Reading right now:

            “Guilt” by Jonathan Kellerman has it all: new murders, old murders, baby skeletons, unhappy housewives, and L.A. “Guilt” is the 28^th novel in the series that features Alex Delaware, a psychiatrist with a talent for solving murders with LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis. Like his character, Kellerman is a psychiatrist and his first published book was a medical text (“Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer”).  It must be difficult to keep a long time series fresh and exciting especially after 28 books! But if you like the main character (or the group of characters that return in each novel), each book is like visiting an old friend. And each new book about Delaware and Sturgis is like that for me. I look forward to finding out what they are doing and how their lives have changed.

On hold right now:

            “Six Years” by Harlan Coben which isn’t a part of any series, but a stand-alone novel about a man who finds out that everything he thought was true about the woman he loves isn’t true and his new knowledge puts his life in danger. Sounds very exciting.

            There are several other new books coming out in March including: Joyce Carol Oates’ “The Accursed,” Thomas Perry’s “The Boyfriend,” Jacqueline Winspear’s “Leaving Everything Most Loved,” Rhys Bowen’s “The Family Way,” Laura Childs’ “Sweet Tea Revenge,” and Clive Cussler’s “The Striker.” Sounds like it’s going to be a good month.

Reading right now:

           

Hannah Jayne’s latest (“Under the Gun”) is funny, suspenseful, and entertaining. “Under the Gun” is number four in her Underworld Detection Agency series. Jayne’s books include a mystery element, along with the paranormal. Paranormal mysteries may not be for everyone, but they are a growing genre and I find lots of them really fun to read. Try one, you might like it!

On hold right now:

            “The Bughouse Affair” by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini (which is an intriguing combination of authors) is the fourth book in the John Quincannon series. Set in 1890s San Francisco, this series revolves around former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and her detective partner, ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon. Both Muller and Pronzini are well known and prolific mystery authors.

On TV:

            “Banshee” is a red hot TV series on Cinemax. In the opening episode, an ex-con assumes the identity of the new Sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he dispenses justice of a sort, has sex with many women in town, participates in extremely violent situations, hides out from the violent criminal who wants his diamonds back, and continues his illicit attempts to get rich. In other words, it’s great.

Reading right now:

“Blood Lance” by Jeri Westerson.  “Blood Lance” is the latest installment in the Medieval mystery series featuring disgraced former knight Crispin Guest. Trying to survive while living under the cloud of being convicted of Treason isn’t easy for Guest, but his gift for tracking down lost items and bad guys keeps a roof over his head. “Veil of Lies” was the first book in this series with “Blood Lance” being the sixth. Each of the books have been really good and left me wanting to follow Guest’s adventures in the future.

Los Angeles native Jeri Westerson has won several awards for the books in her Crispin Guest series.  She can also be found touring the county giving lectures on her collection of medieval weaponry. While her character Crispin may live in the Middle Ages, he has a Facebook page and a blog in modern times (must be a time travel Dr. Who kind of thing!).

 

 

Food Or Books?

On hold right now:

I just picked up my hold “Winter Break” by Merry Jones. This is the third book in her Harper Jennings series (“Summer Session” was the first).  Harper is a Iraqi war veteran with PTSD and a talented amateur sleuth.

A few authors with new books out in February include: Avery Aames (“To Brie or Not to Brie),  Alan Bradley (“Speaking from Among the Bones”), Sheila Connolly (“Buried in a Bog”), Deborah Crombie (“The Sound of Broken Glass”), and Joanne Fluke (Red Velvet Cupcake Murder).