Don't be surprised if I go walkabout for awhile. I may stick my nose in long enough to post a photo or two, but I'm not going to promise anything.
I know you'll understand, which is one of the reasons why I appreciate all of you so much.
The following list contains my picks for the best new crime fiction being released during the month of April. I've grouped them according to their release dates, and the book covers and synopses are courtesy of Amazon.
Let's see if I've managed to tempt you to add any of them to your own lists!
=== April 2 ===
Title: An Inconvenient Wife
Author: Karen E. Olson
Standalone thriller set on the East Coast of the U.S.
320 pages
*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.
Synopsis: "Kate Parker knows what she’s getting into when she marries
billionaire businessman Hank Tudor—she’s his sixth wife, after all, and
was by his side (as his assistant) when his fifth marriage to actress
Caitlyn Howard fell apart.
But honeymoon plans go awry when a headless body is discovered near Hank’s summer home, forcing Kate to contend with two more of his exes: Catherine Alvarez—the first—who lives as a shut-in with her computers, carefully following Tudor Enterprises; and Anna Klein—the fourth—who runs a bed-and-breakfast where she and her wife keep a steady eye on things—particularly Hank’s children, Lizzie and Teddy.
In this clever and suspenseful reimagining of Tudor era betrayals, these three women become entwined in a deadly game of cat and mouse—with each other, Hank, and Hank’s brilliant fixer, Tom Cromwell—as Kate seeks to solve the puzzle of who the murdered woman is, who killed her, and whether her death has any connection to the other headless body from eight years ago."
But honeymoon plans go awry when a headless body is discovered near Hank’s summer home, forcing Kate to contend with two more of his exes: Catherine Alvarez—the first—who lives as a shut-in with her computers, carefully following Tudor Enterprises; and Anna Klein—the fourth—who runs a bed-and-breakfast where she and her wife keep a steady eye on things—particularly Hank’s children, Lizzie and Teddy.
In this clever and suspenseful reimagining of Tudor era betrayals, these three women become entwined in a deadly game of cat and mouse—with each other, Hank, and Hank’s brilliant fixer, Tom Cromwell—as Kate seeks to solve the puzzle of who the murdered woman is, who killed her, and whether her death has any connection to the other headless body from eight years ago."
Title: The Sicilian Inheritance
Author: Jo Piazza
Standalone thriller set in Italy
384 pages
Synopsis: "Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of
her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie
passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also
opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a
plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a
bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother
Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband
worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she
was murdered.
Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and learn the story of Serafina—a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly the more she challenges the status quo, the more she finds herself in danger.
As Sara discovers more about Serafina, she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, The Sicilian Inheritance is an atmospheric, page-turning delight."
Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and learn the story of Serafina—a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly the more she challenges the status quo, the more she finds herself in danger.
As Sara discovers more about Serafina, she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, The Sicilian Inheritance is an atmospheric, page-turning delight."
=== April 9 ===
Title: The Clock Struck Murder
Author: Betty Webb
Series: #2 in the Lost in Paris historical series set in 1920s France
320 pages
Synopsis: "Expat Zoe Barlow has settled well into her artist's life among
the Lost Generation in 1920s Paris. When a too-tipsy guest at her weekly
poker game breaks Zoe's favorite clock, she's off to a Montparnasse
flea market to bargain with the vendor Laurette for a replacement. What
Zoe didn't bargain for was the lost Chagall painting that's been used
like a rag to wrap her purchases! Eager to learn whether Laurette has
more Chagalls lying about like trash, Zoe sets off to track her down at
her storage shed. With no Laurette in sight, Zoe snoops around and
indeed finds several additional Chagalls―and then she finds Laurette
herself, dead beneath a scrap heap, her beautiful face bashed in.
With
Paris hosting the 1924 Summer Olympics, the police are far too busy
with tourist-related crimes to devote much time to the clock seller's
murder. After returning the paintings to a grateful Marc Chagall, Zoe
begins her own investigation. Did the stolen paintings play any part in
the brutal killing? Or was it a crime of passion? Zoe soon discovers
that there were many people who had reason to resent the lovely
Laurette. But who hated the girl enough to stop her clock permanently?
When Zoe discovers a second murder victim, the pressure is on to find
the killer before time―and luck―run out."
Author: Paige Shelton
Series: #9 in the Scottish Bookshop cozy series set in Edinburgh, Scotland
304 pages
Synopsis: "Edinburgh is mourning recent the death of Queen Elizabeth II when
Bookseller Delaney Nichols's boss comes to her with a most unusual
assignment. An old friend of his, living in an estate in the village of
Roslin, has found what could be a priceless relic on her property, and
Delaney is tasked with investigating. Could Jolie possibly have an item
of breathtaking Scottish historical significance in her possession? But
when Delaney arrives at Jolie's estate, she is greeted by a legal team
with a vested interest in the property. Jolie manages to remove the
interlopers, but as they're examining the priceless item, they hear a
scream, and meet a much less welcome discovery: a body.
As Delaney digs deeper, she discovers Jolie's own fascinating history. Jolie's mother had long claimed that her daughter was the rightful heir to the throne, not Elizabeth II, because of an affair she claimed to have with King Edward VIII. The only evidence, however, is in the form of a purported journal that one of Edward’s secretaries kept. The puzzles become more confusing when a connection is uncovered between this far-fetched story and the murdered man. Delaney will have to read between the lines to put together the pieces...or become history herself."
As Delaney digs deeper, she discovers Jolie's own fascinating history. Jolie's mother had long claimed that her daughter was the rightful heir to the throne, not Elizabeth II, because of an affair she claimed to have with King Edward VIII. The only evidence, however, is in the form of a purported journal that one of Edward’s secretaries kept. The puzzles become more confusing when a connection is uncovered between this far-fetched story and the murdered man. Delaney will have to read between the lines to put together the pieces...or become history herself."
Author: Katie Tietjen
Standalone historical mystery set in post-World War II Vermont
288 pages
Synopsis: "Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her
husband, Bill, behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her
penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets
out to make money the only way she knows how: by selling her intricately
crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start—until Maple
discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his
own barn.
Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to help them see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in miniature: death in a nutshell.
With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret—and a grudge. But when her nosy neighbor goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it’ll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details—and put him behind bars.
Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery, Death in the Details is a stunning series debut."
Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to help them see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in miniature: death in a nutshell.
With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret—and a grudge. But when her nosy neighbor goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it’ll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details—and put him behind bars.
Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery, Death in the Details is a stunning series debut."
Author: Robert Dugoni
Standalone historical thriller set in 1930s Seattle, Washington
380 pages
Synopsis: "Seattle, 1933. The city is in the grips of the Great
Depression, Prohibition, and vice. Cutting his teeth on a small-time
beat, hungry and ambitious young reporter William “Shoe” Shumacher gets a
tip that could change his career. There’s been a murder at a social
club on Profanity Hill―an underworld magnet for vice crimes only a
privileged few can afford. The story is going to be front-page news, and
Shoe is the first reporter on the scene.
Title: Death in a Lonely Place
The victim, Frankie Ray, is a former prizefighter. His accused killer? Club owner and mobster George Miller, who claims he pulled the trigger in self-defense. Soon the whole town’s talking, and Shoe’s first homicide is fast becoming the Trial of the Century. The more Shoe digs, the more he’s convinced nothing is as it seems. Not with a tangle of conflicting stories, an unlikely motive, and witnesses like Ray’s girlfriend, a glamour girl whose pretty lips are sealed. For now.
In
a city steeped in Old West debauchery, Shoe’s following every lead to a
very dangerous place―one that could bring him glory and fame or end his
life."
=== April 11 ===
Author: Stig Abell
Series: #2 Jake Jackson set in England
352 pages
*UK release
Synopsis: "A rural paradise… 
Title: Close to Death 
Title: A Murder Most French
Title: Extinction
Detective Jake Jackson moved to the countryside for a quieter life. And he finally seems to have his wish – spending his days immersed in nature, and his evenings lazing by the fire.
A terrifying secret…
But the return of an old case shatters the calm, and pulls him into the shadowy world of a secretive group serving the extravagant whims of the elite.
An enemy closes in…
As
the web around Jake tightens, he must determine who he can really trust
in his small community. Or else he will learn just how far the elite
will go to protect their secrets."
=== April 16 ===
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Series: #5 in the Hawthorne & Horowitz series set in England
432 pages
Synopsis: "Riverside Close is a picture-perfect community. The six
exclusive and attractive houses are tucked far away from the noise and
grime of city life, allowing the residents to enjoy beautiful gardens,
pleasant birdsong, and tranquility from behind the security of a locked
gate.
Title: Death and Glory
It is the perfect idyll, until the Kentworthy family arrives, with their four giant, gas-guzzling cars, gaggle of shrieking children, and plans for a garish swimming pool in the backyard. Obvious outsiders, the Kentworthys do not belong in Riverside Close, and quickly offend every last one of the neighbors.
When Giles Kentworthy is found dead on his own doorstep, a crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest, Detective Hawthorne is the only investigator they can call to solve the case.
Because how do you solve a murder when everyone is a suspect?"
=== April 23 ===
Author: Will Thomas
Series: #16 in the Barker & Llewelyn historical series set in late 29th-century England
304 pages
Synopsis: "Private Enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, along with his partner Thomas
Llewelyn, has a long, accomplished history - he's taken on cases for
Scotland Yard, the Foreign Office, and even the crown itself, fulfilling
them all with great skill and discretion. None of those cases, however,
are as delicate and complicated as the one laid before him by a
delegation of men who, thirty years before, fought for the Confederacy
during the American Civil War. These men want to revive the Confederacy
with a warship promised to the Rebels from the British Government in
1865. To get it now, they're threatening to reveal the long-secret
treaty with the Confederacy. Barker is hired to use his connections to
discreetly bring their threats to the Prime Minister.
With a web of prominent, if secret, supporters throughout England ready to through their support to their efforts to wage war anew on the United States, the delegates are just waiting for the warship to begin their plans. But some of the men are not who they claim to be, and the American government has their own team watching, and waiting, for the right moment to take action.
As this fuse on this powder keg of a situation grows ever shorter, it's up to Barker & Llewelyn to uncover the real identities and plans of these dangerous men."
With a web of prominent, if secret, supporters throughout England ready to through their support to their efforts to wage war anew on the United States, the delegates are just waiting for the warship to begin their plans. But some of the men are not who they claim to be, and the American government has their own team watching, and waiting, for the right moment to take action.
As this fuse on this powder keg of a situation grows ever shorter, it's up to Barker & Llewelyn to uncover the real identities and plans of these dangerous men."
Author: Colleen Cambridge
Series: #2 in the An Ameircan in Paris historical series set in Post-World War II France
272 pages
Synopsis: "The graceful domes of Sacré Coeur, the imposing cathedral of Notre Dame, the breathtaking Tour Eiffel
. . . Paris is overflowing with stunning architecture. Yet for Tabitha
Knight, the humble building that houses the Cordon Bleu cooking school,
where her friend Julia studies, is just as notable. Tabitha is always
happy to sample Julia’s latest creation and try to recreate dishes for
her Grand-père and Oncle Rafe.
The legendary school also holds open demonstrations, where the public can see its master chefs at work. It’s a treat for any aspiring cook—until one of the chefs pours himself a glass of wine from a rare vintage bottle—and promptly drops dead in front of Julia, Tabitha, and other assembled guests. It’s the first in a frightening string of poisonings that turns grimly personal when cyanide-laced wine is sent to someone very close to Tabitha.
What kind of killer chooses such a means of murder, and why? Tabitha and Julia hope to find answers in order to save innocent lives—not to mention a few exquisite vintages—even as their investigation takes them through some of the darkest corners of France’s wartime past . . ."
The legendary school also holds open demonstrations, where the public can see its master chefs at work. It’s a treat for any aspiring cook—until one of the chefs pours himself a glass of wine from a rare vintage bottle—and promptly drops dead in front of Julia, Tabitha, and other assembled guests. It’s the first in a frightening string of poisonings that turns grimly personal when cyanide-laced wine is sent to someone very close to Tabitha.
What kind of killer chooses such a means of murder, and why? Tabitha and Julia hope to find answers in order to save innocent lives—not to mention a few exquisite vintages—even as their investigation takes them through some of the darkest corners of France’s wartime past . . ."
Author: Douglas Preston
Standalone thriller set in Colorado
384 pages
Synopsis: "Erebus Resort, occupying a magnificent, hundred-thousand acre
valley deep in the Colorado Rockies, offers guests the experience of
viewing woolly mammoths, Irish Elk, and giant ground sloths in their
native habitat, brought back from extinction through the magic of
genetic manipulation. When a billionaire's son and his new wife are
kidnapped and murdered in the Erebus back country by what is assumed to
be a gang of eco-terrorists, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent
Frances Cash partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down
the perpetrators.
As killings mount and the valley is evacuated, Cash and Colcord must confront an ancient, intelligent, and malevolent presence at Erebus, bent not on resurrection―but extinction."
As killings mount and the valley is evacuated, Cash and Colcord must confront an ancient, intelligent, and malevolent presence at Erebus, bent not on resurrection―but extinction."
Title: The Last Word
Author: Elly Griffiths
Standalone mystery set in England
352 pages
Synopsis: "Natalka and Edwin are perfect if improbable partners in a
detective agency. At eighty-four, Edwin regularly claims that he’s the
oldest detective in England. He is a master at surveillance, deploying
his age as a cloak of invisibility. Natalka, Ukrainian-born and more
than fifty years his junior, is a math whizz, who takes any cases
concerning fraud or deception. Despite a steady stream of minor cases,
Natalka is frustrated. She loves a murder, as she’s fond of saying, and
none have come the agency’s way. That is until local writer Melody
Chambers dies.
Melody’s daughters are convinced that their mother was murdered. Edwin thinks that Melody’s death is linked to that of an obituary writer who predeceased many of his subjects. Edwin and Benedict go undercover to investigate and are on a creative writing weekend at isolated Battle House when another murder occurs. Are the cases linked and what is the role of a distinctly sinister book group attended by many of writers involved? By the time Edwin has infiltrated the group, he is in serious danger…
Seeking
professional help, the investigators turn to their friend, detective
Harbinder Kaur, and find that they have stumbled on a plot that is
stranger than fiction."
Wow! April has something for every mystery lover, from the brand-new to the tried-and-true. This month alone has put a serious dent in my book-buying budget. Did I tempt you with any of them? Or was I singing to the choir? Inquiring minds would love to know!
