The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

In 1952, Josie Anderson works in intelligence at the U.S. Army base in Fort Bliss, Texas, separating the Germans that the U.S. has accepted into the country for its defense program into two groups: committed Nazis or minor players. When the opportunity arises to apprehend a doctor from the Ravensbruck concentration camp, Josie immediately takes on the assignment. During the war, she and her best friend, Arlette LaRue, spent time in the camp along with Josie's mother, and saw firsthand all the horrible things that happened there. Josie and Arlette met when they were put together in Paris to work for the resistance transcribing radio transmissions for the Allies. They became fast friends and lived with Arlette's young son, Willie, until they were captured and sent to the camp. While at Ravensbruck, Arlette was separated from Willie and has lived out the years since the war in Paris and dreaming of the day when she is reunited with her son. When a man named Luc Minau tells Arlette that he believes he might have found Willie, Arlette jumps at the chance to go to French Guiana where Luc's family has an orphanage. The Golden Doves charts Josie's and Arlette's journeys during the war and now as they try to put their lives back together and avenge the wrongs that happened to them.

Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny

In author Heiny's latest collection, the reader gets up close and personal with single women, mothers, daughters, wives, and husbands. My favorite stories include "Twist and Shout," about a woman who comes to spend time with her elderly father after he's eaten his hearing aid because he thought it was a cashew, and "CobRa," which details a husband's frustration with his wife after she goes on a Marie Kondo spree, getting rid of loads of their possessions. Another standout for me is "561," in which a second wife who caused her husband's first marriage to break up now has to help the first wife move out her home.

Stone Town by Margaret Hickey

When three teens find the dead body of Aidan Sleeth, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Ariti is assigned the case. Sleeth was a resident of the rural community of Stone Town in South Australia and Mark begins by interviewing the locals and looking into Sleeth's life. Meanwhile, other police are working on the case of missing Detective Sergeant Natalie Whitsed, who was deep into surveillance of mobster Tony Scoopelliti's wife, Charlene. Could the two cases be connected? In her second Mark Ariti mystery, author Hickey provides a great sense of place for small town Australia and a very likable main character. Why hasn't an American publisher picked this series up yet?

Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson

It's January of 1953 and hotel owner Edie Howard hopes that Queen Elizabeth's coronation in June will provide her enough income to get the hotel back on it's feet. Her establishment, the 400-year-old Blue Lion, is right on the route that the queen's coach will take through London. With the Blue Lion being in Edie's family since it's inception, she's under a lot of stress to keep the hotel going. Painter James Geddes, who is half Indian, has taken a room at the Blue Lion because he has a huge commission to document the Queen's coach as it passes Cartwrights' Hall. With its close proximity to Cartwrights' Hall, the Blue Lion is the perfect base for Jamie to spend the months leading up to the coronation to make sure his painting is absolutely perfect. Meanwhile, Italian Stella Donati has come to London for a job as a photographer for Picture Weekly. She is using the Blue Lion as her home base, since Edie's and Stella's families are friends. Coronation Year follows the lives of Edie, James, and Stella as they get to know one another in the time leading up to the coronation. It's an enjoyable read with an added bonus of Robson including characters from her books Goodnight from London, The Gown, and Our Darkest Night.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

Attorney Keera Duggan has joined Patrick Duggan and Associates (her family's criminal defense firm) after being demoted at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office. Her father, Patsy, the head of the firm, is a legendary local attorney, but is unreliable because of his alcoholism. When Vincent LaRussa's wife Anne is found murdered, LaRussa--knowing that he will be the primary suspect in the crime--hires Duggan and Associates. Keera takes the lead on the case and finds herself heading the defense team when LaRussa is arrested and put on trial. Will Keera be able to get a verdict of not guilty for her client? In Her Deadly Game, veteran author Dugoni produces a great read--a relatable main character, a fascinating puzzle of how the victim died and questions about the defendant himself--what happens if LaRussa is really guilty, but Keera gets him off?

Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg

In this prequel to Berg's series of novels set in Mason, Missouri, Arthur is sixteen years old in 1947 and is in love with classmate Nora. Nora, though, gives her phone number to Arthur to pass along to his older brother, Frank, whom she is fond of. Arthur is crushed, but doesn't give up--especially since Frank isn't interested in Nora and is there to offer advice to Arthur to help him win Nora's heart. Arthur's feelings for Nora never waver despite her only seeing him as a friend. When will Arthur's patience be rewarded for Nora to be his wife? A gentle novel that provides background of Arthur's life.

The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear

In 1947, Elinor White's quiet life in the village of Shacklehurst is disturbed when she sees a local family, The Mackies, being threatened. Elinor feels particularly protective of Susie--Jim and Rose Mackie's young daughter. It turns out that Jim, has broken off ties with his family, who are involved in organized crime in London. They have come to Shacklehurst to try and convince Jim to join them on a job. He refuses. Elinor then takes it upon herself get the crime family to leave Jim, Rose, and Susie alone. Elinor grew up in Belgium during World War I, and was involved in work for the Allies in both world wars, so she has the connections and skills to make it happen. The story of Elinor's childhood and time before arriving in Shacklehurst alternates with that of the Mackies and Elinor. One of Winspear's best.