Murder At The Old Vicarage, 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.

Earthly Delights: Corinna Chapman Mystery (Corinna Chapman Mysteries), Kerry Greenwood; Poisoned Pen Press

“Corinna Chapman was once a high profile accountant and banker. Now she is a baker working in her own business, Earthly Delights, in Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Australia. Corinna is living in an eccentric building on the Roman model called Insula. She is quite content with her cat, Horatio, and her shop until a junkie falls half dead on her grate, a gorgeous sabra stalks along her alley and tells her that she is beautiful, and she starts receiving threatening letters accusing her of being a scarlet woman. Life for Corinna has suddenly become interesting. And she still needs to get her bread out in time for the morning rush….”

Liz’s Notes: Entertaining characters, a terrific sense of place and mouthwatering descriptions of food make this Australian mystery absolutely delightful.

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.

Dreaming Of The Bones, Deborah Crombie; Scribner

“Crombie has been nominated for virtually every major mystery award for her brilliant police procedurals featuring Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, who are personally and professionally entwined. In this New York Times Notable Book, Duncan’s ex-wife, a Cambridge biographer, asks for his help in proving that her current subject was not a suicide but was in fact murdered. Initially skeptical, he finds aspects of the case that arouse his own suspicions.”

Liz’s Note: This is a another strong entry in an excellent series. Crombie does an excellent job in showing how the past really does influence our present, often in ways we fail to recognize. This is a mystery that will certainly appeal to fans of the traditional British police procedural, and also to readers of A. S. Byatt’s Possession.

Burglar In The Library: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery, Lawrence Block; Dutton

“Bernie Rhodenbarr returns in the eighth installment of Lawrence Block’s bestselling Burglar series. After his girlfriend dumps him to marry another, Bernie follows the couple to a New England Inn with his sights set on an autographed first edition copy of Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep,” located in the Inn’s library. But when a dead body appears and all the guests remain snowbound, it’s up to Bernie to solve the case!”

Liz’s Note: Another thoroughly enjoyable entry in this very funny series. In describing this book the author says “Think Agatha Christie at Fawlty Towers”, and that is certainly the perfect description. Bernie is a delightful character and the setting will remind fans of the classic house party mysteries of the past.

Murder With Peacocks (A Meg Lanslow Mystery), Donna Andrews; St. Martin's Minotaur

“Three Weddings…And a Murder So far Meg Langslow’s summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she’s maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones - each of whom has dumped the planning in her capable hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony, while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. And, in whirl of summer parties and picnics, Southern hospitality is strained to the limit by an offensive newcomer who hints at skeletons in the guests’ closets.”

Liz’s Note: Looking for a funny mystery? The Meg Langslow series is a hoot. Murder With Peacocks won the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Contest.

English School Of Murder, Ruth Dudley Edwards; Poisoned Pen Press

“Can anyone British teach English as a foreign language? It’s murder…. “Adroit, inspiring, and written with a rare lightness of touch, ”—The London Times Literary Supplement “Believable plotting, a memorable cast of characters, and three—count ‘em—three beguiling sleuths in a warm, gently raunchy, crisp, and literate caper.”—Kirkus Reviews “Amiss is bumblingly appealing and howlingly funny.”—The Chicago Sun Times He’s also a civil servant down on his luck and out of a job—and thus ripe for a post as a police spy at the Knightsbridge School. Robert’s cover will be to teach English as a foreign language. His mission soon becomes, well, murder…. “

Liz’s Note:Edwards grew up reading the classics of the Golden Age of mysteries - Christie, Sayers, Marsh, Innes and Crispin, and it shows in her thoroughly entertaining series. Witty dialogue, clever characters and an intelligent plot make this a treat for lovers of the traditional mystery.

Deal Breaker, Harlan Coben; Delacorte Press

“Sports agent Myron Bolitar is poised on the edge of the big time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie quarterback and Myron’s prized client. But when Christian gets a phone call from a former girlfriend, a woman who everyone, including the police, believes is dead, the deal starts to go sour. Trying to unravel the truth about a family’s tragedy, a woman’s secret, and a man’s lies, Myron is up against the dark side of his business—where image and talent make you rich, but the truth can get you killed.”
Robin’s Note: Harlan Coben is a popular mystery writer, and his plots are suspenseful and engaging alongside world-building details about the culture each series is set within.  This series can make a good match for teens interested in sports as well as mysteries who are looking outside the teen fiction offerings.  As with any mystery series, there are more after this first title – and if you just like his mysteries, he’s written a number of different series aside from this group.

Finding Nouf, Zoë Ferraris; Houghton Mifflin

“A captivating page-turner that vividly evokes Saudi Arabiansociety and introduces an original new hero.When sixteen-year-old Nouf goes missing and is found drowned in the desert outside Jeddah, Nayir-a desert guide hired by her prominent family to search for her-feels compelled to find out what really happened. Gentle, hulking, conscientious Nayir soon finds himself delving into the interior life of a wealthy, protected teenage girl in one of the most rigidly segregated of Middle Eastern societies.To gain access to the world of women, Nayir realizes he will have to join forces with Katya Hijazi, a lab technician at the coroner’s office and the fiancée of Nouf ‘s brother.”
Robin’s Note: This mystery (much like the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall-Smith) is excellent in how it evokes a culture very different from the US.  All of the details of society are presented through the characters, keeping it emotionally invested rather than feeling like a list of facts about Saudi Arabia.  The characters of investigator Nayir and lab tech Katya, an intelligent woman pushing against the confines of her society, are immediately likable and filled with humor, and the mystery is a carefully plotted puzzle.