Prepub Mystery

Albert, Susan Wittig. Nightshade. Berkley Prime Crime. Apr. 2008. 304p. ISBN 978-0-425-21956-0. $23.95.

Sixteen-year-old secrets of her father come back to haunt herbalist China Bayles and family in the 16th in the series by Albert, who lives in Bertram, TX.

Atkins, Ace. Wicked City. Putnam. Apr. 2008. 352p. ISBN 978-0-399-15457-7. $24.95.

A small group of men decide to take on 1954 Phenix City, AL, "The Wickedest City in America," in this latest by the author of the Nick Travers series and White Shadow. Atkins lives in Oxford, MS.

Cannell, Dorothy. Goodbye, Ms. Chips. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Apr. 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-0-312-34338-5. $23.95.

A case of robbery spirals quickly into murder when amateur sleuth Ellie Haskell returns to her old boarding school in the 13th in the series. Cannell lives in Illinois.

Cleland, Jane. Antiques To Die For. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Apr. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-312-36827-2. $23.95.

New Hampshire antiques appraiser Josie Prescott has a dead friend with a mysterious treasure on her hands in this follow-up to the debut Consigned to Death. Cleland lives in New York City. Author tour.

Gorman, Ed. Sleeping Dogs. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Apr. 2008. 256p. ISBN 978-0-312-36784-8. $23.95.

Swindling, sinning, blackmail, and murder—just another day in American politics. Multiaward winner Gorman lives in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Hart, Carolyn. Death Walked In: A Death on Demand Mystery. Morrow. Apr. 2008. 304p. ISBN 978-0-06-072405-4. $23.95.

A stolen coin collection and a dead woman with something to hide have bookstore owner Annie Darling and her PI husband digging for answers in their 18th case. Hart lives in Oklahoma City.

Hess, Joan. Mummy Dearest. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Apr. 2008. 304p. ISBN 978-0-312-36360-4. $24.95.

Strange things are afoot during Arkansas bookseller Claire Malloy's honeymoon in Luxor, Egypt, in her 17th case. Hess lives in Fayetteville, AR.

Kellerman, Jesse. Untitled. Putnam. Apr. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-399-15459-1. $24.95.

A "sinister and provocative thriller" from the author of Sunstroke and Trouble. Kellerman, son of crime writers Jonathan and Faye, lives in La Jolla, CA.

Lindsay, Frederic. The Stranger from Home: A DI Jim Meldrum Mystery. Allison & Busby, dist. by International Pubs. Marketing. Apr. 2008. Nap. ISBN 978-0-7490-8013-6. $25.95.

In the eighth in the series, a whirlwind romance ends in marriage, but has Edinburgh DI Meldrum's daughter married a monster? Lindsay lives in Edinburgh.

Lovesey, Peter. The Headhunters. Soho Crime, dist. by Consortium. Apr. 2008. 304p. ISBN 978-1-56947-490-7. $24.

A joke about a mutual murder society goes too far in this 30th work by multi-award winner Lovesey, who lives in England. Five-city author tour.

Rusch, Sheldon. Separated at Death. Berkley Prime Crime. Apr. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-425-21948-5. $23.95.

Decapitated couples ensnare Illinois State Special Agent Elizabeth Hewitt in a criminal's twisted agenda in the third case by Rusch (For Edgar), who lives in Mequon, WI.

Shannon, John. The Devils of Bakersfield: A Jack Liffey Mystery. Pegasus. Apr. 2008. 336p. ISBN 978-1-933648-29-3. $25.

Jack Liffey's daughter disappears when a Satanist scare has a seemingly sleepy oil town out on a witch hunt in the tenth in the series. Shannon lives in Los Angeles.

Smith, Alexander McCall. Miracle at Speedy Motors: The New Novel in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series. Pantheon. Apr. 2008. 224p. ISBN 978-0-375-42448-9. $21.95.

Precious Ramotswe continues to give aid and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in the ninth in this popular series. Smith lives in Scotland. Nine-city author tour.

Zelvin, Elizabeth. Death Will Get You Sober. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Apr. 2008. 272p. ISBN 978-0-312-37589-8. $23.95.

Former drunk Bruce Kohler staves off the boredom by investigating a fellow drunk's murder in New York in this debut by psychotherapist Zelvin, who lives in New York City. Author tour.