Mystery and Science Fiction/Fantasy

Emily is a headstrong young country witch who, due to decidedly strange circumstances, finds herself on the road and on the run with a mysterious and irritating warlock. Complete with some strange creatures, a touch of steampunk, a bit of romance, and a clever magical system, this is a fresh and exciting fantasy with a little something for everyone. —Flannery

Juggling several plot lines and giving us some fun chemistry between the on-again, off-again Brennan and Ryan, Reichs provides yet another satisfying page-turner full of suspense and science. Her descriptions of the forensic methods are so vivid, sometimes I swear I smell what she’s describing. The intelligent but stubborn Brennan is a very fun character to root for—she brings to mind V.I. Warshawski in a lab coat—and Reichs is a very talented author to read. —Nici

Before there was CSI, there was Patricia Cornwell. Her sharp, gutsy heroine, Kay Scarpetta, is the medical examiner in crime heavy Richmond, VA. This time, she’s on the trail of a psychopathic serial killer, and he’s making it personal. Cornwell is a mistress of suspense, and her pacing, characters, and detailed criminology make this a riveting story. I’ve read every book in this thrilling series. —Flannery

Having read all 58 Bailey Brothers’ mysteries, and never without his Detective Handbook, Steve Brixton wants to be like the stories’ heroes. As he checks out a quilting book for school, ninja librarians attack accusing him of treason. Armed with his knowledge of disguises, traps, goons, and clues, the young sleuth tries to solve the case and clear his name in this smart, funny story that doesn’t take itself or its genre too seriously. —Nate

Jane Whitefield is a Native American woman who can help the desperate disappear. She knows all the tricks, both ancient and modern and makes up a few along the way. Jane is a strong-willed heroine who will keep you coming back for more. If you like to find a new series, and read the whole thing, I strongly recommend this one. I can hardly wait for the next one in the series. —Clytia

North Korea—we all have our ideas of it: the perfectly choreographed mass displays, the incalcitrant government. Until reading this story of Inspector O, trying to solve crimes under a regime he doesn’t believe in, I’d assumed that the people had all been brainwashed. But as Church, pseudonym of a former field agent in the region, shows us, these people live exactly as you or I would—avoiding the trouble they can, enduring what they can’t, keeping their true thoughts to themselves. —Seana

If you haven't heard of the Game of Thrones series, you might want to check to see if you've been living under a rock—and if you haven't started reading it yet, you should kick yourself and start. This series is popular for very good reasons—it offers a deeply developed world, multi-layered political intrigue, conflicts of honor and love, all within the struggle of a group of complex characters fighting for their lives and the control of a nation. —Jocelyn