Between the Covers

          Outside my dining room window the snow is steadily falling. After a pretty much snowless winter last year this storm seems to say-"Wake-up, winter is here-did you forget what it was like?" and I suppose that perhaps like me a lot of you did forget, too. The birds are busy at my feeders feasting on sunflower seeds and I have a decision to make: do I want to watch the snow paint a winter wonderland scene or pick up that book that's calling me from my cozy armchair.

New releases for the month of January include a few from the best thriller writers.

The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer - over the course of our history four United States presidents have been assassinated. While there have been several unsuccessful attempts, Meltzer executes a fast paced thriller that ties all of the four assassins to the antagonist in his novel- the fifth assassin. Running with the idea that they are all connected throughout history and perhaps all working for the same group, Beecher White, the hero we first met in The Inner Circle, must find the answers. He must not only save the President, but also himself as he comes face to face with the fifth assassin.

Ever After by Kim Harrison - in the world of demons there exists a parallel world to the one we know and live in. It is the ever-after. Rachel Morgan returns in the 11th book of the Hollows series, where she must stop the ever-after from disappearing. Without it, magic ceases to be, as well as Rachel, a witch-turned-day-walking demon. Up against a powerful soul-eater, who holds her best friend and goddaughter for ransom, Rachel teams up with Trent Kalamac, an elfin tycoon. Together they must return to ever-after, not only to save those she loves but to save both worlds from destruction. Another great read for the fans of Rachel Morgan.

Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd - fans of Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge will enjoy the latest exploit in the crime solving inspector's series. It is summer in London, the year 1920. An unidentified body is found on the roadside, appearing to have been run over. Rutledge is called in to investigate, which leads him to a vineyard enterprise run by two families. Could the victim be the current head of the business, which seems to have gone missing? Not only does Rutledge have plenty of suspects to choose from, but he also must contend with a new supervisor who dismisses his discoveries. Rutledge is alone on this case, with the killer deciding that he is his next victim.

Suspect by Robert Crais - LAPD officer Scott James is still trying to recover from the loss of his partner, Stephanie. Eight months prior, they were assaulted by a group of unidentified men, leaving his partner dead and Scott caught in a nightmare between rage and shame. Cast aside by his fellow cops, Scott receives a new partner, Maggie. Maggie is a German Shepherd dog that comes with her own baggage. She survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, only to lose her handler to an IED. Now she suffers from PTSD.   Together they are each other's last chance. The road they follow while searching for answers as to who murdered Stephanie, will lead them through their worst nightmares and hopefully back out again.

Some other new releases for January include: Private Berlin by James Patterson, Footprints in the Sand- a Piper Donovan mystery by Mary Jane Clark and a cozy mystery by Leslie Meier- the Easter Bunny Murder.

And a heads up to Maeve Binchy fans, since her passing this past year, her last book is due out February 12th. A Week in Winter is to be savored, as Binchy once again weaves together a story of assorted characters, which all converge on a bed and breakfast in the coastal town of Stoneybridge, Ireland. As only Binchy so well can do, she takes the quirkiness of each character, from Chicky the hostess, John the American movie star and Freda, the psychic librarian as well as the other guests and entertains us with the joy and humor of her divine storytelling.