Besides mystery giants such as St. Martin’s ­Minotaur and Penguin’s Berkley imprints, smaller publishers play a vital role in expanding the genre, helping readers discover new voices, such as Julia Thomas (The English Boys), and republishing midlist authors, including Brent Monahan (The St. Lucia Island Club). This month’s offerings include releases from new imprints Crooked Lane Books, Yucca, and ­Imagination Fury Arts. In addition, stalwarts such as Poisoned Pen Press are providing more content in multiple formats, from large print and audio to digital. Once upon a time, this columnist was convinced she would never read a book electronically, but it’s certainly much easier to upload titles on one’s device than to schlep ten novels on vacation. This begs the question, where do you stand on matters of ebook vs. print?

Check These Out

Carlisle, Anna. Dark Road Home. Crooked Lane. Jul. 2016. 304p. ISBN 9781629536040. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781629536361. M

Virginia “Gin” Sullivan could not leave Trumbull, PA, behind fast enough. The summer after her senior year in high school, her world imploded when her little sister, Lily, disappeared. Everyone in town thought Gin’s boyfriend, Jake Crosby, had killed her. Now, Gin is a pathologist in Chicago, but when Lily’s body is found, folded up inside a cooler, Gin returns home to confront her past. Seventeen years ago, twins Tom and Christine Parker were Gin’s constant companions, and the three of them made an inseparable quintet with Jake and Lily. But old secrets raise their ugly heads as Gin draws on her forensic skills to investigate. Debut author Carlisle deftly interweaves her characters’ memories into the well-paced story line, creating a haunting tableau. VERDICT With protagonists so well drawn that readers will feel as if they know them intimately, this excellent mystery will appeal to fans of Gillian Roberts and Nicci French.

Dillon, E.R. Threefold Death. Five Star: Cengage. Jul. 2016. 310p. ISBN 9781432832025. $25.95. M

The year is 1297, a period of great dissension, since Scotland is occupied by the hated English. When the body of an English noble is pulled from the River Ayr, with a sprig of mistletoe shoved down his throat, Ayrshire sheriff’s deputy Kyle Shaw, introduced in Ayrshire Murders, knows this could trigger retribution, and he is determined to protect his citizens, including his beloved Jonetta and her son. Solid historical fiction requires flawless research, and Dillon delivers. As the bodies pile up, readers learn much about the Druids and the English occupation of Scotland. The rudimentary forensics and political intrigue are especially fascinating. VERDICT Recommend for readers who enjoy the medieval mysteries of P.C. Doherty and Candace Robb.

Freed, David. Hot Start: A Cordell Logan Mystery. Permanent. Jul. 2016. 312p. ISBN 9781579624330. $29.95. M

Cordell Logan, an ex-government assassin and aspiring Buddhist, just wants to run his small flight school in Rancho Bonito, CA, but he can’t avoid getting involved when big-game hunter Roy Hollister and his beautiful wife, Toni, are shot to death. No one in Rancho Bonito is sad to see Roy go, although many enjoyed Toni’s largesse in supporting various charities. Logan is dragooned into investigating because the prime suspect, an avowed animal-rights activist, has connections high up in Washington, DC, as well as to Logan’s former father-in-law. Following The Three-Nine Line, Freed’s fifth adventure featuring Logan will be easily accessible to readers new to the series. VERDICT Fast paced with generous dollops of humor and populated with vividly crafted and colorful characters, this will satisfy admirers of W.L. Ripley’s “Wyatt Storme” and “Cole Springer” thrillers.

Heald, Paul J. Cotton. Yucca: Skyhorse. (Clarkeston Chronicles, Bk. 2). Jul. 2016. 362p. ISBN 9781631580864. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781631580932. M

Browsing a soft-porn site, journalist James Murphy discovers a picture of ­Diana ­Cavendish, a beautiful young woman who disappeared from her apartment in Clarkeston, GA, along with her boyfriend, five years earlier. Murphy covered the case and feels a connection to Cavendish. He brings his information to Melanie Wilkerson, an assistant U.S. attorney, and asks her to investigate. She calls in Los Angeles law professor Stanley Hopkins, who specializes in cases involving women in the sex industry. The trio uncover a global network of fraud and death. ­VERDICT In law professor Heald’s second series outing (after Death in Eden), the plotting and characterizations are faultless. This is sure to please devotees of academic mysteries and those who enjoy the government conspiracy novels of Jeff Abbott and Vince Flynn.

Honigford, Cheryl. The Darkness Knows. Sourcebooks. Aug. 2016. 352p. ISBN 9781492628613. pap. $14.99; ebk. ISBN 9781492628620. M

It’s 1938 in Chicago, and radio is king. Vivian Witchell is an up-and-coming voice actress for The Darkness Knows, a popular radio serial. When Marjorie Fox, star of another long-running radio drama, is murdered, Viv must find out who wanted the unpopular Fox dead—because Viv is next on the hit list. Mr. Hart, the station manager at WCHI, hires PI Charlie ­Haverman to guard Viv, and together the two tackle the investigation. Honigford, who wrote this mystery as a National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) project, excels in capturing the flavor of the golden age of radio and Depression-era Chicago. Vic and Charlie make a charming couple as they feud and fight and then discover they have a lot in common. There isn’t quite as much drinking as in Dashiell Hammett’s The Thin Man, but this duo may be the next Nick and Nora Charles. ­VERDICT Fans of historical mysteries set in the 1930s will enjoy this delightful debut, which won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense (Unpublished Category).

Lanh, Andrew. No Good To Cry: A Rick Van Lam Mystery. Poisoned Pen. Jul. 2016. 320p. ISBN 9781464206399. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9781464206429. M

Rick Van Lam is a bui doi, a child of the dust, son of a Vietnamese woman and an American GI. He left the NYPD after shooting a suspect and now lives in Hartford, CT, working as a fraud investigator. He teams up with friend and former student Hank Nguyen, who’s training to be a Connecticut state trooper, to investigate Simon Tran and Frankie Croix. The pair are accused of killing an old man and putting Rick’s dear pal Jimmy Gadowicz in the hospital, though Simon swears he is being set up. VERDICT The main draw in this third book in the series (after Return to Dust) is the impeccable characterizations, though the plotting is well done, and Lanh’s depictions of life for Vietnamese orphans will break readers’ hearts.

Monahan, Brent. The St. Lucia Island Club: A John Le Brun Novel. Turner. Aug. 2016. 306p. ISBN 9781681620435. $32.95; pap. ISBN 9781681620411. $18.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681620442. M

In 1910, retired sheriff–turned–PI John Le Brun and his wife, Lordis, sail to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. They soon figure out that some of the inhabitants want Le Brun to convince his wealthy New York friends that St. Lucia is the ideal holiday getaway from the big cities on the East Coast. St. Lucia harbors many mysteries and challenges, from social inequality to economic depression. When a plantation owner’s family is murdered, Le Brun must unveil information that the locals would rather keep quiet. Long-suppressed turmoil reaches a boiling point as Le Brun and Lordis search for the truth. VERDICT Along with an intriguing story line and well-rounded characters, Monahan’s fifth series outing (after The St. Simon’s Island Club) offers a fascinating look at the birth of Caribbean tourism, revealing how well-to-do investors trampled the rights of the area’s citizens. David Fulmer enthusiasts will enjoy this for its ­setting and history.

Robertson, Michael. The Baker Street Jurors. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Jul. 2016. 272p. ISBN 9781250060068. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466865273. M

Reggie and Nigel Heath’s law offices are located at 221B Baker Street, the famous address of Sherlock Holmes. When they first moved in, their lease stipulated all mail addressed to Holmes would be answered, a task that fell to Nigel. Apparently, the Crown Court Jury Selection believes Holmes exists because they issue the famous detective a jury summons that Nigel discards. When Nigel receives a summons of his own, he winds up in the pool of prospective jurors for a high-profile case in which an English cricket champion is accused of murdering his wife with his cricket bat. As apparently random accidents befall individual jurists, Nigel wonders if anyone will survive to render a verdict. VERDICT Featuring plenty of inside Sherlockian wit and cross-references, this fifth entry (after Moriarty Returns a Letter) will be enjoyed by devotees of Arthur Conan Doyle’s illustrious sleuth who will relish the contemporary take. A solid choice for those who appreciate the humor of Paul Levine’s “Jake Lassiter” series.

Thurlo, David. Rob Thy Neighbor: A Charlie Henry Mystery. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Aug. 2016. 336p. ISBN 9781250078896. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466891432. M

Albuquerque, NM, pawnshop owner (and former Special Forces operative) Charlie Henry and his buddy and business partner Gordon Sweeney are grilling steaks at their friends’ cookout when gunshots ring out from next door. Charlie and Gordon race into the house to find masked men trying to kidnap homeowner Sam Randall. Not trusting the police, Sam hires Charlie and Gordon to investigate the home invasion. Yet as the case becomes more complicated and Charlie is targeted as a suspect, they have to find out who wants Sam dead and why. VERDICT Charlie’s Navajo background adds local color and interest to a basic police procedural. This is the third book in the series (after Grave Consequences), following the death of Thurlo’s wife and cowriter (“Ella Clah” series), Aimee.

Viets, Elaine. Brain Storm: Angela Richman, Death Investigator. Thomas & Mercer: Amazon. Jul. 2016. 329p. ISBN 9781503936317. pap. $15.95. M

Angela Richman is the death investigator for Chouteau Forest, a wealthy enclave near St. Louis. She is responsible for filing all the paperwork for police inquiries and often has to work with Ray Greiman, the laziest detective on the force. In the midst of two separate cases, Angela suffers a series of strokes and ends up comatose. Misdiagnosed by Dr. Gravois, the hospital’s venerable and well-liked neurosurgeon, Angela faces a long recovery after the brash new neurosurgeon Dr. Jeb Tritt saves her life. Then Gravois is murdered, Tritt falls under suspicion, and Greiman is assigned to the case. Will Angela recover her sleuthing skills in time to solve the crimes? VERDICT Cozy veteran Viets (“Dead-End” mysteries), a stroke survivor, returns to her crime fiction roots with this intriguing tale that will attract forensic mystery buffs and fans of Max Allan Collins’s “CSI” tie-in series. With its authentic hospital scenes that reflect the reality of stroke victims, this might also be welcomed by family members of such patients.

QUOTABLE “The windows of the Day Lily Café glowed like sun-kissed tangerines in the early morning light as I drove past the front of the restaurant.... Its ocher-tinted walls as warm and inviting as a Tuscan hillside. The tables sported turquoise-and-white floral cloths with small white toppers, and the honey-colored wood floors shone in the light streaming in the front windows.”—Wendy Sand Eckel, Death at the Day Lily Café

Cozy corner

Befeler, Mike. Court Trouble: A Platform Tennis Mystery. Five Star: Cengage. Jul. 2016. 266p. ISBN 9781432832223. $25.95. M

One evening platform tennis buff and cancer survivor Mark Yeager spots his friend Manny Grimes in an argument with four men playing on the court next to Mark’s. The power goes out for a short time, and when the lights come back on Manny is found bludgeoned to death. Mark is driven to investigate, at least partly because Manny had urged Mark to see a doctor when he ­began exhibiting symptoms, potentially saving Mark’s life. In probing the murder, Mark unearths a number of unsavory facts and nearly ends up a victim himself. As Mark and his wife try to recover from his cancer scare, his strong relationships with his friends will play an important role. VERDICT The author of the “Paul Jacobson Geezer-Lit” mysteries and Murder on the Switzerland Trail introduces a very relatable amateur sleuth in this character-driven series launch.

Brown, Eric. Murder at the Loch. Severn House. Jul. 2016. 208p. ISBN 9780727885937. $28.95; ebk. ISBN 9781780107578. M

Donald Langham and Maria Dupre are looking forward to their wedding in May. But Langham is called away to the Highlands, along with his friend Ralph Ryland to investigate the alleged murder attempt on their former commanding officer Major Gordon. The major has refurbished an old castle, turning it into a hotel and is attempting to raise a German aircraft from the bottom of the loch, where it crashed in February 1945. The list of people who would want to sabotage the major’s efforts includes Gordon’s Byronesque layabout son, an aloof Hungarian countess, a German aircraft enthusiast, a retired academic investigating the castle’s ghosts, and three staff members, including a young woman who is more than a family friend. The sleuths arrive at the estate in a snowstorm and are soon stranded. As the bodies begin to pile up, Langham and Ryland are running out of time to find the culprit. VERDICT This charming book, which follows Murder at the Chase, brings to the page well-defined characters and a classic locked-room structure. Recommend for anyone who loves English country house murders.

Cunningham, Elizabeth. Murder at the Rummage Sale. Imagination Fury Arts. Aug. 2016. 406p. ISBN 9781944190002. $24; ebk. ISBN 9781944190026. M

It is August 1960, and the women of the Church of the Regeneration are preparing for the annual rummage sale. With help from parish handyman Frank Lomangino, Lucy Way makes sure her donation of coats, carefully cleaned after the death of her mother, are stored in the attic. But when Charlotte Crowley, the much-disliked titular head of the rummage sale, is found in the basement, smothered to death by the dry-cleaning bags holding the garments, Lucy knows something is amiss, even if the police do not believe her. The suspect list is quite long and names most of the parish, including Anne Bradley, the rector’s wife. In their search for a solution, Anne and Lucy are unknowingly aided by Anne’s seven-year-old daughter, Katherine, and her best buddy Frankie Lomangino Jr. ­VERDICT Cunningham(“Maeve Chronicles”) has written a paean to the vanished world of 1950s and early 1960s America. Still, human nature with all its foibles, such as murderous intent, remains unchanged. Recommend for readers of ­Benjamin Black and Jennifer Donnelly.

Eckel, Wendy Sand. Death at the Day Lily Café. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. Jul. 2016. 288p. ISBN 9781250058614. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466862944. M

Rosalie Hart is determined to make her Day Lily Café a success in Cardigan, MD. She raises organic produce on her farm and uses it to make wonderful food at the Day Lily. When her dear friend Doris Bird asks for her help in clearing her sister, Lori, from a murder charge, Hart is on the case. After her daughter Annie is kidnapped, the case becomes very personal. Eckel populates her sophomore series outing (after Barclay ­Meadows) with a an enchanting supporting cast of quirky, appealing characters, sprinkling the smart and funny story line with clever jokes and allusions to popular culture. And any cozy that includes a recipe calling for scrapple is bound to be a winner. VERDICT Diane Mott Davidson and Joanne Fluke readers will eat up this tasty mystery.

Additional Mystery

Penny, Louise. A Great Reckoning. Minotaur: St. Martin’s. (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk. 12). Aug. 2016. 400p. ISBN 9781250022134. $28.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250022127. M

The latest entry in Penny’s popular series (after Nature of the Beast) places Armand Gamache in a new role as commander of the Sûreté Academy du Québec. Prior to the start of the term he is given an old map of the village of Three Pines with some curious symbols. This map becomes the focus of an investigation after a copy is found in the apartment of a murdered professor. Suspicion shifts from student to professor and back again as the story takes unexpected twists. Rooting out the corruption in the academy remains an underlying theme as Gamache mentors students who seem to be on the wrong path. The transport of these students to Three Pines and the involvement of the villagers in the investigation adds depth and interest. While this book may stand alone, fans of the series will enjoy revisiting old friends. Gamache remains admirable yet human, as he seeks to return the Sûreté to the force he first knew. A look back at World War I and an explanation about one mystery surrounding the little village round out the story in a satisfying manner. VERDICT This riveting read, with characters of incredible depth who only add to the strength of the plot, will keep readers guessing until the last page. For series fans and those who enjoy the small-town mysteries of Julia Spencer-­Fleming.—Terry Lucas, Shelter Island P.L., NY

Viccy Kemp is Technical Services Manager, Flower Mound Public Library, TX, where she buys the books and deals with library technology. Reading mysteries is her passion because it’s only between the pages of a book that justice can really be done