Great Mystery Books and Biographies for Holiday Reading

Books to read this holiday season, today’s installment is mysteries and biographies, catch tomorrow’s installment for historical fiction

by Gabrielle Pantera

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 12/28/2009 – Book gift cards from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers make great holiday gifts. If you’re wondering what to get using a gift card you received, or just looking for a good read during the holidays, let’s take a look at some great mysteries

Mysteries

Exposé! By Hannah Dennison

Exposé! is the third adventure in the Vicky Hill mysteries. Dennison always introduces an unusual British pastime or profession in her books. This time it’s snail racing season in the small town of Gipping-on-Plym. Obituary writer Vicky Hill receives an anonymous tip of the secret funeral of local celebrity Scarlett Fleming, coordinated by her husband Doug. The entire town is baffled by the sudden death and oddly discreet funeral. After all, Scarlett was never one to stay in her shell. Expose! (A Vicki Hill Mystery) Hannah Dennison Paperback, 320 pages Publisher: Berkley (December 1, 2009) Language: English ISBN: 9780425231586

Sheer Folly: A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery by Carola Dunn

Sheer Folly is the latest mystery in the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series. Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher and her friend and avid photographer Lucy visit Appsworth Hall to photograph the best grotto in the country for a book. Daisy and Lucy are not the only guests. There’s the boorish Lord Rydal, Rhino to his few friends, Lady Ottaline Wandersley who’s having an affair with Rhino. Julia Beaufort who’s being pursued by Rhino in marriage, Charles Armitage, a Canadian rival charmed by Julia, there’s Mr. Pritchard of Pritchard’s Plumbing Products, the current owner of the grotto, and his sister-in law Mrs. Howell who’s hostess. The grotto explodes, taking Rhino’s life. Who killed him? Hardcover, 288 pages, Publisher: Minotaur Books, September 15, 2009, Language: English, ISBN: 9780312387754 $24.99

The Case of the Missing Servant: A Vish Puri Mystery by Tarquin Hall

The head of Delhi’s Most Private Investigators Ltd., Vish Puri, searches for a missing servant and pursues other cases in this first book in the series. Ajay Kasliwal, a lawyer who has a case against corrupt government officials, is suspected of killing his maid who’s missing. Kasliwal hires Puri to find her alive. A body is found instead, but Puri thinks something’s not right. He must keep digging. Hardcover, 320 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Release date: June 2, 2009 ISBN: 9781416583684 $24.00

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen

Royal Flush is the third book in Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness Mystery series. Set in 1932, Lady Georgiana is a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and 34th in line to the English throne. Georgie is sent home to Scotland in disgrace after putting an advertisement in the paper to be a female escort. Georgie meant dinner and dancing, the gentlemen have something else in mind. At Rannoch Castle, Georgie finds accidents happening to members of the royal family and her brother. Georgie searches for answers. Can she solve this before a relative gets killed? Royal Flush is the third book in Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness Mystery series. Hardcover, 320 pages Publisher, Berkley Release date: July 7, 2009 ISBN 9780425227886 $24.95

In a Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen A Molly Murphy Mystery

In a Gilded Cage has Irish-born New York detective Molly Murphy joining the march for women’s rights in 1903 with Vassar college women who want the vote. She makes friends with former Vassar girl Emily Boswell who works at a pharmacy. Emily asks Molly to help find out more about her parents who died after she was born. As Molly searches Emily’s past, Vassar girls start dying. Why are they dying? What really happened to Emily’s parents? Hardcover, 288 pages Publisher: Minotaur Books Release: 1st edition, March 17, 2009 ISBN 9780312385347 $24.95

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol is the follow-up book to The Da Vinci Code. The Lost Symbol is a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths. This book has Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C.. don’t forget to breath when reading this book. Hardcover, 528 pages, On Sale: September 15, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-385-50422-5. Price: $29.95

Biographies

The Irregulars by Jennet Conant

Roald Dahl became associated with an interesting assortment of British spies, including James Bond 007 author Ian Fleming, spymaster Bill Stephenson believed to be the inspiration for James Bond, and “The Father of Advertising” David Ogilvy. Dahl came to America after serving as a RAF pilot and ace in the skies of Libya and Greece. With only seven RAF aircraft defending Greece, Dahl and his comrades shot down 22 German aircraft in one battle. Dahl’s exploits in the war are detailed in his autobiography. Conant’s book details his efforts in Washington to get America to enter the war against Germany. Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington Publisher: Simon & Schuster Price: $16

Paul McCartney A Life

Paul McCartney a Life traces the origin of Paul McCartney’s life, how he met John Lennon, and how they became the Beatles. The book looks at his loves, his life with first wife Linda through to her unfortunate death, and his disastrous second marriage with Heather Mills. Hardcover, 384 pages, Publisher: Touchstone, November 3, 2009, Language: English, ISBN: 9781416562092 $26.00

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews’ life was difficult as a child, and it wasn’t only her experiences during the London Blitz. She grew up in poverty. The family moved from rural England to London for her parents’ career in vaudeville. Julie Andrews helped support her family from a young age. Trade Paperback, 352 pages, Publisher: Hyperion, Reprint edition (April 7, 2009) Language: English, ISBN: 9780786884759 $15.99

Come back  tomorrow for a list of great historical fiction books to read this holiday season.