Murder At The Old Vicarage, Jill McGown, Jill McGown; St. Martin's Press

“A killing blow on the head took the life of Graham Estow, but the vicar and his wife were hardly grieved. He was the son-in-law who had severely beaten their daughter Joanna a few months ago. Unfortunately, it appears that someone very close to the household is the murderer, though no one is about to confess to it. Inspector Lloyd and Detective Sergeant Judy Hill wander through a maze of self-confessed killers, myriad motives, and their own frustrating partnership to find a murderer with a message.”

Liz’s Note: A well written, traditional British mystery by a writer who deserves to be much better known. Lloyd and Hill are wonderful characters.

Dying To Call You: A Dead-end Job Mystery, Elaine Viets; Signet

“While making the best of her new telemarketing job, Helen Hawthorne thinks she hears a murder on the other end of the line-and must avoid a close call with a killer.”

Liz’s Note: One of the great things about this humorous series is knowing that the author has actually worked all of the “Dead End” jobs she writes about. Reading about the people on the other end of those annoying telemarketing calls is eye opening as well as very entertaining.

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins; Scholastic Press

“In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.”
Robin’s Note: The Hunger Games has gathered quite a following, and with good reason: this thrill-ride of a book sets its story in a grim post-apocalyptic setting where teens combine in a combination of a glamorous reality TV show and deadly gladitorial combat.  Katniss is a great heroine, but the real story is the inventive threat of the arena, where all the district’s select fighters compete to the death.  Be warned: this title ends on a cliffhanger, and its sequel, Catching Fire, is just as gripping.  This will be a trilogy.

Inda, Sherwood Smith; DAW Books, Inc.

“Indevan-Dal is the second son of the Prince and Princess of Choraed Elgaer, destined to become his elder brother Tanrid’s Shield Arm-his military champion. Like all second sons, he is to be privately trained at home by Tanrid, the brother whose lands he will one day protect. When the King’s Voice comes to summon Inda to the Military Academy, he might well feel foreboding, or even fear-war is imminent-yet youthful Inda feels only excitement. But there are things that Tanrid hadn’t prepared him for, and Inda will soon learn that the greatest threats to his safety will not come from foreign enemies, but from supposed allies within his own country.”
Robin’s Note: If you want a fantasy world that’s very complex and vividly built, Sherwood Smith’s series (officially for adults, but has lots of teen appeal) is a great one to get lost in.  Smith has a strong sense of how complex a world can be (her books are all set in the same world, in fact, but at different times and in different nations, much like Tolkien’s meticulous world and language building.)  This series is four books total, and is now complete: Inda, The Fox, King’s Shield, and Treason’s Shore.  The primary tale concerns Inda and his king, Evred, following their coming of age and featuring intelligent strategy, epic battles, piracy, and each character’s friendships and loves.  The military tale (in this first book) is the one that hooked me—smart, tense, and full of loyalty and betrayal.  One note: these books are long, and she takes her time building up the world—mainly that’s to envelop the reader in a new place and make it familiar—but they do take some time to get going, so have patience.