The Mystery Bookstore

SEPTEMBER 2010

R.J. Ellory, THE ANNIVERSARY MAN.
Overlook, $24.95 (unsigned first U.S. edition).
Twenty years ago, John Costello survived a brutal attack that killed his girlfriend. The murderer, who called himself "the Hammer of God," attacked young couples in an effort to "save their souls." Costello never fully recovered, but works as a researcher for a major newspaper. When a new series of murders begins in New Jersey, he realizes that they have some important things in common with the Hammer of God's work. Written by one of my favorite UK authors, THE ANNIVERSARY MAN is an excellent police procedural and a heart–hammering read that kept me glued until the wee hours of the morning.
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Tana French, FAITHFUL PLACE
Viking, $25.95 (first U.S. edition with tipped–in signature page)
French's third novel focuses on Dublin Detective Frank Mackey, a minor character in her previous two books. In 1985, Mackey planned to run off to London with his girlfriend, Rosie Daly, but she never showed up on the night they planned to leave, and he assumed she'd dumped him. Twenty–two years later, Rosie's suitcase is found in a derelict building in Frank's old neighborhood, and Frank will do anything to find out what happened to his lost love. FAITHFUL PLACE has something to please everyone: a great whodunit driven by a quirky cast of characters; plenty of dysfunctional family drama, and dialogue that is sharp, poignant and wickedly funny. Another brilliant novel from a very gifted author.
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John Shannon, THE NICKEL
Severn House, $28.95
The events of Shannon's last Jack Liffey novel, PALOS VERDES BLUE, left the PI mute and paraplegic, unable to use his vocal cords or his legs. While Liffey waits to see whether these disabilities are permanent, his teenaged daughter Maeve agrees (on his behalf) to take on the case of an old friend's missing son. Conor, 16, had last been seen "on the Nickel" – that is, living on L.A.'s Skid Row. When Maeve tracks him down, they're both pulled into a dangerous tug–of–war among developers and longtime tenants of the area. I am a big fan of this series, and I thought PALOS VERDES BLUE was one of Shannon's best. But ON THE NICKEL is something special. The characters are realistically drawn, and a compelling narrative is underscored with the author's sharp insights into what it means to be homeless in L.A. As long as John Shannon writes Jack Liffey novels, I'll gladly keep reading them.
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Olen Steinhauer, THE NEAREST EXIT
Minotaur, $25.99 (signed first edition)
Years after the events of THE TOURIST, former CIA black–ops agent Milo Weaver prepares to return to the only work he knows. Before his former bosses let him back into the top-secret Department of Tourism, though, they test his loyalty in terrible ways – and revive the part of Milo's soul he's tried hardest to kill.
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Jo Nesbo, THE DEVIL'S STAR
Harper, $25.99 (signed first edition).
Translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett. Oslo police detective Harry Hole hunts for a serial killer who leaves identical five pointed diamonds at the scene of each crime. Harry's partner on the case is Tom Waaler, a man Harry neither likes nor trusts – and whom Harry believes may even have been responsible for the murder of Harry's last partner. Nesbo and his fictional detective, Harry, have quickly become huge favorites of mine. This is an excellent series, finely crafted, with plenty of edge–of–your–seat action.
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