Although the book is listed as available on Amazon.com, an e-mail I received from Donlay, who had been out of the country, tells me that the problem he had with the publisher has still not been resolved, so the book isn't really yet available.

He hopes that the situation will change soon and has promised to let me know. I hope that will be soon. (Donlay says that the film rights have been purchased, so maybe it will be made into a movie.)

August is bringing a wealth of new mysteries for those of us who enjoy the genre.

Winter's Child

By Margaret Maron

Mysterious Press, 2006, $24.95

I was so happy to get an advance copy of Maron's latest book in the Deborah Knott series. I always crave the next book as soon as I put down the recent release, though, so now I have a long wait for the next one.

Maron was honored by the members of the N.C. Writers Conference during its annual meeting this weekend, held this year in Smithfield.

Those who haven't yet made the acquaintance of Judge Deborah Knott, and her new husband, Deputy Dwight Bryant, are missing out. This Southern mystery series is set in a fictional county that has similarities to Maron's home county of Johnston.

Dwight, who has a son from a previous marriage, receives a call from the eight-year-old boy, who is now living in Virginia. It seems as though his mother hasn't been home for at least 24 hours. He immediately heads to Virginia to find out what is going on, and decides to bring Cal back to North Carolina for a visit. When he is upstairs gathering the boy's things, Cal disappears.

A neighbor thinks she saw Cal leave with his mother, but why would she spirit him away? There have been no recent conflicts between her and Dwight. Deborah arranges her schedule so she can go to Virginia to help Dwight find Cal.

This is another fine mystery from one of my favorite authors.

Ricochet

By Sandra Brown

Simon and Schuster, 2006, $25.95

This book will have readers bouncing back and forth between suspects so rapidly that it certainly deserves the title "Ricochet."

Brown is another popular writer in this genre.

Savannah Police Detective Duncan Hatcher is furious when Judge Cato Laird calls a mistrial in the case of Robert Savich. He lets the judge know his opinion and finds himself serving a couple of days in jail for contempt of court.

Upon Duncan's release, he finds himself at a department award function at which he spots a beautiful woman named Elise. As it turns out, she just happens to be the judge's trophy wife.

When he and his partner, Dee Dee Bowen, are called to the Laird house to investigate the death of a burglar, Duncan is torn by his attraction to Elise and his responsibility to his job.

I think I can promise this book will keep you in suspense.

Faye M. Dasen may be reached at fdasen@thepilot.com.