Mystery
by James R. Benn
What happens: In 1944, U.S. Army Cpt. Billy Boyle is sent to a Soviet air base to solve the murders of two intelligence agents, one American and one Russian. But tensions between the two allied countries are high, and Billy has no one he can trust except himself.
Don't miss: Billy's encounters with the Night Witches, a daring all-female group of young Soviet bomber pilots.
Series alert: This is the cleverly plotted 16th entry in the consistently entertaining Billy Boyle mysteries; those who want to start with the 1st book should pick up Billy Boyle.
by Simon Brett
Starring: empathic professional declutterer Ellen Curtis of Sussex, England, who's adept at her job...but not so great at relationships with her adult daughter and formerly famous actress mother.
What happens: Alexandra Richards wants Ellen to tidy her journalist mother's flat that's covered in newspapers and magazines, but before Ellen can do anything, a fire occurs, killing the older woman. Ellen suspects murder and investigates, while also working to organize the homes of an elderly widower and a young single mother.
Why you might like it: This leisurely paced 2nd Decluttering mystery has realistic characters and sensitively handles mental health issues.
by Ann Cleeves
What happens: North Devon police detective Matthew Venn and his team try to uncover who murdered the director of a local watchdog group, who'd been investigating health facilities after a spate of recent suicides. But as the victim was stabbed in his daughter's studio with a piece of her glass art, Venn wonders if the killer may be closer to home.
Series alert: Following The Long Call, this evocative 2nd novel in the Two Rivers/Matthew Venn series further explores the complex personal lives and relationships of both Venn and his fellow detectives.
Read this next:Firewatching by Russ Thomas; Louise Penny's Gamache mysteries.
by Dianne Freeman
1899 London: Frances Wynn, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, is shocked to meet a young woman claiming that she's Russian aristocracy, has been kidnapped several times...and is married to Frances' fiancé. When the woman is killed, Frances and her beloved are suspected, so they try to stifle a scandal, find a murderer, and clear their names.
For fans of: lighthearted historical mysteries set in England and featuring a bit of romance, like Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness mysteries, Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey novels, and Ashley Weaver's Amory Ames books.
by Rachel Howzell Hall
Starring: Mickie Lambert, a young Black woman who curates complex augmented reality digital scrapbooks at tech startup Memory Bank and lives with her parents, whom she's very close to, in Los Angeles.
Project gone wrong: After starting a new project for an elderly curio shop owner, Mickie suspects murder when the woman unexpectedly dies. As Mickie snoops around, she discovers that the memory objects the lady gave her have connections to violent crimes. Meanwhile, Mickie's parents are definitely hiding something from her.
Reviewers say: "A mystery/thriller/coming-of-age story you won't be able to put down till the final revelation" (Kirkus Reviews).
by Joanna Schaffhausen
Introducing: divorced, thirty-something Annalisa Vega, who's a dedicated Chicago homicide detective.
Welcome to the past: Annalisa's new case has her paired with her cop ex-husband and the death looks to be the work of the Lovelorn Killer, last active 20 years ago, when Annalisa's cop dad worked the killings and one of the victims was the mother of Annalisa's high school boyfriend.
Why you might like it:Gone for Good has clever, twisty plotting, well-developed characters, and poignant notes/diary entries from the most recent victim, who was part of an online group trying to ID the killer.
by Ariana Franklin
Starring: Adelia Aguilar, an Italian medical doctor (though some think she's a witch) who studies corpses and has a young daughter.
What happens: A box containing the bones of a man and a woman is uncovered after Glastonbury Abbey is burned down in 1176. King Henry II sends Adelia to the holy town, hoping she can prove that the skeletons belong to King Arthur and his queen (which, Henry also hopes, will quash the rebellious Welsh people's belief in Arthur's eventual return).
Who it's for: Those who like CSI, Kathy Reichs, and Patricia Cornwell might enjoy this old-school look at forensic science, which is the atmospheric 3rd in the well-researched Mistress of the Art of Death series.
by David Housewright
Coming through: At a paranormal event, a psychic medium channels a violent bank robber who St. Paul, Minnesota, PI Rush McKenzie shot and killed years earlier when he was a cop.
The problem: In a creative murder-for-hire plan, the dead man offers to share the location of his never found loot to whomever kills McKenzie.
Series alert: From the Grave is the banter-filled 17th entry in the Rushmore McKenzie mysteries; What Doesn't Kill Us, the 18th and most recent book, came out in May.
by Erin Lindsey
1886 New York City: Former Irish maid Rose Gallagher, who once worked in the home of handsome Englishman Thomas Wiltshire, now trains as a Pinkerton detective under his tutelage as they track a killer who may have paranormal abilities.
Don't miss: cameos by Nikola Tesla, Mark Twain, and Theodore Roosevelt; the insightful look at class differences.
Series alert: Like the other Rose Gallagher historical mysteries (Murder on Millionaires' Row and The Silver Shooter), this entertaining 2nd book includes paranormal and romantic elements.
by Helene Tursten
Starring: Embla Nyström, a determined young boxing champion, hunter, and police detective in Sweden.
What happens: In a rural town, a nine-year-old girl goes missing just before Christmas. As Embla and her team search for her, locals harass the autistic 17-year-old boy who'd given her a ride. Then there's a murder, a fatal fire, and another missing child.
Series alert: Following Hunting Game, this is the complex, suspenseful 2nd Embla Nyström novel by Helene Tursten, who also writes mysteries featuring detective Irene Huss (who makes a cameo appearance here).
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