ALL GOOD THINGS come to an end, and this month, two notable crime fiction series are concluding. With Cast Iron, Peter May wraps up his six-book series featuring forensic scientist Enzo MacLeod, while Peter Corris’s Australian PI Cliff Hardy signs off on his last case in Win, Lose or Draw. Fortunately, we have a new beginning with Allison Brook’s cozy series launch and our Pick of the Month, Death Overdue. Other series are still going strong, and the latest entries reviewed below include works by Frances Brody, John Keyse-Walker, and Elly Griffiths.—ACT

Check These Out

Brody, Frances. Death at the Seaside. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (Kate Shackleton, Bk. 8). Sept. 2017. 400p. ISBN 9781250098856. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250098870. M

In her eighth adventure, after Death in the Dales, Kate Shackleton plans an August vacation to the English seaside town of Whitby to visit longtime friend Alma and goddaughter Felicity. Shortly after arriving, Kate learns that Felicity has disappeared leaving only a note and a pawn ticket. Visiting a jewelry shop, Kate discovers the dead body of jeweler Jack Phillips, who was also Alma’s partner. Another complication is investigating Det. Marcus Charles, whose proposal of marriage Kate previously turned down. To solve the murder and find Felicity, Kate must unravel a host of family secrets. Brody expertly weaves historical details and social issues to capture the essence of the 1920s. Kate’s intelligence and curiosity make her an appealingly complex heroine. VERDICT With a writing style and plotting reminiscent of golden age crime fiction, this is a good read-alike for fans of ­Jacqueline Winspear’s “Maisie Dobbs’’ mysteries, Charles Todd’s “Bess Crawford” series, and Catriona McPherson’s “Dandy ­Gilver” books.—ACT

Corris, Peter. Win, Lose or Draw. Allen & Unwin. (Cliff Hardy, Bk. 42). Sept. 2017. 256p. ISBN 9781760294786. pap. $19.95. M

Tenacious Australian PI Cliff Hardy is approached by affluent businessman Gerard Fonteyn to help find his missing daughter Juliana. Hardy reluctantly agrees, becoming embroiled in a case involving drugs and prostitution. The PI spends Fonteyn’s funds traveling from Sydney to Norfolk Island, while teaming with disreputable assistants (including Juliana’s determinedly dissolute brother, Foxy) and contending with crooked cops and gangsters. The players in this treacherous game are all out to win, and the body count rises as the story moves to its conclusion. The first Cliff Hardy book debuted almost 35 years ago, and this fast-paced, hard-boiled series earned Corris a Ned Kelly Award and recognition as the father of Australian crime fiction. Over the years, Corris’s sleuth has survived all kinds of run-ins with unsavory players; this is his final case. VERDICT Readers may wish to delve into more Australia-based crime fiction by checking out other Ned Kelly winners, especially Peter Temple and Garry Disher.—ACT

Gates, Suzanne. The Glamorous Dead. Kensington. Oct. 2017. 336p. ISBN 9781496708120. pap. $15.00; ebk. ISBN 9781496708137. M

DEBUT When two friends leave their small town for the glamour of Hollywood in 1940, one ends up dead and the other is the primary suspect in her murder. It’s the golden age of Hollywood, and Penny Harp and Rosemary Brown are extras in Preston Sturges’s comedy, The Lady Eve. Rosemary disappears on Halloween, only to be discovered later buried behind the Florentine Gardens nightclub. Penny, who knows Rosemary’s secrets, won’t reveal any information, even when the film’s star. Barbara Stanwyck “Stany,” offers to help Penny solve the mystery. Stany has the power of Paramount behind her, but that won’t stop the police from arresting Penny. It’s a high-stakes world in which the studios have unbelievable influence and use it to protect their stars; extras are disposable. VERDICT Quotes from the magazine Photoplay begin each chapter in this gritty, noir debut that vividly captures the atmosphere of glamorous parties, movie stars, and influential studios. Readers of Kelli Stanley’s “Miranda Corbie” mysteries or Linda L. Richards’s “Kitty Pangborn” crime novels will appreciate the celebrity and culture of the period.—LH

Griffiths, Elly. The Blood Card: A Magic Men Mystery. Houghton Harcourt. Sept. 2017. 384p. ISBN 9780544750302. $25; ebk. ISBN 9780544750494. M

In 1953, as Elizabeth II’s coronation is imminent, DI Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto are distracted by the murder of Colonel Cartwright, commander of the Magic Men unit during World War II. Cartwright is found with the ace of hearts (the ostensible blood card) and a playbill featuring a colleague from their war years. Stephens is also probing the death of fortune-teller Madame Zabini while ­Mephisto and his daughter Ruby are preparing for a televised variety show to air on coronation day. Clues lead Stephens and Mephisto to an anarchist scheme to disrupt the coronation and send Stephens to New York in pursuit of a mesmerist tied to their cases. Mephisto must perform his greatest illusion on live TV to thwart the conspiracy. VERDICT In this third series entry (The Zig Zag Girl and Smoke and Mirrors), multiple plotlines and instances of coincidence may become tiresome, but evocative postwar settings and appealing characters should draw in new and old readers alike. Fans wanting to know more about the real special ops Magic Gang team should check out David Fisher’s book The War Magician currently under development as a film starring ­Benedict ­Cumberbatch.—ACT

Keyse-Walker, John. Beach, Breeze, Bloodshed. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (Teddy Creque, Bk. 2). Sept. 2017. 304p. ISBN 9781250148476. $25.99. M

Constable Teddy Creque scarcely survived his previous British Virgin Islands investigation (Sun, Sand, Murder), for which he received a medal of honor and promotion. When body parts showing signs of a shark attack wash ashore, Teddy uses his fishing skills to capture the fish and retrieve the rest of the corpse. Teddy believes the death of Dr. Michele Konnerth wasn’t accidental, and that the shark was intended as a murder weapon. Despite resistance from the locals, Teddy forges ahead with his investigation with the help of tantalizing Jeanne ­Trengrouse, her unorthodox son Jemmy, garrulous and foul-mouthed scarier macaw Sir Winston Churchill, and Anegadian friend Anthony Wedderburn. VERDICT This sophomore effort is another winner with plenty of action, entertaining and appealing characters, and colorful depictions of island life. A solid read-alike of Agatha Christie’s A Caribbean Mystery and Bob Morris’s “Zack Chasteen” series.—ACT

Kirchner, Bharti. Season of Sacrifice: A Maya Malick Mystery. Severn House. Sept. 2017. 224p. ISBN 9780727887245. $28.99; ebk. ISBN 9781780108995. M

Maya Malick, who recently opened the first American branch of a women’s boutique detective agency from India, spots two women setting themselves on fire in front of the residence of a visiting Chinese official in Seattle. Maya unsuccessfully tries to stop the immolations; one of the victims, Sylvie, is a malaria research scientist and the sister of Maya’s best friend. The news reports that the women were protesting the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Maya’s first case is to discover the truth behind the deaths. Her investigation involves malaria research and families from Russia and India and could endanger Maya and her mother. VERDICT Kirchner’s (Goddess of Fire) series opener introduces a determined Asian American sleuth who uses her skills and draws on her mother’s ­firsthand knowledge of India. While the plot pulls together a few too many disparate elements, the strong supporting cast may appeal to readers of Gigi Pandian’s ‘’Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt” mysteries.—LH

Lieberman, Lisa. Burning Cold: A Cara Walden Mystery. Passport. Sept. 2017. 231p. ISBN 9780998983714. pap. $9.95; ebk. ISBN 9780998983721. M

In 1956, newlywed Cara Walden is enjoying singing with husband Jakub’s jazz trio in Paris when they learn of the Hungarian revolution. Cara has little interest in the events until her older brother Gray mentions they have a half brother, Zoltán Szabo, living in Hungary. After Jakub impulsively announces that they should make an effort to try to rescue Zoltán, the trio head to Budapest. In the span of a week, they encounter spies and set one on their trail, witness murder, escape capture, and discover how far they will go to rescue a man they have never met. ­VERDICT Lieberman follows up All the Wrong Places, which reimagines the 1950s Red Scare in Hollywood, with this account of spies and uprising. Readers of Alan Furst’s spy novels may appreciate this fast-paced story.—LH

McPherson, Catriona. House. Tree. Person. Midnight Ink. Sept. 2017. 360p.ISBN 9780738752167. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9780738753065. M

A year ago, Ali McGovern began putting her troubled past behind her, enjoying family life in her dream house and running her own beauty salon. But all that has slipped away, owing to husband Marco’s feckless business decisions. Ali doctors her résumé and applies for a job at Howell Hail, a nearby private psychiatric hospital. Despite her lack of experience, she is hired with a salary that seems too good to be true. Soon Ali begins to fear she is on the verge of another breakdown as she becomes unnerved by the discovery of a body and drawn to several patients at the clinic. At home, she is concerned abour her secretive son Angelo and her tense relationship with Marco. Is Ali being gaslighted? VERDICT McPherson, author of the engaging “Dandy Gilver” series, is also known for her intricately plotted, suspenseful, and unnerving standalones (Quiet Neighbors). Her latest delivers taut psychological thrills and a traditional mystery with an overlay of creepiness.—ACT

May, Peter. Cast Iron: An Enzo MacLeod Investigation. Quercus. Oct. 2017. 400p. ISBN 9781681441610. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781681441597. M

Years ago, forensic scientist Enzo ­MacLeod made a bet to solve a series of French cold cases highlighted in a colleague’s book. Now only two chapters remain, and an aging Enzo cakes on the 1989 case of Lucie Martin, whose body was dumped in a lake in western France. No one was charged with her murder since the prime suspect, a former convict Lucie knew through her work at a rehab center, had a cast-iron ­alibi. Enzo soon spots a clue that will shed new light on the case but will also impact his family and friends. Enzo is an irascible, complex protagonist, with more than his share of personal loss, often masked by bravado. VERDICT This is the sixth and final book in May’s gripping series-and one of the best. It is helpful but not necessary to have read the previous books. Fans of forensic mysteries will prefer following Enzo through all his cases.—ACT

Mayne, Andrew. The Naturalist. Thomas & Mercer: Amazon. Oct. 2017. 380p. ISBN 9781477824245. $15.95. M

Professor Theo Cray is a computational biologist who is well versed in observing nature patterns but not as skilled in human interactions. A field trip to Montana leads him to become entangled in an investigation into the mutilation death of former student Juniper Parsons. The authorities suspect a rogue grizzly bear or Cray himself of the murder. After analyzing missing person reports, Cray is convinced that a ­calculating serial killer may be at work and that there are more victims. As he uses his scientific insight to stay ahead of local police and close in on the murderer, Cray is in danger of becoming prey. Throughout, he balances the difficulties in decoding personal interactions with his professional strengths. VERDICT With a strong sense of place and palpable suspense that builds to a violent confrontation and resolution, Mayne’s (Angel Killer) series debut will satisfy devotees of outdoors mysteries and intriguing characters.—ACT

Russell, Leigh. Deadly Alibi: A DI Geraldine Steel Mystery. Oldcastle. Sept. 2017. 320p. ISBN 9781843448501. pap. $14.95; ebk. ISBN 9781843448518. M

In the wake of her mother’s death, DI Geraldine Steel has lost enthusiasm for her job. However, she is motivated to search for a killer when a woman’s body is found in a rubbish bin. Since he was previously accused in a similar case, the victim’s husband becomes a prime suspect, with the disappearance of another woman only strengthening the case against him. Despite the distraction of an unknown twin sister suddenly appearing in her life, Geraldine doesn’t trust the easy solution, believing the answer to be much more complicated. But newfound sister Helena could destroy Geraldine’s life and career. VERDICT Like authors Archer Mayor and Ann Cleeves, Russell combines personal issues with police procedures in her ninth intriguingly twisty mystery (after Murder Ring).—LH

Cozy Corner

Alexander, Ellie. Death on Tap. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Oct. 2017. 320p. ISBN 9781250108630. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250108647. M

After Sloan Krause walks in on her husband, Mac, having sex with the new barmaid, she kicks him out and quits her job at the Krause family brewery. This also means leaving Mac’s parents, who have become stand-ins for the ones Sloan never knew. An expert at craft beer and food preparation, Sloan is excited about an opportunity at Nitro, a new microbrewery and taproom in the Bavarian-inspired town of Leavenworth, WA. But her thrill is tempered when she finds a body in Nitro’s tank and Mac becomes a suspect after his lighter and fingerprints are found at the scene. Although Mac is a cheater, Sloan is set to prove he isn’t a killer. ­VERDICT The author of the “Bakeshop” ­mysteries (A Crime of Passion Fruit) introduces a new series with likeable characters, an atmospheric small-town setting, and a quirky adversary for the amateur sleuth. The engaging premise and pairings of beer and food should appeal to fans of Avery Aames’s “Cheese Shop” titles.—LH

QUOTABLE “She waited for the sense of urgency that consumed her whenever she saw a murder victim, the feeling that she had to see the killer punished. That was what gave her life a sense of purpose. For the first time, she felt only a cold indifference. It was a shock to realize she didn’t really care who had committed the murder. She took a step back, wondering what to do. If she had lost the passion for justice that had so far driven her on, she would never cope with the demands of her job. She stared at the body, willing herself to care, but felt only a debilitating tiredness. Everybody died. Did it really matter if the end came prematurely?”— Leigh Russell, Deadly Alibi

Series Launches

Indridason, Arnaldur. The Shadow District. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Nov. 2017. 368p. tr. from Icelandic by Victoria Cribb. ISBN 9781250124029. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250124036. M

Konrad, a retired Icelandic police detective, is assisting in the investigation of the suffocation of an elderly man. Looking through the victim’s personal effects, Konrad finds yellowing newspaper articles regarding the murder of a young woman whose body was discovered outside Reykjavik’s National Theater during World War II. Searching old police files, the intrigued detective uncovers scant information on the original case investigated by Flovent, an Icelandic cop, and Thorson, a Canadian military police officer. Early on, readers learn that the deceased gentleman is Thorson, who, having new information on the 70-year-old murder, probed these leads. As Konrad retraces Thorson’s steps, readers also follow the initial case as it moves forward. The award-winning author of the “Inspector Erlendur” series (Into Oblivion) continues his modus operandi of simultaneously covering a current and cold case in this new series set during the war years. The inspectors, past and present, are formidable characters, and the blend of police procedural with Icelandic folklore is intriguing. VERDICT While not as dark as lndridason’s previous works, this is a welcome addition from a master of the genre. [See Prepub Alert, 5/15/17.]—­Edward Goldberg, Syosset P.L., NY

Massey, Sujata. The Widows of Malabar Hill. Soho Crime. Jan. 2018. 400p. ISBN 9781616957780. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9781616957797. M

This new series set in 1920s India introduces Perveen Mistry, the first woman to practice law in that country. The story alternates between 1916, when Perveen is a starry-eyed bride living in her husband’s family home in Calcutta, and 1921, when she is working alongside her father in the family law firm in Bombay. Tasked with executing the will of Omar Farid, Perveen notices that Faisal Mukri, the guardian appointed by the husband, has persuaded Farid’s three widows to donate their inheritance to charity. Since the women live in purdah, total seclusion from the world, Perveen wants to ensure that they understand the full ramifications of giving away their inheritance. An infuriated Mukri fires Perveen for her interference, but then a short time later, Perveen discovers his dead body. Did a family member kill Mukri to protect their inheritance? Massey, who wrote about contemporary Japan in her “Rei Shimura” mysteries, does a wonderful job of taking life in India at the beginning of the 20th century. She gives enough cultural details without overwhelming readers with facts. The two plotlines wonderfully depict the development of the main character and the mystery as it unfolds. VERDICT Massey’s fans and historical fiction lovers will enjoy this fresh and original outing. [See Prepub Alert, 7/3/17; “Editors’ Fall Picks,” p. 35.]—Julie Ciccarelli, Tacoma P.L., WA

Additional Mystery

Lackey, Kris. Nail’s Crossing. Blackstone. Oct. 2017. 224p. ISBN 9781470814076. $26.99; ebk. available. M

DEBUT Chickasaw Nation tribal policeman Bill Maytubby and county deputy Hannah Bond discover the decomposing body of a mysterious young woman on tribal land in this concise and satisfying debut procedural. Fans of witness interviews, detective banter, and the grind of police work will find much to enjoy, as even minor characters such as a liquor store owner and a hotel clerk are memorably fleshed out. Even more impressive are Lackey’s evocative descriptions of a Southwestern summer as the investigation takes the two detectives throughout Oklahoma and briefly into Arkansas and Louisiana; he vividly renders the atmosphere of local cafes and the oppressive heat of a car on a long, scorching hot day. The breezy pace mostly works, although the conclusion is quite abrupt. Some of the protagonists’ quirks, such as Maytubby’s adherence to a healthy diet, appear a bit heavy-handed, but their repartee is lively and strong. VERDICT Fans of C.J. Box and Tony Hillerman will be delighted.—Julie Elliott, Indiana Univ. Lib., South Bend

Locke, Attica. Bluebird, Bluebird. Mulholland: Little, Brown. Sept. 2017. 320p. ISBN 9780316363297. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780316363266. M

Darren Matthews was born and raised in rural East Texas and is intimately acquainted with the racial tensions in its small towns. On suspension for an incident involving a friend who may have killed a man, the African American Texas Ranger is asked by an old FBI friend to look into the deaths of a black Chicago lawyer and a local white woman who were both found dead days apart in a bayou near Lark, TX. Once his boss learns of his new assignment, Mathews is reinstated and given authority to investigate. Locke, winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction (­Pleasantville) and a writer and producer of the show Empire, has woven an atmospheric, convoluted mystery seasoned with racial tension and family loyalty. VERDICT Locke is a gifted author, and her intriguing and compelling crime novel will keep readers engrossed. [See Prepub Alert, 3/27/17.]—Sandra Knowles, South Carolina State Lib., Columbia

Upson, Nicola. Nine Lessons. Crooked Lane. Oct. 2017. 320p. ISBN 9781683313212. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781683313229. M

In Upson’s latest “Josephine Tey” mystery (after London Rain), DCI Archie Penrose finds himself in Cambridge, England, chasing a killer who dispatches victims in a macabre and gruesome manner. His longtime friend, mystery writer ­Josephine Tey, has recently relocated to Cambridge with her lover Marta Fox. The university town itself is under the shadow of a series of attacks against women. As Archie attempts to unravel a mystery that has its roots in the King’s College choir prior to World War I, Josephine struggles with a secret that she knows will change Archie’s life forever. The threads of the story weave in and out; sometimes breaking into two separate tales, sometimes twisting together. The culture of England between the two World Wars come vividly to life. VERDICT Fans of historical British mysteries, such as Jacqueline Winspear’s “Maisie Dobbs” series, will delight in this old-fashioned whodunit starring characters with depth and heart.—Terry Lucas, Shelter Island P.L., NY

Lesa Holstine is Collections and Technical Services Department Manager, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library System, Evansville, IN. Ann Chambers Theis is Collection Management Librarian, Henrico County Public Library, VA