The spring awards season is underway for many of the key crime fiction honors, with nominations recently released for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar ­Allan Poe Awards, Malice Domestic’s Agatha Awards, Left Coast Crime’s Lefty Awards, and the UK-based Crime Writers’ Association’s Dagger Awards. A number of the authors reviewed this month have been nominees or award winners. Tom Bouman’s Fateful Mornings is a worthy follow-up to his Edgar-winning Dry Bones in the Valley. James Ziskin’s previous “Ellie Stone” mystery, Heart of Stone, has just been nominated for an Edgar, and here he returns with a new series adventure, Cast the First Stone. A cozy debut by Peggy O’Neal Peden, Your Killin’ Heart, won the Malice Domestic First Traditional Mystery Competition, and Volker Kutscher’s noirish Weimar-era series, which makes its English-language debut with Babylon Berlin, was recognized with a major German crime fiction prize in 2011.

Of special note are several debuts with prize-winning potential. Abir Mukherjee’s historical, A Rising Man, is an entertaining mystery set in Calcutta after World War I. And Annie Hogsett’s Too Lucky To Live channels Dashiell Hammett’s classic crime-solving duo, Nick and Nora Charles.—ACT

Debut of the month

Mukherjee, Abir. A Rising Man. Pegasus Crime. May 2017. 400p. ISBN 9781681774169. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681774770. M

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.—ACT

Check These Out

Bouman, Tom. Fateful Mornings: A Henry Farrell Novel. Norton. Jun. 2017. 320p. ISBN 9780393249644. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9780393249651. M

When troubled local carpenter Kevin O’Keefe reports that his girlfriend Penny is missing and that he may have shot someone, Officer Henry Farrell is pulled into an extensive investigation involving a multistate vice ring and a shadowy, murderous hit man. Over many fateful mornings long-held secrets are unraveled, and political, cultural, and environmental realities continue to impact the Rust Belt town of Wild Thyme, PA. Meanwhile, widowed Henry’s long-ended affair with married Shelly Bray threatens to derail his personal and professional life as he begins a relationship with Miss Julie Meagher. Verdict In this ­follow-up to the ­Edgar Award–winning Dry Bones in the Valley, character and sense of place remain paramount. Bouman’s evocative language draws readers into Henry’s world, appealing to fans of rural noir/grit lit and Julia Keller, Wiley Cash, and John W. Billheimer. [See Prepub Alert, 11/14/16.]—ACT

Friis, Agnete. What My Body Remembers. Soho Crime. May 2017. 304p. tr. from Danish by Lindy Falk van Rooyen. ISBN 9781616956028. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781616956035. M

Ella Nygaard, 27, has suffered from memory loss for 20 years since her father was convicted of murdering her mother and she became a ward of the state. After a lifetime of poor choices and an incapacitating PTSD episode, she discovers her 11-year-old son, Alex, has been placed in a foster home. When Ella kidnaps Alex and takes shelter in her grandmother’s abandoned house in an isolated coastal town in northern Denmark, she slowly begins to remember what actually happened when her mother died. With the help of Thomas, a childhood friend, and offbeat new acquaintance Barbara, Ella learns to fight her old demons. Interspersing chapters detail the backstory of Ella’s parents, which reveal the damaging effects of virulent religion and a devastating love triangle that may harm Ella and Alex in the present. Verdict Making her solo debut, the coauthor of the “Nina Borg” (The Boy in the Suitcase) series not surprisingly has written a dark, fast-paced, and compelling mystery that will fascinate aficionados of Nordic noir.—ACT

Griffiths, Elly. The Chalk Pit: A Ruth Galloway Mystery. Houghton Harcourt.

May 2017. 368p. ISBN 9780544750319. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780544750524. M

Griffiths’s ninth “Ruth Galloway” mystery (after The Woman in Blue) has the forensic archaeologist examining bones excavated in one of the labyrinthine chalk-mining tunnels that riddle Norwich, England. Meanwhile, DCI Harry Nelson searches for a homeless woman rumored to have gone “underground.” As the dual investigations merge, hints of secret societies, ritual ­killings, and cannibalism surface, as does a string of murders that seem to be connected to a homeless community possibly living in the tunnels. Once again, the key elements of this award-winning series are at hand: complex personal relationships among the protagonists that continue to evolve in surprising ways, excellent use of history and folklore, and lyrically moody imagining of landscape. Verdict This combination of archaeology and crime investigation continues to be a good draw for mystery buffs. Series regulars will be intrigued by unexpected developments that promise further complications for Ruth and Nelson. For more top-notch archaeology-based mysteries, check out books by Erin Hart, Beverly Connor, and Kate Ellis. [See Prepub Alert, 11/14/16; library promotion.]—ACT

Hogsett, Annie. Too Lucky To Live: A Somebody’s Bound To Wind Up Dead Mystery. Poisoned Pen. May 2017. 316p. ISBN 9781464207884. pap. $15.95. M

Lonely, divorced Allie Harper comes to the rescue of a handsome blind man caught in the crosswalk after he’s startled by the honking of a Hummer on a Cleveland street. She drags Thomas Bennington III home, makes dinner, and is enjoying his company when he learns he’s won over $500 million on a lottery ticket. Yet a downcast Tom had bought the ticket to prove to a young boy that gambling doesn’t pay off. Unfortunately, too many people know he won and think they deserve a share of the money. The couple get to know each other quite well as they go on the run and do everything they can to stay alive, while the people around them end up dead. ­VERDICT In this entertaining, sexy debut, Allie is a sharp Stephanie Plum paired up with a hot partner. She quickly learns how adept a blind man can be in dealing with trouble. The original voice, humor, and unusual premise will appeal to Janet Evanovich readers.—LH

Kutscher, Volker. Babylon Berlin: A Gereon Rath Mystery. Sandstone. May 2017. 518p. tr. from German by Niall Sellar. ISBN 9781910124970. pap. $16; ebk. ISBN 9781910124987. M

The first book in the internationally acclaimed, award-winning series introduces policeman Gereon Rath, who has transferred to the Berlin vice squad after his homicide experience in Cologne ended badly. It is the tempestuous 1920s in Weimar Germany, and there’s plenty of vice to investigate. When Gereon uncovers a connection to the murder of a man tortured and dumped in the Landweher Canal, he hopes investigating on his own may lead him closer to a vaunted spot in Homicide and closer to Charlotte (Charly) Ritter, a department stenographer. Gereon’s inquiries drag him through the mire of Berlin’s underworld and the chaos of the politics of the period. Verdict Riveting and atmospheric, this historical crime novel is a good choice for readers who appreciate Philip Kerr’s “Bernie Gunther” mysteries, Paul Grossman’s “Willi Kraus” series, and Rebecca Cantrell’s “Hannah Vogel” books.—ACT

Logan, Michael. Hell’s Detective. Crooked Lane. Jun. 2017. 288p. ISBN 9781683311713. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781683311737. M

Private detective Kat Murphy is in Hell, Lost Angeles. Every night, the residents are visited by a Torment and forced to relive their sins; in Kat’s case, she shot her lover, and then killed herself. Every day, Kat goes to her favorite dive bar to drink herself into oblivion, which is where Laureen Andrews, the chief administrator of Lost Angeles, finds her. Someone stole an invaluable box from Laureen, and she offers Kat a bargain. Find that box, and Kat won’t be visited by her Torment anymore. This means one more case for Kat that will lead her to the gambling dens, bars, and hangouts of the sinners of Lost Angeles. The danger and violence only intensifies, as Kat’s search could change the fate of the world. Verdict Logan’s (Apocalypse Cow) vision of hell is violent, gritty, and filled with evil. Incorporated into an action-packed mystery, this extreme universe should delight fans of Simon R. Green or Jim Butcher’s “Dresden Files.”—LH

cozy corner

Peden, Peggy O’Neal. Your Killin’ Heart. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. May 2017. 272p. ISBN 9781250122681. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250122698. M

When Nashville travel agent Campbell Hale learns a friend is heading to the home of a country music icon, she begs to go along. Jake Miller lived fast, loved hard, and died young. Although Campbell and her lawyer friend are only there to pick up some paintings from Jake’s widow, Campbell sneaks off to explore the house and finds a woman resting in bed. It’s only when Hazel Miller is reported dead that Campbell realizes she may have seen the victim. Of course, the police will investigate. But Campbell knows people in the music industry and had met a few of the suspects, so she decides to do a little sleuthing herself. Her interview techniques may leave something to be desired, but when she’s threatened, she and Det. Sam Davis realize the killer knows Campbell. Winner of the Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition, Peden’s debut vividly captures the Nashville music scene and the city’s Southern atmosphere. ­Campbell is an charming amateur sleuth, loyal to a fault. Verdict Fans of Tonya Kappes’s books and readers who enjoy humorous whodunits with a strong sense of place will find this one delightful. [See Prepub Alert, 11/14/16.]—LH

Shea, Susan C. Love & Death in Burgundy. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (French Village, Bk. 1). May 2017. 288p. ISBN 9781250113009. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250113016. M

Katherine Goff is an insecure American expat living in Reigny-sur-Canne, a small village in France’s Burgundy region. Desperate to be accepted by her neighbors, she tirelessly inserts herself into local activities. But, it’s the death of the aged chateau owner that stirs up conversation. The official line is that the old man just slipped on the stairs, but as the investigation goes on, rumors fly: Albert was killed by Nazi assassins, tourists, or vagabonds. While Katherine wants to quash the gossip, the teen daughter of the town thief not only spies on everyone, she also holds the key to the secrets behind the old man’s death. VERDICT Shea (Mixed Up with Murder) launches a cozy series that richly details life in a small French village. The outlandish antics of the eccentric locals add to the humor. Suggest to fans of Rhys Bowen’s early “Evan Evans” series for the humor, the characters, and the charming setting.—LH

Collections & Anthologies

Miraculous Mysteries: Locked-Room Murders and Impossible Crimes. Poisoned Pen. (British Library Crime Classics, Bk. 7). Jun. 2017. 358p. ed. by Martin Edwards. ISBN 9781464207440. pap. $12.95. M

Series editor Edwards (The Golden Age of Murder) turns to locked-room mysteries for the latest collection of Golden Age stories. Included in this collection are pieces by recognizable names such as Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. ­Sayers, and Margery Allingham. The seemingly impossible locked-room murders are solved often by the authors’ best-known characters, who are usually clever and explain their logical conclusions. Edwards provides a wealth of background information in brief sketches before each story. VERDICT Although a few tales show their age with their flowery style, readers who appreciate careful plot development, slightly unusual detectives, and logical denouements will relish this volume. For lovers of Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr, and other masters of that period.—LH

Additional Mystery

Horowitz, Anthony. Magpie Murders. Harper. Jun. 2017. 464p. ISBN 9780062645227. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062645241. M

Horowitz’s fourth adult novel (after Trigger Mortis) presents two mysteries for the price of one, crafting a classic whodunit within a modern mystery. Susan Ryeland is an editor for a small press whose success rests on the old-fashioned mystery novels of Alan Conway. Returning from escorting an author on a book tour, she finds ­Alan’s latest Atticus Pünd manuscript, Magpie Murders, on her desk. Upon reaching the novel’s end, she finds that the last chapter is missing. When she informs her boss, Charles Clover, he tells her that Alan has committed suicide. Susan searches for the lost chapter, and in the process comes to believe that Alan’s death was no suicide. Using clues buried in the manuscript, she investigates his death. While Susan and the fictional Atticus are very different characters, they use similar techniques to tease out the clues and hints to bring each mystery to resolution. VERDICT Both stories might stand alone, but combined, they result in a delightful puzzle. Fans of Agatha Christie and the BBC’s Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War (both written by Horowitz) will relish this double mystery. [See Prepub Alert, 12/12/16; “Editors’ Spring Picks,” LJ 2/15/17.]—Terry Lucas, Shelter Island P.L., NY

QUOTABLE “Self-irony suited people on the dole and psychiatric patients alike. Without it, we were not only crazy but devoid of charm, and then not even the professional caregivers would touch us with a barge pole.”—Agnete Friis, What My Body Remembers

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