Prepub Mystery

Balzo, Sandra. Bean There, Done That. Severn House. Jul. 2008. 224p. ISBN 978-07278-6653-0. $27.95.

When her ex-husband's mistress-now-new-wife seeks her help, Milwaukee coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen gets embroiled in a murder investigation in her third appearance. Balzo lives in Wisconsin.

Block, Lawrence. Hit and Run. Morrow. Jul. 2008. 304p. ISBN 978-0-06-084090-7. $24.95.

A simple whack-the-guy job in Des Moines has assassin Keller framed for murder and on the lam in the latest by Block, who lives in New York.

Bowen, Rhys. A Royal Pain. Berkley Prime Crime. Jul. 2008. 336p. ISBN 978-0-425-22163-1. $23.95.

It's not without hitches when the penniless aristocrat moonlights as a maid-in-disguise to hook up a princess and a prince in the second of the Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie series by Bowen, who lives in California.

Burke, James Lee. Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel. S. & S. Jul. 2008. 352p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4852-2. $26.

The Louisiana lawman is back in a brand-new setting—the Rocky Mountains of Montana—in the latest by the ever popular Burke.

Crombie, Deborah. Where Memories Lie. Morrow. Jul. 2008. 384p. ISBN 978-0-06-128751-0. $24.95.

A friend's plea and a missing gem have Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James delving into the past of an apparent suicide in their latest by popular author Crombie, who lives in north Texas.

Elkins, Aaron. Uneasy Relations. Berkley Prime Crime. Jul. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-425-22176-1. $23.95.

A revelation in the Rock of Gibraltar and two deaths lead forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver to piece things together in this 15th case by Elkins, who lives on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

Evans, Mary Anna. Findings. Poisoned Pen. Jul. 2008. 232p. ISBN 978-1-59058-483-5. $24.95.

Archaeologist Faye Longchamp finds that her stolen field notes are connected to a friend's death and a mysterious emerald in this fourth series installment. Evans lives in Florida.

Fisher, Steve. No House Limit. Hard Case Crime. Jul. 2008. 224p. ISBN 978-0-8439-5963-5. pap. $6.99.

The Syndicate hires the world's greatest gambler to bring down the biggest independent casino on the Las Vegas strip in Fisher's first publication in more than 45 years. Fisher was an Academy Award—nominated screenwriter of classic noir films.

Genelin, Michael. Siren of the Waters. Soho Crime. Jul. 2008. 336p. ISBN 978-1-56947-484-6. $24.

Slovakian police commander Jana Matinova investigates human trafficking and comes face to face with her estranged daughter in this debut by Genelin, who headed both the trials division of the career criminal division and the hardcore gang division of the L.A. district attorney's office. He lives in Paris.

Goldberg, Lee. Mr. Monk Goes to Germany. Obsidian Mysteries: NAL: Penguin Group (USA). Jul. 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-0-451-22099-8. $21.95.

The TV detective hits the skids but finds his wife's killer in Germany in this sixth original Monk novel by two-time Edgar Award nominee Goldberg, who lives in Los Angeles.

Greenwood, Kerry. Queen of the Flowers: A Phryne Fisher Mystery. Poisoned Pen. Jul. 2008. 303p. ISBN 978-1-59058-171-1. $24.95.

A missing flower maid and adopted daughter has flapper PI Phryne Fisher searching for answers during the festivities of St. Kilda's Flower Parade in the 14th title of the Australian series. Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award winner Greenwood lives in Australia.

Haines, Carolyn. Wishbones. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Jul. 2008. 384p. ISBN 978-0-312-37708-3. $23.95.

Southern gal Sarah Booth Delaney packs up for an acting gig in Costa Rica, but mysterious accidents have her back on the PI prowl in this seventh cozy in the series. Haines lives in Alabama.

Hallinan, Timothy. The Fourth Watcher: A Novel of Bangkok. Morrow. Jul. 2008. 304p. ISBN 978-0-06-125725-4. $24.95.

When his estranged father resurfaces bearing priceless rubies with a merciless criminal on his heels, travel writer Poke Rafferty has his new Bangkok life and loves on the line in this follow-up to A Nail Through the Heart.

Judson, Daniel. The Water's Edge. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Jul. 2008. 384p. ISBN 978-0-312-35254-7. $24.95.

Mob ties catch up with Jake Bechet in the Hamptons in this latest work by Shamus Award winner Judson (The Darkest Place), who lives in Connecticut. Library marketing campaign.

McCrery, Nigel. Still Waters. Pantheon. Jul. 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-0-307-37703-6. $23.95.

British DCI Mark Lapslie suffers from synaesthesia, a neurological condition that causes him to "taste" sound, and the murder of an elderly woman only complicates his life further in this series debut by the author of the Dr. Samantha Ryan mysteries. McCrery lives in London.

Rosenfelt, David. Don't Tell a Soul. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Jul. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-312-37395-5. $24.95.

Falsely accused of his wife's murder, Tim Wallace goes on with his life...only to find the killer in his neighborhood New Jersey pub in Rosenfelt's (Andy Carpenter mysteries) first stand-alone novel. Author tour.

Russell, Ona. The Natural Selection: A Historical Mystery. Sunstone. Jul. 2008. 308p. ISBN 978-0-86534-628-4. pap. $22.95.

It's 1925, and with the Scopes "trial of the century" as background, Sarah Kaufman's Southern holiday heats up. This follow-up to the debut O'Brien's Desk includes actual courtroom excerpts from the Scopes trial. Russell lives in Solana Beach, CA.

Slade, Michael. Crucified. Severn House. Jul. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-7278-6652-3. $28.95.

An unearthed 1940s World War II bomber has lawyer/historian Wyatt Rook and Liz Hannah on a treacherous journey to the biblical past to unravel the Judas puzzle in this 13th work by "master of the macabre" Slade, the pen name for father-daughter team Jay Clarke and Rebecca Clarke.

Waltner-Toews, David. Fear of Landing. Poisoned Pen. Jul. 2008. 232p. ISBN 978-1-59058-349-4. $24.95.

Canadian veterinarian Abner Dueck must unravel the mysterious deaths of both cattle and people amid Indonesian politics on the "spice islands" in this debut by veterinarian Walter-Toews, who lives in Canada.