Reading Ahead: November 2014, part 1

I know that time seems to be whipping by, but I hope you're all getting a chance to slow down and enjoy the change of seasons, even if it's just for an afternoon or an evening here and there. There's been quite a bit of rain lately, and evenings are cooler, so to me those times call out for a cup of tea and an evening curled up with a good book. If you're looking for a title or three to add to your reading list for the coming weeks, here are a few to keep in mind.

Hope to Die, by James Patterson. November finds Patterson greeting readers with a new Detective Alex Cross novel, as our hero faces his deadliest enemy yet, a stalker who has kidnapped Cross's family. What will Cross sacrifice to save the ones he loves?

Betrayed, by Lisa Scottoline. Back with a new Rosato & Associates novel (after 2013's Accused), Scottoline's latest finds maverick lawyer Judy Carrier taking the lead in a case that's more personal than ever.  Judy has always championed the underdog, so when Iris, the housekeeper and best friend of Judy's beloved Aunt Barb, is found dead of an apparent heart attack, Judy begins to suspect foul play.  The circumstances of the death leave Judy with more questions than answers, and never before has murder struck so close to home. Scottoline is a trailblazer when it comes to crime fiction, with strong, relatable female lead characters, thrilling twists and fast-paced plots.

The Escape, by David Baldacci. In his blockbuster thrillers Zero Day and The Forgotten, readers met John Puller. A combat veteran and special agent with the U.S. Army, Puller is the man they call to investigate the toughest crimes facing the nation. But all his training, all his experience, all his skills will not prepare him for his newest case, one that will force him to hunt down the most formidable and brilliant prey he has ever tracked: his own brother.

The Burning Room, by Michael Connelly. In the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit, not many murder victims die almost a decade after the crime. So when a man succumbs to complications from being shot by a stray bullet nine years earlier, Bosch catches a case in which the body is still fresh, but all other evidence is virtually nonexistent. Now Bosch and rookie Detective Lucia Soto, are tasked with solving what turns out to be a highly charged, politically sensitive case. Beginning with the bullet that's been lodged for years in the victim's spine, they must pull new leads from years-old information, which soon reveal that this shooting may have been anything but random.

I'll be back next week to share more titles to look forward to next month. In the meantime, happy reading!