Mystery

An ordinary sort of evil

Armstrong, Kelley, author.

Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has grown accustomed to life in Victorian Scotland after travelling 150 years into the past into the body of a housemaid. She’s built a new life for herself. Even though she works as an assistant to forensic-science pioneer Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie, she considers them true friends. And with Gray in particular, perhaps, someday, something more. Late one night, Gray and Mallory are summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray’s undertaking business, and they assume there's been a death in the household. But instead, they arrive in the midst of a seance with a ghost demanding Gray's presence. The ghost is Lady Adler's former maid, who had gone missing but now requests that Gray investigate her murder. Although Gray and Mallory are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter, whether she's dead or alive. But unsure if there's been a murder or not, unable to call out the medium as a fraud, and concerned for the fate of the young maid, Gray and Mallory are once again drawn into a mystery much more puzzling--and more dangerous--than it first seems.....

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Our noble selves : a novel

Atkinson, Kate, author.

When crime correspondent turned war reporter Harry Flynn returns to Britain from Singapore in 1945, he takes a quiet job with the Festival of Britain, a government-funded endeavor aimed at celebrating the nation’s creativity, grit, and ingenuity. There, he joins a team of misfits and eccentrics as they help to ready the Festival for launch. When a Frenchwoman goes missing, Flynn becomes the central suspect in her disappearance — and possible murder. He was the last person to see her alive, yet he has no memory of the evening they spent together. As evidence against him mounts, Flynn begins to wonder if he might actually be to blame. To make matters worse, he is surrounded by people who have their own secret agenda. There may be a carnival atmosphere in London as the country attempts to throw off the drab privations of war, yet beneath the frivolity there is also a worthy attempt to hold up a mirror to both its history and its future. With her unique voice and her skill at conjuring the past, Kate Atkinson turns her light on a nation reconstructing its image and the lengths to which some might go to manipulate the outcome. Witty, brilliantly plotted, and with an unforgettable cast of characters, Our Noble Selves paints a vivid portrait of a former empire struggling with its identity in the aftermath of war.....

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Fury in death

Robb, J. D., 1950- author.

NYPSD lieutenant Eve Dallas never knows what to expect when she gets word of a body. It could be an elderly man who made the mistake of climbing a ladder in slippery footwear. And the next call could be a wealthy biotech executive beaten to death in his home office-but what was Larry Chu's mistake? The victim's corpse is so mangled and damaged it's hard to believe a lone, unarmed assailant could have managed it. The killer was clearly unnaturally strong-and smart enough to find a way into Chu's highly secure building. Most of all, whoever did this was very, very angry. The excessive violence leads Dallas to conclude that this was a deeply personal act, born of a rage that she can't excuse but can understand thanks to her own traumatic past. And though the motive seems rooted in heated emotion rather than cold hard cash, she can't ignore the suspicious bank account in the Cayman Islands, or the shadowy, profit-hungry company Chu worked for. The mystery only grows when it turns out Chu isn't the only victim-and Dallas will need to tear through one layer of secrecy after another to reveal what lies behind this explosion of fury.....

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I'm not the only murderer in my retirement home

Craig, Fergus author

After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home...until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn't do it this time... Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She's hoping her past as a serial killer won't come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it's not long before a fellow resident-who happens to be a former police commissioner-drops dead, and Carol's true identity is leaked-making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward. Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn't the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks-it's filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol's guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong...without killing anyone, for once.....

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The castle in the glen : a novel

Bowen, Rhys, author.

Australian writer Emma Callander has been recruited to complete the final historical mystery in a series by celebrated author Iris Blackburn. It’s 1965, and Iris’s memory is fading. She’s certain that only Emma can do justice to her novel about a murder on the Isle of Skye. When Emma ventures to Scotland for research, she discovers the story is not fiction at all but rather a true crime, unsolved for more than fifty years. It was 1904 when a couple’s suspicious drowning led to the disappearance of a mysterious young woman the locals called the Wild Girl. To this day the mystery is unforgettable, especially among the descendants of an aristocratic family who’ll do anything to keep their secrets buried. From the misty Highlands to a medieval castle, Emma and Tony Gordon, Iris’s handsome lawyer, work ever more closely to uncover them. But while Iris may be known for her fiendishly clever twists, there’s one not even Emma could have seen coming.....

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The end of the Sahara

Khaṭībī, Saʻīd, author.

The story is set in 1988 Algeria. It takes place in just forty days, ending as mass protests erupt in the country. In a small town on the edge of the desert, plagued by a locust infestation and a food shortage, teetering on the brink of uprising, the body of Zakia Zaghouani — the singer at the Sahara Hotel — is discovered. Suspicion immediately falls on her lover, who is thrown into prison. The incompetent and greedy Inspector Hamid begins an investigation. So does the defense lawyer of the main suspect. Family, friends, and close ones give their testimonies, finding themselves confronted with their past. Secrets, betrayals, grudges, but also dreams and hopes shed light on their connection to the victim: each person harbors, for one reason or another, the desire to take revenge on her. ....

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Deceptions

Deaver, Jeffery, author

Bestselling author and master of suspense Jeffery Deaver returns with a devious collection, featuring two never-before published stories in which fan favorites Colter Shaw -- adapted for TV (CBS's Tracker) -- and Lincoln Rhyme are united by the layers of deception taking over New York City... *A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, the motive seems obvious -- but can the detective who was first on the scene puzzle out what needs reading between the lines? *A brilliant sleuth, obsessed with Sherlock Holmes's mysteries, turns his attention to a serial killer stalking the streets of New York City. But as his deductions bring him closer to his prey, he starts to wonder who is really doing the hunting. *A mysterious woman has gone into hiding and Colter Shaw is tasked with bringing her to a safe house. But with a hitman on his trails, the race toward safety takes on a whole new meaning. *A serial killer with a motive never before seen in the history of crime challenges Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs to rethink everything they know about the nature of evil -- and the evidence its perpetrators leave at the scenes. No stranger to the cat-and-mouse chase or our favorite twists and turns, Jeffery Deaver brings his chops to Deceptions, where every story unearths trickery and the truths that lie buried deep under.....

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The most mysterious bookshop in Paris

Pryor, Mark, 1967- author.

Hugo Marston, former head of security at the U.S. embassy in Paris, has retired and is ready to realize his lifelong dream of owning a mystery and antiquarian bookshop. But when a blackmail scheme targeting a chocolatier leads to murder, Hugo is again called to investigate in the first Paris Bookshop Mystery... Hugo has led an exciting life as an FBI profiler and the US embassy's head of security, but now he's ready to embrace a quieter existence as a bookseller in the Marais district of Paris. His former employer, however, has other plans for him. A prominent American citizen is the COO of a boutique chocolate emporium in Paris, where they've received a mysterious and threatening note. A blackmailer who goes by the name The Shadow wants half a million euros or else their "darkest secret will be revealed." Eclat de Chocolat is housed in a chateau dating back to the 1700s. The building, which served as a convent in the first half of the twentieth century, where the angelic Sister Evangeline and her order of nuns helped countless orphans during World War II, has been beautifully converted into a chocolate factory. So what dark secrets could a chocolatier be hiding? The COO has no idea. Involving his friend, Lieutenant Camille Lerens, Hugo begins to investigate. But soon a second note appears on the premises, canceling the blackmail threat. The same day, the body of an employee is found in an old graveyard behind the chocolatier. Now Hugo and Lerens have a murder on their hands, but is it connected to the blackmail attempt? As they dig for secrets and motives, it becomes clear The Shadow's grave work has just begun.......

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Fire must burn

Montclair, Allison, author.

London, 1947. Iris Sparks is eager for a break after recent turmoil, but peace has to wait. Her old intelligence boss recruits her and her partner, Gwen Bainbridge, for a covert mission involving Iris's former Cambridge friend, Anthony Danforth -- now suspected of spying for the Soviets. To uncover the truth, they must draw Tony into hiring their matchmaking service so an undercover agent can get close to him. Reluctant but loyal, Iris agrees, determined to clear Tony's name if she can -- or expose him if she must. Being a spy, she learns once again, is never simple.....

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God's country : a novel

Krueger, William Kent, author.

Cork O'Connor, preparing for a family trip into the Boundary Waters, is troubled by ominous visions about his future. Ignoring the warnings, he uncovers signs of violence while searching for his missing friend, Cordell Bishop. Soon, he is forced to negotiate with dangerous criminals, the Kennedy brothers, who are seeking their late father's hidden stash. Facing escalating danger and difficult choices, Cork grapples with his darkest instincts as he helps others escape and eventually takes justice into his own hands. God's Country is an action-packed thrill ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.....

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The mysterious affair of Judith Potts

Thorogood, Robert, author.

Two dead celebrities. One village full of secrets... Someone is killing celebrities in Marlow. First, it's a famous soccer player. Then, a bestselling thriller writer. When two shocking deaths rock their quiet riverside town, Judith, Suzie, and Becks -- the unstoppable Marlow Murder Club -- must untangle a dangerous web of blackmail and scandal to catch a killer. But with their trusted police ally DI Malik suddenly suspended, and Judith's own past threatening to resurface, the women are on their own. Suspects are multiplying like tabloid headlines, secrets are stacking up, and time is running out. Can the Marlow Murder Club crack the case before the killer strikes again -- or will this be the end of their crime-solving adventures?....

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Delusional

Patterson, James, 1947- author.

Detective Michael Bennett and army-sniper-turned-NYPD-officer Rob Trilling travel to Montana to investigate a case that crosses state borders and family lines. In New York City, a series of deadly bombs explodes. In New Jersey, a military base is burglarized for explosives. In Montana, violence and arson rock a small town outside of Bozeman. Are the incidents related? Bennett, Trilling, and the ATF investigate. A single-minded group angry with the government keep turning up in unexpected places, insisting that they're only trying to make the world a better place. To law enforcement, their claims seem delusional. Will words or gunpowder light the next fuse?....

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Savvy Summers and the po'boy perils : a mystery

Jackson-Opoku, Sandra, author.

The next delectable mystery featuring quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, owner of a soul food café in Chicago. Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago's South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course-mini po'boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie's famous buttermilk biscuits. But when someone is found dead in the company's conference room, Savvy's culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy's beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again. Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody's hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it's too late?....

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The ghost women : a novel

Murphy, Jennifer, 1956 February 14- author

A mysterious art academy in the woods, a deck of ancient tarot cards, and a centuries-old secret... On a hot September morning in 1972, the body of Abel Montague, a student at St. Luke's Institute of the Arts, is found hanging from a tree in the forest. An ancient Hanged Man tarot card is found in the back pocket of his pants and his body has been positioned into the exact pose illustrated on the card. When Detective Lola Germany arrives at St. Luke's-a former monastery that once housed a secret order of monks who carried out witch trials and executions -- she believes they are dealing with a ritualistic murder. While interviewing school administrators and Abel's classmates, Lola discovers Abel's live-in girlfriend, Pearl, seems shaken but also might be hiding something -- along with her group of friends who call themselves witches. When more students are found dead, each body arranged like a tarot card, Lola realizes she is trapped in a web of power and ambition that spans centuries. Soon the lines between past and present, spiritual and tangible, begin to blur, and the only way to survive is to seek answers from places she never imagined.....

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The botanist's assistant

Townsend, Peggy, author.

Margaret Finch knows that when she turns fifty-one, the day won't be celebrated. Like every other day, she will follow the same meticulous routine that she's had for the past ten years as Research Assistant II for Roosevelt University's brilliant professor of botany, Dr. Jonathan Deaver. No surprises. But as it turns out, she couldn't be more wrong. On the morning of her fifty-first birthday, Margaret finds her boss lying dead in his office, a pool of blood around his once-handsome head. That day of all days marks quite the dramatic shift in her otherwise mundane life. At the time of his death, Professor Deaver was on the cusp of a discovery that could bring a new treatment for lung cancer. As expected, his death shakes the tight-knit community of academics, but the coroner rules it to have been caused by a genetic heart defect. Margaret, however, isn't so sure.....

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