New books at the library.

Alexandria, by Lindsey Davis

In first century A.D. Rome, during the reign of Vespasian, Marcus Didius Falco works as a private “informer,” often for the emperor, ferreting out hidden truths and bringing villains to ground. But even informers take vacations with their wives, so in A.D. 77, Falco and his wife, Helena Justina, with others in tow, travel to Alexandria, Egypt. But they aren’t there long before Falco finds himself in the midst of nefarious doings—when the Librarian of the great library is found dead, under suspicious circumstances. Falco quickly finds himself on the trail of dodgy doings, malfeasance, deadly professional rivalry, more bodies and the lowest of the low—book thieves! As the bodies pile up, it’s up to Falco to untangle this horrible mess and restore order to a disordered universe.

Wicked Prey, by John Sandford

The Republicans are coming to St. Paul for their convention. Throwing a big party is supposed to be fun, but crashing the party are a few hard cases the police would rather stayed away. Chief among them is a crew of professional stickup men who’ve spotted several lucrative opportunities, ranging from political moneymen with briefcases full of cash to that armored-car warehouse with the weakness in its security system. All that’s headache enough for Lucas Davenport—but what’s about to hit him is even worse. A while back, a stray bullet put a petty thief named Randy Whitcomb in a wheelchair, and, ever since, the man has been nursing his grudge into a full head of psychotic steam. He blames Davenport for the bullet, but it’s no fun just shooting him. That wouldn’t be painful enough. Not when Davenport has a pretty fourteen-year-old adopted daughter that Whitcomb can target instead. . . . And then there’s the young man with the .50 caliber sniper rifle and the right- wing-crazy background, roaming through a city filled with the most powerful politicians on earth. . . .

The Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly

Downsized L.A. Times reporter Jack McEvoy, determined to go out with guns blazing, plans on writing a story about how poverty turns a 16-year-old into a killer, but he quickly learns that the kid’s confession is bogus. That unlocks the door to a serial killer every bit as warped, perverted, and brilliant as the Poet, the case that made McEvoy’s career. It also leads to a reunion, both professional and romantic, with FBI agent Rachel Walling, who has also been popping up in Connelly’s Harry Bosch novels recently. Not surprisingly, Connelly nails the death-of-newspapers theme, from the gallows humor of the reporters watching their world crumble to the callousness of the bureaucrats in charge of the dismantling. What will drive this novel for most readers, though, is its villain, the Scarecrow, a computer genius who operates a data storage center, or “server farm,” providing security for all manner of Web sites. Except, the Scarecrow doesn’t just protect his clients’ data; he also mines it for victims. Alternating point of view between villain and reporter, Connelly builds tension expertly, using dramatic irony to its fullest, screw-tightening potential. Even confirmed Harry Bosch fans will have to admit that this Harry-less novel is one of Connelly’s very best.

Summer On Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber

Macomber adds a tear-jerking installment to the Blossom Street series with this account of lives intersecting at the series-hingeing yarn store, A Good Yarn. Upbeat cancer survivor Lydia and her pragmatic sister, Margaret, start a Knit to Quit group in their Blossom Street yarn store, hoping to bring in customers for weekly self-help sessions. Casey, the 12-year-old girl Lydia takes in while waiting for an infant of her own to adopt, helps out in the shop when she’s not sulking in her room or causing trouble for Lydia’s family. Local baker Alix wants a baby as much as Lydia does, but she and her husband agree she needs to quit smoking first. Then there’s super-stressed chocolate magnate, Hutch, who takes the knitting class after his doctor suggests it. Hutch hits it off with Phoebe, who is trying to quit obsessing about a broken engagement. Rounding out the crowd, bookstore owner Ann Marie must deal with her adopted daughter Ellen’s biological father, a recovering addict, re-entering their lives. Macomber deftly handles the multiple story lines and emotional terrain of families, while the predictably happy ending is very genuine.

Razor Sharp, by Fern Michaels

When it comes to repaying a debt, the women of the Sisterhood – Myra, Annie, Kathryn, Alexis, Yoko, Nikki, and Isabelle – never forget. And now one of their allies needs help only they can give. A powerful attorney with a cut-throat reputation, Lizzie Fox has just taken on a high-profile new client – Lily Flowers, the Madam of a high-end bordello operating under the guise of a summer camp. The chips – a.k.a. the prominent Washington politicians who frequent the bordello – are stacked against Lily and her girls. But one phone call to the Sisterhood might just swing the vote. And soon, even the highest courts in the land will prove no match for seven fearless friends determined to ensure that real justice is served, Sisterhood style.

No Such Creature, by Giles Blunt

Owen has been raised by his great uncle Max since he was orphaned at twelve. Max is a failed thespian, but is a very accomplished and genteel thief. Owen is now eighteen and their road trips across America robbing rich folks have honed his skills as well. Using acting skills, disguises and charm they have so far steered clear of violence. Owen is thinking of packing it in after this summer to attend Julliard and study drama, and he plans to tell Max soon. It is in Vegas that things start to go sour. There is a shadowy legend among thieves about a gang called the Subtractors – mysterious men who steal from other thieves and use whatever means necessary to get what they want. And it looks like they want the riches from Owen and Max’s last job. On the road with them now is Sabrina, the daughter of a former ‘associate’ of Max, who is running from a problem as well – named Bill. As Sabrina says “Living with a criminal – or being one – is like living on the Titanic. You just know it isn’t going to end well.” This is a story of larceny, love, heartache, humor and life. Definitely not your typical crime story, but boy is it a good one!

Living Witness, by Jane Haddam

In Snow Hill, Pa., someone bludgeons 91-year-old Ann-Victoria Hadley, leaving her in a coma. The detective soon learns that Hadley, a recent addition to the school board, was the focus of a heated local controversy for her role in a lawsuit aimed at preventing intelligent design from being taught at the town’s schools. While the victim remains unconscious, her assailant strikes again, killing two women who were also plaintiffs in the civil action. Haddam makes characters on both sides of the issue sympathetic, explores the inner life of her detective hero without cluttering up the plot—and offers an ingenious fair-play puzzle.

The Hunted, by Wayne Barcomb

A girl sees her father kill her mother. When the police come, he tries to lie his way out of it, but she tells the truth. Her father is sent to prison. Now, 18 years later, he’s out on parole, and he has one thing on his mind: find his daughter and get his revenge. Meanwhile, someone is committing murders in an especially unsettling manner, and homicide cop Frank Russo is pulling out all the stops to find the killer. This is a good, well-constructed thriller that keeps both Frank and the reader in a constant state of confusion. Frank is trying to sort out who’s behind the killings, and the reader, who possesses information about the case that Frank lacks, is trying to figure out the connection between the two plotlines. There is plenty of misdirection here, and the author handles it all with panache. Fans of Jeffery Deaver, the current king of misdirection, might recognize some of the techniques Barcomb uses, but he’s using them in his own way, to his own ends. A compelling thriller with a very satisfying conclusion.

The Diary, by Eileen Goudge

When the two grown daughters of Elizabeth Marshall discover an old diary of their mother’s in her attic, it comes as a shock to learn that the true love of Elizabeth’s life was not their father. This is the mystery the two daughters must unravel as they stay up late reading the words penned by Elizabeth so long ago. Their mother can’t give them the answers: After a massive stroke, she lies mute and near death in a nursing home. Only the pages of her diary can provide clues to what really happened. In a richly detailed journey into the past, we see Elizabeth lose her heart to one man while remaining devoted to another. Finally, she must choose between the stable, loyal Bob…and the electrifying and unpredictable A.J., who spent time in juvenile detention as a teen. When a suspicious fire in the neighborhood is linked to A.J., Elizabeth is faced with another dilemma: She’s the only one who can clear A.J.’s name, but to do so would ruin her reputation. Surprisingly, it’s Bob who comes to the rescue, forcing Elizabeth to make perhaps the most painful decision of her life….

The BoneMan’s Daughters, Ted Dekker

A Texas serial killer called BoneMan is on the loose, choosing young girls as his prey, His signature: myriad broken bones that torture and kill – but never puncture. Military intelligence officer Ryan Evans is married to his work; so much so that his wife and daughter have written him out of their lives. Sent to Fallujah and captured by insurgents, he is asked to kill children not unlike his own. The method: a meticulous, excruciating death by broken bones that his captor has forced him to learn. Returning home after the ordeal, a new crisis awaits. A serial killer is on the loose, and his method of killing is the same. Ryan becomes a prime suspect, which isn’t even the worst of his problems: Ryan’s daughter is BoneMan’s latest desire.

The Day We Lost The H Bomb, by Barbara Moran

Barbara Moran has crafted a rip-roaring tale of Cold War intrigue, military mishaps, underwater adventures and H-Bomb Science. When the Air Force loses a nuclear bomb in a 1966 mid-air jet collision (described in mesmerizing detail), the search is on. Who will find the bomb? The Air Force? The Navy? The Soviets? Oh my! The book is very readable, fast paced, and filled with fascinating tidbits and engaging characters-especially a surprisingly lovable US diplomat with the wonderful name of Angier Biddle Duke (known to all as Angie). It opens a window on a forgotten piece of Cold War history, and helps us appreciate the vast and sometimes bewildering array of resources the US military can bring to bear in a crisis. The paranoia that fueled in SAC’s Airborne Alert program (we had airborne nukes at all times in case the Commies got the drop on us) has obvious parallels today. But this book isn’t about that—it’s about diving into a great story and following every twist to see how it turns out. Moran is a wonderful storyteller who can’t resist regaling us with humorous anecdotes (a suitcase full of gin, an ambassador’s swim) while never losing site of the main story. A highly enjoyable read.

The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan

The long awaited final chapter is here!
All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.