15.95). 15 years after his last trip to discover the mythical American of crime novels, Williams takes another trip across the country to find what has changed. He interviews a wide range of writers, including Burke, Paretsky, Ellroy, Crumley, Woodrell, Pelecanos and others.

Dashiell Hammett, The Crime Wave: Collected Nonfiction (Feb., Vince Emery Prod. hc, 24.95). While we think of Hammett as a great writer of fiction, he was also an investigative journalist with a syndicated newspaper column called The Crime Wave. He touched on a wide range of issues, not just crime and the material is gathered here for the first time. Includes illustrations, photos and even advertisements from the publications in which they originally ran.

Joe R. Lansdale, Mad Dog Summer (Sept., Golden Gryphon Press tpo, 14.95). Another title that we didn’t know about in time for the Fall newsletter. These are surreal stories of horror and fantasy by the widely talented Edgar winner and includes one that won the 1999 Bram Stoker Horror Award. Each story includes an introduction by the author relating its background and inspiration.

Patrick Anderson, The Triumph of the Thriller: How Cops, Crooks and Cannibals Captured Popular Fiction (Feb., Random House hc, 24.95). The Washington Post’s weekly thriller reviewer presents his views on why, in the last 50 years, thrillers have come to dominate sales and bestseller lists.

 

 

The Rejection Collection, Matthew Diffee, ed., (Simon & Schuster hc, 22.95). An album of cartoons which were rejected by The New Yorker magazine. Most are very, very funny, but it’s no mystery why they were rejected. Most of the popular cartoonists are represented, but not Liz Chast. Did she decline, or is her work never rejected?

 

 

These Guns for Hire: 31 Short Stories About Hitmen, J.A. Konrath, ed., (Bleak House hc, 27.95). Already comes with 18 signatures, so you only have 13 to go! Bill read an advance sampler containing several of the stories, and liked them all.

Deadly Housewives, Christine Matthews (Avon tpo, 13.95). Never-before-published stories by Paretsky, Barr, Mina, Muller, and 9 others.

Mystery Writers of America presents Death do us Part, Harlan Coben, ed., (Little, Brown hc, 25.99). New stories about love, lust, and murder by Jeff Abbott, Lee Child, Laura Lippman, Ridley Pearson, and 15 others.

Damn Near Dead: An Anthology of Geezer Noir, Duane Swierczynski, ed., (Busted Flush tpo, 18.00). Introduction by James Crumley. Stories by 27 male and female authors whose names you (mostly) know.

A Merry Band of Murderers, Claudia Bishop & Don Bruns, eds. (Poisoned Pen hc, 24.95). An original mystery anthology of songs (!) and stories, with a CD featuring performances by the 13 authors.

Mystery Muses, Jim Huang & Austin Lugar, eds., (Crum Creek tpo, 15.00). 100 of today’s mystery writers – 4 of them from the Northwest - each contribute an essay about a classic mystery novel that inspired them. Our copies are already signed by Jan Burke, so you only have 99 to go!

 

It’s our annual issue to include lists of what we each thought were the best books read during the year. The only rule for inclusion is that they were read during 2006 – they can be from the past, present or future, as we get advanced reading copies from many of the publishers.

 

Lawrence Block, Hit Parade

Lee Child, The Hard Way

Michael Connelly, Echo Park

These 3 authors seem to make my list every year. They’re just that  good.

Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake), Ask the Parrot. I had feared that last year’s Nobody Runs Forever was the demise of my favorite felon, Parker, so this year’s caper came as a relief as well as a joy.

Mike Lawson, The Second Perimeter.   Even better than last                        year’s debut, The Inside Ring.

Brian Haig, Secret Sanction.   First in a series that’s not new, but new to me, thanks to Janine.

S. J. Rozan, In this Rain. Her second stand-alone thriller, set in New York not Seattle, despite the title.

Larry Karp, The Ragtime Kid.  An excellent mix of fact and fiction.

Daniel Stashower, The Beautiful Cigar Girl.   An excellent mix of crime and biography.

Ron Chudley, Old Bones. I just discovered this Canadian gem. We have copies on order.

 

This isn't fair!  Ten isn't enough!  Okay, in no particular order, here goes, and I hope you've enjoyed these as much as I have! You can always count on Lee Child, Elizabeth George, Dana Stabenow, PJ Tracy and Rennie Arith, so I’m not listing them, but you know I love them and that I’ll strongly encourage you to read all their works if you haven’t already.

   The Art of Detection by Laurie R. King

    A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read

   Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

   Copper River by William Kent Krueger

   Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson

   Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

   The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

and paperback originals that I think are really outstanding are:

   Idaho Code by Joan Opyr

   Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

   Greywalker by Kat Richardson

   Wives & Sisters by Natalie R. Collins

And two by a writer I hadn’t tried: The Blue Place and its sequel Stay by Nicola Griffith. Can’t wait to read the new on next Spring!

 

C. J. Box, In Plain Sight (Putnam hc, 24.95). When matriarch Opal Scarlett disappears, her sons battle for possession of the huge ranch that has made the Scarletts power brokers in their part of the world. Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett finds himself in the middle of things as usual.  Sixth in a superlative series

Bob Cook, Disorderly Elements (1985, reprinted by Felony and Mayhem 2006). Smart and funny.  This humorous thriller pits mild-mannered British civil servant Michael Wyman against a possible M16 “ferret,” the KGB and the CIA. But never underestimate a British civil servant, especially if he is both a spy and a don. The contrast between the spy world of 1985 and the present is particularly interesting, and a bit poignant.

 S. F. X. Dean, By Frequent Anguish (1982, republished by Felony & Mayhem 2006).  An academic mystery set at a small New England college.  An older professor of English is torn by duty and honor, and the growing attraction he feels towards a student who is the daughter of his best friend, and who has declared her wish to marry him.

Will Harriss, The Bay Psalm Book Murder, (1983). A biblio-mystery set in LA, at “Los Angeles University.”  An English professor  is suspicious when his friend, a librarian Lincoln, is found dead. The police theory of robbery doesn’t make sense to Cliff because a rare first edition of the first book printed in the American colonies is lying next to the body.  Unfortunately this book is out of print, but it’s a good candidate a small press reprint.

Steve Hockensmith, Holmes on the Range (St. Martin’s, 2006).  Hockensmith carries off this charming and humorous western-mystery hybrid with aplomp.

Qiu Xiaolong, Death of a Red Heroine, (2000), Death of a Loyal Character Dancer (2002), and When Red is Black (2004). These refreshingly different police procedurals with Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Bureau show us a world at once old and new.

Hazel Holt, A Death in the Family (Nov., Signet). An obnoxious cousin is making the rounds of Sheila Malory’s family, pestering cousins and relations for family history, but not everyone wants some family secrets known.  Another very good village mystery by an excellent author.

 

     My choices for “Book of the Year”:

Jess Walter, The Zero and Daniel Woodrell, Winter’s Bones

     And in no particular order:

Martyn Waites, The Mercy Seat

Robert Ferrigno, Prayers for the Assassin

GM Ford, Blown Away

Lee Child, The Hard Way

Joshilyn Jackson, Between, Georgia

Ed Wright, Red Sky Lament

George Pelecanos, The Night Gardner

Louise Ure, Forcing Amaryllis

Michael Collins, Death of a Writer

John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things

James W. Hall, Magic City –out next Spring

Don Winslow, The Winter of Frankie Machine

 

James R. Benn’s Billy Boyle

Tony Broadbent’s The Smoke and Spectres in the Smoke

Lee Child’s The Hard Way AND Bad Luck and Trouble (2007), the perfect follow-up to The Hard Way

Robert Ferrigno’s Prayers for the Assassin

James Grady’s Mad Dogs

Ward Just’s Forgetfulness

Robert Littell’s Legends

Dreda Say Mitchell’s Running Hot

Carol O’Connell’s Find Me (2007) – brilliant!

Cornelia Read’s A Field of Darkness

Marcus Sakey’s The Blade Itself (2007)

Louise Ure’s Forcing Amaryllis

Robert Wilson’s The Hidden Assassin

Don Winslow’s The Winter of Frankie Machine

Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bones

 

Oh my, this is the first time I’ve had to create a list of the best books I’ve read in a year. Hope I remembered them all!

Karin Slaughter - Triptych

GM Ford – Blown Away

Gillian Flynn – Sharp Objects

Jonathan Kellerman  - Gone

Michael Simon – Body Scissors

Phillip Margolin – Positive Proof

Will Beall – L.A Rex

Kathy Reichs – Break No Bones

Joshilyn Jackson – Gods in Alabama

John Connolly – The Book of Lost Things

 

Besides a dozen or so Nero Wolfes that I’ve devoured, here are the books that I found outstanding, pretty much in the order in which I read them:

Michael Connelly’s Echo Park

GM Ford’s Blown Away

Lee Child’s The Hard Way

Michael Lawson’s Second Perimeter

Catching up on James Lee Burke, Crusader’s Cross and Pegasus Descending

Loren D. Estleman’s Retro

Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bones

Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects (best debut of 2006)

James Grady’s Mad Dogs

Charlie Huston’s Six Bad Things

Michael Simon’s Body Scissors

Don Winslow’s The Winter of Frankie Machine