The Night Fire by Michael Connelly

When retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch is given a murder book by the wife of his recently-deceased mentor John Jack Thompson, Bosch wonders what was special enough about the case for John Jack to keep it all these years. After reading through the official book of the case and investigation, he asks LAPD Renee Ballard to also look through it. The murder of John Hilton happened in 1990 in an alley that was controlled by a local gang. Two detectives did work on the case then, but hit a dead end and the case remains unsolved. Will Bosch and Ballard be able to uncover who murdered Hilton? Michael Connelly is again in top form with The Night Fire. An unputdownable thrill ride by my favorite author.

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

Shawn Matthews, after several stints in prison, has a steady girlfriend and is a reliable worker at a moving company. Meanwhile, Grace Park lives with her parents and works at her family's pharmacy. Their two lives collide when a crime befalls Grace's household, one that has connections to a violent act perpetrated against Shawn's family over twenty-five years ago. Set alternately in the Los Angeles of the early 1990's and the present, Your House Will Pay is an unforgettable novel of racism, heartache, and loyalty. A great read-alike to Scott Lasser's excellent Say Nice Things About Detroit and Lou Berney's The Long and Faraway Gone.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

When Helen Calder convinces her father to leave the family farm to her rather than splitting the estate between Helen and her older sister, Edith, it causes a rift between the women that lasts over fifty years. Edith, despite being a maker of award-winning pies, barely ekes out a living, while Helen and her husband, Orval, build their brewery, Blotz, into a multi-million dollar business. Edith's granddaughter, Diana, turns out to also have the gift of brewing good beer. Will her talent bring that side of the family some financial relief? The Lager Queen of Minnesota tells the stories of Edith, Diana, and Helen through the lens of their everyday lives.

A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander

It's the Christmas season in Ashland, Oregon, and Juliet and her staff at the bakery, Torte, are busy creating cookies, cakes, and delicious drinks for their customers. The Torte holiday party is going to be held at the Winchester Inn during their Dickens feast event. When a fellow diner named Cami, who was in the process of buying the inn, is murdered during the celebration, Juliet decides to play sleuth. Having a stepfather on the police force is a big plus in helping Juliet solve the case. A festive mystery perfect for those who enjoy culinary cozy mysteries.

The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope is in Paris, living at the Ritz and working undercover to try and find out if fellow agents working for Britain against the Nazis have been compromised. She is also hoping to find her half-sister, Elise, whom she wants to get to safety in England. It seems a British agent with the code name Gibbon is in cahoots with the Germans and has been passing along anything he learns, endangering Maggie and those close to her. Will Maggie succeed in her mission?   The Paris Spy continues the story of Maggie and her friends amidst the turmoil of World War II.

The Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

In New York City, when an elevator plunges to the ground killing four people, the authorities think it was just a malfunction. Then, the next day a Russian scientist dies in a gruesome elevator accident. Could someone be sabotaging the elevators in the city? Reporter Barbara Matheson is investigating, because a former colleague died in the first incident. Police detectives Jerry Bourque and Lois Delgado are looking into the death of a man found on the High Line, with his body disfigured to avoid identification. They soon discover that the person was an elevator repairman named Otto Petrenko. Is Petrenko's death connected to the elevator mishaps? In Elevator Pitch, Barclay tells the story of a city on edge and the search for the person(s) responsible.

Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald

In 1937, Joe feels an instant attraction to Nora when he meets her at Grand Central Station, and Nora feels the same. But then Joe doesn't see Nora again for a year. After having coffee, they take a walk and Nora disappears into thin air. Slowly, Joe learns Nora's story. In 1924, Nora died in a train crash at Grand Central and has since reappeared each anniversary of the day she died. However,the conditions in the station have to be just right, namely the sun has to be shining in a specific spot. How can Nora and Joe sustain a relationship and be together with such constraints? Time After Time recounts their love affair over the years along with fascinating details about the history of Grand Central Station.