A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild

Molly Madison has just moved to the beachside town of Pier Point, California from Massachusetts. Newly widowed, Molly is looking for a fresh start with her dog, Harlow. She and Harlow befriend a Saint Berdoodle named Noodle that Molly begins training for its owner. When Noodle unearths a human hand on the beach, an incident in Molly's past that she is trying to move beyond comes to light. As an ex-police officer and former private detective, Molly finds herself drawn to the case because of her expertise and the need to clear her name. As several more crimes happen, Molly wonders if she'll ever finds the peace she desires. An enjoyable new cozy mystery, especially for those who love dogs.

Tally Stick by Carl Nixon

In 1978, the Chamberlain family of six go missing on the South Island of New Zealand after their car crashes during a torrential rainstorm. Then in 2010, the bones of the oldest son, Maurice, are found, but the authorities say he didn't die until 1982. Where was Maurice for the four years after he was last seen? What happened to the other family members? Tally Stick tells the story of the family after the accident and of the mother's sister, Suzanne, in England, who searches for the truth. Heartbreaking and concise, it's a tale that will stay with me for a long time. Not to be missed for those who enjoy Tana French, Belinda Bauer, and What Could Be Saved by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz.

The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

 The probable suicide of a woman who seemed very happy has DCI Nelson suspecting foul play. He and his team look at other recent deaths of women of a similar age and wonder if there's a pattern. Meanwhile, Dr. Ruth Galloway begins to worry about something called the coronavirus, with cases starting to pop up in England. Ruth wonders how the virus will affect her teaching at the university and if her daughter, Kate's, school and social activities will be curtailed. In The Locked Room, Griffiths deftly combines her usual mystery with the real world events of COVID 19. A worthy addition to this long-running series. It will be published in June.

The Wedding Dress Circle by Jennifer Ryan

In 1942, Grace lives with her widowed father, Reverend Ben Carlisle, in the village of Aldhurst in the Kent countryside. She is engaged to be married to Lawrence, but it's clear that her heart belongs to Hugh, a childhood friend and owner of Aldhurst Manor. Hugh's sister, Violet, meanwhile, has been engrained with the idea of marrying someone of the same social standing, but with everyone pitching in with the war effort, what is Violet to do? Violet's and Hugh's aunt, Cressida, a successful clothing designer in London, finds herself back in  Aldhurst after her studio and home are destroyed by Nazi bombs. The Wedding Dress Circle tells the stories of Grace, Violet, and Cressida, along with the other women in the village as they rally together to refurbish donated wedding dresses so women in the area can be married in a dress of their dreams. A great read-alike for readers of Julia Kelly. It will be published in May.

The Runaway by Nick Petrie

While driving across the country, Peter Ash encounters a young pregnant woman named Helene in northern Nebraska. Her car has broken down and she's trying to escape her husband, Roy, who will not let her go. Peter feels an obligation to help Helene get free of Roy, no matter the consequences. The Runaway is the latest book in the Peter Ash series and is a great read-alike for Lee Child and Thomas Perry.