by Margaret Maron (2002)
The case is routine, the sort that clogs dockets and causes yawns from court stenographers. Carnival owner Tally Ames has accused three local men of destroying one of his rides. Quite predictably, Judge Deborah Knott rules in favor of Ames, demands restitution from the culprits, and then moves on to the next case. But then, just a few weeks later, carnival misdemeanor escalates to carnival murder: Ames's son is battered to death, his bloody mouth stuffed with coins; and Judge Knott begins to wonder where this not-so-merry-go-round will stop.
Margaret Maron
While in New York, Judge Deborah Knott has been asked to deliver a package to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid offers to swing by the apartment with her husband to pick up the box, but when they reach the apartment, they discover that the box is missing and the doorman has been murdered.
Margaret Maron
Deborah Knott, an attorney attempting to infiltrate the old boy network of tobacco country by running for district judge, is distracted from the race, and almost eliminated, when she finds new evidence to an old small-town murder.
Janet Evanovich
Hard Up Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared. Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, so Stephanie follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-and finds a lot more than she bargained for. Hard Risk Steven Soder is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fiancé Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean getting too involved with Ranger. Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/Laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent-a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows-and the Abruzzi crew. Plus, there's a killer rabbit on the loose! Hard Eight Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life! Hard Eight. The world of Stephanie Plum has never been wilder.
Carole Nelson Douglas
Sleuth and supercat Midnight Louie has anthropomorphized his way through murder at romance writers' conventions, cat shows, and various other venues designed to display Las Vegas at its most outrageous. Over the top? Louie parted company with the "top" years ago. This time Louie and his human associates, Temple Barr and Max Kinsella, tangle with the Synth, a gang of outlaw magicians up to no good. Tracking down the elusive renegades takes Louie to a private magic club called Nightmare--imagine the bar in Star Wars but not quite as friendly. You'd think a talking cat would fit right in at a joint designed to blur the line between reality and fantasy, but it doesn't work quite like that. Midnight Louie defies critical comment. To some cat lovers, he is as tasty as a fresh bowl of Fancy Feast; to those who prefer the line between feline and human to remain fairly rigid, he is about as appealing as a box of used kitty litter. This adventure won't change minds in either camp.