WWII Still Holds Mysteries

The Arms Maker of Berlin
By Dan Fesperman
Publication: August 4, 2009
Read? :-) :-)

This engrossing thriller has it all: a hunt based on ciphers and clues; WWII and the Third Reich; spies, lies, and cover-ups. Beginning with an intrepid professor who must chase down the legacy of his estranged mentor, the story jumps back to the early 1940's and then back again, weaving a complex tale of love, war, and betrayal. You know a book is good when you miss it afterword; this one has me thinking as well. Highly recommended for lovers of espionage novels and historical mysteries.

Gone to the Dogs

New Tricks
By David Rosenfelt
Published: August 6, 2009
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Andy Carpenter is back in the dog house. Having once defended a golden retriever, a local judge naturally thinks of the wisecracking lawyer when a Bernese puppy becomes the object of a custody battle. Andy is OK with this, except that he is nearly killed picking up the dog and soon finds himself in the middle of a double-murder defense. Fun and fast, with quirky characters, plot twists, and dialogue to keep you smiling. A great summer whodunnit for mystery lovers and dog lovers alike.

Classic Oates

A Fair Maiden
By Joyce Carol Oates
Pub date: January 6, 2010
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Sixteen-year-old Katya Spivek, from working-class Vineland in southern New Jersey, is spending the summer at the beach, employed as a nanny in upscale Bayhead. One day she is approached by Marcus Kidder, elderly scion of a prominent local family. Wary Katya is slowly drawn in by Mr. Kidder, who invites her to his opulent home first for tea, then to model for his painting. Mystery, romance and horror mix as the novel moves inexorably toward answering the question: where will this lead? Spell-binding; classic Oates.