Reading Ahead: March 2018, part 3

Mysteries and suspense are the order of the month of March. There are some much-anticipated entries in popular series coming, place your holds now!

The Woman Left Behind, by Linda Howard. Jina Modell has a desk job as a communication expert for a secret government agency, so she's more than a little surprised when she's transferred run comms for a black ops group. She's never been one to walk away from a challenge, though, and proves her mettle as part of commander Levi Butcher's tactical unit. When their base is attacked, Jina is presumed dead, but without confirmation, Levi isn't going to leave a member of his team behind. Suspense with a romantic twist is Howard's signature.

Duel to the Death, by J.A. Jance. Jance fans will be excited in anticipation of a new Ali Reynolds novel, as the last, Deadly Stakes, came out in 2013. Stuart Ramsey thinks the case is finally closed when he kills the man responsible for his best friend's death. Except that Frigg, a rogue AI program created by the killer, has made Stu the heir to a multi-million dollar Bitcoin fortune in order to avoid deactivation. Eager to put Frigg down once and for all, Stu contacts Ali Reynolds and the rest of his cyber security colleagues at High Noon Enterprises for help. But they're not the only one who know of Frigg's existence, and among their adversaries is the head of a dangerous drug cartel, hoping to use Frigg for her own devices. No matter the outcome, each will find that everything has its price...

The Punishment She Deserves, by Elizabeth George. The first new Inspector Lynley novel in nearly three years will have fans jumping for joy! The small and cozy town of Ludlow is turned upside down when one of its most respected citizens, local deacon Ian Druitt, is accused of a serious crime. And then, while in police custody, Ian is found dead. Did he kill himself? Or was he murdered? Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is sent to investigate, and while all signs indicate that Ian committed suicide, she can't help but feel part of the puzzle is missing. With the help of Detective Inspector Lynley, she looks more closely at the citizens in the quiet little town, only to discover that almost each of them has something to hide...