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Fellowes, Jessica. The Mitford Vanishing. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (Mitford Murders, No. 5). Jan. 2022. 368p. ISBN 9781250819208. $27.99. CD. MYSTERY

In this latest in Fellowes’s series featuring the Mitford sisters, former Mitford maid Louisa Cannon has become a private investigator, working with policeman husband Guy Sullivan. A call from Nancy Mitford, concerned that Communist sister Jessica has disappeared in civil war–shattered Spain, leads Louisa to yet another case: a soldier has also disappeared. With a 50,000-copy first printing.

George, Elizabeth. Something To Hide. Viking. (Lynley Novel). Jan. 2022. 704p. ISBN 9780593296844. $29. CD/downloadable. MYSTERY

An autopsy unexpectedly reveals that a police detective was murdered, and the case she was working on—involving North London’s Nigerian community—is turned over to Acting Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley, 8th Earl of Asherton. Along with D.S. Winston Nkata and white working-class D.S. Barbara Havers, he encounters a community with which he is largely unfamiliar, whose members seem to cooperate yet have painful secrets to hide.

Malliet, G.M. Death in Cornwall. Severn House. Jan. 2022. 224p. ISBN 9780727850409. $28.99. MYSTERY

Malliet returns to the series starring DCI Arthur St. Just and writer/criminologist Portia De’Ath, launched with the Agatha Award–winning Death of a Writer. In cozy little Maidsfell, where plans to redevelop the seafront have raised both cheers and jeers, staunch opponent Lord Bodwally is found murdered. St. Just’s investigation reveals that this is a community with secrets.

Prose, Nita.  The Maid. Ballantine. Jan. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9780593356159. $27. lrg. prnt. Downloadable. MYSTERY

In this debut from a longtime editor in the publishing industry, 25-year-old maid Molly Gray has always had trouble reading social signals. She used to depend on her recently deceased gran to help her, but she’s on her own when she finds a guest murdered in bed and is compelled to investigate; the police have tagged her as the most likely suspect. Subject to a blazing auction, this locked-room mystery has been optioned by Universal, with Academy Award–nominated Florence Pugh attached to star.

Schaffhausen, Joanna. Last Seen Alive. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (Ellen Hathaway, Bk. 5). Jan. 2022. 320p. ISBN 9781250249678. $27.99. MYSTERY

For her own peace of mind, Boston detective Ellery Hathaway must separate from FBI agent Reed Markham, with whom she’s been involved; she can’t forget the scary moment when he had to rescue her from serial killer Francis Coben. But Coben has other plans: if Reed sets up a meeting between him and Ellery, he will reveal where his victims are buried. The victims’ families are hopeful, but Ellery doesn’t trust Coben. With a 40,000-copy first printing.

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