A Game Of Fear (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries, Bk. 24) by Charles Todd (Morrow) is the top holds title of the week (1/31/22). LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting for this buzziest book.

Scotland Yard’s Ian Rutledge has a murder case to solve. Could the killer be a ghost? The lady living in Benton Abbey thinks so. And thus a new case is launched. 

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (Minotaur)

Appeared on the August 2016 LibraryReads list

“Armand Gamache is back, and it was worth the wait. As the new leader of the Surete academy, Gamche is working to stop corruption at its source and ensure the best start for the cadets. When a copy of an old map is found near the body of a dead professor, Gamache and Beauvoir race against the clock to find the killer before another person dies. A terrific novel that blends Penny’s amazing lyrical prose with characters that resonate long after the book ends. Highly recommended.”—David Singleton, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee (Pegasus; LJ starred review)

Selected by the LibraryReads Advisory Board

“Haunted by the death of his wife and experiences in the Great War, Capt. Sam Wyndham, a former Scotland Yard detective, accepts a job with the imperial police force in 1919 Calcutta. He has no time to acclimate to his new surroundings before the body of a British official is found near a brothel with a note stuffed in his mouth demanding that the British leave India. The ramifications of the murder increase the destabilizing pressure from insurgents demanding greater Indian autonomy. Sam is assisted by the arrogant Inspector Digby, who had been bypassed for a promotion to Sam’s job, and Sgt. Surendranath (Surrender-not) Banerjee, one of the few Indians working in the CID. Their investigations take them from grimy jails to elegant mansions and attract irritation and interference from the upper echelons of the British Raj. VERDICT Winner of the Harvill Secker Daily Telegraph crime writing competition, this stirring, entertaining first mystery bursts with lively, colorful historical details about colonial Calcutta. The developing relationship between Wyndham and Banerjee is a delight. A fine start to a new crime series that will attract readers of M.J. Carter and Tarquin Hall.”—Ann Chambers Theis, reviewed 4/1/2017

The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders (Bloomsbury USA; LJ starred review)

Appeared on the Sept 2016 LibraryReads list

“A charming mystery introduces Laetitia Rodd, a widow who moonlights as a sleuth in 1850s London. She’s tapped to help uncover the mysterious past of a prospective bride, but the more Laetitia digs, the more certain individuals want to keep their secrets buried. And when those secrets turn deadly, Laetitia may be in danger herself. Saunders nails the raucous world of Victorian London, capturing the Dickens-like characters from the lowest of society to the lofty ranks of the wealthy. A fine read for those who love vivid settings and memorable characters.”—Katie Hanson, Madison Public Library, Madison, WI

By Its Cover: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon (Atlantic Monthly)

Appeared on the April 2014 LibraryReads list

“In the 23rd book in this delightful series, Commissario Guido Brunetti is brought in to investigate the theft of pages and maps from rare books. Brunetti is a great character with warmth, style and elegance. Leon’s book enlightens us about Venetian customs and delivers a solid mystery.”—Joanne Genovese, Smithtown Special Library District, Smithtown, NY