Treasures in My Closet is a little early this time. Tomorrow is the post featuring Rosemary Kaye’s Favorites of 2023, and Thursday is “What Are You Reading?”, so I moved Treasures up by a few days. I know the Treasures posts aren’t quite what they used to be. Let me know if there are titles you’d like to add, books released in March.
Jenny Adams’ A Deadly Endeavor is a debut historical mystery set in Jazz Age Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 1921. When Edie Shippen returns home after spending years in California recovering from Influenza, she’s shocked to discover that her childhood sweetheart is engaged to her twin sister. Heartbroken and adrift, Edie vows to begin living her life as a modern woman—and to hell with anyone who gets in her way. But as young women start to disappear from the city, her newfound independence begins to feel dangerous. Gilbert Lawless returned home from the Great War a shell of his former self. He hides away in the office of Philadelphia’s Coroner, content to keep to himself until a gruesome series of corpses come into the morgue. And when his sister, Lizzie, goes missing, he risks his career to beg help from the one person Lizzie seemed to trust: her employer, Edie Shippen. Fearing the worst, Edie and Gilbert desperately search for clues. It soon becomes clear that Lizzie’s disappearance is connected to the deaths rocking the City of Brotherly Love…and it’s only a matter of time until the killer strikes again. (Release date is March 5.)
Twice the Trouble by Ash Clifton introduces PI Noland Twice. Twice, a star athlete turned private investigator, can find anyone, no matter how far they run or how well they hide. He works the Orlando-Tampa corridor, a bizarre land where theme parks and tourists coexist with drug deals and crooked businessmen. When a shady local executive, Valkenburg, goes missing, Noland is the only man for the job.Within hours of taking the case, Noland realizes nothing about this case is going to be easy, and he recruits his friend Kiril to help him with the dirty work when he finds a dead body. But the corpse isn’t the missing man–it’s the body of one of the partners of his construction firm. There’s only one clue as to Valkenburg’s whereabouts: a set of strange numbers hastily scrawled on the dead man’s arm.When Noland discovers that the numbers are a set of GPS coordinates, he follows the trail to a construction site. At the exact location inscribed on the body, there’s a box buried in the dirt. Inside, he finds a handwritten journal–and a woman’s severed head. (Release date is March 5.)
Off the Air introduces Jolene Garcia in Emmy Award–winning reporter Christina Estes’s Tony Hillerman Prize–winning debut.
Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, splitting her time between covering general assignments―anything from a monsoon storm to a newborn giraffe at the zoo―and special projects. Stories that take more time to research and produce. Stories that Jolene wants to tell. When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene and other journalists swarm the scene, intent on reporting the facts first. The body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host, who died under suspicious circumstances. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long.
As the story heats up, so does the competition. Jolene is determined to solve this murder. It’s an investigation that could make or break her career―if it doesn’t break her first. (Release date is March 26.)
From Katie M. Flynn, author of The Companions, comes Island Rule, a collection of interconnected short stories. An angry mother turns into a literal monster. A company in San Francisco can scrub your entire reputation and create a new one…for a price. A failed actor on a reality show turns into an unlikely world savior. And much more. Through each of these twelve interconnected stories, Katie Flynn masterfully blends people, places, and even realities. From a powerful and “radiant” (Kassandra Montag, author of After the Flood) new literary voice to be reckoned with, this collection will stay with you after turn the final page. (Release date is March 5.)
Nicholas George’s A Deadly Walk in Devon is the first in a charming new mystery series set in the English countryside, as a retired San Diego police detective embarks upon group walking tours in England’s most scenic counties…After a long career as a detective in San Diego, Rick “Chase” Chasen has traded in his badge for a change of scenery in the coastal comforts of Devon, England, until a local murder takes him on a deadly detour . . .Still grieving the death of his long-time partner, Chase reunites with his dear friend and fellow Anglophile Billie Mondreau for a seacoast holiday of historic sightseeing. Assigned a pair of guides from the tour company Wanderers, Chase and Billie join seven other like-minded Americans looking forward to an English getaway. All except for Ronald Gretz. The wealthy entrepreneur behind the international Golden Sunset nursing home chain doesn’t like anything about walking, touring, or England. Coarse and opinionated, Gretz’s complaints get on the nerves of his fellow Wanderers—and his long-suffering trophy wife.But Gretz’s gripes are tied to his own nerves being frayed. He has been receiving threatening texts and emails signed “An Avenger.” Convinced someone means him harm, Gretz asks Chase to watch his back. Soon, Gretz falls afoul of several “accidents,” leading to more friction with the other walkers. Until one final “accident” results in Gretz dead at the bottom of a cliff. (Release date is March 26.)
From Hao Jingfang, the Hugo Award–winning author of Folding Beijing comes Jumpnauts, a gripping science fiction thriller in which three unlikely allies attempt a desperate mission of first contact with a mysterious alien race before more militaristic minds can take matters into their own hands. In a future where the world is roughly divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations, tensions are high as each side waits for the other to make a move. But neither side is prepared for a powerful third party that has apparently been an influential presence on Earth for thousands of years—and just might be making a reappearance very soon. With the realization that a highly intelligent alien race has been trying to send them messages, three rising scientists within the Pacific League of Nations form an uneasy alliance. Fueled by a curiosity to have their questions answered and a fear that other factions within their rival Atlantic Division of Nations would opt for a more aggressive and potentially disastrous military response, the three race to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life they aren’t quite convinced is a threat. (Release date is March 12.)
I’m always happy to see the latest Veronica Speedwell novel by Deanna Raybourn, and A Grave Robbery doesn’t disappoint. Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why? Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors? (Release date is March 12.)
Rebecca Serle is the author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer. Expiration Dates is a romance. Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake. But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart. (Release date is March 19.)
The Road to Murder is Camilla Trinchieri’s fourth Tuscan mystery. Though it took some time to settle into his new life in Gravigna, Italy, following the death of his wife, former NYPD detective Nico Doyle has figured out a thing or two. The locals have not only welcomed him, but are giving him rave reviews on his cooking, and his budding relationship with Nelli, a local woman, is healing old wounds. When Nico receives a phone call before dawn, he wants to ignore it. A phone call at that time can only mean trouble. Sure enough, it’s Perillo of the local carabinieri. A woman has been found dead in her home, slumped over her piano, and the sole witness speaks only English. Nico reluctantly agrees to help Perillo with the case. (Release date is March 5.)
I recommended Bridget Walsh’s historical mystery debut, The Tumbling Girl. The Innocents is the sequel. The Variety Palace Music Hall is in trouble, due in no small part to a gruesome spate of murders that unfolded around it a few months previously. Between writing, managing the music hall and trying to dissuade her boss from installing a water tank in the building, Minnie Ward has her hands full. Her complicated relationship with detective Albert Easterbrook doesn’t even bear thinking about. But when a new string of murders tears through London, Minnie and Albert are thrown together once more. Strangely, the crimes seem to link back to a tragedy that took place fourteen years ago, leaving 183 children dead. And given that the incident touched so many people’s lives, everyone is a suspect . (Release date is March 26.)
A shocking discovery of human bones reopens an almost fifty-year-old cold case—and rips apart the lives of a group of friends—in The Unquiet Bones, a riveting novel by Loreth Anne White. When human bones are found beneath an old chapel in the woods, evidence suggests the remains could be linked to the decades-old case of missing teen Annalise Jansen. Homicide detective Jane Munro—pregnant and acutely attuned to the preciousness of life—hopes the grim discovery will finally bring closure to the girl’s family. But for a group of Annalise’s old friends, once dubbed the Shoreview Six by the media, it threatens to expose a terrible pledge made on an autumn night forty-seven years ago. The friends are now highly respected, affluent members of their communities, and none of them ever expected the dark chapter in their past to resurface. But as Jane and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Quinn peel back the layers of secrets, the group begins to fracture. Will one cave? Will they turn on each other? The investigation takes a sharp turn when Jane discovers a second body—that of the boy long blamed for Annalise’s disappearance. As the bones tell their story, the group learns just how far each will go to guard their own truth. (Release date is March 5.)
Are you excited about any of these books? And, what about March releases that you’re anticipating? Let us know!
The one by Ash Clifton sounds interesting.
It was interesting, Glen. I read that one.
The interconnected short stories by Katie M. Flynn interests me,
Can’t believe we are on March books already. It’s still January! Anyway, others scheduled:
5 Cara Black, Murder at La Villette (Aimee Leduc)
5 Tana French, The Hunter
5 Lisa Unger, The New Couple in 5B
5 Dervla McTiernan, What Happened to Nina? (I’m a big fan of hers)
12 Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles, In Sunshine and In Shadows (Molly Murphy Sullivan)
12 Andrew Mayne, Dark Dive (Sloan McPherson; I read these too)
18 James Patterson & Nancy Allen, The #1 Lawyer
19 Don Winslow, City in Ruin (Danny Ryan)
19 Sulari Gentill, The Mystery Writer
19 Gigi Pandian, The Midnight Puzzle (Secret Staircase)
19 Nicci French, Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?
26 Lisa Scottoline, The Truth About the Devlins
I know, Jeff. Normally, it would appear on Feb. `1. Just a little early.
A Deadly Walk in Devon is the debut ARC in my Netgalley pile.
I several other titles in March, not duplicating what Jeff listed above.
Geisha Confidential, Mark Coggins (March 4)
Cirque du Slay, Rob Osler (March 5)
Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice, Elle Cosimano (March 5)
Murder at the College Library, Con Lehane (March 5)
The Big Lie, Gabriel Valjan (March 5)
Off The Air, Christina Estes (March 24)
A Forgotten Kill, Isabella Maldonado (March 26)
Death Unfiltered, Emmeline Duncan (March 26)
I’m glad you caught the Con Lehane title, Grace. I have a copy, but thought it came out in February. Thank you!
The releases I’m looking forward to or have ARCs for in March are:
Perfect Opportunity by Steven Havill
Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke
The Witless Protection Program by Maria DiRico
Off the Air by Christina Estes
Hush of the Land by Arnold Esler
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
Good to see a new Posadas County book by Steven F. Havill coming out. I’ve read the series since the first.
Thank you for mentioning Steven Havill’s Posadas County book, Sandy!
I would add the following: Hanging with Hugo by Katherine Bolger Hyde, Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon, and To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower. By the way, I just finished Off the Air and really enjoyed it (I was worried because NetGalley average review is 3).
I think I gave it a 4, Margie.
I am interested in BECOMING MADAM SECRETARY by Stephanie Dray. I don’t know anything about Frances Perkins and I am interested in learning about the first female cabinet member. Another favorite author, Jennifer Ryan, has a book coming out in March, THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY.
I am adding several of the mysteries you mentioned to my list. I only hope one of the libraries here orders them.
I like the title, The Underground Library, Cindy. I hope one of the libraries you use orders the books, too.
March 12 –Aggie Blum Thompson’s second suspense novel, Such a Lovely Family, is getting great pre-pub reviews. She lives in the DC suburbs, where she sets her books. I have an ARC.
Lisa Gardner’s new book, Still See You Everywhere, is also out in March. I also have an ARC of this one.
Don’t you love ARCs, Sandra? I’m glad others mentioned some of the titles. I have NetGalley ARCs, but forgot to mention them.
Perfect Opportunity: A Posadas County Mystery by Steven F. Havill comes out MARCH 5th.
Got it via NetGalley and very much enjoyed it. Bill Gastner plays a major role in this one. My review runs on my blog on publication day.
Oh, I’m glad this was a good one, Kevin, with Bill Gastner. I always like him in the story.