HAND FOR A HAND         
T. FRANK MUIR         
Soho Crime   November, 2012

A hand is found on a golf course in St. Andrews, Scotland. There is a note attached with only one word. The note is for DCI Andy Gilchrist. He fears that a past imprisoned killer has come back to haunt him. A new body part comes every couple of days with a new note containing only one word. All are meant for Gilchrist. Early on it is established that the body parts belong to Gilchrist's son Jack's missing girlfriend. The words that are written on the notes are clues -- the first letter of the first word, the second letter of the second word and so on -- seem to be spelling out the name of his daughter. And his daughter has recently gone missing.

With through story lines that don't seem to be connected, then tie back around, Gilchrist goes on the hunt for his daughter Maureen. He is dealing with people both inside and out of prison. The story is thrilling. It is easy to get your heart caught in your throat as you read this mystery.

SAFE HOUSE         
CHRIS EWAN         
Minotaur Books   November, 2012

Rob Hale, a heating engineer, goes out on a job and meets a beautiful woman, Lena. He loves riding motorcycles - fast. Lena convinces Rob to take her on a ride the next day when he comes back to finish his job. As promised, Rob takes Lena on a ride. But it ends in disaster. Rob crashes the bike and when he comes to in the hospital and asks about Lena, no one seems to know who she is. He was apparently found at the scene of the accident by himself.

Rob recently lost his sister to a supposed suicide. Are there any connections to what Rob comes in contact with and his sister's death? He meets Rebecca, a private detective his parents have hired. In working with her, Rob becomes somewhat of a detective himself in order to solve the mysteries he is faced with and to honor his sister.

A very fast read, SAFE HOUSE is wonderful. It takes the reader through schemes within schemes. It brings you to the edge of your seat, while still maintaining a grip on the book! Chris Ewan is an Isle of Man resident and writes what he knows.

INTO THE DARK         
ALISON GAYLIN        
Harper PBO 2/13

Brenna Spector, a private investigator, is hired by Gary Freeman to find Lula Belle who has been missing for a couple of months. Through her investigation, she finds out that Robin Tannenbaum has also been missing for the same amount of time. Are they together? Lula Belle is a performance artist and Brenna receives downloads of the performances. Lula Belle runs a narrative in her performances that seems to be taken directly from Brenna's childhood memories. Brenna's sister Clea has also been missing, but for over twenty five years. Is Clea Lula Belle?

Brenna has hyperthymesia, a perfect memory. Throughout her experiences, Brenna slips in and out of her memories. These memories help her connect the dots of people and places with which she comes in contact. Diandra is a woman that seems to be in the right place at the right time when several people die. Is Diandra the killer? Is she Lula Belle? Does she know about Clea? The answers come, but not before Brenna is in danger herself.

                                                                                                 - Aylah Foureste

COLD FEET         
KAREN PULLEN         
Five Star   January, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4328-2637-6

COLD FEET is a Stella Lavender Mystery. Stella is invited to a wedding with her grandmother Fern. The wedding is late getting started and Stella decides to go investigating. She finds the bride dead, and the mystery begins.

Justine Bradley is the dead bride. It comes out that Justine was a transsexual. Did that have anything to do with her murder? There are people to investigate, though no apparent motives.

Meanwhile there is a drug mystery going on. Fern met a man at the wedding who is going to build a chicken coop for her. It just so happens he is a drug dealer. Stella meets him as Fern's granddaughter and then, in the guise of buying drugs, using a pseudonym. Does he recognize her? Will this hurt the case?

This is a somewhat slow progressing story, but it all unfolds to describe an interesting scenario.

THE ROAD TO CARDINAL VALLEY          
EARLENE FOWLER         
Berkley Prime Crime   January, 2013

Ruby was returning to Cardinal. She hadn't been there for a while but she was returning. She needed family and friends back in her life again. She was bringing her brother Nash with her. He had a drinking problem, and Ruby thought she could help him stop drinking. This was proving more difficult than she originally thought.

Ruby's husband, Cole, had committed suicide by running off the road. Cole's younger brother, Lucas, had feelings for Ruby but he wasn't quite sure if he was in love with her. Aunt Birch was all in favor of Lucas and Ruby getting together. Ruby knew that both Lucas and Aunt Birch would like both Lucas and Ruby to get together, though Ruby didn't have those deep feelings.
Ely, Lucas's best friend, seemed to be there for Ruby at every turn. Ruby found out where her long lost mother was, the mother who had abandoned her over twenty years ago. Ely was there to take Ruby to her father's side when he had a stroke, and later died. He was there again to take Ruby to see, and possibly confront, her mother. Slowly Ely and Ruby fall in love. Meanwhile, Lucas was seeing a waitress he met in Las Vegas who tracked him down.

There are ups and downs in THE ROAD TO CARDINAL VALLEY. This story makes you appreciate friends and family and what they mean to you.