Haines's Independent Bones features PI Sarah Booth Delaney, caught up with protecting a visiting professor of Greek literature at Ole Miss whose radical feminism may have sparked murder (40,000-copy first printing). In Jonasson's latest, Una is teaching in a remote Icelandic village when she discovers dark secrets the polite if distant villages have kept hidden for generations—perhaps involving The Girl Who Died (50,000-copy first printing). A peasant girl is murdered in a northern Chinese village, and exiled inspector Lu Fei takes the case in Klingborg's Thief of Souls (75,000-copy first printing). Brought back by Lupica in 2018, PI Sunny Randall investigates the suicide of best friend Spike's 20-year old niece in Robert B. Parker's Payback. In 1910, a senior barrister is found dead in a notorious London slum, and junior barrister Daniel Pitt endangers his family by investigating in Perry's Death with a Double Edge. In Walker's The Coldest Case, applying the facial reconstruction tools used on ancient skulls to the skull of a long-dead murder victim leads Bruno, chief of police in fictional town in the Dordogne, to the activities of a Cold War-era Communist organization. With A Peculiar Combination, Louisiana librarian Weaver detours from her beloved Amory Ames books to launch a new series starring Electra "Ellie" McDonnell, who cracks safes with locksmith uncle Mick to make ends meet in World War II England and agrees to help the government when she's caught (40,000-copy first printing).

The fourth novel in the Daniel Pitt series (after One Fatal Flaw), set in 1911, begins with the murder of a senior barrister in Daniel's chambers in a rough section of London called Mile End. What was his respected colleague, Jonah Drake, doing there in the middle of the night? Could Drake's murder be connected to any of his recent trials? Daniel and other members of his chambers dig through Drake's files looking for clues, hoping to find his secrets before the police do. Meanwhile, Daniel's father, Thomas Pitt, head of Special Branch, makes inquiries of his own, only to get warned off by a superior. Thomas suspects police corruption is hindering the investigation. When two more murders and a kidnapping occur, Daniel and his father must work together to find justice for the victims even if their chief suspect appears untouchable. VERDICT This atmospheric and fast-paced novel is a welcome addition to the series. Those who enjoy the interaction between Daniel and Miriam fford Croft may be disappointed since she only makes a brief appearance in this novel. Recommended to fans of historical British mysteries, such as those by Charles Finch and Charles Todd, as well as fans of Perry's other series.—Jean King, West Hempstead P.L., NY

Set in 1911, bestseller Perry's middling fourth mystery featuring London attorney Daniel Pitt (after 2019's One Fatal Flaw) opens with Daniel identifying a dead man in a police morgue as Jonah Drake, a colleague in his law firm. Drake's slashed corpse was found in the East End early that morning, but why was he in such a dangerous neighborhood at that time? Daniel breaks the sad news to his head of chambers, who fears the killing may have been related to Drake's work for the firm and asks Daniel to do some digging. Daniel uncovers unresolved questions concerning two homicide defendants Drake represented, including one whose father, Erasmus Faber, is the owner of Britain's biggest shipbuilding company. Daniel's policeman father warns him to tread carefully, as Faber's business is vital to a country fearful of a German naval buildup. Some melodramatic action mars the closing sections, and Daniel remains an undistinctive lead. Fans of Perry's longtime series leads, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, Daniel's parents, will be disappointed. Agent: Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary. (Apr.)