February 2, 2024
New Fiction
The Lies You Wrote by Brianna Labuskes – The double murder of a married couple in a small Washington town draws FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto into an investigation that mirrors a decades-old crime. Twenty-five years ago – to the day – Alex Parker murdered his parents, then took his own life, leaving behind a note admitting everything. Raisa, paired with a forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny, uses her skills to read between the lines. Especially now that paranoid postings on a conspiracy thread suggest that Alex was a victim himself – theories that have piqued the interest of a perceptive content moderator and a true-crime podcaster eager for a big break. As old and new crimes converge, messages from the living and the confessions of the dead take on new meaning for Raisa. Something more sinister than a copycat crime is at play, and plundering the darkest corners of a killer’s mind leaves her vulnerable to a deadly twist even she never saw coming.
The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr – Television show host Marni McGuire has seen it all. She’s been married – twice-widowed and divorced. Now in her mid-fifties, she’s happily single and successful. But as her pregnant daughter, Bella, insists on finding her a companion, Marni begins to question what she truly wants. Disastrous dates and unexpected encounters stir a flicker of hope within her, igniting the possibility that love may still be within her reach. Meanwhile, Marni’s colleague has sworn off relationships after years of caring for her ailing husband. Yet, as they witness the young intern on their show become quiet and fearful, and Bella’s marriage start to crumble under the weight of impending parenthood, both old women become beacons of strength in the realm of love and relationships. Suddenly, all four women find themselves at a crossroads, each navigating the challenges of dating, marriage, loneliness and love. Thankfully, they have each other to lean on. The realities of modern love are far from easy, but there’s no better group to have in your corner than friends who will lift you up, no matter what, and hold fast in the face of any storm.
The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan – It’s a dream assignment. Former Senator Dorothy Gibson, aka that woman, is the most talked-about person in the country right now, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for President of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she’s retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her. Her collaborator is impressed by Dorothy’s work ethic and steel-trap mind, not to mention the stunning surroundings (and one particularly gorgeous bodyguard). But when a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Dorothy is determined to find the killer in their midst. And when Dorothy Gibson asks if you want to team up for a top secret, possibly dangerous murder investigation, the only answer is: “Of course!” The best ghostwriters are adept at asking questions and spinning stories . . . two talents, it turns out, that also come in handy for sleuths. Dorothy’s political career, meanwhile, has made her an expert at recognizing lies and double-dealing. Working together, the two women are soon untangling motives and whittling down suspects, to the exasperation of local police. But this investigation—much like the election—may not unfold the way anyone expects . . .
Taste of Blood by Lynda La Plante – Detective Jane Tennison was beginning to think she’d made a big mistake. Having requested a transfer to a precinct nearer her home, she’s now wondering if any serious crimes are ever committed in Bromley. Especially since the first case she’s assigned to involves nothing more dramatic than an altercation between neighbors over a disputed property boundary. Jane’s new boss wants her to wrap up the enquiry as quickly as possible, but something in the apparently trivial case doesn’t add up. Against her boss’s orders, Jane decides to dig deeper, and soon uncovers a trove of dark secrets in sleepy Clarendon Court involving a tragic death and a forbidden love affair. As Tennison hunts for the missing piece of evidence that will identify a vicious killer, she knows that this case will either make her career - or break it.