Set in late nineteenth century New York and featuring an unconventional woman, Mary Handley, as a private detective, this is the second installment in a series that blends historical events and characters with fiction. The result is an exciting mystery that is well rooted in its place and time.

Although some may feel the plot is a bit overextended, it is action-packed, and the characters, especially Mary, are convincingly developed.  For those fans of historical mysteries and strong female protagonists, this is a series to follow.

Just in case you have been living a reclusive existence, Robert Galbraith is the pseudonym for J.K. Rawling, and this is the third book in her Cormoran Strike crime fiction series for adults. In this book Strike’s partner, Robin Ellacott, receives a woman’s severed leg in the mail. Seeing this as a threat against himself, Strike can think of four people from his past as a military policeman who might have it in for him.  The race is now on to find out which one of them it is before further action is taken against Robin.

The characters in this book are well developed and the plot is clever, if a bit convoluted. Some might feel the book would have benefited from some editorial tightening; others might not agree.  Although the ending is appropriately exciting, some might find Strike’s failure to recognize his nemesis as somewhat unbelievable.  But overall it is an exciting read with both personal drama and mystery.

Jude and Carole are on the case once again in this cozy mystery set in the town of Feathering in England.  When the threatened closing of Polly’s Cake Shop and its possible replacement by a Starbucks becomes known about the quiet seaside town, there is a local effort to have the shop stay open, owned and run by a volunteer group of residents.

Unknown to these civic-minded individuals, a murdered man was found in the back of the shop, although his body subsequently disappeared, only to wash in later from the ocean. Carole and Jude become aware of this and engage in a rather leisurely, if eventually successful, investigation into the crime.

A story that focuses as much on the foibles of English culture and social conventions as it does on solving the crime, this book may not be for everyone.  But Brett is a seasoned storyteller, and those who like their cozies steeped in local detail will find this very satisfying.