AGATHA RAISIN RETURNS, in another engaging mystery halfway between Cotswold cozy and ripped-from-the-headlines. B PLUS

THERE GOES THE BRIDE: AN AGATHA RAISIN MYSTERY
Minotaur Books
2009

SPUNKY, FUNKY, STEAMPUNKY vampire/werewolf/ghost romp with a Victorian setting and charming heroine. A treat! B PLUS

SOULLESS (PARASOL PROTECTORATE SERIES)
Orbit/Yen
2009

IMPRESSIVELY IN-DEPTH bio of actor, philanthropist, racing fan Paul Newman paints him as down-to-earth megastar. B PLUS

PAUL NEWMAN: A LIFE
Crown Archetype
2009

WELL-RESEARCHED, WELL-WRITTEN look at the deadly impact of typhus on Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia. B PLUS

THE ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD: THE TERRIFYING STORY OF HOW TYPHUS KILLED NAPOLEON’S GREATEST ARMY
Crown Publishing Group
2009

INTERESTING, FLAWED women’s fiction follows a chef searching for love amid betrayal, family dysfunction. SOLID B

THE HUSBAND HABIT
St. Martin’s Press
2009

FAST-PACED FANTASY with memorable protagonist puts a witty spin on epic battles, traveling heroes, magic swords. B PLUS

ACT OF WILL
Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
2009

SUSPENSEFUL, ABSORBING true story of a multi-million-dollar international art-forgery scam and its unraveling. A MINUS

PROVENANCE: HOW A CON MAN AND A FORGER REWROTE THE HISTORY OF MODERN ART
Penguin Group (USA)
2009

IMPECCABLE POLICE PROCEDURAL, the tenth in the Bill Slider series, uncovers the secrets of a murdered teen. B PLUS

FELL PURPOSE (BILL SLIDER MYSTERIES)
Severn House Publishers
2010

JAZZY, FUN IRISH CHICK LIT stars a twenty-something psychic and her colorful posse of friends and TV costars. B PLUS

I NEVER FANCIED HIM ANYWAY
Avon A
2009

RIOTOUSLY FUNNY novel delivers a blistering satire of modern mega-publishing in a picaresque guy-fic framework. A MINUS

HOW I BECAME A FAMOUS NOVELIST
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
2009