Books to Look Forward To Reading in 2012

A new year brings new books. Familiar authors and character return in 2012.

Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George.
January 10, 2012

They are perhaps the most unlikely duo in mysteries. Inspector Lynley is the aristocratic and always well groomed 8th Earl of Asherton  and his Sergeant, Barbara Havers is from working class background and has a slovenly mismatched wardrobe. Despite their many differences they have worked together for years solving horrific crimes and surviving their own personal trials and travails. In this mystery Lynley goes undercover on a wealthy estate to investigate what appears to have been an accidental drowning, but things may not always be as they appear. The investigation begins to reveal secrets that have long been hidden.

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margo Livesey.
January 23, 2012

After the death of her father, Gemma, who had lived in Iceland is sent to Scotland to stay with her loving uncle and resentful aunt. Her uncle dies leaving her in her aunt’s care. She is sent to a private boarding school where she finds herself working as an unpaid servant. The school goes bankrupt, and Gemma takes a job as an au pair at Blackbird Hall, an estate in the Orkney Islands. Her boss is the wealthy Mr.Sinclair. Gemma and her boss share a mutual attraction, but Gemma’s past will come back to haunt her. While clearly inspired by Jane Eyre, Gemma’s story remains her own.

Private Games by James Patterson.
February 13, 2012

One of the most prolific writers today James Patterson turns his attention to the upcoming Olympic Games to be held in London this year. “Private” is a security firm tasked with providing all the security measures during the Games. Its employees are the best of the best. Peter Knight, investigator is called to the scene of a horrific murder of one of  the organizers of the games. Reporter Karen Pope receives a note from an individual calling him or herself Cronos who takes responsibility for the murders. Cronos wants the Olympics to return to their Greek roots and no longer be the commercialized package. Will they be able to stop Cronos before the game is up?

Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb.
February 21, 2012

J.D. Robb (better known as Nora Roberts) returns with a new volume in her best selling Eve Dallas series. Lieutenant Eve Dallas always feels more at ease catching the bad guys than playing the part of party of girl. At a party celebrating The Icove Agenda, a film based on one of Eve;s  most notorious cases, an actress from the film is found dead in the pool of the director’s building. Eve Dallas is back on the case!

The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King
April 24, 2012

Stephen King’s Dark Tower series is his longest running series. This book is posited as a prequel. It introduces young Roland Deschain, who would grow up to become the series character, The Last Gunslinger. The action takes place in the year after his mother’s death. The teen aged Roland is tasked with investigating a murderous shape-shifter. He is assisted by Bill Streeter, who is the only surviving witness of the last shape shifter attack. Fans of the series will appreciate the fleshing out of the main character, and new readers will be able to start at the absolute beginning and then move on to the other works.