all your Reads in Here

Although I missed a couple in Jenn McKinlay's Library Lover's mystery series, it's always satisfying to return to Briar Creek, Connecticut. It's like meeting up with old friends, Library Director Lindsey Norris, her boyfriend, Sully, Captain Mike Sullivan, her children's librarian, Beth, and all the members of Lindsey's crafternoon group. With developments in Lindsey's personal life,  Hitting the Books  is even more satisfying for those of us who are rooting for her. Lindsey's trying to avoid a baby hand-off, so she's watching out the library window when an out-of-control car hits the local tennis coach, and speeds off. She and two other witnesses have conflicting accounts to give to Police Chief Emma Plewicki, but Lindsey's sure that car aimed at Theresa Huston. When there's a second attempt on Theresa's life, Lindsey wonders if Theresa is the target, or her wealthy fiance. Anyone who knows Lindsey Norris knows she won't be able to k...

Although I had heard of Margaret Mizushima's previous books in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series, I hadn't read any of them.  Burning Ridge , the fourth book, is an excellent introduction, even for those of us who haven't read the earlier ones. Deputy Mattie Cobb is only beginning to trust her feelings for Timber Creek, Colorado veterinarian Cole Walker and his daughters. Mattie's childhood was traumatic, and she spent most of it in foster homes. With her past, there's a reason she worries about Cole's daughters when their dog finds a boot with a human foot in it. However, her job is to assist with the investigation, along with her K-9 partner, Robo. Robo does find the remains of a body, a man who was burned in a shallow pit in the national forest west of Timber Creek. And, she recognizes the name on the man's tattoo. Although she hasn't seen her brother, Willie, in twenty-five years, after they went to separate foster homes, she'd just been talkin...

D.A. Bartley's Blessed Be the Wicked may be a debut mystery, but she brings a knowledge of Mormon history and traditions to this intriguing story. The background, as well as the well-developed character of Abish Taylor, combine for a fascinating debut. Abish Taylor is from a respected Mormon family. Her father is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. Yet, she had her reasons for leaving the Church. She moved to New York City, became a police detective, and had a loving, successful marriage. But, her husband's death devastated her, and she moved back to Utah, hoping to reconnect with her family and  nature. Now, she's the only detective on Pleasant View's police force. And, she's viewed with suspicion by all the Mormon men on the force, including her boss, Chief Henderson. All the insiders keep secrets from Abbie, even at the scene of Steven Smith's death. The men don't really want to investigate when Smith is found dressed i...

Don't be deceived by the cover of David Myles Robinson's novel, Son of Saigon . It does have its dark moments, but the humor more than makes up for it. It's a witty, delightful story, and I was happy to hand it off to a friend. I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did. Hank Reagan is a seventy-year-old, a wealthy man who spends his days playing golf or gin with another retiree, Norm Rothstein. Since Hank's wife died, he's just waiting at the retirement community he calls "the death farm" for his own death. Norm doesn't mind looking for his sixth wife, but Hank isn't interested in all the women who are circling. Then, Tran Xuan Mai showed up to see Hank. Hank, a CIA operative was in Vietnam forty years earlier, and he and Mai were in love. When the Americans evacuated Saigon, he was forced to leave her behind, not knowing she was pregnant. Now, Mai wants Hank to find their son, a man who disappeared after his high school graduation. He'd be in his ...