Book & Audio Review: The Target by Catherine Coulter

The Target
Author: Catherine Coulter
Narrator: Sharon Williams
Series: An FBI Thriller (Book 3)
Publication: Berkley (August 1, 1999); Brilliance Audio (July 17, 2008)
Length: 362 p.; 11 hours and 4 minutes

Description: FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are faced with the case of an abducted child in this “absorbing” (Publishers Weekly) FBI Thriller.

Escaping unwanted media attention after a notorious incident, Ramsey Hunt retreats into the solitude of a cabin high in the Colorado Rockies. But his isolation is shattered when he rescues a small girl in the forest and strangers invade his private meadow with intent to kill.

Molly Santera, the little girl’s mother, catches up with Ramsey and her daughter, mistaking him for the kidnapper. When she discovers that he instead saved Emma, there’s little time for thanks. With the strangers in pursuit, the trio flee to Chicago for sanctuary.

With an unexpected assist from FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, Molly and Ramsey begin to unravel the clues, and in the process they make an astonishing discovery as to the true nature of the target.

My Thoughts: District Court Judge Ramsey Hunt has retreated to a cabin high in the Rockies to get away from the publicity and paparazzi who have haunted him since he took down killers in his courtroom when they attacked. Things are quiet until he finds an unconscious young girl in the woods near his cabin. She has been assaulted and raped and is mute. Ramsey is determined to protect her, which includes keeping her away from cops and reporters. Over the course of a few days, they bond and she begins to trust him.

But the bad guys are still on her trail. When they come pretending to be drunk, Ramsey defeats them, chases them off with gunshot wounds, and is shot in the thigh himself. While he is still recovering, they are found by the little girl's mother Molly Santera who first believes that Ramsey was the kidnapper.

The two adults are determined to protect young Emma even if it means taking her to Molly's crime lord father. But the attacks keep coming and Molly's ex-husband rock star Louey Santera is a victim when a car meant for Ramsey, Molly and Emma explodes.

The problem is that none of them know who is behind these attempts on Molly. Ramsey and Molly's father both have enough enemies to provide lots of possibilities. Ramsey asks his friend Dillon Savich for some help and she shows up with his new wife Sherlock.

The story had lots of twists and turns and was filled with action. I liked that Ramsey and Molly fell in love despite all the other things going on around them. Emma was a real sweetheart and I enjoyed reading about her. 

Sharon Williams did a great job with the voices and with the pacing of the story. 

Favorite Quote:

"Life is one day at a time and trying to enjoy each day we're given. You've got to discover the knack for doing that. Do you understand?"

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: And By Fire by Evie Hawtrey

And By Fire
Author: Evie Hawtrey
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (May 10, 2022)

Description: Tempered by fire and separated by centuries, two extraordinary female detectives track a pair of murderous geniuses who will burn the world for their art in this mystery perfect for fans of Sarah Penner and Dan Brown.

Nigella Parker, Detective Inspector with the City Police, has a deeply rooted fear of fire and a talent for solving deadly arson cases. When a charred figure is found curled beside Sir Christopher Wren’s Monument to the Great Fire of London, Nigella is dragged into a case pitting her against a murderous artist creating sculptures using burnt flesh.

Nigella partners with Colm O’Leary of Scotland Yard to track the arsonist across greater London. The pair are more than colleagues—they were lovers until O’Leary made the mistake of uttering three little words. Their past isn’t the only buried history as they race to connect the dots between an antique nail pulled from a dead man’s hands and a long-forgotten architect dwarfed by the life’s work of Sir Christopher Wren.

Wren, one of London’s most famous architects, is everywhere the pair turn. Digging into his legacy leads the DCIs into the coldest of cold cases: a search for a bookseller gone missing during the Great Fire of London. More than 350 years earlier, while looking for their friend, a second pair of detectives—a lady-in-waiting to the Queen and a royal fireworks maker—discovered foul play in the supposedly accidental destruction of St. Paul’s Cathedral…but did that same devilry lead to murder? And can these centuries-old crimes help catch a modern-day murderer?

As Nigella and O’Leary rush to decode clues, past and present, London’s killer-artist sets his sights on a member of the investigative team as the subject of his next fiery masterpiece.

My Thoughts: This dual timeline story has women separated by more than 300 years of time solving mysteries that are somewhat related.

Detective Inspector Nigella Parker has a record of success with arson cases. When she's called in to investigate a charred human figure at Christopher Wren's Monument to the Great Fire of London, she and her partner Colm O'Leary of Scotland yard find themselves on the trail of a murderer who considers himself an underappreciated artist.

While in the past Lady Margaret Dove falls in love with a man of much lower social class who happens to have a Royal Patent from King Charles II to make fireworks for his court. Margaret and Etienne are drawn together by their common love of science but pulled apart by the vast difference in their social status. When they go searching for a friend after the Great Fire of 1666, they find his body and come to believe that he was murdered. Their investigation leads them to Sir Christopher Wren. Wren felt that his genius was under appreciated and that rebuilding St. Paul's was his destiny. But first it had to be completely destroyed during the fire even if he had to manipulate events to make it so. And a few deaths wouldn't be too high a price to pay.

Meanwhile in the present, Nigella and Colm begin to narrow the suspect lists and focus in on an artist who has patterned himself on an architect who worked rebuilding London after the Great Fire but who did not receive the acclaim of Christopher Wren.

I liked the way the two stories were woven together. I liked the romance in the 1666 story and the way the two lovers found a way to be together. The characters in the modern part of the story were also fascinating. I liked the gradual reveal of Nigella's past and the reason for her interest in arson. I liked that she was a dedicated police officer who built her life deliberately to exclude relationships outside of her work. 

The story was intriguing, and the police procedural aspects were well integrated into the plot. I liked trying to follow along with the detectives as the clues were gradually revealed. 

Favorite Quote:

Nigella knew failure was part of the job: crimes went unsolved, deaths weren't prevented. If you couldn't accept that, then you couldn't be a detective. And if you were good at your job, you solved and saved more than you lost. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Shadow of Memory by Connie Berry

The Shadow of Memory
Author: Connie Berry
Series: Kate Hamilton Mysteries (Book 4)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (May 10, 2022)

Description: In Connie Berry’s fourth Kate Hamilton mystery, American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton uncovers a dark secret buried in Victorian England.

As Kate Hamilton plans her upcoming wedding to Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, she is also assisting her colleague Ivor Tweedy with a project at the Netherfield Sanatorium, which is being converted into luxury townhouses. Kate and Ivor must appraise a fifteenth-century painting and verify that its provenance is the Dutch master Jan Van Eyck. But when retired criminal inspector Will Parker is found dead, Kate learns that the halls of the sanatorium housed much more than priceless art.

Kate is surprised to learn that Will had been the first boyfriend of her friend Vivian Bunn, who hasn’t seen him in fifty-eight years. At a seaside holiday camp over sixty years ago, Will, Vivian, and three other teens broke into an abandoned house where a doctor and his wife had died under bizarre circumstances two years earlier. Now, when a second member of the childhood gang dies unexpectedly—and then a third—it becomes clear that the teens had discovered more in the house than they had realized.

Had Will returned to warn his old love? When Kate makes a shocking connection between a sixty-year-old murder and the long-buried secrets of the sanatorium, she suddenly understands that time is running out for Vivian—and anyone connected to her.

My Thoughts: A chance to assess and possibly auction off an unknown Vermeer sends Kate and her mentor Ivor Tweedy to Netherfield which is being converted from a mental hospital to upscale condos. The auction would be a windfall for Ivor whose business is in quite a downturn. However, Kate isn't sure that the painting is an original. Her feeling is that it is a forgery. The trustees and developer of Netherfield is really counting on the money of an original work of art to save the project. 

While the painting is being authenticated, Kate and her elderly landlord Vivian discover a body in the local graveyard. The victim turns out to be Vivian's first crush and the boy she played detective with in their days at a vacation camp which happens to be near Netherfield. Learning that the victim was retired CID and obsessed with solving the mystery that they worked on as young teens, makes Vivian and Kate want to solve the case themselves. 

And when two of the other of the group of five also die in suspicious accidents, Kate is convinced that this mystery from the past is stretching its tendrils into the present. However, her fiancé Tom Mallory, also of the police, can't be of much help to her since the deaths were determined to have been accidents, ergo, no crime was committed. 

As Kate investigates both the past mystery and the current deaths, she puts herself in some danger from villains willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. But her unique way of making connections might be the thing that finally solves both mysteries. 

Beyond the mystery, Kate and Tom are trying to figure out their future. They are engaged but don't know where they will live. Kate has a thriving business in Ohio; Tom has the chance at a promotion in his work in England. Tom's mother hates Kate and is a roadblock on any path to happiness in England. But Kate loves England and the friends she has made there. Tom would be willing to quit his job and find a new one in Ohio if that is what Kate wants. The need to make a decision is adding tension to both of their lives. 

This was an excellent entry into this series.

Favorite Quote:

Ribbons of steam rose from our mugs of strong tea, laced with lemon, honey, and a shot of whiskey -- Vivian's all-purpose cure for headache, sore throat, chill, shock, fright, boredom, disappointment, rainy days, and missing out on Tesco's weekly half-price promotion.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Book & Audio Review: With Child by Laurie R. King

With Child
Author: Laurie R. King
Narrator: Alyssa Bresnahan
Series: Kate Martinelli Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Minotaur Books (January 15, 1996); Macmillan Audio (January 21, 2014)
Length: 306 p.; 10 hours and 31 minutes

Description: In Laurie R. King's With Child, adrift in mist-shrouded San Francisco mornings and alcohol-fogged nights, homicide detective Kate Martinelli can't escape the void left by her departed lover, who has gone off to rethink their relationship. But when twelve-year-old Jules Cameron comes to Kate for a professional consultation, Kate's not sure she's that desperate for distraction.

Jules is worried about her friend Dio, a homeless boy she met in a park. Dio has disappeared without a word of farewell, and Jules wants Kate to find him Reluctant as she is, Kate can't say no--and soon she finds herself forming a friendship with the bright, quirky girl. But the search for Dio will prove to be much more than both bargained for--and it's only the beginning.

When Jules disappears while taking a trip with Kate, a desperate search begins...and Kate knows all too well the odds of finding the child alive...

My Thoughts: Reeling from her lover Lee's decision to visit an aunt she's never met in order to rethink their relationship, Kate is drifting and drinking too much. When her partner Al's soon-to-be stepdaughter Jules Cameron comes to her with a problem, Kate reluctantly decided to help her out.

Jules has recently met a homeless boy named Dio in the park by her home and they have become friends. When Dio disappears, she can't get anyone to help her find out what happened to him. As Kate searches, she and twelve-year-old Jules become friends. Jules is having issues with her mother and some new information about her life. Kate provides a safe haven where she can think about something other than her problems. 

Kate's efforts to find Dio do have a positive outcome. She locates him in a squat in San Francisco with a bunch of other boys and a Fagin-like character running them all. When she finds him, Dio is sick with pneumonia and in the rescue attempt, Kate is bashed on the head and spends some time in Intensive Care where she dreams about her relationship with Lee.

Once Kate gets out of the hospital, she is still dealing with the aftereffects including migraines. She has also come to realize that she needs to fix herself before she can fix her relationship with Lee. Fixing herself includes buying a motorcycle and motorcycle leathers.

Jules asks to spend the time her mother and Al are on their honeymoon with Kate. Kate decides that the two will go on a road trip and maybe stop in to visit Lee. Things are going well on their road trip when Kate is hit with one of her migraines and they need to stop for the night sooner than they had planned. The next morning Jules is gone. She has disappeared and it is feared that she is the next victim of a serial killer who is targeting her type.

But Kate isn't so sure. Fearing that Jules is dead, Kate decides to investigate the possibility that Jules left for some reason of her own. She begins asking countless questions of Dio who knows something he's promised not to tell and many, many others. The details of her investigation are what makes this story a police procedural. I was fascinated by the variety of things Kate tried as she searched for Jules all the while believing that she was likely dead.

This was another excellent story in the Kate Martinelli series. The characters are complex and intriguing. The mystery was twisty and filled with tension. The narrator did an excellent job with both the characters and the pacing of the story. 

Favorite Quote:
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: The Elf Tangent by Lindsay Buroker

The Elf Tangent
Author: Lindsay Buroker
Publication: Lindsay Buroker (March 15, 2022)

Description As a princess in the impoverished kingdom of Delantria, it’s Aldari’s job to look pretty, speak little, and marry a prince.

Studying mathematics and writing papers on economic theory in an effort to fix her people’s financial woes? Her father has forbidden it. With war on the horizon, they must focus on the immediate threat.

Reluctantly, Aldari agrees to marry a prince in a neighboring kingdom to secure an alliance her people desperately need. All is going to plan until the handsome elven mercenary captain hired to guard her marriage caravan turns into her kidnapper. His people are in trouble, and he believes she has the knowledge to help.

But with an invasion force approaching Delantria, Aldari’s own people need her. She must do everything in her power to escape the elves and make it to her wedding in time.

Never mind that her kidnapper is witty, clever, and offers her a challenge that intrigues her mind even as his easy smile intrigues her heart…

Aldari can’t let herself develop feelings for him. To fall in love and walk away from her wedding would mean the end of her kingdom and everyone she cares about.

My Thoughts: Princess Aldari lives in the impoverished kingdom of Delantria which is under threat from the larger, and much more powerful, empire next door. While she would rather study and write papers on economics to help her kingdom, she agrees when her father arranges her wedding to a prince in a nearby country who has promised an alliance with Delantria.

Captain Hawk and his band of elven mercenaries are hired to get Aldari and her bodyguard Theli to the neighboring kingdom for her wedding. But Hawk has another plan; he intends to kidnap Aldari and bring her home with him in the hopes that she can solve puzzles that will let them get to a weapon to save his kingdom. 

The elven lands have come under attack because of a curse. It turns elves into the Twisted who want to kill elves. It has turned a peace-loving, magical people into warriors fighting a losing battle for their own survival. 

Aldari is sympathetic to the elves' plight, but her own kingdom depends on her coming marriage. Even as she becomes more intrigued with both the puzzle and the man, she is torn between her wishes and the need to escape. 

I really liked Aldari who is smart, kind, and caring. Hawk's desire to do anything to help his embattled people makes him a sympathetic character too. I enjoyed the banter both between Hawk and Aldari and between Aldari and her bodyguard.

Fans of fantasy with competent and feisty heroines and dreamy heroes will enjoy this action-packed adventure. 

Favorite Quote:

"Go ahead," she called. "I've got Theli. And a book the size of a coffee table."

Theli shot her an exasperated look. "Get your dagger out, Your Highness. Just in case."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 2, 2022)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

Welcome to May! Unfortunately, Duluth hasn't let go of April's cold and rainy temperatures. It is raining as I'm writing this, but the coming week is looking better. We might even make some solar power!

April was colder and wetter than usual.

I'm ready for some better weather!

I didn't do much this week. I did leave home once to pick up a prescription but my brother drove me. My car is getting almost no use but I hope to drive more once the weather gets better. I've been reading and watching a lot of baseball. 

April Reading

I read 30 books in April for a total of better than 11,000 pages. Among the 30 were 14 audiobooks, 22 review books and 18 of my own. Only one came from my TBR pile. Eight of the books were rereads. I have read 125 books so far this year. 

I added 46 new books to my collection including 13 new review books and 16 new audiobooks. Thirty-two of my new books are still on TBR mountain. Five of my new audiobooks will be rereads since I already have and have read the print versions.

Here's my State of the Stack post showing the review books I read, DNFd, reviewed, received, and still have on the stack. 

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• Wood Sprites by Wen Spencer (Audiobook; Mine) -- This was a reread since I decided to reread the whole series from the beginning. All of the stories are intertwined. I wanted to have the whole picture. 
• The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood (Review; May 17) -- Fifteen short stories in the Phryne Fisher series. Most were quite short. This is likely for the completist since so many of the cases were similar. My review will be posted on May 12.
• Harbinger by Wen Spencer (Mine; Reread) -- The rereading brings me up to date on the Tinker series and leaves me wanting the next book which the author is in the process of writing.

• Contempt by Michael Cordell (Review) -- This was a 2020 release which I recently received for review. I really enjoyed this fast-paced legal thriller with intriguing characters and a really twisty plot. My review will be posted on May 14.
• A Borrowing of Bones by Paula Munier (Mine; Audiobook) - This story introduces Mercy Carr and her dead fiancé's service dog Elvis as they solve a mystery back home. Great characters and interesting plot. My review will be posted on May 12.
• Nightwork by Nora Roberts (Review; May 24) -- Another excellent standalone by Roberts! Harry Booth becomes a thief at age nine to keep a roof over their heads when his mother is diagnosed with cancer. The book tells about his life and love over the next twenty or so years. Great characters. My review will be posted on May 17.

• A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman (Review; May 24) -- Entertaining historical romance with well-developed characters. My review will be posted on May 18.
• Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll (Audiobook; Mine) -- Recommended by Stephanie Burgis, this middle grade fantasy was filled with magic, adventure and interesting characters. My review will be posted on 

DNF

• From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper (Review; May 17) -- This sounded good but by 5% it hadn't yet arrived at the story suggested in the blurb. I found the beginning confusing and boring. 

Currently

• Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin (Review; May 24) -- This looks like it might be my next DNF. I've started and stopped it three times and only gotten to about 10%. I'll try once more today and decide if I want to spend more time on it.
• The Emperor's Wolves by Michelle Sagara (Mine) -- I read this as a review copy a couple of years ago and want to refresh my memory before I tackle the sequel.
• Sword and Shadow by Michelle Sagara (Mine) -- Sequel to The Emperor's Wolves and a recent addition to my TBR mountain.

Next Week

And more review books...

• A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (May 31)
• The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery (May 31)
• A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari (June 7)

• A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert (June 7)
• Peril at Pennington Manor by Tracy Gardner (June 7)
• Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman (June 7)

Reviews Posted

• Fair Trade by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
• To Play the Fool by Laurie R. King
• The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

• On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
• The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
• When She Dreams by Amanda Quick

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

• Songs of Earth and Power by Greg Bear - Bookbub deal for $2.99
• Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll (Audiobook included in membership)
• Blind Search by Paula Munier (Kindle & Audiobook)

• The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries Volume 3 by Dorothy L. Sayers - Kindle deal for $3.99
• Proper Scoundrels by Allie Therin (Kindle for $1.99) -- recommended by Stephanie Burgis

What was your week like?

State of the Stack #119 (May 1, 2022)

This is my monthly post which details progress made on review books. I want to thank the authors and publishers who have contributed their books. 

Read This Month 

1. The Wrong Victim by Allison Brennan (April 20)
2. The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson (April 27)
3. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood (April 28)
4. When She Dreams by Amanda Quick (April 30)
5. The Shadow of Memory by Connie Berry (May 4)
6. And By Fire by Evie Hawtrey (May 5)
7. Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting (May 7)
8. Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman (May 10)
9. Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh (May 11)
10. The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood (May 12)
11. Contempt by Michael Cordell (May 14)
12. Nightwork by Nora Roberts (May 17)

DNF

1. Bear Witness by Lark O. Jensen (May 10)
2. From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper (May 17)

Read Previously but Posted This Month 

1. Glass Slippers by Leah Cypess (April 2)
2. The Burning Pages by Paige Shelton (April 5)
3. The Sweet Goodbye by Ron Corbett (April 12)
4. Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare (April 13)
5. A Perilous Perspective by Anna Lee Huber (April 14)
6. Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa (April 19)
7. Mad for a Mate by MaryJanice Davidson (April 20)
8. Murder on Madison Square by Victoria Thompson (April 21)
9. Fair Trade by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (April 26)

New This Month 

1. The Wrong Victim by Allison Brennan (April 26)
2. The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery (May 31)
3. Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher (June 14)
4. Grace Under Fire by Julie Garwood (July 19)
5. Storm Echo by Nalini Singh (July 26)
6. Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose (August 2)
7. Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews (August 23)
8. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (September 6)
9. Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander (October 4)
10. Treachery on Tenth Street by Kate Belli (October 11)
11. Canter with a Killer by Amber Camp (November 8)
12. Viviana Valentina Gets Her Man by Emily J. Edwards (November 8)

All TBR Review Books

May

• Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin (May 24)
• The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery (May 31)
• A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (May 31)

June

• Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron (June 7)
• The Gatekeeper by James Byrne (June 7)
• Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman (June 7)

• Her Dying Day by Mindy Carlson (June 7)
• Peril at Pennington Manor by Tracy Gardner (June 7)
• A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert (June 7)

• A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari (June 7)
• Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher (June 14)
• The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver (June 14)

• Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley (June 21)
• Never Coming Home by Kate Williams (June 21)
• The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (June 28)

• For the Love of the Bard by Jessica Martin (June 28)
• The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton (June 28)

July

• Holy Chow by David Rosenfelt (July 5)
• Iced by Felix Francis (July 12)
• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (July 12)

• Upgrade by Blake Crouch (July 12)
• A Poisonous Page by Kitt Crowe (July 12)

• What Lies Beneath by J. G. Hetherton (July 12)
• Grace Under Fire by Julie Garwood (July 19)
• The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier (July 19)

• Storm Echo by Nalini Singh (July 26)
• The Unkept Woman by Allison Montclair (July 26)

August

• Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose (August 2)
• The Dark Circle by Robert J. Mrazek (August 9)
• Death at the Manor by Katharine Schellman (August 9)

• In Too Steep by Kate Kingsbury (August 9)
• In the Pines by Kendra Elliot (August 16)
• Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews (August 23)

September 

• Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (September 6)
• Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer (September 6)

• Bound by Murder by Laura Gail Black (September 6)
• Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook (September 6)

October 

• Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander (October 4)
• Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne (October 4)
• Treachery on Tenth Street by Kate Belli (October 11)

• Blind Faith by Alicia Beckman (October 11)
• A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril (October 11)
• Built to Last by Erin Hahn (October 18)

November

• Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man by Emily J. Edwards (November 8)
• Canter with a Killer by Amber Camp (November 8)
• Never Name the Dead by D. M. Rowell (November 8)