March means mostly mysteries – with a few exceptions

The Appeal

By John Grisham

Delta Fiction, $14 (Paperback)

The callous owner of a giant chemical plant, whose toxic waste discharges are causing numerous cancers, is shocked by a Mississippi jury’s verdict and determines to appeal to the state’s Supreme Court. But, first, he has to elect a judge who will vote in his favor. His political operatives find an unsuspecting young lawyer and groom him for the position – expecting him to vote “right.”

This is Grisham at his best, exposing the devious methods of some high-powered election manipulators and pitting them against a small but determined husband-and-wife legal team.

The Billionaire’s Vinegar

By Benjamin Wallace

Crown, $24.95

The mystery here is not so much whether a 1787 bottle of wine said to belong to Thomas Jefferson is the real thing, as to why Malcolm Forbes paid $156,000 for it at auction, making it the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold.

While the title may give away the solution to the mystery, it will not lessen the enjoyment of learning of Jefferson’s love of France and its wines, and the intrigue surrounding the efforts to authenticate the wine.

In a TV interview, Forbes, asked about the wine, grumbled, “The Forbes family would be far better off if Mr. Jefferson had drunk the damn thing.” But then, we wouldn’t have this immensely enjoyable book.

Fractured

By Karin Slaughter

Delacorte Press, $25

Abigail Campano arrives home, finds the door open and discovers her daughter’s dead body and a man holding a knife standing over her. Enraged, she attacks the man and, with her bare hands, strangles him.

When police arrive in the person of Slaughter’s new and exciting hero, Will Trent, the plot – as they say – thickens. Trent detects something that leads him to believe the murdered girl is not the woman’s daughter, but a friend, and that Campano’s daughter has, in fact, been kidnapped.

The chase is on to find the killer/kidnapper and Trent, joined by a female cop who hates him, has his hands full. If you crave action, you’ll find this one hard to put down.

Fearless Fourteen

By Janet Evanovich

St. Martin’s Press, $27.95

This is the 14th Stephanie Plum novel. Need I say more? Fans will keep welcoming each new story until Evanovich runs out of numbers or bumps off some of her favorite characters, particularly Stephanie’s boyfriend, policeman Joe Morelli, and Ranger, his competitor for her favors.

Morelli’s cousin, Dom Rizzi who robbed a bank, hid the dough and served his time, is out and being shadowed by thieves (can you imagine?) who want the loot. Rizzi disappears minus the loot, which the thieves now believe is hidden in Morelli’s basement – but searchers find only dead bodies there.

Another light and entertaining Plum adventure.

Rules of Deception

By Christopher Reich

Doubleday, $24.95

Doctors-Without-Borders’ surgeon Jonathan Ransom and his wife are enjoying a skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps when they are trapped by a blizzard. His wife, Emma, twists her ankle and can’t escape so Ransom goes alone to find help.

When he returns he finds his wife has fallen into a deep ravine and is obviously dead. Not long after he receives two baggage claim tickets addressed to Emma. Inside the luggage, he discovers evidence that his wife was an undercover agent with an identity totally foreign to him.

Reich moves this plot along at breakneck speed changing gears often to keep you guessing.

And, at that, he succeeds very well.

In His Sights

By Kate Brennan

Harper, $24.95

This not only a true story but a frightening thriller about a woman whose former lover stalks and terrorizes her.

Under an assumed name, Brennan unabashedly reveals details of her affair with Paul, who appears to be a very wealthy businessman and is charming to boot.

He romances and finally wins her over but, after they move in together, she discovers Paul’s infidelities and sordid secrets.

Determined to leave him and build a new life alone, Brennan finds it impossible to escape Paul. Incredibly, he finds her no matter where she moves, obsessed with his desire to win and control her.

Paul continues to pursue Brennan to this day so the outcome remains a mystery. Scary.