Marie T. Horney, Cold Spring Harbor Library

Baxter, Cynthia. Putting on the Dog
For some reason, Dr. Jessica Popper, a mobile unit Veterinarian, as well as the proud mama of a menagerie of pets, the girlfriend of a private investigator and the narrator of Putting on the Dog, also likes to solve murder mysteries. This time, the murder victim is a sleazy photographer who takes exploitive pictures of celebrities. His death, a fatal knock on the head by a doggy ice sculpture, is ruled an accident, but Dr. Popper, who is volunteering on the east end of Long Island for a charity dog show, is suspicious and begins to investigate the rich and famous. Readers will recognize Sunset Highway and the Bromptons, as Sunrise Highway and the Hamptons. Animal fiction and cozy mystery lovers, as well as those seeking to match the various fake Long Island designations and stars with their real life counterparts, will enjoy this novel. Read-Alikes: Lilian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who… novels; Carol Nelson Douglas’ Midnight Louie novels; Karen Ann Wilson’s Samantha Holt novels (mystery fiction featuring a veterinary assistant)

Ilana Beckerman, West Babylon Public Library

Black, Veronica. A Vow of Obedience
In her fourth appearance, Sister Joan of the order of the Daughters of Compassion returns to her Cornwell convent after surviving the dangers of a six-week retreat in a cave in Scotland. Sister Joan finds the garroted corpse of a teenage girl, dressed in a wedding gown, in a one-room school on the moor. The following day another young woman, similarly dressed, is found murdered in the same manner, the postmortems determine both victims were virgins. Then Sister Hilaria, the mistress of postulants, is injured by a hit and run driver. While readjusting to the orderliness of daily convent life, the unsanctimonious Sister Joan, a 36 year old former artist aids the appealing Detective Sergeant Mill in his efforts to prevent the killer from striking again. This book is fast paced and full of memorable characters, and the author skillfully portrays the dark reaches of evil that touch ordinary lives. Sister Joan holds her own among the current wave of female detectives. Readalikes: Gallison, Kate; Gilman, Dorothy; Greenwood, D.M.; Kellerman, Faye; Myers, Tamar; Newman, Sharan; O’Marie, Carol Anne; Quill, Monica; Taylor, Andrew; Tremayne, Peter

Rhea Pollock, Brentwood Public Library

Braun, Lilian Jackson. The Cat Who Brought the House Down
Set in Pickax, "400 miles north from anywhere," this is the twenty-fifth novel of Lilian Jackson Braun detailing the adventures of Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats KoKo and YumYum. This book is as cozy as a cup of tea and a scone. Octogenarian Thelma Thackeray decides to start a revival film club but a suspicious death and the kidnapping of her pet parrots mar her ambitious plans. The continuing adventures of the residents of Pickax and its Moose County environs and the joys of small town life are as pleasurable to the reader as the solving of the mystery. As usual KoKo helps his master Qwill resolve the various nefarious doings. For readalikes with clever cats and small-town flavor try Rita Mae Brown's mysteries written with the help of her cat Sneaky Pie, and mysteries with cats by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Carole Nelson Douglas, and Marian Babson. For small-town life with many interesting continuing characters, albeit a change in the weather, try the Southern sisters mysteries by Anne George.

Michelle Epstein, Northport-East Northport Library

Cross, Amanda. The Edge of Doom
The Edge of Doom is the last of the Kate Fansler mysteries written by Amanda Cross. Kate Fansler, professor of literature and amateur sleuth has always been different from the rest of her family. She is just barely on speaking terms with her three older brothers who never understood her “literary” lifestyle and who actually find her peculiar. Into this mix comes Jay “Ebeneezer” Smith, who claims to be her real father, and who has DNA evidence to prove it. However, although Jay may be who he says he is, he is not exactly what he appears to be and Kate and her husband Reed set out to find the truth about Jay, and learn a lot about themselves in the process.

Vicki Lever, Babylon Public Library

Dams, Jeanne M. Death in Lacquer Red
In Dams’ first entry in the Hilda Johansson series, Hilda, a Swedish woman working in the South Bend, Indiana, home of the Studebaker family at the beginning of the twentieth century, discovers the body of a woman just returned from missionary work in China. When it looks like the police will pin the crime on a Chinese immigrant just because he recently arrived from that country, Hilda feels she must find the real killer and rescue him from injustice. She manages to solve the crime in spite of her limitations. As she puts it, “I can talk to other servants, I can learn things…What I cannot do is go far, or talk to people I do not know.” The details of daily life of millionaires, ordinary citizens and immigrants from many parts of the world add to the enjoyment of this cozy mystery while Hilda’s relationship with Irish Catholic Patrick and the struggles and joys of life in a new country round out the plot. Read-alikes: Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Patricia Moyes, Carolyn Hart.

Grace O’Connor, West Islip Public Library

Davidson, Diane Mott. Chopping Spree
This is the eleventh novel of the sleuthing caterer, Goldy Schulz, that takes place in Aspen, Colorado. Goldy must juggle between her hectic, thriving catering business; her rebellious teenage son and solving a murder that has placed her friend and assistant in jail. It is a concoction of clues and recipes with a pinch of unusual characters that creates a fun, entertaining read. Readalikes: Isis Crawford, Nancy Fairbanks, Joanne Fluke, Ellen Hart, Sharon Kahn, Tamar Myers, Nancy Rawles

Rosemarie Jerome, Half Hollow Hills Community Library

George, Anne. Murder Boogies with Elvis
Mary Alice (Sister) and Patricia Anne (Mouse) are sixty-something siblings that have diametrically opposing personalities along with a shared affinity for finding themselves in the line of fire. This is not the first time that the Sisters have been immersed in a murder mystery. While attending a local benefit, the Sisters witness the sudden death of one of the thirty sequined, high-kicking Elvis impersonators appearing on stage. At first it appears to have been a fatal heart attack, but it actually turns out to be a brutal stabbing. Who would want to kill an Elvis clone? The intrigue is compounded when the murder weapon, a switchblade knife, is found in Mouse’s purse several days later. The Sisters are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, especially when Mouse is subsequently arrested for the crime. If you’re looking for a recipe for a snuggly read—blend together some Southern ambiance consisting of family, food, and friends; an antithetical but enduring sibling relationship; small town innuendo; the murder of an Elvis clone; a generous dose of humorous dialogue and incriminating situations and you’ll come up with Murder Boogies with Elvis by Anne George. And if you like reading a cozy mystery with a Southern setting, you may also enjoy the earlier titles in the Southern Sisters Mystery series as well as Margaret Maron’s Southern Discomfort, Patricia Sprinkle’s Murder in the Charleston Manner, or Joan Hess’ Claire Malloy Series.

Deborah Formosa, Northport-East Northport Public Library

Hart, Carolyn G. Death on Demand
At a weekly meeting of local authors held at Annie Laurance’s mystery bookstore, a writer is murdered. Annie is the chief suspect. To prove her innocence, she, with the help of her rich, lawyer boyfriend, investigate and solve the case. This is a fun book for mystery lovers. Since Annie owns a mystery bookshop and is an avid fan of the genre, she often refers to other mysteries and authors. Recommended for “locked room” fans and lovers of cozies. South Carolina Island setting is also a bonus.

Karen Jaffe, Comsewogue Public Library

Roberts, David. Sweet Poison
Sweet Poison introduces a pair of amateur detectives, Lord Edward Corinth and Verity Browne. Verity is an idealistic young journalist and a card-carrying member of the Communist Party, committed to social justice despite her own wealthy upper class background. She meets Edward, a member of the British aristocracy, at Mersham Castle, the home of Edward’s brother Duke Gerald, where the first murder takes place. Britain in the 1930’s, between the wars, was a place of great intellectual and emotional turmoil. One of the strengths of this book lies in its insightful depiction of these times: Hitler has risen to the Chancellor ship, Germany is becoming increasingly militant, and many fear that another war is coming. Robert’s skillfully drawn characters assemble at a dinner party Duke Gerald hosts with the idea of improving Anglo-German relations. The guests include a Canadian press Lord, his wife and heroin-addicted stepdaughter, a pacifist Anglican bishop and a German embassy attaché. The murdered man is General Sir A. Craig, a controversial, decorated World War I veteran. Lord Edward and Verity solve the mysteries together, forming an attachment that continues with four more titles in this series. The series is reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with its British-ness and its amateur detective pair. Reviewers have likened it to Dorothy Sayer’s and her Lord Peter Wimsey books.

Suzanne McGuire, Commack Public Library

Smith, Alexander McCall. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
If Miss Marple were to shed some years and put on enough pounds to become pleasingly roly-poly and were she to be further transformed into a black lady of Africa, we'd wind up with someone very like Precious Ramotswe, the inspired creation of Alexander McCall Smith. This was the first book in a series that continues to be immensely popular throughout the world, even being optioned for a feature film by famed director Anthony Minghella. The tales of Precious's sleuthing take place in a village in Botswana and contain gentle accounts of everyday African life that the tourist usually doesn't get to see. In the first book, Precious is drawn to her profession "to help people with problems in their lives." Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gabarone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. Closest to her heart and the case that puts her in the most danger is that of the boy who may have been snatched by witch doctors. The beauty of life in Botswana, which he knows well, provides a good backdrop for McCall Smith's tales of his African sleuth.

Arlene Leventhal, Half Hollow Hills Community Library