A Few Good Mysteries

If you’re looking for something light and entertaining to read this summer, consider one of these mysteries. While these novels may not be on the top of the literary heap (I’d give each of them a 3 out of 5), they’re all well-written page-turners—just the thing when you need to keep one eye on the kids playing in the waves.

Bleeding Heart Squareby Andrew Taylor
In this historical mystery, a woman married to a wealthy but brutal politician gives up her marriage and comfortable lifestyle to live with her drunken and penniless father. She soon uncovers a series of inexplicable coincidences and, in putting together the pieces, discovers a horrific crime. The strong protagonist is likeable, and the constantly shifting point of view keeps the action lively.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Daneby Katherine Howe
A graduate student working to renovate her grandmother's house uncovers a clue tying her family to the historic Salem witch trials of 1692. Her ensuing quest to understand her family's dark history becomes linked to her need to find a source document to support her graduate thesis. Alternating between 1991 and 1692, this book is historical fiction combined with a contemporary mystery along with a bit of romance and magic.

Gold of Kings: A Novelby Davis Bunn
When her grandfather dies under mysterious circumstances, a young art and antiquities dealer must decipher the cryptic clues he left behind. Her investigation leads her on a dangerous treasure hunt around the world in the company of a professional treasure hunter and a federal agent. This international thriller will appeal to those interested in the treasures of antiquity and the exotic locations in which they're found.