The Contract is the second John Q mystery by J.M. Gulvin. "In New Orleans, Texas
Ranger John Q is out of his jurisdiction, and possibly out of his
depth. After a series of murders it seems that every time he asks
questions there's trouble. But who could be trying to set him up, and
why, and who can he turn to in a city where loyalties and family ties
rule? Infused with the rhythms of its iconic setting, The Contract is a thriller to keep even the most seasoned mystery readers gripped and guessing all the way to its endgame." (from Goodreads.com)
Through Fiery Trials is the 10th Safehold Novel by David Weber. "Those on the side of
progressing humanity through advanced technology have finally triumphed
over their oppressors. The unholy war between the small but mighty
island realm of Charis and the radical, luddite Church of God's Awaiting
has come to an end. However, even though a provisional veil of
peace has fallen over human colonies, the quiet will not last. For
Safefold is a broken world, and as international alliances shift and
Charis charges on with its precarious mission of global
industrialization, the shifting plates of the new world order are bound
to clash. Yet, an uncertain future isn't the only danger Safehold
faces. Long-thought buried secrets and prophetic promises come to
light, proving time is a merciless warden who never forgets." (from Goodreads.com)
"The first novel in a
brand-new alternate history series by S.M. Stirling, where Teddy Roosevelt is president
for a second time right before WWI breaks out, and on his side is the
Black Chamber, a secret spy network watching America's back. 1916.
The Great War rages overseas, and the whole of Europe, Africa, and
western Asia is falling to the Central Powers. To win a war that must be
won, Teddy Roosevelt, once again the American president, turns to his
top secret Black Chamber organization--and its cunning and deadly spy,
Luz O'Malley Aróstegui. On a transatlantic airship voyage, Luz
poses as an anti-American Mexican revolutionary to get close--very
close--to a German agent code-named Imperial Sword. She'll need every
skill at her disposal to get him to trust her and lead her deep into
enemy territory. In the mountains of Saxony, concealed from allied eyes,
the German Reich's plans for keeping the U.S. from entering the
conflict are revealed: the deployment of a new diabolical weapon upon
the shores of America..." (from Goodreads.com)
"Isaiah Quintabe--IQ for
short--has never been more successful, or felt more alone. A series of
high-profile wins in his hometown of East Long Beach have made him so
notorious that he can hardly go to the corner store without being
recognized. Dodson, once his sidekick, is now his full-fledged partner,
hell-bent on giving IQ's PI business some real legitimacy: a Facebook
page, and IQ's promise to stop accepting Christmas sweaters and carpet
cleanings in exchange for PI services. So when a young painter
approaches IQ for help tracking down her missing mother, it's not just
the case Isaiah's looking for, but the human connection. And when his
new confidant turns out to be connected to a dangerous paramilitary
operation, IQ falls victim to a threat even a genius can't see coming. Waiting
for Isaiah around every corner is Seb, the Oxford-educated African
gangster who was responsible for the death of his brother, Marcus. Only,
this time, Isaiah's not alone. Joined by a new love interest and his
familiar band of accomplices, IQ is back--and the adventures are better
than ever." (from Goodreads.com)
