Mysteries & Suspense/Thrillers

Cain, Chelsea. Heartsick. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007.

Chelsea Cain has come up with a fiendish villain in serial killer Gretchen Lowell. She is without conscience and remorse and Archie Sheridan nearly died before she was put behind bars. He can’t get over his time as her prisoner…ten days of blood, pain, and torture. It doesn’t help that Lowell will now only talk to Sheridan. Only he can get the information she imparts in tiny increments as to where her hundreds of victims are buried. As if this hellish existence weren’t enough, a new serial killer is stalking young school girls and the mayor is asking for Sheridan to be returned to active duty to help in the investigation. If he can stay away from Gretchen Lowell, hide his mounting addiction to a variety of pain medications, and keep young reporter Susan Ward’s questions at bay long enough he just may be able to solve the case. Explicit descriptions of graphic violence and crime, sexual content. – Holley Wesley, Emmett O’Neal Library

 Cain, Chelsea. Sweetheart. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2008.

Cain’s second novel brings back all the characters from the first novel (the ones who lived anyway) and introduces a whole new set. Archie Sheridan can’t catch a break as a new killer emerges on his turf quick on the heels of his last investigation. Susan Ward continues to pursue the story that could launch her journalism career. Gretchen Lowell is due to be transferred to a new prison facility but something goes terribly wrong. Sheridan is penned in on all sides by a new case, helping Susan investigate her story, and his ultimate nightmare. You wouldn’t believe the rest if I told you. Explicit descriptions of graphic violence and crime, sexual content. – Holley Wesley, Emmett O’Neal Library

Dodson, Brandt. White Soul. Harvest House Publishers, 2008.

Ron Ortega had been sent to Miami from Chicago by the DEA because he was not known there. This is very important when going undercover with drug dealers and drug lords. His 'friend' Santiago had brought him to the Everglades as driver in a big drug sale. Five kilos of stuff were on board the van. Something went wrong and Ron found himself driving through swampy ground while being chased by several cars-each of which he tried to put out of the running. In order for Ron and Santiago to get out alive they sacrificed one kilo. The U.S. attorney and Ron's DEA boss were steamed that such a huge bust had been foiled and by one of their own agents. They almost cut him loose from government work. Then he told them he could infiltrate the Estevez syndicate. The drug lord was not happy, either, about losing such a huge sale or a kilo of stuff but was impressed with Ron's driving and ability to think fast and act. So 'Ron Acuna' was given jobs to do along with Jimmy, the enforcer for the drug lord. When possible Ron Ortega reported to his DEA contact on the progress he was making, the people he was meeting and the jobs he was a part of and the crimes he observed. He also met cops who demanded payment for protection and was in meetings about plans to undercut another drug lord. All this time Ron's wife in Chicago was ready to deliver their child and wanting Ron with her. He wanted that, too, but also wanted to be successful in his assignment and be promoted. But first he needed to stay alive. – Beth Hutcheson, Homewood

Evanovich, Janet. Plum Lucky. St. Martin's Press, 2008.

Set in New Jersey, Stephanie Plum a dedicated Bail Bondsman finds herself in hot water and mixed up with some strange characters in this fast paced mystery. Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur has found a duffle bag full of money, about 1 million dollars worth, on St. Patrick’s Day. The problem is the money does not rightly belong to her but to a small leprechaun in green pants who goes by the name of Snuggie O’Connell. O’Connell has stolen the money from mobster Delvina, who desperately wants it back. As Stephanie, mystery man Diesel, whom Stephanie simply adores, Connie her Office Assistant, and Lula her ex-prostitute side kick, head off to find grandma in Atlantic City, the adventure begins. Filled with danger, mobsters, oddballs, leprechauns and the luck of the Irish, Plum Lucky is an interesting mystery that will have you itching to find out the outcome. – Andrei Jones, Five Points West

Margolin, Philip. Executive Privilege. HarperCollings, 2008.

The assignment seemed simple enough for PI Dana Cutler -- follow a young female college student and report on her whereabouts and whom she meets. But when the subject of her surveillance meets with President Farrington at a secluded safe house and then is found dead the following day, things start to heat up. Although the murder appears to be the work of the D.C. Ripper serial killer, there are some differences in the MO. In Oregon, Brad Miller, an associate in a powerful law firm, is assigned to work on the appeal of a convicted serial killer. The convict claims he was framed for the killing of a teenager. This young lady was babysitting for the then Governor Farrington on the night of her death. Is the President or someone working for him implicated in the murders? And can the investigators stay alive long enough to find out the truth? – Marilyn Sessions, Springville Road

Slaughter, Karin. Fractured. Delacorte Press, 2008.

At the start of bestseller Slaughter's heart-pounding sequel to 2006's Triptych, wealthy housewife Abigail Campano arrives home to discover her door unlocked and shattered glass around her feet. Her first response is fear for the well being of her daughter, Emma. As she rushes upstairs, she comes face to face with the battered and bloody body of her daughter and a man kneeling over her body with a knife in his hand. Pure adrenaline and rage consumes Abigail and she strangles the man to death. Enter Will Trent, member of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Will struggles with the crime scene and determines that the brutalized body upstairs does not belong to Emma Campano, but to her best friend Kayla, and the murdered man Abigail strangled with her bare hands was actually Emma's boyfriend, whose attempt to save Emma and Kayla got him killed. The shift from the murder to the reality of the kidnapping of Emma, forces Will to pair up with Atlanta officer Faith Mitchell. Running against the clock and without any suspects or leads, Will and Faith must work together to find Emma and catch a killer. Fractured is filled with plot twists and heart pounding intensity. Beyond Karin Slaughter's ability to provide her readers with an excellent storyline and superb mystery, she is able to delve into the characters emotions and backgrounds so deeply that readers feel they know these men and women. The return of our favorites like Will and his boss Amanda paired with new intriguing characters like Faith, Abigail and the monstrous villains will surely please its audience. Fractured is by far one of Slaughter's best works; highly recommended. –  Leslie West, Vestavia Hills

Thurlo, Aimee and David. Prey for a Miracle: A Sister Agatha Mystery. St. Martin’s Press, 2006.

Natalie was only eight years old but she was well known. After she claimed to see an angel and that angel helped Natalie and others rumors flew and the media broadcast the event. Somehow all that translated into possible healing to people in need. One night Natalie and her mother, Jessica, were sideswiped by a hit and run driver. Jessica was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Until Sheriff Green solved the case Natalie would be in protective custody. Sister Agatha and the others at the monastery were also launching a money raising blitz to cover expenses like getting a new roof. People often were not comfortable giving information to the sheriff or his deputies. So Sister Agatha did her part by interviewing people and sharing what she learned with Sheriff Green. During all this the monastery had an intruder that ran through the halls when discovered and out into the streets with his identity concealed in a 'borrowed' habit from the laundry. A large beam flew off the roof, narrowly missing Sister Agatha when Pax pushed her out of the way. Someone was trying to find Natalie and didn't care who was hurt along the way. Who was it and how could they stop him? Why did they want Natalie and her mother? – Beth Hutcheson, Homewood