Exit by Belinda Bauer

In this dark comic novel, widower Felix Pink is an "Exiteer." He, along with a partner, sits with someone who is terminally ill as the client takes their own life. It's all done within the law, but one day it goes horribly wrong as he and his colleague, Amanda, mistakenly aide the wrong person. Felix wonders what exactly went awry and if he'll be charged with murder. Exit recounts the tale of the police--specifically PC Calvin Bridge--unraveling the crime that was committed and arresting who's responsible. Felix, meanwhile, tries to make amends with the man mistakenly left alive. With its wide cast of characters and interesting puzzle, this book was a real treat.

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett

When a Russian pianist is murdered at Windsor Castle on the eve of her 90th birthday celebrations, Queen Elizabeth decides to do some investigating of her own, since it seems the authorities are on the wrong track. With help from her assistant private secretary, Rozie Oshodi, the Queen is able to uncover information that she can covertly use to help the police apprehend the killer. The Windsor Knot is a delightful mystery filled with lots of details about the Queen's everyday life and her relationship with her family. Hoping this becomes a series...

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

Ruth is back at the University of North Norfolk, now as the head of the archaeology department. When a group of detectorists discover some items that seem to be from the Bronze Age on a beach along with a dead body, Ruth is called to the crime scene to excavate. When an older couple are found dead of what appears to be a murder-suicide, DCI Nelson and his team wonder if the two cases are related, especially since the son of the victims, Paul Noakes, was present at the beach. Then, another death occurs and it becomes even clearer that all the deaths are connected. The Night Hawks continues the stories of Ruth and her family and friends in this long-running mystery series. It will be published in June.

Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

Florence Darrow sees her job at a publishing house as temporary, since her goal is to be a published writer. When she's abruptly fired, Florence takes a position as an assistant to bestselling pseudonymous author Maud Dixon. Helen Wilcox (aka Maud Dixon) lives in upstate New York and Florence moves into the carriage house at the back of Helen's property. Florence is tasked with answering all of Maud Dixon's emails and transcribing her second novel into a computer. As Florence spends time with Helen, she becomes intrigued and somewhat entranced by her life. When they travel to Morocco so Helen can research her novel, there is a car accident, and it appears that Florence is the only survivor. Florence decides to take on Helen's identity since the authorities think she is Helen. How long will Florence be able to keep up her ruse--and where is Helen? A great read-alike for readers of Peter Swanson.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Duchess is thirteen and lives with her mother, Star, and little brother, Robin, in a small California town. Star is barely getting through the day, still traumatized by the death years ago of her younger sister, Sissy, caused by her high school boyfriend, Vincent. Her unstable home life has led Duchess to proclaim she's an outlaw and to present a hard exterior to anyone she meets or knows, even as she becomes parent and protector to Robin. Vincent, meanwhile, is in prison for the crime, while his best friend, Walk, the chief of police, watches over Duchess and Robin. We Begin at the End tells the story of Duchess and Walk and those around them as crimes from both the past and present resonate.

Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig

In the summer of 1917, eighteen graduates of Smith College volunteer to go to France as part of the Smith College Relief Unit. The women will be nine miles from the frontline trenches helping the residents of many small villages with food, housing, schooling, and medical care. The novel focuses on two of these women, Kate and Emmie, who were roommates and best friends while at Smith. Kate, unlike the other women, comes from a poor background, while everyone else, including Emmie, is wealthy. Taking details from a book written by one of the actual members of the unit and the trove of letters that the women sent home while working as part of the group, Willig has written an almost unbelievable story of perseverance, courage, and spunk. A worthy addition to the list of novels written about World War I.

The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck

It's March 1944 and American Virginia Hall works as a spy for the Allies. Her latest mission is travelling throughout the French countryside working as a wireless operator and arranging supply and ammunition drops for the resistance in anticipation of D-Day. Throughout Virginia's journey, the reader gets to know the people who are fighting against the Nazis and learns about Virginia's attempts to keep her distance and not become emotionally involved. The book also recounts, in suspenseful detail, Virginia's life undercover throughout the war and her amazing achievements--even as the enemy had wanted posters of her printed because she was so good at her job. The Invisible Woman tells the exciting story of World War II spy Virginia Hall in novel form. What a page turner--I had a hard time putting it down!