Reading Ahead: January 2014, part 2

Mysteries, suspense and thrillers are the current bread and butter of the publishing industry, and the delight of millions of readers (we're a bloodthirsty lot, it would seem).  To ring in the new year, here are even more chilling titles to get your blood pumping!

The Way of All Fish, by Martha Grimes

That Old Black Magic, by Mary Jane Clark

Saints of the Shadow Bible, by Ian Rankin

The Execution, by Dick Wolf

Dead to Me, by Cath Staincliffe

Particularly worthy of note are the last two titles on the list.   First, Dick Wolf returns with a second Jeremy Fiske novel after his brilliant debut to the world of print fiction in The Intercept in 2013.  If you missed out on this first novel, I highly recommend catching up now, so you'll be ready for the second installment.  If the name Dick Wolf seems familiar, it's because he is a producer best known for his involvement with the Law & Order franchises (he has also written a number of episodes).  The Intercept was hugely popular, and I predict that Wolf's fame as an author is going to grow exponentially. 

The second title I wanted to point out is Dead to Me, first in a new thriller series by Cath Staincliffe.  With an unlikely team of female detectives, this is a perfect fit for fans of Tess Gerritsen or Deborah Crombie.  Thoroughly modern, sharp and fast-paced, set in North Manchester, England, this series kickoff features Detective Constable Janet Scott and her new partner Rachel Bailey, a recent transfer to the department who is as impulsive and ambitious as Scott is diplomatic and subtle.  This is absolutely on my to-read list come January.