Best Mysteries, Thrillers, Crime and Action Books of 2009
Creators: Williamsburg Regional Library, and Rachel Bussan
(We own all of these books)
DB/RC69599
Title: The Girl Who Played With Fire
Author: Steig Larsson
Series: Millenium Trilogy, Book 2
Annotation: Stockholm. Computer hacker Lisbeth Salander stands accused of murdering two journalists who were researching sex trafficking. Lisbeth's former lover, magazine publisher Mikael Blomkvist, investigates to exonerate her. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2006. Second book in the Millennium Trilogy. Sequel to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
DB/RC69580
Title: Inherent Vice
Author: Thomas Pynchon
Annotation: Late 1960s. Gordita Beach, California, private investigator and pothead Doc Sportello is hired by his ex-girlfriend Shasta to find her missing and married lover, construction mogul Mickey Wolfmann. Doc trips around L.A. seeking clues and running into cops, assorted bad guys, and land-development schemes. Strong language. Bestseller. 2009.
DB/RC70410
Title: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Author: C. Alan Bradley
Annotation: England, 1950. Eleven-year-old aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce overhears her father in a heated argument with a stranger, who turns up dead in the garden of the Luces' decaying estate. When Flavia's father is charged with murder, she seeks clues in their village and his past to exonerate him. 2009.
DB/RC68281
Title: Beat the Reaper
Author: Josh Bazell
Annotation: Medical intern Peter Brown is shocked to see that his new patient is wise guy Eddy Squillante. Eddy is also surprised: he knows Peter as mob hit man Pietro Brnwa. The ramifications of Pietro's blown cover alternate with flashbacks. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009.
LT9137, RC68808
Title: Drood
Author: Dan Simmons
Annotation: Wilkie Collins reveals the mysterious final five years of his friend and fellow novelist Charles Dickens. After surviving an 1865 train crash, Dickens meets the grotesque Mr. Drood among the bloody carnage. Drood's disturbing behavior unnerves Dickens, who obsesses about uncovering Drood's true identity. Dickens enlists Collins's help. Violence. 2009.
LT8992, DB/RC69445
Title: The Scarecrow
Author: Michael Connelly
Series: Jack McEvoy and Rachel Walling, Book 2
Annotation: Los Angeles Times reporter Jack McEvoy wants a big story for his last two weeks on the job. He stumbles upon a high-tech serial-killer case and a chance to work again with FBI agent Rachel Walling. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2009. Sequel to "The Poet." Second Jack McEvoy and Rachel Walling mystery.
DB/RC68684
Title: American Rust
Author: Philipp Meyer
Annotation: High school graduates Isaac English, the class scholar, and Billy Poe, the football hero, are still stuck in their economically depressed former steelmill Pennsylvania town. When they accidentally kill someone, their decisions change their lives and their families forever. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009.
LT9129, DB/RC69251
Title: Dark Places
Author: Gillian Flynn
Annotation: Twenty-five years ago Libby's brother was convicted of murdering their mother and sisters. When the well-wishers' trust fund that she's been subsisting on runs dry, thirty-one-year-old Libby takes money from a group that is trying to prove her brother's innocence. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009.
DB70077
Title: The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death
Author: Charlie Huston
Annotation: Los Angeles. Web Goodhue quits his gig as a schoolteacher and starts work with a crime-scene cleaning service. The beautiful daughter of a particularly messy suicide victim asks Goodhue to take a side job involving stolen almonds and murderous criminals. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2009.
DB70907
Title: Blood’s a Rover
Author: James Ellroy
Series: American Underworld/Underworld USA Trilogy, Book 3
Annotation: 1968-1972. Former cop Wayne Tedrow Jr. oversees the construction of Mafia casinos in Central America. Meanwhile FBI agent Dwight Holly executes Hoover's crusade against black militants and left-wingers, especially shadowy revolutionary Joan Klein. Sequel to "Cold Six Thousand." Third book in the Underworld USA Trilogy. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009.
DB/RC70240
Title: The Dark Horse
Author: Craig Johnson
Series: Walt Longmire, Book 5
Annotation: Wyoming. Mary Barsad confesses to shooting her husband, Wade, after he allegedly locked her champion horses in a barn and set it afire. Sheriff Walt Longmire, however, has doubts about his new ward's story and discovers that others may have also wanted Wade dead. Strong language and some violence. 2009. Fifth Sheriff Walt Longmire mystery. Sequel to "Another Man's Moccasins."
DB/RC69264
Title: The Last Child
Author: John Hart
Annotation: After twelve-year-old Alyssa disappeared on her way home a year ago, her guilt-ridden father left town and her mother fell into a drugged daze with an abusive boyfriend. As Alyssa's twin brother Johnny and obsessed detective Hunt continue to search, another girl is snatched. Violence and strong language. 2009.
DB/RC70226
Title: The Brutal Telling
Author: Louise Penny
Series: Three Pines, Book 5
Annotation: Quebec. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache investigates the murder of an old man found bludgeoned in a bistro. At a remote cabin purportedly owned by the deceased, Gamache and his team find a cache of rare books, priceless antiquities -- and blood. Some strong language. 2009. Fifth Three Pines mystery. Sequel to "The Murder Stone, or, A Rule Against Murder."
DB/RC69649
Title: The Lovers
Author: John Connolly
Series: Charlie “Bird” Parker, Book 8
Annotation: With his PI license suspended, Charlie Parker works as a bar manager in Portland, Maine. Charlie also investigates the circumstances behind his policeman father's shooting of two teenagers that led to his suicide. Traveling to New York City, Charlie learns the truth -- and encounters true evil. Violence and strong language. 2009. Eighth Charlie "Bird" Parker mystery. Sequel to "The Reapers."
DB/RC69183
Title: Road Dogs
Author: Elmore Leonard
Series: Jack Foley, Book 2
Annotation: Bank robber Jack Foley heads to Venice, California, to await the release of fellow inmate Cundo Rey, who got Jack out of prison. Also waiting is Cundo's girl -- who wants Cundo's fortune -- and an FBI agent. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2009. Second book about Jack Foley. Sequel to "Out of Sight."
DB/RC68453
Title: Dog On It
Author: Spencer Quinn
Series: Chet and Bernie, Book 1
Annotation: After flunking out of police school, canine Chet becomes partners and roommates with private investigator Bernie Little. Though easily distracted, Chet is a good sleuth. He describes Bernie's latest case -- the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Madison Chambliss -- and his own frustration when trying to communicate clues. Strong language and some violence. 2009. First Chet and Bernie mystery.
DB/RC69167
Title: Gone Tomorrow
Author: Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, Book 13
Annotation: Riding the New York subway late at night, former military policeman Jack Reacher sees a woman exhibiting all eleven signs of being a suicide bomber. He approaches her and she kills herself -- thrusting Jack into the nightmare she was trying to end. Violence and some strong language. 2009. Thirteenth Jack Reacher novel. Sequel to "Nothing to Lose."
DB/RC69257
Title: Life Sentences
Author: Laura Lippman
Annotation: Noted white memoirist Cassandra Fallows decides to write about a black childhood acquaintance, Calliope Jenkins, who spent seven years in prison for the never-solved disappearance of her baby. Cassandra's Baltimore research exposes truths about her own family as well as the story behind Calliope and their other friends. 2009.
DB/RC69749
Title: The Missing
Author: Tim Gautreaux
Annotation: New Orleans, 1921. War veteran Sam Simoneaux works as a floorwalker until three-year-old Lily is kidnapped on his watch. Lily's parents and Sam take jobs on a riverboat with hopes of finding the girl, but they discover violence, ignorance, and family secrets among the backwoodsmen. Violence and strong language. 2009.
DB/RC69592
Title: Nine Dragons
Author: Michael Connelly
Series: Harry Bosch
Annotation: As LAPD detective Harry Bosch investigates the murder of a Chinese liquor store owner, he receives an e-mail video of his daughter Maddie being kidnapped in Hong Kong. Bosch rushes to China to rescue Maddie before his homicide suspect is released. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Fourteenth Harry Bosch mystery. Sequel to "The Overlook."
DB/RC66122
Title: A Beautiful Place to Die
Author: Malla Nunn
Series: Martha’s Vineyard, Book 1
Annotation: From the shores of Martha's Vineyard, ex-cop Jeff "J.W." Jackson and his friends -- including nurse Zee Madieras -- witness a boat explosion that kills a likable island drifter. J.W., who had hoped to spend his retirement fishing and gardening, reluctantly rejoins the investigative trade. Some strong language. 1989. First Martha's Vineyard mystery. Followed by "The Woman Who Walked into the Sea" or "Death in Vineyard Waters."
DB/RC68916
Title: Daemon
Author: Daniel Suarez
Series: Daemon, Book 1
Annotation: Thousand Oaks, California. A computer-game designer's death launches a powerful program that wreaks havoc on CyberStorm Entertainment. After a few deadly mechanical accidents occur on the company's grounds, lead detective Peter Sebeck races to prevent further destruction and save lives. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2009. First book in the Daemon series. Followed by "Freedom."
DB/RC69902
Title: The Doomsday Key
Author: James Rollins
Series: Sigma Force, Book 6
Annotation: Three high profile murders occur across the globe and are connected by a sacred Celtic symbol burned into each victim's flesh. Commander Gray Pierce and the Sigma Force race to uncover the mysteries surrounding the deaths -- and the apocalyptic message for the world. Violence and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009. Sixth Sigman Force novel. Sequel to "The Last Oracle."
DB/RC69729
Title: Get Real
Author: Donald Westlake
Series: Dortmunder, Book 15
Annotation: John Dortmunder and his criminal associates make a deal to star in a reality television show that will document a small-time, staged robbery. With the cameras rolling, Dortmunder and Kelp organize a side enterprise to outwit their new bosses and rob the production company. Some strong language. 2009. Fifteenth book about Dortmunder. Sequel to "What's So Funny?"
LT8596, DB/RC69756
Title: Hardball
Author: Sara Paretsky
Series: V. I. Warshawski, Book 14
Annotation: Chicago. Public defender-turned-private detective V.I. Warshawski seeks Lamont Gadsden, an African American man who disappeared in 1967, some forty years ago. Her search is connected to a decades-old case involving the murder of a civil rights worker -- a racially charged investigation Vic's late cop father was involved in. Strong language. 2009. Fourteenth V.I. Warshawski mystery. Sequel to "Fire Sale."
DB/RC69182
Title: Liars Anonymous
Author: Louise Ure
Annotation: Three years ago in Tucson Jessie was acquitted of a murder she actually did commit. Now working in Phoenix as a telematic services operator, she thinks she hears a killing in progress. Back in Tucson Jessie begins a deadly investigation and faces her troubled past. Violence and strong language. 2009.
DB/RC68919
Title: The Long Fall
Author: Walter Mosley
Series: Leonid McGill, Book 1
Annotation: New York boxer-turned-PI Leonid McGill tries to go straight after a life of shady dealings. When three of the four men that he located for a client turn up dead, McGill decides to dig a little deeper into the case while coping with family problems. Violence and strong language. 2009. First Leonid McGill mystery. Followed by "Known to Evil" (to be published March 2010).
LT9418, BR18529, DB/RC69539
Title: The Lost Symbol
Author: Dan Brown
Series: Da Vinci/Rob Langdon, Book 3
Annotation: Peter Solomon, friend and mentor of professor Robert Langdon invites Langdon to speak at the U.S. Capitol. When Solomon is kidnapped, Langdon races to save him by uncovering the ancient secrets within Washington, D.C. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Third Rob Langdon adventure. Sequel to "The da Vinci Code."
DB/RC70249
Title: Roadside Crosses
Author: Jeffery Deaver
Series: Kathryn Dance, Book 2
Annotation: Crosses along Monterey highways predict future deaths. California Bureau of Investigation body-language expert Kathryn Dance initially suspects Travis Brigham, a troubled student whose role in a fatal car crash sparked online attacks from bloggers -- who are now the victims. Violence and some strong language. 2009. Sequel to "The Sleeping Doll." Second Kathryn Dance mystery.
BR18776, DB/RC69937
Title: Shadow of Betrayal
Author: Brett Battles
Series: Jonathan Quinn, Book 3
Annotation: After body-disposal expert Jonathan Quinn experiences a botched operation in Ireland, he is dispatched to New York City, where Christopher Jackson, an intelligence director, has been murdered. Quinn, framed for the crime, tracks down the culprits. Violence and strong language. 2009. Third Jonathan Quinn suspense novel. Sequel to "The Deceived."
DB70806
Title: Spade and Archer: the Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon
Author: Joe Gores
Annotation: 1920s. PI Sam Spade opens his own detective agency in San Francisco and hires secretary Effie Perine and partner Miles Archer. Cases involve murders, mistresses, and missing money as well as swindlers and smugglers. Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon." Some violence. 2009.
DB71252
Title: Stone’s Fall
Author: Iain Pears
Annotation: Paris, 1953. Matthew Braddock attends a funeral that sparks memories of the 1909 falling death of industrialist John Stone in London. Braddock, then a journalist, was hired by Stone's seductive, young widow to find Stone's estranged daughter. Braddock's life-altering search exposes Stone's ties to international finance and espionage. 2009.
DB71365
Title: Bad Things Happen
Author: Harry Dolan
Annotation: Michigan. Enigmatic David Loogan, an editor at the short story magazine Gray Streets, strikes up a friendship with publisher Tom Kristoll and begins an affair with Tom's wife. One night David helps Tom dispose of a body -- then Tom turns up dead. Some violence and some descriptions of sex. 2009.
DB70783
Title: The Birthday Present
Author: Barbara Vine
Annotation: England. For his married lover Hebe's birthday, Parliament member Ivor Tesham arranges for her to be kidnapped, bound, and gagged and taken to a romantic destination. But a fatal car crash derails the plan. Ivor attempts to cover up his involvement to save his political career. Some violence. 2008.
LT8571, DB/RC69473
Title: The Defector
Author: Daniel Silva
Series: Gabriel Allon, Book 9
Annotation: Arms dealer Ivan Kharkov kidnaps Russian defector Colonel Grigori Bulganov from London -- luring retired Israeli agent Gabriel Allon out of hiding. Allon enlists the help of Kharkov's ex-wife Elena to find Kharkov, only to have his own wife, Chiara, abducted. Violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Sequel to "Moscow Rules." Ninth Gabriel Allon adventure.
DB/RC69362
Title: The Devil’s Garden
Author: Ace Atkins
Annotation: San Francisco, 1921. Silent-film actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is arrested for murder after a wild party ends in the death of starlet Virginia Rappe. Hired to discover the truth, Pinkerton agent Dashiell Hammett uncovers a botched police investigation and Hollywood intrigue. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2009.
LT8869, DB/RC68270
Title: Eclipse
Author: Richard North Patterson
Annotation: California attorney Damon Pierce heads to Luandia, Africa, to assist former flame Marissa Brand Okari and her husband, writer/activist Bobby, who has been arrested in the murder of three oil workers. As he defends Bobby against the charges, Damon encounters genocide, pollution, and corruption. Strong language and some violence. 2009.
DB/RC69482
Title: Fault Line
Author: Barry Eisler
Series: Ben Treven, Book 1
Annotation: Someone kills the encryption-algorithm inventor working with attorney Alex Treven, then their patent examiner suddenly dies. After narrowly escaping an intruder, Alex tracks down his estranged brother Ben, a black-ops soldier, to help determine who wants this security software -- and why. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009. First Ben Treven suspense novel. Followed by "Inside Out" (to be published in June 2010).
LT9110, DB/RC69968
Title: The Hidden Man
Author: David Ellis
Annotation: Attorney Jason Kolarich, who lost his wife and child in a car accident, is hired to defend his old friend Sammy Cutler from a murder charge. Sammy may have killed the long-ago kidnapper of his sister. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2009.
LT9271
Title: The Monster in the Box
Author: Ruth Rendell
Series: Inspector Wexford, Book 23
Annotation: Inspector Wexford confronts a man from his past, Eric Targo, who he suspects is guilty of multiple murders. Years earlier, Targo stalked and taunted Wexford, daring him to press charges. A squat, creepy bully with a purple birthmark disfiguring his neck, Targo has graduated from smalltime thug to prosperous businessman, ensconced in a nouveau-riche spread complete with private zoo and lion in Kingsmarkham. When Targo apparently commits a murder affecting Wexford's own family, the inspector must re-examine how Targo consistently outsmarts the law. Sequel to "Not in the Flesh." Twenty-third Inspector Wexford mystery. 2009.
LT8192, DB/RC70017
Title: The Neighbor
Author: Lisa Gardner
Series: Bobby Dodge and D. D. Warren, Book 3
Annotation: Teacher Sandra Jones disappears, leaving her beloved four-year-old daughter home alone. As Boston detective D.D. Warren investigates Sandra's emotionless husband and a sex-offender neighbor, the Jones's well-hidden dark secrets emerge. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. Sequel to "Hide." Third mystery about Bobby Dodge and D.D. Warren. 2009.
DB/RC68904
Title: Old City Hall
Author: Robert Rotenberg
Annotation: Toronto. After confessing to his lover's murder, radio host Kevin Brace refuses to talk to anyone, including his lawyer, Nancy Parish. The apparent open-and-shut case becomes a complex trial as evidence surfaces involving a million-dollar contract and Brace's sordid relationships. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2009.
BR18774, LT8625, DB/RC69725
Title: The Professional
Author: Robert B. Parker
Series: Spenser, Book 38
Annotation: Four young women married to older, wealthy men hire Boston PI Spenser to stop Gary Eisenhower, their former lover, who is blackmailing each of them. Spenser is investigating, with help from his psychologist girlfriend Susan Silverman and cohort Hawk, when several murders occur. Strong language. 2009. Twenty-eighth Spenser mystery. Sequel to "Rough Weather."
DB/RC69330
Title: The Renegades
Author: T. Jefferson Parker
Series: Charlie Hood, Book 2
Annotation: Transferred to Antelope Valley, cop Charlie Hood is responding to a routine call when his partner is shot -- execution style -- in their cruiser. Internal Affairs asks Charlie to investigate the deceased deputy's past, believing it will lead to the shooter. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2009. Second Charlie Hood mystery. Sequel to "L.A. Outlaws."
DB/RC70384
Title: A Rule Against Murder
Author: Louise Penny
Series: Three Pines, Book 4
Annotation: Armand Gamache, chief inspector of Quebec homicide, and his wife Reine-Marie vacation at an inn outside of Montreal. When a member of the Morrow family, attending a reunion at the same inn, is murdered, Gamache investigates and uncovers secrets among the staff and guests. Some strong language. Also published as: The Murder Stone. 2008. Fourth Three Pines mystery. Sequel to "The Cruelest Month."
BR18550, DB/RC69341
Title: The Shimmer
Author: David Morrell
Annotation: Police officer Dan Page tracks his missing wife to Rostov, Texas, where a mysterious light phenomenon attracts spectators nightly. When a crazed gunman opens fire on the captivated tourists, Dan investigates the source of the shimmer. Violence and strong language. 2009.
DB71163
Title: The Stalin Epigram
Author: Robert Littell
Annotation: Fictionalized account of Russian poet Osip Mandelstam, whose 1934 literary attack on dictator Stalin led to his exile to a Siberian gulag. Various associates -- including his wife, mistress, cell mate, fellow writers, and Stalin's bodyguard -- relate Mandelstam's downfall. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2009.
DB/RC69186
Title: The Tourist
Author: Olen Steinhauer
Annotation: After barely surviving a difficult mission, Milo Weaver transfers out of his post as a CIA assassin or "tourist." But when an old friend is suspected of espionage, Milo must leave his family and desk job to revisit his dark past. Some violence and some strong language. 2009.
DB70614
Title: The Way Home
Author: George Pelecanos
Annotation: Released from a juvenile-detention facility, Chris Flynn goes to work for his disappointed father, laying carpet. When Chris and a buddy find a stash of money on a job, they don't take it -- but it still poses a threat to Chris. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009.
BR18226, DB/RC68885
Title: The 8th Confession
Author: James Patterson
Series: Women’s Murder Club, Book 8
Annotation: The Women's Murder Club investigates the brutal death of street person Bagman Jesus. Meanwhile detective Lindsay Boxer reluctantly examines the high-profile case of young socialite couple Isa and Ethan Bailey, who mysteriously died in their sleep. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009. Co-author is Maxine Paetro. Women's Murder Club, book 8. Sequel to "7th Heaven."
BR17934, DB/RC67858
Title: The Associate
Author: John Grisham
Annotation: A college misdeed comes back to haunt Yale law-school graduate Kyle McAvoy when he is blackmailed into working at a Wall Street firm that is handling a multibillion dollar lawsuit involving a Pentagon contract. Forced into stealing documents, Kyle soon realizes he is in over his head. Bestseller. 2009.
DB/RC68710
Title: Bone by Bone
Author: Carol O’Connell
Annotation: Two decades ago, teenager Oren Hobbs and his younger brother Josh went into the woods -- but Josh never came home. Now Oren quits his military-investigator career and returns to his aging father's home, where Josh's bones are being left, one by one, on the porch. Violence and strong language. 2008.
DB70510
Title: Bookplate Special
Author: Lorna Barrett
Series: Booktown, Book 3
Annotation: Tired of her freeloading former college roommate Pammy, bookstore owner Tricia kicks Pammy out of her apartment. Soon Tricia learns that her sister Angelica has hired Pammy to work in Angelica's new cafe. When Tricia finds Pammy's corpse in a trash can behind the restaurant, she investigates. Includes recipes. 2009. Third Booktown mystery. Sequel to "Bookmarked for Death."
BR18266, LT9169, DB/RC69303
Title: Cemetery Dance
Author: Douglas J. Preston, Lincoln Child
Series: Agent Pendergast, Book 7
Annotation: New York Times reporter Bill Smithback is fatally stabbed the night of his wedding anniversary. His friends FBI agent Pendergast and Lieutenant D'Agosta investigate the murder and spot Smithback's creepy neighbor on surveillance tape. But the suspect has been dead for ten days. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Seventh Agent Pendergast mystery. Sequel to "The Wheel of Darkness."
DB/RC69231
Title: The Contractor
Author: Colin MacKinnon
Annotation: CIA contractor Rick Behringer buys foreign technology and weapons illegally, then hands them to U.S. intelligence agencies for inspection. When a Pakistani engineer attempts to acquire highly enriched uranium, the CIA thrusts Rick into a deadly game against Russian mobsters. Violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2009.
DB/RC69415
Title: Fear the Worst
Author: Linwood Barclay
Annotation: Divorced car salesman Tim Blake searches for his seventeen-year-old daughter Sydney, who didn't return home from her summer job at a hotel. Tim is unpleasantly surprised to learn, among other things, that Sydney's supposed employers have never heard of her. Commercial audiobook. 2009.
LT8819, DB/RC69161
Title: Finger Lickin’ Fifteen
Author: Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum, Book 15
Annotation: Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's assistant Lula witnesses the murder of celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle, who was attending a barbecue cook-off in Trenton. Lula and Grandma Mazur enter the contest to lure the killers and to collect the reward. Stephanie also helps Ranger plug a security leak. Strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Fifteenth Stephanie Plum mystery. Sequel to "Fearless Fourteen."
DB/RC69939
Title: Grave Goods
Author: Ariana Franklin
Annotation: Twelfth-century England. An earthquake near Glastonbury Abbey exposes a coffin bearing the rumored remains of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. King Henry II, who is attempting to squelch rebellion in Wales, calls on forensic specialist and doctor Adelia Aguilar to authenticate the bones. Some violence and some strong language. 2009.
DB/RC70523
Title: I, Sniper
Author: Stephen Hunter
Series: Bob Lee Swagger, Book 6
Annotation: The FBI suspects Vietnam-era sniper Carl Hitchcock murdered four aging leaders of the 1960s antiwar movement. When Hitchcock is found dead during the investigation, they ask retired sniper Bob Lee Swagger for insight. Swagger believes Hitchcock was innocent and hunts for the real culprit. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Sequel to "Night of Thunder." Sixth Bob Lee Swagger adventure.
DB/RC70327
Title: The Increment
Author: David Ignatius
Annotation: When Harry Pappas, the new CIA chief of the Iran Operations Division, receives a virtual walk-in e-mail from "Dr. Ali" regarding Iran's nuclear program, he hesitates to involve the White House for fear of another war. Instead Harry contacts British Intelligence to get to the truth. Strong language. 2009.
BR18182, LT8417, DB/RC68279
Title: Just Take My Heart
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Annotation: Broadway actress Natalie Raines is murdered after discovering who killed her former roommate. Two years later, police arrest Natalie's estranged husband Gregg Aldrich for the crime. New Jersey assistant prosecutor Emily Wallace, a heart-transplant survivor, is assigned the case but develops doubts about Gregg's guilt during the trial. Bestseller. 2009.
LT8556, DB71285
Title: Killer Summer
Author: Ridley Pearson
Series: Walt Fleming, Book 3
Annotation: Sun Valley, Idaho. Sheriff Walt Fleming oversees security at a wine auction that features three bottles allegedly given to John Adams by Thomas Jefferson. Walt soon uncovers an elaborate robbery and kidnapping plot involving his troubled nephew, Kevin. Strong language and some violence. 2009. Third Walt Fleming mystery. Sequel to "Killer View."
LT8420, DB/RC68613
Title: Long Lost
Author: Harlan Coben
Series: Myron Bolitar, Book 9
Annotation: Celebrity Terese Collins begs former boyfriend Myron Bolitar to come to Paris after her ex-husband, Rick, arranges to meet her but never arrives. Rick has been killed by terrorists, and DNA evidence suggests Rick and Terese's daughter was there. But she died ten years ago. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009.
LT9117, DB/RC68905
Title: Look Again
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Annotation: Reporter Ellen Gleeson adopted her son Will when he was an eighteen-month-old heart patient. When Will is three years old, Ellen is shocked to see the picture of a missing child who looks exactly like Will. Ellen secretly investigates the other child's family. Some violence and some strong language. 2009.
DB/RC70454
Title: The Lord of Death
Author: Eliot Pattison
Series: Shan Tao Yun, Book 6
Annotation: While transporting a body through Tibet, exiled Chinese national Shan Tao Yun comes across the murder scene of China's tourism minister and a western woman. Arrested for the crime, Shan must find the killer to ensure his own freedom -- and his imprisoned son's survival. Violence and some strong language. 2009. Sixth Shan Tao Yun mystery. Sequel to "Prayer of the Dragon."
DB/RC69395
Title: Wrongful Death
Author: Robert Dugoni
Series: David Sloan, Book 2
Annotation: Beverly Ford hires Seattle defense attorney David Sloane to prove her husband James died in Iraq because of faulty body armor. Ex-marine Sloane uncovers a conspiracy involving other members of Ford's platoon -- and their mysterious deaths after they returned to America. Commercial audiobook. 2009. Second David Sloane mystery. Sequel to "The Jury Master.”
DB/RC69808
Title: The Memory Collector
Author: Meg Gardiner
Series: Jo Beckett, Book 2
Annotation: When forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett is asked to analyze a man who is exhibiting bizarre behavior, she discovers that he has anterograde amnesia -- he forgets new memories every five minutes. And he is also on a desperate mission to save his family. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2009. Second Jo Beckett mystery. Sequel to "The Dirty Secret Club."
DB/RC70120
Title: New Tricks
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter, Book 7
Annotation: After billionaire pharmaceutical researcher Walter Timmerman is murdered, attorney Andy Carpenter, who runs a dog-rescue operation, represents Walter's seven-month-old Bernese mountain dog Waggy in a custody case. When Walter's widow is killed in an explosion and his son is arrested, Andy takes on a human client as well. 2009. Seventh Andy Carpenter mystery. Sequel to "Play Dead."
DB/RC69687
Title: Pursuit of Honor
Author: Vince Flynn
Series: Mitch Rapp, Book 10
Annotation: After Al Qaeda attacks Washington, D.C., CIA chief Irene Kennedy sends agents Mitch Rapp and Mike Nash undercover to investigate. Their probe reveals an internal spy, rogue terrorists with an unexpected source of revenue, and murder. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Sequel to "Extreme Measures." Tenth Mitch Rapp adventure.
LT8572, DB/RC69989
Title: Rain Gods
Author: James Lee Burke
Series: Hackberry Holland, Book 2
Annotation: Elderly Texas lawyer-turned-border-sheriff Hackberry Holland uncovers the mass grave of nine illegal Asian aliens. Iraqi veteran Pete Flores reported the murders to authorities and then fled with his girlfriend Vikki. Deputy sheriff Pam Tibbs, the FBI, ICE, and the killers all search for the couple. Violence and strong language. 2009. Second Hackberry Holland mystery. Sequel to "Lay Down My Sword and Shield."
LT8884
Title: Risk
Author: Colin Harrison
Annotation: Manhattan insurance attorney George Young agrees to help Mrs. Corbett, the widow of his firm's founder, with a minor mystery. How did Corbett's son, Roger, spend his final hours before a garbage truck struck him dead? Young's investigation leads him to Eliska Sedlacek, a Czech hand model, who was Roger's mistress for the last few months of his life. Eliska is eager to get access to Roger's possessions, which his ex-wife has placed in long-term storage. Some mundane items belonging to Roger, including an old phone book bought on eBay and some Christmas ornaments, turn out to be of interest to some unsavory figures. Originally serialized in the New York Times Magazine. 2009.
LT9005, DB70855
Title: Royal Flush
Author: Rhys Bowen
Series: Her Royal Spyness, Book 3
Annotation: 1932. Lady Georgiana's latest business venture, a dinner-and-dancing escort service, ends in an awkward misunderstanding. To avoid scandal, Scotland Yard sends Georgiana to her ancestral Scottish estate to keep an amorous American woman from seducing the prince of Wales -- and possibly stop a killer who is targeting the royal family. 2009. Third book in the Royal Spyness series. Sequel to "A Royal Pain."
DB/RC69265
Title: The Rules of the Game
Author: Leonard Downie
Annotation: A U.S. president takes office with his young female vice president, and Washington newspaper reporter Sarah Page digs into her new assignment -- covering politics and money. As Page finds evidence of undue influence on the highest office, the president dies. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2009.
DB/RC69342
Title: Safer
Author: Sean Doolittle
Annotation: Married Boston professors Paul and Sara Callaway move to a rural Iowa town, where Paul begins a feud with well-respected ex-cop Roger Mallory. When Paul is falsely accused of a sex offense, he investigates Roger's past and uncovers a decade-old crime. Strong language and some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2009.
DB70701
Title: The Secret Speech
Author: Tom Rob Smith
Series: Leo Demidov, Book 2
Annotation: Moscow, 1956. Distribution of Nikita Khrushchev's anti-Stalin speech ignites violent reprisals against former Soviet regime members, including detective Leo Demidov. Gangleader Fraera kidnaps and threatens to kill Leo's adopted daughter Zoya, unless Leo can free Fraera's imprisoned husband, a priest whom Leo denounced. Violence. 2009. Sequel to "Child 44." Second Leo Demidov adventure.
BR18624, DB/RC69127
Title: Shatter
Author: Michael Robotham
Series: Joe O’Loughlan and Vincent Ruiz, Book 4
Annotation: When a naked woman talking on a cell phone jumps from a bridge to her death, psychologist Joe O'Loughlin suspects she was coerced over the phone. Joe, who tried to talk her down, investigates. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008. Sequel to "Suspect." Fourth Joe O'Loughlan and Vincent Ruiz mystery.
LT9260
Title: The Silent Hour
Author: Michael Koryta
Series: Lincoln Perry, Book 4
Annotation: Whisper Ridge is a multimillion-dollar estate that once housed a unique program for paroled murderers. P.I. Lincoln Perry gets involved in with the house and its legacy when former tenant Parker Harrison asks him to find Alexandra Sanabria, daughter of a Mafia don, who disappeared with her husband after the failure of the program. 2009. Fourth Lincoln Perry mystery. Sequel to "A Welcome Grave."
LT8573, DB/RC69564
Title: Smash Cut
Author: Sandra Brown
Annotation: A masked gunman kills wealthy Paul Wheeler in the elevator of an Atlanta hotel, with Paul's companion, Julie Rutledge, looking on. Julie suspects Paul's movie-obsessed nephew Creighton is the murderer. Meanwhile Creighton's attorney Derek Mitchell fights his feelings for Julie. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009.
DB/RC70357
Title: Sworn to Silence
Author: Linda Castillo
Series: Kate Burkholder, Book 1
Annotation: At eighteen Kate Burkholder left her Amish community in Painters Mill, Ohio. Now chief of police, Kate is shocked by the apparent reappearance of the serial killer who terrorized their town when she was a girl -- because she thought she had killed him. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. 2009. First Kate Burkholder mystery. Followed by "Pray for Silence."
LT8425, DB/RC69208
Title: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
Author: Alexander McCall-Smith
Series: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Book 10
Annotation: Mr. Leungo Molofololo, proprietor of a local soccer team, believes a saboteur is to blame for a recent losing streak. He hires Precious Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to investigate the players. Meanwhile Mma Ramotswe tries to salvage her trusty, but ailing, little van. Bestseller. 2009. Tenth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Sequel to "The Miracle at Speedy Motors."
BR18557, LT8783, DB/RC69588
Title: U is for Undertow
Author: Sue Grafton
Series: Kinsey Millhone, Book 21
Annotation: California, 1988. Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Sutton shares his recovered childhood memories of an unsolved 1967 kidnapping case involving a four-year-old girl with PI Kinsey Millhone. Though skeptical, Kinsey agrees to take on the cold case. But Michael's questionable reliability as a witness complicates Kinsey's investigation. Bestseller. 2009. Twenty-first Kinsey Millhone mystery. Sequel to "T is for Trespass."
BR18583, DB/RC69768
Title: Undone
Author: Karin Slaughter
Series: Sara Linton, Book 7
Annotation: Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Will Trent and Dr. Sara Linton work together when a naked woman is hit by a car after escaping a torture chamber. Then another woman is found dead and a third goes missing. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009. Seventh Sara Linton mystery. Sequel to "Beyond Reach."
LT9483, DB/RC69594
Title: The Weight of Silence
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Annotation: For four years Calli, now seven, has been inexplicably mute. When she disappears from her bed, her family and authorities don't realize she's with her angry, drunken father wandering through the woods. Especially since Calli's best friend Petra is missing too. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2009.
(Updated by Rachel Bussan on 1/24/2011)
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