In the Guise of Mercy by Hornsby, Wendy This is the sixth and long-awaited Maggie MacGowen mystery and an absolute stand-out in the series. The novel opens with a heartbreaking death and the onset of a quest. Detective Mike flint, Maggie's beloved husband and best friend has asked one final thing of her: to find a missing young man from a ten year old case and, in doing so, clear his name. As Maggie doggedly proceeds to unravel the mystery of Jesus Ramon, her faith in and love for Mike is paramount.In fact, the novels in this series contain one of the great love stories in the genre: the devoted relationship between a hardened, experienced cop and a smart, juggernaut of an investigative TV journalist. There are a number of first-rate mystery authors writing about Los Angeles. but none are as deeply moving in their descriptive prose as Wendy Hornsby. If you want a sense of LA, a hard city to understand, this is the book for you.

The Missing by Gautreaux, Tim Returning to New Orleans after WWI, Sam Simoneaux wants nothing more than a normal life. But when a child disappears during his shift at work, his life takes an unexpected turn as he sets off on a quest to find her. I have been waiting for a new Tim Gautreaux novel, and he does not disappoint with The Missing.--Teresa Huggins , Blue Elephant Book Shop Inc. (Decatur, GA)