New Mystery
(Click here for a full list of every title on the New Mystery Shelf).
Crimson Rooms by Katharine McMahon
From Booklist: Even though the Great War is over, it still casts a shadow. Haunted by the death of her beloved brother, James, Evelyn Gifford leads a cheerless life. But though time seems to have stopped in the London house she shares with her mother, grandmother, and aunt, Evelyn has a career outside. As one of England’s only female attorneys, she has to work hard for acceptance and finally gets involved in two cases, one involving a mother trying to regain custody of her children and the other involving a veteran who is accused of murdering his wife.
Then there is Meredith, the irrepressible young woman who shows up on the Giffords’ doorstep with a child she claims is James’ son. And a possible love interest presents itself in the person of another attorney, Nicholas Thorne. A lot of balls in the air, but McMahon does a superb job of juggling them all. Evelyn’s personal and professional struggles are convincingly rendered, and the period ambience and courtroom drama are equally satisfying. A thoroughly engrossing read that will appeal both as mystery and historical fiction. --Mary Ellen Quinn
Call Number: M MCM
Let it Ride by John McFetridge
From Booklist: McFetridge’s outstanding Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (2008) skillfully pitted cops against bikers turned crime lords and introduced Toronto to crime-fiction fans as a fascinating city-on-the-make, sprawling, ethnically diverse, wealthy, and ever-gentrifying. The author returns to the scene of the crime, but this time the result is less satisfying.
The primary plotline, a Detroit hood’s plan to steal a cache of gold from the Canadian bikers and live happily ever after with a woman he meets in Toronto, simply peters out. The lead detectives, a black man and a white woman, spend the entire novel chasing their tails, investigating a Mob hit that is simply a case of mistaken identity, and dealing with the female cop’s marital angst. Indeed, angst seems to be a primary motif: Richard Tremblay, the intriguing top criminal from the previous novel is back but clearly has caught the angst bug; Italian Mob capo Big Pete has a dose, too, and so does Get, the Detroit hood. What remains, and what makes Let It Ride marginally entertaining, is Toronto. Despite this misstep, McFetridge is still a rising star to whom attention should be paid. --Thomas Gaughan
Call Number: M MCF
The Last Illusion by Rhys Bowen
From Booklist: Molly Murphy witnesses a terrible accident at a magical-illusion show and soon finds herself pulled into the dangerous and mysterious world of illusionists in early-twentieth-century New York City. Hired by Bess Houdini, Molly is tasked with preventing Houdini from being killed on stage, something that Bess desperately fears after a string of accidents at the theater. But the illusionists are a tight-lipped group who refuse to share their secrets. Fortunately, Molly has some inside help in the form of her fiancé, Daniel, a police captain.
His help comes with strings, however, as Daniel disapproves of Molly working such a dangerous case, especially as he really wishes she was planning their wedding. Despite sparring with Daniel, Molly perseveres with the case. With plot elements including a counterfeiting scheme and German spies (in addition to Houdini), this historical mystery delivers a top-notch, detail-rich story full of intriguing characters. Fans of the 1920s private detective Maisie Dobbs should give this series a try. --Jessica Moyer
Call Number: M BOW
A House to Die For by Vicki Doudera
From Amazon.com: Red-hot real estate agent Darby Farr has spent years trying to forget her hometown of Hurricane Harbor, Maine—especially the painful memories of being raised by her controlling aunt following her parents' tragic deaths. Then one morning, she learns her aunt is dying, and the calculating woman has one final demand: clinch the multimillion-dollar sale of Fairview, a breathtaking waterfront estate.
The deal seems simple, but trouble is brewing on the rocky coast. Within hours of Darby's arrival, an obscure deed restriction scuttles the sale just as the backup buyer is found bludgeoned to death on the property's grounds. Assisted by handsome journalist Miles Porter, Darby uncovers dark secrets that reveal an ugly scandal . . . and even uglier motives for murder. As a brutal storm surges up the coast, Darby must salvage the deal, find the killer—and somehow stay alive.
"[Doudera] expertly weaves a tale of suspense on a Maine island, where murder and real estate are an explosive combination."-Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Mephisto Club
"Here's a fast-paced and well-told story with a smart, savvy real estate agent as the heroine, solving crimes while making sales. Bring on the next one!"-Barbara Corcoran, real estate contributor for NBC's Today Show and author of Nextville: Amazing Places to Live the Rest of Your Life
Call Number: M DOU