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Issue #239 december 2005

“where a good crimecan be had by all”

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CCHHRRIISSTTMMAASS HHOOUURRSSRegular trading hours except for:

December

4&11 Sundays 10.00 - 6.0017 Sat 8.30 - 8.0018 Sun 9.00 - 6.0019-23 Mon-Fri 8.00 - 9.0024 Sat (Christmas Eve) 8.00 - 6.0025 Sun (Christmas Day) closed26-27 Mon-Tue (Public Holidays) 10.00 - 5.0031 Sat (New Year's Eve) 8.30 - 5.00

January

1 Sun (New Year's Day) closed2 Mon (Public Holiday) 10.00 - 5.00

The Italian Secretary Caleb CARR Hb 278pp 29.95

Author of the internationally acclaimedThe Alienist (Pb 22.95), Caleb Carr isalso a renowned military historian andauthor of The Lesson of Terror (Pb28.00). He is also a contributor to theBaker Street Irregulars and, inhonourable homage to Conan Doyle,here he escorts Holmes and Watsonthrough what turns out to be one oftheir most sensational adventures –one of their “largely secret sub-collection” of cases, swathed indiscretion and bound by decorum. Andrightly so, given the delicate nature ofthe investigation: murder in a royal

palace, an affront to the majesty of Queen Victoria and atantalising take on another ancient murder, one witnessed bythe wilful Mary, Queen of Scots. In this landmark event in crimefiction, Carr exquisitely echoes the master of the whodunit. Incapturing the conversational rhythms of detection’s mostfamous exponents, this stunning, original story recreates theglory of Holmes and Watson, ensuring their continuedresonance through the annals of crime.

The Holmes FactorBrian FREEMANTLE Tp 320pp 27.95

It is just weeks from the outbreak of theFirst World War, a conflict that fewexpect to erupt. If it does, Russia ispivotal. But Russia, having survivedone abortive revolution, seethes withunrest. Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin plot asecond. The hypnotic monk Rasputinhas ingratiated himself sufficiently withthe Tsar and Tsarina to dictategovernment policy. Will Russia fight?Will the Romanov dynasty beoverthrown? If they are, will Britainaccept them in exile? To answer suchquestions – upon which British war

policy depends – Sebastian Holmes, son of the legendarySherlock Holmes, is despatched to St Petersburg to infiltrate therevolutionaries and imperial court. This is the second in theseries following The Holmes Inheritance (Hb 54.95), but thefirst in paperback. Great fun!

Two other recent Sherlockian titles are Spider Dance by CaroleNelson Douglas (Pb 18.95), which features Irene Adler andSherlock Holmes (#8 in the series), and The Malabar Rose byMartin Davies (Tp 29.95), which features Mrs Hudson and heremployer Sherlock Holmes (#2 in the series).

-- PPeetteerr

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes Volume 3Sir Arthur Conan DOYLE (edited by Leslie Klinger)

Hb Slipcase 907pp 69.95This companion volume to last years’ 2-volume slipcased editionof the short stories ($115.95) contains the novels: A Study in

Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles

and The Valley of Fear. Completing the celebration of the 150thbirthday of the greatest detective ever, this is a lavish, ultimatelydefinitive look at the famous investigator and his partner, DrWatson, as they sleuth their way through the four ‘long stories’or novels. Filled with fascinating Victorian history, thousands ofliterary titbits and tantalising new theories, this volume includesnearly 400 illustrations that were originally published in StrandMagazine and early editions of the books, as well as periodphotographs. Also includes almost 1,000 annotations - manydrawing on newly discovered sources - an extensivebibliography and a chronological tabulation and timeline of thelives of Conan Doyle, Holmes and Watson, and other importantworld events. The holiday gift of the year!

Donna ANDREWS

Access Denied256pp Pb 16.95

Turning Hopper #3. If TuringHopper had a nose, she wouldsmell something fishy. TheArtificial Intelligence Personality hasbeen monitoring criminal-at-large NestorGarcia's credit card, which has beengathering dust. Then several thousanddollars' worth of purchases show up.Turing learns that dozens of packageshave been ordered on Garcia's credit card- and sent to a vacant house. She's surethat it’s not Garcia, because using hisown, old, traceable credit card would belike clapping on his own handcuffs andhanging outside the police station. SoTuring and her friends, of both the bionicand biped varieties, make plans to stakeout the empty house's vicinity (minus, ofcourse, the immobile mainframes). Whatthey discover could get them all“deleted”. (American)

Brigitte AUBERT

Death from the Woods256pp Pb 16.95

“Brigitte Aubert, one of France’s leadingthriller authors, has created a unique andunlikely heroine, Elise Andrioli. Blind,mute and quadriplegic after surviving aterrorist bomb that killed her fiancé, shereturns to her family home outside Paris.Young boys have been disappearing inthe local woods, only to be found deadand mutilated several days later. Elisemeets Virginie, a strange child whoclaims to have witnessed one of themurders. Virginie soon tells Elise that sheherself is in danger. Trying to solve thesecrimes and convey what she has learnedto the police is a formidable task for Elise.This frightening tale, written from Elise’spoint of view, won France’s 1997 GrandPrix de Litterature.” - Barbara Bibel,Booklist (French)

Robert G BARRETT

Crime Scene CessnockTp 29.95 268pp

A Les Norton novel. Les is back and on thedetox… All it took was a summer's dayand a flat tyre on his push-bike and Les isout on bail and on the run from a gun-happy street gang intent on a drive-by. SoLes Norton, defendant, becomes LenGordon, film director, safely ensconced atthe ultra-swish Opal Springs HealthResort, till Eddie can sort things out backin Sydney. Unfortunately, the first thingLes finds on arrival is motivational guruAlexander Holden dead at the front gate.Then the cops arrive and Les is fightingoff steroid-happy bodybuilders, sex-crazed socialites, violent greyhoundowners - and, worst of all, caffeinewithdrawals - while at the same timematching wits with the four acrimoniouswriters-in-residence. (Australian)Laurie BERENSON

Jingle Bell Bark 287pp Pb 16.95A Melanie Travis Mystery. It’s

Christmas again and Melanie Travisbarely has time to pencil in some holidayfestivities. Especially once she findsherself making a list of murder suspects –and checking it twice… (American) Nero BLANC

Wrapped Up in Crosswords129pp Pb 11.95

Crossword Mystery #9. Santa Claus iscoming to the town of Newcastle,Massachusetts. But this year, there arethree of them, and more is not merrier.That’s because these Santas look an awfullot like the three escaped prisoners whoare supposedly missing from a nearbyjail. As holiday jitters abound, crosswordeditor Belle Graham and her PI partnerRosco Polycrates follow a trail ofcrossword clues to make sure thesecostumed convicts are caught red-handed... (American)

Anna BLUNDYFaith without Doubt

480pp Pb 18.952003. War-torn Baghdad: Saddam Husseinmay be hiding in a hole, but foreigncorrespondent Faith Zanetti is once againat the heart of the action. But there is onebombshell that even Faith isn’t preparedfor. (English) Stella CAMERON

Now You See Him416pp Pb 18.95

Two years ago, Ellie Byron was the onlywitness to the brutal murder of a youngwoman. Charles Penn, a hard-eyed manwith a history of violence, was convictedof the crime. Now he has escaped andanother woman is dead. Ellie fears shemay be next and turns to the only personshe trusts, attorney Joe Gable. Joe wouldgive his life to protect Ellie, but neither ofthem knows just how deadly an enemythey face, or how close he is. (American) Paul CHARLES

The Justice Factory282pp Tp 19.95

While attending a funeral in a rain-drenched churchyard, DetectiveInspector Christy Kennedy is as surprisedas anyone when an extra body isdiscovered in the recently-dug grave. Thesubsequent investigation into the familiesinvolved uncovers a labyrinth of secrets,lies and deceit. (British) G K CHESTERTON

Father Brown 258pp Tp 26.95The Essential Tales. Introduced by P D

James, this definitive collection of 15Father Brown stories includes suchclassics as The Blue Cross, The SecretGarden and The Paradise of Thieves.(British) Agatha CHRISTIE

Poirot 732pp Tp 39.95The Complete Ariadne Oliver Volume

2. The final Poirot omnibus, featuring thelast four appearances of the detective’ssidekick, the sleuthing crime novelistAriadne Oliver: Third Girl, Hallowe’enParty, Elephants Can Remember andThe Pale Horse. (English) George Elliott CLARKE

George & Rue 223pp Hb 39.95The facts are clear. It was, by all

accounts, a ‘slug-ugly’ crime. In 1949,George and Rufus Hamilton bludgeoned ataxi driver to death with a hammer in thedirt-poor settlement of Barker’s Point,New Brunswick. Less than eight monthslater, the brothers were hanged for theircrime. George and Rue’s brutal act lives onin New Brunswick over half a centurylater, where the murder site is still knownas Hammertown. In his first novel, Clarkdraws from this disturbing chapter inCanadian history to brilliantly reimaginethe lives and deaths of the two brothers.(Canadian)

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Modern Crime

academic

banking

canine detectives

clerical

cosy/malice domestic

culinary/food

fbi

feline detectives

forensic

horse racing mystery

medical

military

native american

police procedural

political/legal

psychological

private eye

romantic suspense

sport

spy

suspense/thriller

KEY

AUTHOR’S NATIONALITY AT END OF BLURB

Barbara CLEVERLY

The Palace Tiger 312pp Pb 21.95India, 1922: Joe Sandilands, Scotland

Yard detective, is staying with GovernorSir George Jardine in Simla when there issome unexpected news. Sir George sendsJoe off to the Princely State of Ranipur inthe company of Edgar Troop, anexperienced hunter, at the request of theMaharajah, an old ally of the British. Aman-eating tiger is terrorising thenorthern villages and the two men areinvited to join a hunting party in theforest. But the quality of the weaponry SirGeorge supplies raises Joe’s suspicions.The rifle will be perfect for the tiger, butwhy has he also been issued with thesmall Browning M pistol, designed foruse on human targets? Winner of theCWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award.(English) Nancy COHEN

Died Blonde 243pp Pb 14.95Bad Hair Day Mystery. Hairstylist

Marla Shore stumbles over her rival’sbody in the meter room behind theircompeting salons. When her boyfriend,hunky Detective Vail, asks for her help insolving the murder, she jumps on thecase. (American) Clive CUSSLER

Sacred Stone 406pp Pb 19.95Oregon Files. In the remote wastes of

Greenland, a young scientist hasunearthed an artefact hidden in a cave fora millennium: a 50,000-year-old meteoriteknown as the Sacred Stone, which hesoon discovers possesses potentiallycatastrophic radioactive power. But theastounding find places him in thecrosshairs of two opposing terroristgroups who seek the stone forthemselves. (American) James DOSS

The Witch’s Tongue432pp Pb 16.95

A Charlie Moon Mystery. In Doss’s latestcomplex and absorbing crime novel seton the Ute reservation in SouthernColorado, Charlie Moon’s cleverness andhis aunt Daisy Perika’s intuition - not tomention the spellbinding story behindthis unusual day - share the limelightwith the vibrant details of native life andcustom. (American) Margaret DUMAS

Speak Now 366pp Pb 16.95Married to Mystery. Charley Van

Leeuwen, confirmed commitment-phobictheatre director, shocks her friends whenshe returns from London with a husbandin tow. But Charley still wonders abouthis past - and before she can settle herpost-wedding jitters - they find a deadwoman in the bathroom of their hotelsuite. After another tragedy strikes,Charley fears she herself might soon exitstage left. (American)

Carola DUNN

Mourning Wedding299pp Pb 16.95

A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery. Theinimitable Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher andher husband Detective Chief InspectorAlec Fletcher seem to get a reprieve fromtheir sleuthing duties when they areinvited to the wedding of their friend,Lucy Fotheringay. Lucy’s grandfather ishosting the ceremony at his beautifulestate and so it promises to be a typicalaffair with hordes of gossipy aunts andother colourful but not necessarilypleasant relatives. Daisy meets all thesecharacters and observes the ensuingfamilial fraternisation with a certain kindof amusing nonchalance. That is, untilLucy’s great aunt is found strangled todeath in her bed. (American) Aaron ELKINS

Murder in the Queen’s Armes (1990) 256pp Pb 16.95

Professor Gideon Oliver Mystery #3. Edgar-winner Aaron Elkins follows “skeletondetective” Gideon Oliver on hishoneymoon, one that will prove none toosweet. (American) Roger J ELLROY

Quiet Vendetta 464pp Tp 29.95When Catherine Ducane

disappears in the heart of New Orleans,the local cops react quickly. After all, sheis the daughter of the Governor ofLouisiana. But the case gets very strange,very quickly. Her bodyguard turns uphorribly mutilated in the trunk of abeautiful vintage car and, when herkidnapper calls, he doesn’t want money:he wants time alone with a minorfunctionary from a Washington-basedorganised crime task force… (American) Ron FAUST

The Blood Red Sea 340pp Pb 16.95Dan Shaw has only

been practicing law forfour months but he’salready burnt out. Addthe fact that he’s just losthis girlfriend, and thecops are scouring hisdubious past, and it’s nowonder he decides to setsail for the summer.However, alone in themiddle of the sea, trouble still finds him -she is naked, nearly drowned and has littlememory of how she got that way. But thereal story is even more twisted.(American) Monica FERRIS

Crewel Yule 256pp Pb 16.95Needlecraft Mystery #8. Part-time

sleuth and full-time owner of theneedlework shop Crewel World, BetsyDevonshire prepares for a chillingholiday season filled with mistletoe andmurder. (American)

Elaine FLINN

Deadly Collection 352pp Pb 16.95

Molly Doyle Mystery.Antiques dealerMolly Doyle has anunerring eye for therare and valuable,which is why she hasbeen hired to assessand sell the contentsof the home of the lateparents ofinsufferable localheiress FrancesO’Brien. The deceased former ownerswere well-known Hollywood setdesigners who crammed their domicilewith all manner of priceless antiquitiesand worthless junk. But the last thingMolly expects to find behind the walls ofLa Casa is a mummified human corpse.(American) Joanne FLUKE

Sugar Cookie Murder380pp Pb 16.95

A Hannah Swensen Holiday Mystery. Whenit comes to holidays, Minnesotans rise tothe occasion, and the little town of LakeEden is baking up a storm with HannahSwensen leading the way. But wheneveryone is stranded at the communitycentre by a blizzard, Hannah puts herinvestigative skills to the test, using theingredients at hand: half the town of LakeEden – and a killer. (American) Colin FORBES

Blood Storm 400pp Pb 18.95Tweed and his dynamic team face

one of their biggest challenges yet. Noteven the most sophisticated securitysystems or the most experienced counter-terrorist czars can stand up to a force thatthreatens the whole of Europe. Tweedrarely experiences fear or doubt, but isalmost overwhelmed when he has tomake a seemingly impossible decisionabout one of his own team. (English) Clyde FORD

The Long Mile 256pp Tp 29.95The Shango Mysteries. Framed and

found guilty of a murder he didn’tcommit, NYPD officer John Shannonserved two years in a federalpenitentiary. When his conviction isoverturned on appeal, Shannon walksout of prison to a life in shambles. Hiswife is contemplating divorce. The Fedsare champing at the bit to throw him backin prison. His fellow police officers thinkhe’s a cop killer. Drug lords, street gangsand the Mob all want a piece of him. Andnow his 13-year-old son has gonemissing. Shannon embarks on adangerous quest to find his son anduncover the truth behind the bungleddrug raid that cost him his career, hisfamily and his freedom. (American)

ABBEY S BOOKSHOP 131 YORK STREET, SYDNEY 2000 PH 9264 3111 FAX 9264 8993

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G M FORD

No Man’s Land 315pp Tp 32.95Meza Azul Correctional Facility in

Arizona is designed to hold the country’sworst collection of criminals. Its foundersbelieve it is 100% escape-proof, so it iswith mixed horror and disbelief thatGovernor James Blaine discovers that‘lifer’ and ex-Navy submarine captainTimothy Driver has managed to takecontrol of the security and surveillancesystems and begun releasing prisoners.(American) Shelley FREYDONT

Halloween Murder348pp Pb 14.95

A Lindy HaggertyMystery. At first, theMischief NightMarathon seems like agood idea to Lindy. Itpromises to be an old-fashioned Halloweencelebration, completewith bonfire, ghoststories, a Haunted HayRide, plenty of woodsand dilapidated buildings foratmosphere, and a theatrical revue,directed by Lindy herself. And it’s achance to raise money for a teen centre tobe housed at the historic VanCleef Farmsite where the fair will be held. Butinstead of being a festive good time,Mischief Night is living up to its name,turning into a nightmare of flaring egosand outright hostility among the plannersand participants. And then the pranksbegin... (American) Robert GANDT

Killing Sky 368pp Pb 18.95When Brick Maxwell’s wingman is

shot down and taken prisoner by aPalestinian splinter group, Rick Solaresnegotiates his release. But Brick suspectssomething sinister going on behind thescenes. And when the woman he lovesfalls victim to the same terrorists, hisdevotion to duty turns into a desire forvengeance. With the help of hisRoadrunner Squadron, Brick will riskeverything to make the enemy pay - asonly an angry F/A-18 Hornet fighterpilot can. (American) Meg GARDINER

Crosscut 336pp Tp 32.95For Evan, China Lake was a tough

place to grow up. But she didn’t realisejust how tough until, returning to thedesert military base for her high schoolreunion, she discovers that a disturbingnumber of her classmates have diedyoung. The morning after the reunion,another is found, savagely butchered. Sheis just the first. Someone in China Lakehas a major axe to grind with the class of91. And that includes Evan... (American)

Ronal GAUTHIER

Prey for Me 211pp Tp 37.00A New Orleans Mystery. After a stint

at the FBI Behavioural Science Unit,Jeannette Plaisance uses all of herinvestigative and profiling skills to helpsearch for an elusive killer dubbed theGarbage Man. The victims are young,black males found during a time ofmaddeningly high homicide rates, so atfirst nobody notices the serial killer’spattern. But the pressure is soon on tocatch the perp before the grisly newsmakes its way into the national mediaspotlight. (American) Tess GERRITSEN

Vanish 336pp Tp 32.95The nameless and beautiful

woman seems to be just another corpse inthe morgue. An apparent suicide, she lieson a gurney in the cold room, awaitingthe dissecting scalpel of medicalexaminer Maura Isles. But when Mauraunzips the body bag and looks down atthe body, she gets the fright of her life.The corpse opens its eyes. Now verymuch alive, the ‘dead’ woman is rushedto the hospital, where her next actionshocks everyone. With cool precision, shemurders a security guard and seizeshostages. One of those hostages is a verypregnant patient, Jane Rizzoli. Who is thismysterious hostage-taker and what doesshe want? (American) Robert GOTT

A Thing of Blood304pp Pb 27.95

As WWII drags on, failed Shakespearianactor and would-be private detectiveWilliam Power returns to Melbourne indisgrace after a disastrous brush withtheatre and murder in Queensland. Thisbrilliant, wry sequel to Good Murder (Pb26.95) perfectly recreates the tension andfear of wartime Australia. (Australian) Sarah GRAVES

Tool and Die 352pp Pb 16.95Home Repair is

Homicide Mystery #8.Jacobia ‘Jake’ Tiptreetraded her power-broker life for arundown dream housein peaceful Eastport,Maine. But the do-it-yourself enthusiast islearning that, no matterhow carefully youbuild your home, murder has a way ofslipping in through the cracks.(American)

Martha GRIMES

Winds of Change384pp Pb 18.95

Richard Jury #19. Richard Jury embarkson the darkest investigation of his careerwhen the dead body of a young Londongirl leads to the cold case of a missing girlin Launceston - an unsolved mystery thathas haunted Police Officer BrianMacalvie for years. (American) Lev GROSSMAN

Codex 384pp Pb 21.95About to depart on his first vacation in

years, Edward Wozny, a hot-shot youngbanker, is sent to help one of his firm’smost important and mysterious clients.When asked to unpack and organise apersonal library of rare books, Edward’sindignation turns to intrigue as herealises that among the volumes theremay be hidden a unique medieval codex,a treasure kept sealed away for manyyears and for many reasons. His intriguebecomes an obsession that only deepensas friends draw him into a peculiar andaddictive computer game, as mystifyingparallels between the game’s virtualreality and the legend of the codexemerge... (American) Charlaine HARRIS

Shakespeare’s Landlord224pp Pb 16.95

A Lily Bard Mystery.Lily Bard is a loner.Other than the day-to-day workings of hercleaning and errand-running service, shepays little attention tothe town around her.But when her landlordis murdered, Lily issingled out as theprime suspect, and proving herinnocence will depend on finding the realkiller in quiet, secretive Shakespeare.(American) James HIME

Scared Money 320pp Pb 16.95When the CIA comes knocking at

the door of ex-Texas Ranger, JeremiahSpur, asking for a favour, he’s not thatinterested in helping. At least, not untilthe agent mentions that the man whoneeds help, Benjamin Farkas, specificallyrequested Jeremiah because he knewJeremiah’s father. Jeremiah hasn’t seenhis father since he was a little boy, so thispiques his interest, and he reluctantlyagrees to travel fromhis ranch in tinyBrenham to the bigsmoke of Austin toinvestigate thedisappearance of anaccountant who hasvanished with $10million of his boss’smoney. (American)

ORDER ONLINE...

5Joanna HINES

Angels of the Flood409pp Pb 18.95

Florence 1966: the most beautiful city onearth was devastated by a terrible flood.No tourists, no cars, just a sea of oilymud. The young volunteers fromoverseas who came to rescue thebuildings, paintings and sculpturesbecame known as the Angels of the Flood.Kate Holland was one of these angels,until the hideous death of her friendFrancesca forced her back to England,vowing never to return. Now, for the firsttime in 30 years, Kate is again drawn toItaly. Someone has sent her a pricelessItalian painting, but it has been crudelytampered with. What is the mysteriousmessage at its heart? (British) Hazel HOLT

Mrs Malory and No Cure forDeath 250pp Pb 16.95

John Morrison is abrilliant doctor, buthis bedside mannerhas made manyenemies inTaviscombe amongboth his peers andpatients. So no one issurprised when he isstabbed to death, butMrs Malory issurprised when sheuncovers numerous suspects for bothmotive and murderer. (English) Gregg HURWITZ

The Program 450pp Pb 18.95Leah Henning, the 18-year-old

daughter of a famous Hollywoodproducer, has vanished into The Program- a shadowy cult that practices mind-control and manipulation, led by itsbrilliant, messianic leader T D ‘Teacher’Betters. Leah surrendered her life,looking for peace, but she found Hell.(American) India INK

Scent to her Grave272pp Pb 16.95

Bath and Body Mystery. From custom-blended oils to relaxing spa services, thestore Venus Envy takes care of all thebeauty needs of Gull Harbour,Washington. Behind the counter is PersiaVanderbilt, a woman with a nose formixing scents and a mind for solvingmurder. (American) Susan JAMES

Solace Glen Honeymoon (#2)256pp Pb 16.95

40ish Flip Paxton, the cleaning lady ofSolace Glen, finally has it all - a boomingbusiness, a beautiful new home and a ringon her finger. But her expectations of aromantic and tranquil honeymoondisappear, along with one of the resort’sowners. (American)

Kate KINGSBURY

No Clue at the Inn320pp Pb 16.95

Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery. CecilyBaxter and her husband, Hugh, haven’tbeen back to Badgers End in two years,not since they sold the Pennyfoot Hoteland the new owner turned it into acountry club. But when Cecily receives aletter asking her to manage the placeduring the Christmas season, she isdelighted to accept. But Hugh is not quiteso enthusiastic, especially when hediscovers that the previous manager meta mysterious end. (American) Andrew KLAVAN

Shotgun Alley 304pp Pb 16.95A Weiss and Bishop Novel. Honey is

the vivacious, 17-year-old daughter of apolitician who is running for state senateand eventually (he hopes) the presidency.But his sweet little girl has a penchant fordrug dealers, mad-dog bikers, booze, sexand guns. She has run off with Cobra, theleader of a band of motorcycle-gangoutcasts who have dubbed themselvesthe Outriders. Enter Scott Weiss and JimBishop. Weiss is a former cop and anaccomplished detective with a lot ofconnections. Bishop is a savvy, strong-willed tough guy and ladies’ man whodoes the legwork for Weiss. Bishop’sassignment: infiltrate the Outriders andseduce Honey away. Have Weiss andBishop finally met their match? Is Honeytoo hot to handle? (American) Christine KLING

Cross Current 352pp Pb 16.95Kling’s first novel, Surface Tension

(Pb 16.95), introduced a remarkablesleuth in Seychelle Sullivan. In thiselectrifying new book, Sullivan returns. Atall, strong, beautiful woman in a man’sworld, she is caught up in a complexdrama set on the South Florida seacoast,where the crimes, hopes and follies ofdreamers and con artists all comewashing ashore. (American) Tim KRABBE

Delay 192pp Pb 21.95On his way back to

Amsterdam from NewZealand, JacquesBekker’s plane isdelayed, giving himfour unexpected hoursin Sydney. On a whim,he decides to look upan old girlfriend - hisfirst love. He arriveson Monique’s streetjust as a stylish woman is loading the lastsuitcase into the back of a smart car. 30years vanish in the blink of an eye and,before Jacques knows it, he’s become anaccomplice to a disappearing act that issoon front page news. (Dutch)

Rochelle KRICH

Grave Endings 359pp Pb 16.95Crime reporter Molly Blume is busy

planning her wedding to Rabbi Zackwhen Detective Andy Connors appearswith a locket that belonged to her bestfriend, Aggie Lasher. Someone fatallystabbed Aggie six years earlier and thecrime remains unsolved. The locketturned up with the body of Randy Creely,an aspiring actor and drug addict whooverdosed. The police assume that Creelywas the murderer. Molly, who has beenobsessed with her friend’s death, is notsure that the actor committed the crimeand begins investigating. Winner of theMary Higgins Clark Award. (American) Linda LA PLANTE

Above Suspicion400pp Pb 18.95

Young Anna Travis has been assigned toher first murder case - a series of killingsthat has shocked even the most hardeneddetectives. They started eight years agoand now the body count is six. Themethod of killing and the girls’backgrounds are identical - all drug-usersand prostitutes. Then a seventh body isfound. The modus operandi is again thesame, but this time the victim is a youngstudent with the face of an angel. Theprofile of the murderer has changeddramatically. Determined to earn therespect of her male colleagues, Annastumbles on a vital piece of informationthat links one man to the killings, a much-loved actor on the brink of internationalstardom. (British) Cam LAVAC

Satan’s Church 384pp Tp 29.95Peter LeSarus, an Australian priest,

and Sister Christina find themselvescaught up in a struggle to find a 3,000-year-old papyrus - The Prophecy - andreveal its secrets before they aredestroyed. Why does the CardinalSecretary of State at the Vatican stop atnothing to keep these documents fromthe world? (Australian) Laura LIPPMAN

The Power of Three430pp Tp 29.95

Lippman is one ofthe most acclaimedauthors of crimefiction and a winnerof every majoraward the genre hasto offer. Now shedazzles again with ariveting stand-alonenovel that takes onthe secret - and not-so-secret - lives ofteenage girls, illuminating a dark tragedywith startling clarity and empathy.(American)

ABBEY S BOOKSHOP 131 YORK STREET, SYDNEY 2000 PH 9264 3111 FAX 9264 8993

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Ron LOVELL

Murder Below Zero246pp Tp 29.95

A Thomas Martindale Mystery. RenegadeRussians, marauding polar bears and aquest for the facts inspire retired professorThomas Martindale - a sometimes sleuthwho is much too nosy for his own good –to leave the comfort of his college campusin Oregon to sign on as science writer foran Artic expedition. (American) Mike LUPICA

Too Far 304pp Pb 18.95The biggest thing that’s ever

happened to the Long Island town ofSouth Shore is its high school basketballteam, blessed with two players ofnational calibre and the white-hotattention of the media. Not even thedeath of the team’s manager can dampentheir enthusiasm, but then a kid on thehigh school paper begins to hear things -stories of brutality at a team retreat, ofhazing that went over the line, ofmurder... (American) T J MACGREGOR

Category Five 380pp Pb 16.95A monster hurricane takes aim at the

Florida coast. As thousands evacuateTango Key, three dangerous escapedconvicts are searching for a place to rideout the storm, and they’ve just found theperfect spot. (American) John MACKIE

West Side 384pp Pb 18.95In a Manhattan bar, two strangers

pick up a soon-to-be-dead look-alike forone of them. After pulling off a flawless1.5 million dollar insurance fraud, theperpetrators decide that one perfect scamdeserves another. As Detective SergeantThorn Savage and his Manhattan SouthHomicide squad enter the investigation,they are drawn into the city’s seamyunderbelly where dangerous fun - andthe answers to an ingenious murder case- await those who know where to look.(American) Pierre MAGNAN

Death in the Truffle Wood201pp Tp 32.95

Banon is a small, peaceful village in upperProvence, where the local community’sprincipal source of income comes from thecultivation and sale of truffles. Touristsand outsiders rarely venture to this remoteregion, but a small group of society’sdropouts have chosen to set up home onthe village outskirts, and trouble ensues.One of them is found dead in the freezer ofa local hotel, then five bodies arediscovered hanging by their feet anddrained of blood in the family vault at thecemetery. It takes all CommissaireLaviolette’s considerable resources tounravel crimes that have been committedin a climate of centuries-old superstitionand secret animosity. (French)

Richard MARINICK

Boyos 274pp Tp 29.00Set in and around ‘Southie’ - the South

Boston, working class, Irish-Americanenclave popularised by such novelists asGeorge V Higgins and Dennis Lehane -this story focuses on Jack ‘Wacko’Curran, a rising young player in thecriminal underworld. Local ‘boyos’ likeCurran resent the steady influx of youngworking professionals, who aregentrifying the area and pricing out theold-time residents. Curran and his coked-out brother, Kevin, work for mob bossMarty Fallon, wholesaling drugs to anetwork of area dealers. Tired of givingFallon a cut of every score, Jack dreams ofreplacing Fallon, and figures that thebankroll from the armoured-car heist he’splanning will put him on his way.(American) Petro MARKARIS

The Late Night News288pp Pb 23.95

Costas Haritos, a CID chief in centralAthens, is uncomfortably married,aggressive and pessimistic. He onlymanages to relax when he at homereading his English dictionaries. Aveteran of the force, he is only nowcoming to terms with the pervasivecorruption in public and private life sincethe fall of the military dictatorship andthe advent of democratic government.When an Albanian couple is foundbrutally slaughtered, it looks like anopen-and-shut crime of passion. Butwhen Yanna, a TV journalistinvestigating the same case, is murderedin a broadcasting studio just before goingon air, Haritos begins to think he’smissing something crucial in thisseemingly simple case. (Greek) Paul MCAULEY

Mind’s Eye 432pp Tp 29.95When he chances upon a strange piece

of graffiti daubed on the walls of a northLondon restaurant, the violence of hisreaction takes Alfie Flowers by surprise.The thorny circle of dashes and zigzagsseems to reach right inside his brain,provoking a flashback to a terrifyingchildhood incident that he has spent hislife trying to forget. Convinced the graffitiartist possesses the clues to his past, Alfieembarks on a search that leads him to themysterious Nomads’ Club and a secrethistory of espionage, culminating in thedisappearance of Alfie’s father 20 yearsbefore. But the real secret of the graffitipatterns - or ‘glyphs’ - is to be foundamidst the chaos of post-war Iraq. Thereare others seeking the source of theglyphs - people with sinister anddangerous motives - and if they were tosucceed in their aims, the consequenceswould be too horrible to contemplate.(English)

Scott McCAULEY

Revenge in Exile 374pp Pb 16.95CIA officer Elizabeth Cramer and her

old Navy friend Cole Palmer are sent toMexico to stop a revolution orchestratedby an exiled former Mexican president,while foiling a plot to assassinate the USPresident and his Mexican counterpart.Debut novel. (American) S K McCLAFFERTY

In at the Kill 351pp Pb 14.95LA attorney Lily Martin is a

woman running from dangerousmemories, secrets too deep and dark toreveal. But a call in the night changeseverything, sending her back to her rootsin the bayous of Louisiana and to thethree men who changed her life – one ofwhom is now dead. (American) Chandler McGREW

In Shadows 399pp Pb 16.95In a small, Maine valley, 13-year-old

Pierce Morin, born blind and deaf,possesses a terrifying gift: he can hear evilwhispering. He knows an elusive, deadlyforce is stalking the people he loves.Detective Jake Crowley has run far awayfrom his Maine hometown, but a bizarreshootout in Galveston, Texas finallydraws him home: to a woman he canbarely face, to the unsolved mystery ofhis mother’s murder and to a family curseand a valley that has fallen under thespell of a serial killer. (American) Kirk MITCHELL

Dance of the Thunder Dogs363pp Pb 18.95

After 13 years of federal law enforcementwith the Bureau of Indian Affairs,Emmett Parker has come home, woundedand estranged from his partner and loveinterest, Anna Turnipseed. A son of theComanche and a governmentinvestigator, he has ties to both sides, andhe is about to discover which side pullsharder. (American) David MORRELL

Creepers 352pp Tp 32.95They call themselves Creepers. Urban

explorers who illegally enter sealedbuildings - hotels, offices, departmentstores - many of which have beenabandoned for years. One night in NewJersey, a group of creepers enters theParagon, a hotel designed and builtduring the glory days of Asbury Park bya reclusive millionaire. The magnificent,seven-story structure, whichforeshadowed the beauties of Art Decoarchitecture, is now a decrepit, boarded-up edifice marked for demolition. But theParagon has a disturbing history and,soon after the group enter, it is clear thisdecaying building holds more secretsthan they could have imagined in theirworst nightmares. (American)

7Bob MORRIS

Bahamarama 320pp Pb 16.95After two years in a Florida federal

prison on bogus charges, former MiamiDolphins linebacker Zack Chasteen is stircrazy. His first step to getting his life backtogether is to meet up with his beautiful,magazine mogul girlfriend, Barbara, onHarbour Island in the Bahamas. Butmaking it out of Florida proves to bemore trouble than a gator with atoothache - and even deadlier. Zack isbarely alive when he discovers thatBarbara has been kidnapped and her ex-lover, a photographer, has beenmurdered. As unpredictable as islandtrade winds, this debut novel twists andturns its way to a stunning conclusion.(American) Shirley Rousseau MURPHY

Cat Cross their Graves385pp Pb 16.95

A Joe Grey Mystery.Ageing film star PattyRose came to MolenaPoint, California, toenjoy her golden yearsrunning an inn. Shedidn’t go there to bemurdered. But it’sPatty’s body that a catnamed Kit discoversafter hearing threeshots fired. By the time the police arrive,the curious tortoiseshell has alreadyscampered off to investigate, followed byKit’s cat friends Joe Grey and Dulcie. Joe iscertain Kit is heading for big trouble. Thena kidnapping and the shocking discoveryof hidden graves raise the stakes, and theinquisitive feline trio have to work quicklyto claw out the truth and end thenightmare that has left the devastatedcommunity reeling. (American) Tim MYERS

Death Waxed Over240pp Pb 16.95

Candlemaking Mystery #3. On Founder’sDay, Harrison Black, owner of At Wick’sEnd, has a stand near Gretel Barnett.When she is killed in the middle of thefestivities - and folks start suspectingHarrison - he must figure out whoextinguished his biggest rival.(American) Joyce Carol OATES (ed)

The Best American Mystery Stories 2005 352pp Tp 29.95

Since 1915, this series has been thepremier annual showcase for thecountry’s finest short fiction and non-fiction. Editors select notable works fromhundreds of periodicals, includingauthors Scott Turow, Edward P Jones,Louise Erdrich, Dennis Lehane, DanielHandler, Laura Lippman, George VHiggins, David Means, Richard Burgin,Scott Wolven and Stuart Kaminsky.(American)

Kevin O’BRIEN

The Last Victim 448pp Pb 16.95At first, Bridget

Corrigan’s work withher twin brother’ssenatorial campaign isan exciting distractionfrom the trauma of hermessy divorce. Buteverything changeswhen Bridget isreminded of the secretthat she and Brad havebeen keeping since high school, a secretthat could destroy the campaign – andtheir lives. Someone else knows whatthey did. Someone who has been pickingoff the members of their little group oneby one. (American) June Duncan OWEN

Worm in the Bud 295pp Tp 26.95While Rose was looking forward to

celebrating their wedding anniversary,her husband Lewis remained cold anddetached, his manner becomingincreasingly distant from the entirefamily. What secrets of infidelity, murderand incest lie hidden behind thisoutwardly strong farming family?(Australian) Robert B PARKER

Melancholy Baby296pp Pb 19.95

Sunny Randall #4. Sunny must face theunthinkable: the marriage of ex-husbandRichie to someone else. When collegestudent Sarah Markham comes asking forhelp in finding her birth parents, Sunnyrealises she must take the case to distracther from her personal life. Before theinvestigation has a chance to take off, twokey players are dead and Sunny is backon a psychiatrist’s couch, probing herown past for clues. (American) James PATTERSON

Mary Mary 320pp Tp 32.95Somebody is murdering

Hollywood’s A list. FBI agent Alex Crossis on vacation in Disneyland when hegets the call. A well-known actress hasbeen shot outside her home in BeverlyHills. Shortly after, an editor for the LosAngeles Times receives an emailrecounting the murder in shocking detail,signed Mary Smith. Right from thebeginning, this case is like nothing Alexhas ever confronted. Members of the A-list fear they areMary’s next targetand the case growsinto blockbusterproportions as Crossand the LAPDscramble to find apattern before Marycan send one morechilling update.(American)

Richard North PATTERSON

Conviction 528pp Pb 19.95When the body of nine-year old

Thuy Sen is found in San Francisco Bay,the police quickly charge Rennell andPayton Price with her grisly murder. A12-person jury, abetted by anincompetent defence lawyer, is nearly asquick to find the brothers guilty andsentence them both to die for their crimes.15 years later, overworked pro-bonolawyer Teresa Paget, husband Chris andstepson Carlo (a recent Harvard lawgraduate), become convinced not onlythat Rennell didn’t receive a fair trial butthat he may well be innocent. Racingagainst the clock and facing enormouslegal obstacles, Teresa, Chris and Carlodesperately try to stay Rennell’sexecution, taking the case all the way tothe Supreme Court, and to anenormously moving and powerfulconclusion. (American) Martin RADCLIFFE (ed)

Masters of Mystery 556pp Pb 24.95Renowned Victorians such as Wilkie

Collins, Charles Dickens and Sir ArthurConan Doyle were the pioneers of crimeand detective fiction, but they were by nomeans alone. In this definitive collection,mystery critic and historian Radcliffedelves into the archives, presenting someof the best and most influential shortstories of the Victorian and Edwardianyears. These are the tales of Masters (andMistresses) of Mysterythat inspiredgenerations of writersand led to the creationof renowned detectivessuch as Lord PeterWimsey, Sam Spade,Miss Marple, LewArcher, Morse,Dalgliesh and Rebus.(English) Nora ROBERTS

Blue Smoke 400pp Tp 32.95Catarina Hale grew up with an

intimate knowledge of the destructivepower of fire. When she was a child, herfamily’s restaurant burned to the groundand the man responsible was sent to jail.The Hale family banded together torebuild and Reena found her life’s calling.She trained as a firefighter, then as a cop,always with the end goal in sight: tobecome an arson investigator. Now partof the arson unit, she is called in on aseries of suspicious fires that seem to beconnected, not just to each other, but toher. As danger ignites all around her,Reena must rely on experience andinstinct to catch a dangerous madmanwho won’t stop until everything sheloves has gone up in smoke. (American)

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Heather ROSE

The Butterfly Man 352pp Pb 24.95On 7 November 1974, a young English

nanny named Sandra Rivett wasmurdered in London’s West End. Heremployer, Lord Lucan, was named as herattacker. It was widely assumed he hadmistaken her for his wife. Lord Lucandisappeared that night and has neverbeen seen since. Henry Kennedy lives ona mountain on the other side of the world.He is not who he says he is. Is he amurderer or a man who can never clearhis name? And is he the only one withsomething to hide? Set in Tasmania,Africa and London’s Belgravia, this is anabsorbing novel about transformationand deception, and the lengths to whichwe go to protect the ones we love.(Australian) Kirk RUSSELL

Night Game 365pp Tp 29.00A John Marquez

Crime Novel. Formerfederal drug agentMarquez againpushes theboundaries of safetyand politics when hetakes his team ofFish and Gameofficers on adangerous operationin pursuit of bear poachers. This book hitshard and moves fast toward a finish thatricochets through wilderness, backwoodstowns and the darker recesses of love andgreed. A second novel that delivers andfirmly establishes a great series.(American) Denise RYAN

Cold Blood 416pp Pb 19.95Life gets tough again for Shannon

Flinder when her best friend is murderedand she comes to believe that the policehave arrested the wrong person. So whodid kill Jenny Fong and why? Things getworse when Shannon’s bitter enemy,Cindy Nightingale, is put in charge of themurder inquiry. Cindy is more interestedin nailing Shannon than anyone else. Anescaped killer with a grudge causes chaosand manages to elude capture. Hismission is to get the lawyer who helpedsend him to prison. How can Shannonprotect herself when the police can’t?Local reporter Wanda Brennan’s husbandwas viciously attacked and left in a coma.Wanda’s life starts tounravel. She wantsjustice and wantsShannon Flinder tohelp her get it. ButShannon is moreinterested in solvingher friend’s murderand, of course,staying alive.(English)

Manda SCOTT

Hen’s Teeth (1996)480pp Pb 22.00

Murder runs infamilies. How coulda healthy, 41-year-old woman die ofcardiac arrest?When Glasgowpsychiatrist KellenStewart learns of thedeath of ex-loverBridget Donnelly,she quickly suspectsfoul play. Then shediscovers that Bridget’s brother, Malcolm,died of the same cause just weeks before,hours after bringing some hens toBridget’s country farmhouse forsafekeeping. And now those hens aremissing. With the help of a friendlypathologist, who numbers breaking andentering among her more formidableskills, Kellen investigates the deaths. Thetrail of evidence takes her into a dangerousmaze of valuable hens, lethal eggs, bodiesthat vanish from the morgue andbiomedical marvels that lead to murder.(Scottish) Michele SCOTT

Murder Uncorked224pp Pb 16.95

Wine Lovers Mystery #1. The murder of atop winemaker sours Nikki Sands’ newjob on a Napa Valley vineyard.(American)Lisa SCOTTOLINE

Killer Smile 400pp Pb 19.95Everybody around lawyer Mary

DiNunzio hasdecided she isn’tallowed to be aYoung Widow anymore, although shedidn’t know therewas an official cut-off. All Mary wantsto do is immerseherself in a caseeverybody elsecalls The HistoryChannel, a pro-bono representation of theBrandolini estate. At the outbreak ofWorld War II, Brandolini was arrested bythe FBI as part of a mass internment ofItalian-Americans and sent to a camp inMontana, where he eventuallycommitted suicide. Now, more than 60years later, his son’s estate hires Mary tosue for reparations. With only a lock ofhair, an old wallet and a sheet of paperfilled with odd doodles to go on, thetenacious lawyer begins to research thecase, but instead finds puzzling newquestions. (American)

Lynn SHOLES & Joe MOORE

Grail Conspiracy 343pp Tp 32.95A Cotten Stone Mystery. On assignment

in the Middle East, television journalistCotten Stone stumbles upon anarcheological dig that uncovers theworld’s most sought after religious relic:the Holy Grail. With his dying breath, DrGabriel Archer gives it to Cotten, uttering“You are the only one” in a language shehas heard from only one other person - herdeceased twin sister. What begins as a hotnews story for the ambitious youngreporter soon turns into a nightmare whenthe Holy Grail is stolen and strange‘accidents’ befall her dearest friends. Ananonymous source leads them to NewOrleans during Mardi Gras, where anabominable experiment is underway that -unless destroyed - promises to unleash anancient evil upon the Earth. (American) George SIMENON

Tropic Moon 224pp Tp 29.00A young Frenchman, Joseph Timar,travels to Gabon carrying a letter of

introduction from an influential uncle. Hewants work experience; he wants to seethe world. But once in the oppressive heatand glare of the equator, Timar doesn’tknow what to do with himself and no oneseems inclined to help except Adèle, thewife of the hotel owner, who takes him tobed one day but rebuffs him the next,leaving him sick with desire. Then, in thecourse of a single night, Adèle’s husbanddies and a black servant is shot, and Timaris sure that Adèle is involved. He willcover for the crime if she will do what hewants. The fix is in, but Timar can’t evenbegin to imagine how deep. (French) Michael SLADE

Swastika 432pp Pb 18.95Swastika and Aryan believe they areacting as cleansers of society -

necessary evils to empower a new masterrace. But there is still one secret aboutthem that no one knows. When an eliteteam of investigators is assigned to huntthem down, they stumble upon aterrifying government conspiracy and amystery buried in the ashes of WWIIGermany. (American) Patricia SMILEY

False Profits 328pp Pb 16.95“It’s hard to believe that this clever

and engaging adventure is Smiley’s firstnovel; it reads like the latest in a well-established series. Smiley’s heroine, 30-year-old divorcee Tucker Sinclair, worksher tail off at a downtown LA financialadvising firm and relaxes at her Malibu-area beach cottage; that is, she would relaxif her actress mother wasn’t a currenthouseguest. When her mom goes off to ashamanic retreat, leaving her daughter tocare for Muldoon, the wicked Westie, thetuckered Tucker relishes the quiet. Butthings don’t stay quiet for long…” JennyMcLarin – Booklist (American)

9Veronica STALLWOOD

Oxford Letters 320pp Hb 60.00When Kate

Ivory returns fromholiday, a phone callfrom a concernedfriend gives hersome ratheralarming news.Apparently Kate’snormally vibrantand energeticmother Roz is ashadow of her former self and looks veryill indeed. When Kate visits her mother,Roz sends her away, insisting that hernew friends, the Freemans, are takingcare of her. Although the couple seemkind-hearted, something about themdisturbs Kate. Are they more interested inher mother’s newfound wealth than herhealth? Kate decides to look into theirbackground, an investigation that takesher across the country, uncovering a trailof deception. She soon realises that hermother may not be the only one indanger... (English) Mariah STEWART

Dark Truth 336pp Pb 16.95Murder didn’t end Nina Madden’s

life, it destroyed it. When her father wascharged with the serial killings of severalcollege students, Nina and her motherbecame pariahs in their small Marylandtown. Though Nina never believed thehideous accusations, evidence led to herfather’s conviction and guaranteed thedeath penalty. After the execution, Ninaleft Stone River to escape the hatred andpersecution, but she couldn’t shake thelingering doubts. (American) Leanne SWEENEY

Dead Giveaway272pp Pb 16.95Yellow Rose Mystery #3. She is a

Texas heiress and a brand-new PIspecialising in adoption cases. But AbbyRose focuses more on what money can’tbuy, like answers in a case of a babyabandoned years ago and a present-daymurder. (American) Andrew TAYLOR

Call the Dying 448pp Pb 21.00Lydmouth Series #7. It is 1955 and

the influx of televisions do nothing torelieve the tensions in the deeplyconservative town of Lydmouth. MrFrederick, a television engineer, arrives tosell and adapt the new sets. He comes fortwo nights, then apparently leaves. Onthe evening of that same day, eccentric DrBayswater, a retired GP, is found dead. Agentleman’s yellow kid glove, slightlygnawed by rats, is found lying next to hisbody. Detective Chief Inspector RichardThornhill is drafted in to investigate andit soon becomes apparent that the case isgoing to be far from straightforward.(English)

Pamela THOMAS-GRAHAM

Orange Crushed275pp Tp 29.95

Ivy League Mystery #3. Murder stalks thecampus in this exciting, witty, fast-pacedand extremely atmospheric novel.(English) Jim THOMPSON

A Hell of a Woman 288pp Pb 19.95This is Thompson’s version of an

American Crime and Punishment. In anovel completely devoid of sentiment,‘Dolly’ Dillon, a door-to-door salesman,goes about the appalling business ofmurder without conscience, withoutremorse and without any hope ofredemption, because of a woman...(American) James TWINING

Double Eagle 400pp Pb 19.95In Paris, a priest is murdered, the

killers dumping his mutilated body intothe Seine. He takes a secret with him tohis death, a secret that reveals itselfduring his autopsy and reawakensmemories of Depression-era politics anda 70-year-old heist. Jennifer Browne, ayoung and ambitious FBI agent, isassigned to the case. This is her lastchance to kickstart a career that hasstalled after one fatal error of judgementthree years before. Her investigationuncovers a daring robbery from FortKnox and Tom Kirk – ex-CIA and theworld’s greatest art thief - is the primesuspect. Caught between his desire tofinally get out of the game and hispartner’s insistence that he complete onelast job for the criminal mastermindCassius, Kirk faces a thrilling race againsttime to clear his name. Debut. (English) Cathi UNSWORTH

The Not Knowing 288pp Pb 19.95London, March

1992. Nearly a yearafter the release ofBrit noir filmsensation, Bent, thecapital is still in thegrip of its culturaland stylistic impact.Diana Kemp,journalist on thealternative artsmagazine Lux, isdismissive of the film’s cult following, butadmires the technique of its debutdirector, Jon Jackson. In fact, some of heradmiration has a more personal nature,and when Jon disappears following atriumphant Guardian lecture, she acutelyfeels the loss. Two weeks later, Jackson’sbody is found in a condemned lockup inthe arches behind Camden market. Avictim of his own success? (English)

Elaine VEITS

Dying in Style 288pp Pb 16.95Dead End Job Mystery #5. Mystery

shopper Josie Marcus’s report aboutDanessa Celedine’s exclusive store is lessthan stellar and it may cost the fashiondiva $50 million. But Danessa’s financialfuture becomes moot when she is foundmurdered, strangled with one of her own$1,000 snakeskin belts - and Josie isaccused of the crime. (American) Tina WAINSCOTT

In Too Deep 384pp Pb 16.95Society writer Winslow Talbot feels

she is living a lie: she is beautiful, but herface has been cleverly constructed byplastic surgeons after an automobilecrash. She is rich, but the wealth belongsto her doting stepfather who’s funded alife she finds increasingly shallow. Sowhen she learns of a hit-and-run boatingaccident that leaves a young Cuban girlterribly disfigured, Winslow sees theopportunity to make a real difference anddecides to help the injured child. Shebegins an investigation that leads her toAlex Diaz, editor of a Miami newspaper.But Alex warns Winslow againstsnooping in Florida’s exile community,where passions often explode withdeadly consequences. (American) Valerie Wilson WESLEY

Dying in the Dark240pp Tp 29.00

A Tamara HayleMystery. Tamara’spast has come backto haunt her -literally. She’s beenplagued byterrifying dreamsabout Celia Jones,an old friend whosewalk on the wildside led her to ahorrible death.Celia’s teenage son, Cecil, begs Tamara tofind his mother’s killer - only to end updead - stabbed through the heart. Despiteher better judgment and the admonitionsof the police department, Tamara refusesto back away from the mysterysurrounding her old friend’s death andthe tragedy that met her son. But sheuncovers more than she bargained for,unearthing secrets someone would kill tokeep in the shadows. (American) Stuart WOODS

Two Dollar Bill 304pp Pb 22.95A Stone Barrington Novel. In this

stylish thriller in the bestselling series,Barrington - the suave Manhattan cop-turned-lawyer - is caught between aclever con man (who has just become hisclient) and a beautiful prosecutor.Barrington is back on his home turf,facing down a brilliant Southern flimflamman. (American)

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Nina WRIGHT

Whiskey on the Rocks254pp Tp 29.95

A Whiskey MattimoeMystery. Still reelingfrom her husband’sdeath, 33-year-oldrealtor WhiskeyMattimoe isadjusting to a newlife, which includesthe embarrassingp u r s e - s n a t c h i n gantics of herm i s c h i e v o u sAfghan hound. That’s bad for business,but not as bad as having clients die on thepremises. When one of her propertiesturns into a murder scene, Whiskeybecomes hopelessly entangled in adevious scheme involving identity fraudand priceless art. Dodging a house fire,break-ins and attempts on her life, shemanages to keep her sense of humourthroughout the chaos with help from apart-time police force, her 8-year-oldneighbour and other eccentric charactersin the Lake Michigan resort town ofMagnet Springs. Debut novel. (American)

Joan DRUETT

A Watery Grave 304pp Tp 29.00The year is 1838 and, after more than 10years in the planning, the famous USExploring Expedition is set to launch intouncharted waters from the coast ofVirginia. Aboard the convoy as ship’slinguist is Wiki Coffin. Half New ZealandMaori and half American, Wiki speaksnumerous languages and is expected tohelp the crew navigate the Pacific islandsthat are his native heritage. But just beforedeparture, he is arrested for a viciousmurder he didn’t commit, subject to theunfortunate bigotry of the time. Justbefore the ships have sailed off out ofreach, Wiki is exonerated, free to catch upand sail on. Thecatch is that thelocal sheriff isconvinced that thereal murderer isaboard one of theseven ships andWiki is deputised toidentify the killerand bring him tojustice. (NewZealand)

Lee JACKSON

Welfare of the Dead 368pp Pb 23.95“Her arms were bare and milky-white, herhands dainty and graceful; her smile assweet as any I have ever seen. An awfulshame...” In the disreputable dance hallsand ‘houses of accommodation’ of 1870sLondon, a boastful killer selects his prey.Are these random acts of malevolence or isthere a connection between the terriblemurders, a mysterious theft at the AbneyPark Cemetery and a long-forgottencrime? Inspector Decimus Webb, newlypromoted to the Detective Branch atScotland Yard, must investigate, andquickly, to prevent another tragedy...(English)Philippa MORGAN

Chaucer and the Legend of Good Women 320pp Hb 44.95

Three years after his secret mission toAquitaine, the poet and diplomatGeoffrey Chaucer finds he must oncemore set forth on royal business. After anarduous overland journey, in the springof 1373 he reaches Florence, a city twicethe size of London and the banking centreof Europe. (English)Anne PERRY

Long Spoon Lane 384pp Pb 19.95Thomas Pitt #24. You need a very longspoon indeed to dine with the devil. Earlyone morning, two bombs explode in anEast London street. Forewarned of theattack, Thomas Pitt of the Special Brancharrives in time to chase the bombers to atenement in Long Spoon Lane, where twomen are arrested and one shot dead. Butwho, and where, is the killer? As Pittinvestigates, he uncovers truths moredisturbing than the acts of a fewmisguided idealists. There is a web ofcorruption within the police force and allthe clues point to Inspector Wetron ofBow Street as its mastermind. As head ofthe sinister Inner Circle, Wetron haspowerful allies in every sphere. (English)Rosemary ROWE

Enemies of the Empire288pp Pb 18.95

Roman Britain Mystery. It is AD 188 and thewild, forested outskirts of the Empire isthe last place Libertus, freedman andpavement-maker, wants to visit. But hewould rather face a wolf or bear than anangry patron, so he agrees to accompanyMarcus Septimus to the garrison town ofIsca (now Caerleon in South Wales).Pausing at Venta, the two men realise theyhave stepped into a simmering cauldron ofsocial unrest, where the Silures tribe, loyalto former chief Caractacus, seethes underRoman occupation. When Libertus spots afamiliar figure, who seems desperate notto be recognised, curiosity gets the betterof him. But his pursuit leads him down adangerous path and into a murky world ofracketeering, treason and murder.(English)

P B RYAN

Murder on Black Friday240pp Pb 16.95

Gilded Age Mystery #3. 1869. Whip-smartBoston governess Nell Sweeney discoversthat wealth and dark secrets go hand-in-hand when two of her employers’ friendsare found dead after the gold marketcrash. (American) Stephen SAYLOR

The Judgement of Caesar #10320pp Pb 21.95

It is 48 BC. Foryears, the rivalRoman generalsCaesar and Pompeyhave engaged in acontest for worlddomination. Bothnow turn to Egypt,where Pompeyplans a last stand onthe banks of theNile, while Caesar’slegendary encounter with the Egyptianqueen sparks a romance that reverberatesdown the centuries. (American)Peter TREMAYNE

Master of Souls 276pp Hb 60.00Sister Fidelma #16. On a storm-drivennight, wreckers drive a merchant shiponto a rocky shore in Ireland. An abbessis slaughtered and six religieuseabducted. An ageing scholar is murderedin the Abbey of Ard Fhearta. What is thelink that connects these crimes? Who isthe shadowy ‘master’ spreading deathand corruption across the land? SisterFidelma and her companion, BrotherEadulf, are asked to go to Ard Fhearta toexamine the mystery. (English)M J ZELLNIK

Murder at the Portland Variety336pp Tp 29.95

A Libby SealeMystery. The year is1894 and the whiteslave trade inPortland, Oregon isalive andflourishing thanksto the ShanghaiTunnels underneaththe city. When VeraCarabella, aperformer at avaudeville theatre, is found murdered inthe tunnels, the police write it off as abotched kidnapping. But Libby Seale, acostume seamstress at the same theatre, isnot convinced. Suspicious that Vera’sdeath is connected to the mysteriousdisappearances of other youngperformers, she launches her owninvestigation. (American)

HHIISSTTOORRIICCAALLCCRRIIMMEE

11

Roseanne CATT

Ten Years 336pp Tp 30.00Roseanne Catt is the victim of the one ofthe greatest miscarriages of justice inAustralian criminal history. She has spent10 long years in prison, falsely chargedwith attempting to murder her husband,Barry Catt, on charges trumped up byhim and his friend, a disgraced formerpoliceman who was responsible forlaying the charges and overseeing theinvestigation. A growing public outcrysaw her released on special bail in 2001.Since then, Roseanne’s extraordinary casehas been the subject of an 18-monthjudicial inquiry, resulting in a damningreport delivered to the Court of CriminalAppeal in late 2004. (Australian)Emily CRAIG

Teasing Secrets from the Dead304pp Tp 29.95

My Investigations atAmerica’s MostInfamous CrimeScenes. As a studentworking with theFBI in Waco, Emilyhelped uncoverdefinitive proof thatmany of the BranchDavidians had beenshot to death beforethe fire, includingtheir leader, David Koresh, whose bullet-pierced skull she reconstructed with herown hands. She has been regularly calledto investigations across the country,including the site of the terrorist attack onthe Murrah Building in Oklahoma City,where a dismembered leg found at thescene did not match any of the knownvictims. Through careful scientificanalysis, Emily was able to help identifythe leg’s owner, a pivotal piece ofevidence that helped convict TimothyMcVeigh. In September 2001, she directedthe night-shift triage at the World TradeCentre’s body identification site,collaborating with forensics experts fromaround the country to collect and identifythe remains of victims. (American)Goldie GUTTENBURG

Speed Demon 252pp Pb 16.95Presents the true story of Mary Hill, areckless driver who turned her own carinto a death trap for the most innocent ofvictims - her daughter and herschoolmates. (American)

Stacy HORN

Restless Sleep 329pp Tp 32.95Inside New York City’s Cold Case Squad.There is no statute of limitations onmurder, but first you must be caught. Andin New York City, thousands of murdersremain unsolved. It was while working asa volunteer post-9/11 that New York-based writer and broadcaster Stacy Hornfirst learned of the existence of the NYPD’s‘Cold Case and Apprehension Squad’.This small, elite unit has a single purpose:to pursue murder cases that have, forwhatever reason - the passage of time, lackof evidence, loss of investigativemomentum - gone ‘cold’. This is theintimate, thrilling and sometimes chillingstory of the extraordinary NYPD unitwhose task is to solve the unsolvable.(American)Stuart KAMINSKY (ed)

Behind the Mysteries 216pp Hb 54.95Top Mystery Writers Interviewed. EdgarAward-winner and Past President of theMystery Writers of America, Kaminskybrings mystery fans into the living rooms,offices and gardens of his most talentedfriends and fellow writers in this tributeto the mystery genre. Professionalphotographer Laurie Roberts captures thewriters, together with their families,homes and pets, while Kaminsky probesinto their personal lives and their writingto go “behind the mystery”. (American)James MORTON

The First Detective 352pp Pb 24.95The Life and Revolutionary Times of Vidocq.Eugene Vidocq was the Morse, theGuv’nor, the James Bond of his day. Anotorious criminal and prison escaper, heturned police officer and employed agang of ex-convicts as his detectives. NowMorton takes us on a historical rompthrough the 18th century in this wellreceived historical biography. Vidocq’sinfluence can still be seen today asmembers of The Vidocq Society - anunusual, exclusive, crime-solvingorganisation - honour him by applyingtheir collective forensic skills andexperience to ‘cold case’ homicides andunsolved deaths. (English)

Joe NICKELL

Camera Clues 248pp Tp 43.00A Handbook for Photographic Investigation.Nickell shares his methods of identifyingand dating old photos, demonstratinghow to distinguish originals from copiesand fakes. Particularly intriguing are hisdiscussions of camera tricks, darkroommanipulations, retouching techniquesand uses of computer technology todeceive the eye. He concludes with a lookat allegedly ‘paranormal’ photography,from 19th century ‘spirit photographs’ toUFO snapshots. (American)Joe NICKELL

Detecting Forgery 228 Tp 43.00Forensic Investigation ofDocuments. Nickellreveals the completearsenal of forensictechniques used todetect forgedhandwriting andalterations indocuments and toidentify the authorshipof disputed writings. He looks at famouscases such as Clifford Irving’s‘autobiography’ of Howard Hughes andthe Mormon papers of document dealerMark Hoffman, as well as cases involvingworks of art. (American)Sean PADRIAC

Sympathy for the Devil256pp Tp 29.95

Confessions of a Corrupt Police Officer. Thisbook reveals what the 1994 Wood RoyalCommission into police corruption wasn’ttold. The depth, nature and extent of thecorruption revealed in the NSW policeforce by the Commission was astoundingand appalling. Much of what was learnedcame from police officers who ‘rolledover’. One of the first was Trevor Haken,who now lives in hiding, afraid for hislife. But this goes beyond his evidence tothe Commission. It is a startling andrevealing expose of a system that wassupposed to uphold the truth and protectits citizens, but instead fell into chaos andcorruption. (Australian)

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Magill’s Choice: 100 Masters of Mystery and Detective FictionFiona KELLEGHAN (ed) 757pp 2-vol set Hb 280.00Since Edgar Allan Poe invented the modern mystery novelin the mid-19th century, the number of authors writing inthis field has steadily increased, along with the demand forsuch literature. This collection surveys 100 of the writerswho have made the most lasting contributions to the genre.Most articles are 2,500 words, with longer articles on majorfigures such as Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett,Ellery Queen and Rex Stout. Handy, ready-referencelistings are designed to accommodate the uniquecharacteristics of mystery and detective fiction, includingauthors' pseudonyms, types of plots, principal series,principal series’ characters and even a glossary of termspeculiar to the genre. (various)

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John PEARSON

The Gamblers 240pp Hb 62.95John Aspinall, James Goldsmith and the Murder of Lord Lucan.Pearson follows the fortunes of five men at the centre of theultra-fashionable Clermont Set: the Clermont Club’s eccentricfounder John Aspinall; Dominic Elwes, who was to betray theSet’s code of silence; the socialite owner of Annabel’s, MarkBirley; the womanising, multi-millionaire, James Goldsmith;and the infamous Lord ‘Lucky’ Lucan. Cruel, heartless andsnobbish, they gambled with their fortunes and kept a stiffupper lip when they lost. Their loyalty to each othertranscended everything else and enabled them to rise abovecrises, such as the long affair between Birley’s wife and JamesGoldsmith, and the facial mutilation of the Birley’s son by oneof Aspinall’s tigers. Pearson revels in the charisma, charm and wit of thesedastardly, but debonair, millionaires, revealing how their code led to one of thegreatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th century. (English)Wayne PETHERICK

Criminal Profile 176pp Hb 24.95Into the Mind of the Killer. Criminal profilers apply a range of techniques, fromdiagnostic evaluations to behavioural evidence analysis, to study patterns ofbehaviour that emerge from crime scene investigations. This book offers insightsinto the professional’s casebook. (Australian)Simon READ

On the House 288pp Pb 18.95The Bizarre Killing of Michael Malloy. The true story behind “the most grotesquechain of events in New York criminal history” - the bizarre murder in 1933 ofdrunk Michael Malloy by a gang of low-rent thugs who took out an insurancepolicy on him. (American)Ron STEPHENSON

Victor Chang 208pp Tp 29.95Murder of a Hero. Victor Chang was a brilliant, heroic man who saved many livesand helped many people through his groundbreaking medical work, leaving alegacy that will stand through time. Yet in 1991, he was senselessly murdered inthe leafy streets of Mosman in Sydney. With his inside knowledge of policeprocedure, Stephenson gives a gripping account of the murder and the policeinvestigation to track down the killers. (Australian)

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(for the best of the best winners)The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

by John Le Carré (Pb 22.95)

Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason (Tp 32.95)

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Deadly Web by Barbara Nadel (Pb 18.95)

I

(best adventure/thriller)Brandenburg by Henry Porter (Tp 29.95)

(first books by unpublished writers)Running Hot

by Dreda Say Mitchel (Tp 35.00) (to order only)

Dark Fire by C J Sansom (Pb 19.95)Special Mention: The Portrait by Iain Pears (Pb 22.95)

On the Run by Gregg & Gina Hill (Pb 18.95)

(Lifetime Achievement)Ian Rankin

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