New Column for New Mysteries

[Sunny]

We travel from the Middle East to the Caribbean for Libby Fischer Hellmann's Havana Lost. On the eve of the Cuban Revolution, Francesca Pacelli flees her mafia father to a rebel fighter in Castro's army. The novel spans 3 generations of the Pacelli family. Now residing in Chicago, the family is lured back to Cuba with promises of wealth.

Buenos Aries, 1945. A young woman is murdered, mistaken for Evita Peron. It's up to police detective Roberto Leary to take on this sensuous dance of death in Annamaria Alfieri's BLOOD TANGO. Argentina, politics and murder make this a macabre dance of death.

Jumping to 1952, Janet Dawson takes us on a wild trip with Death Rides the Zephyr. The California Zephyr (known as the Silver Lady) ran from 1949 to 1970, from the Bay Area to Chicago (my grandparents rode it to visit). At that time the streamliner had Zephyrettes, much like today's stewardess. On this trip, Zephyrette Jill McLeod has to deal with a murderer on board when the train is stranded by an avalanche in a remote canyon in Colorado. This one will give you the shivers!

Launching the 2nd in the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries, Gigi Pandian introduces PIRATE VISHNU. Just before the Frisco quake of 1906, Vishnu the pirate strikes the bay. A map drawn by one of Jaya's ancestors stays undeciphered until historian Jaya learns its secrets. Now in the path of a killer and navigating an unexpected love affair, there's more at stake in this treasured new series. Gigi is also an Agatha nominee for her short story, “The Hindi Houdini.”

What happens under the Big Top stays under the Big Top until murder makes an entrance in Heather Haven's stand alone, DEATH OF A CLOWN. The author's own experience growing up with her trapeze artist mother and her father an elephant trainer makes this tale circus tale set during WWII all that much more authentic.

Peri O'Shaughnessy is the combined writing talents of sisters Pamela and Mary O'Shaughnessy. In the 13th Nina Reilly series, the South Lake Tahoe lawyer has sociopath she defended back in her life. The young man fled to Brazil to escape extradition. Now he's trying to con his dad when the family ski resort is up for sale. DREAMS OF THE DEAD come back to haunt.

Canadian mysteries make a strong showing at LCC this year. Lou Allin proves TWILIGHT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAIDENS in her 3rd Holly Martin mystery. Set on beautiful Vancouver Island in Canada, the Royal Canadian Police deal with the deaths of two young women and the rape of another. Though low on the totem pole, Holly is determined to conduct her own investigation. To see gorgeous photos of the island, go to Lou's website: www.louallin.com

[Dan]

My latest book, Complicit WitnessComplicit Witness is featured on Booksends and on sale for only 99 cents at Amazon reached top 4 best sellers in crime genre