Nifty Novels and More from Maryelizabeth

Fans of FBI thrillers have a new protagonist / team to cheer for. Steve Vail was an FBI agent who took a semi-involuntary early retirement after being caught in an untenable situation. Now he’s a self-employed bricklayer, finding satisfaction in a job well done where he’s his own boss. But when the FBI is targeted by extortionists, making the investigators the victims, and it appears that there’s a leak inside the organization, Vail is brought out of retirement to provide his expertise in an under-the-radar, mostly off-the-books capacity. The apparent insider knowledge of operations makes the Rubaco Pentad a wily intelligent opponent, and it’s to Boyd’s credit that while Vail’s sometimes “cowboy” methodology is important to the solution, it’s not at the expense of the other FBI agents, including his main contact, deputy assistant director Kate Bannon. Vail is a loner, but not a borderline sociopath, like some of his contemporaries. A fast-paced and engaging start to a new series – recommended to fans of Lee Child, P.J. Tracy, or John Sandford. Signed copies available while supplies last
-- MeH & sd

Jim Hines’ Princess series (The Stepsister Scheme) continues with a high seas adventure that has more in common with the original tragic tale by Hans Christian Andersen than Disney’s recent update. (Note: I am a fan of both.) Princess Danielle Whiteshore (AKA Cinderella) is learning to expand her royal responsibilities, as well as be a loving wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. She and her friends, Princesses Talia (Sleeping Beauty) and Snow (White), accompany Queen Beatrice on her voyage to present gifts to the undine during their migratory return to the local waters of Lorindar. When the merfolk unexpectedly attack, the Queen’s soul and the future of the country are at stake, and it’s up to the princesses to work with a number of unusual allies, --including the adolescent sister of the mad mermaid princess, and a dryad who is the captain of the vehicle carved from her tree -- to save the day. Jim’s characters have charm and flaws, from seasickness to overambition, that make them have real resonance with the reader, even in their fantastic setting.
--MeH

If you're the kind of reader who can appreciate a line like, "If an autopsy couldn't stop me from thinking about sex with a demon, nothing could," then Mark of the Demon is for you. Louisiana detective and demon summoner Kara Fillian is competent, caring, smart and snarky. She has a chance to prove herself to her local force when a local serial killer, The Symbol Man, seems to have ended his hiatus, and her familiarity with the cold case files makes her the best qualified to be lead detective on the case. And, unknown to most folks except for her aunt who raised her, the fact Kara is a demon summoner and can see traces of the arcane on the victims, indicating The Symbol Man is using their deaths as stepping stones towards a significant demonic summoning , also makes her the most qualified officer. I particularly appreciate the clarity of Diana's storytelling, as well as the nice details from her own background in law enforcement.

-- MeH