Mystery & Science Fiction

Okay, if you’re a long-time Dennis Lehane fan, you don’t really care if I tell you this book is good or not. You don’t even care if he still wants to write about Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro or not—you’re just happy that he’s done it! Me too! Here’s what I can tell you without spoiling much: This book is a sequel to Gone, Baby Gone, in which our stalwart team solved the mystery of an abducted child, though with somewhat ambiguous results. Now, they get the chance to rethink that earlier decision. —Seana

Since I wrote this book up for last year’s winter newsletter while it was still in hardback, quite a few things have happened to Mr. Neville, including a Los Angeles Times Prize for best crime novel, a guest appearance on David Letterman, and some palling around with James Ellroy. But let’s not forget that the reason for this is that he’s written a terrific crime novel addressing Northern Ireland’s recent troubled past. His brilliant strategy is to tell the tale through the eyes of former IRA hitman Gerry Fegan, who must now face the ghosts of those who have been murdered by his hand but at others’ behest. (And don’t miss Neville’s new book, Collusion, which takes the Irish noir drama and one-ups it.) —Seana

Picking up where Blackout (out in paperback now!) left off, All Clear brings the saga of three historians from the year 2060, to London, 1940, in the midst of the Blitz. Meanwhile, their 2060 colleagues desperately try to get them home without causing irreparable damage to history. Willis has a deep understanding of history, and her wit and empathy make this an unforgettable finale to an astounding journey. —Flannery

Perry and Gail are idealistic and very much in love when they splurge on a tennis vacation at a posh beach resort in Antigua. But the charm begins to pall when a big-time Russian money launderer enlists their help to defect. Soon the couple finds themselves pawns in a deadly endgame. “Those readers who have found post–Cold War le Carré too cerebral will have much to cheer about with this Russian mafia spy thriller,” says Publishers Weekly in a starred review.