Mysteries and thrillers always make great summer reads. Here are some that have come my way.

The Rule of Nine

By Steve Martini

William Morrow, 2010, $26.99

Steve Martini is one of the best thriller writers in the business.

This Paul Madriani mystery moves quickly and keeps the reader’s attention. Madriani is just recovering from an earlier near-disaster when he is linked with the murder in Washington, D.C., of a man he’s never met. There is a connection between the two incidents, so Paul must try to minimize the danger to his daughter and partner.

You can’t go wrong with a Martini.

Beautiful Malice

By Rebecca James

Bantam, 2010, $25

The first line grabs the reader’s attention: “I did not go to Alice’s funeral.” Of course, we want to know why.

Katherine, whose sister was murdered, is living with her aunt as she completes high school. She meets Alice, who seems to be her polar opposite. The girls become friends, along with a young man who is completely enamored of Alice. To be friends with Alice is not an easy thing, and when Katherine tries to distance herself, she discovers that Alice isn’t ready to let go.

I can definitely see this as a film, and I’m betting some filmmakers will too.

Fugitive

By Phillip Margolin

Harper, 2010, $9.99

Attorney Amanda Jaffe finds herself involved in a 20-year-old murder case when Charlie Marsh decides to return to the U.S. to face justice. The book goes back and forth in time so that readers get a sense of what happened at the time.

A good read as are all of Margolin’s books.

Fatally Flakey

By Diane Mott Davidson

Avon, 2010, $7.99

Davidson’s Goldy Schultz returns in this delightfully funny mystery. Goldy is a caterer, and her husband, Tom, is a cop. Good thing, too, because she is always managing to get in trouble.

Goldy is in the midst of preparing to cater two weddings, one of which features a bridezilla named Billie. Billie decides to add 50 guests two days prior to the wedding and move the venue to the Gold Gulch Spa.

Poor Goldy is stressed out and becomes even more so when news comes about the death of Dr. Harold Finn, a longtime friend, followed by the death of her godfather, Jack. These two deaths are connected, but the question is how. No way is Goldy going to leave this to the cops — and Tom is smart enough to know it.

Davidson includes Goldy’s recipes in the back of the book for those of you who like to experiment in the kitchen.

Live to Tell

By Wendy Corsi Staub

Avon, 2010, $7.99

I know when Staub’s name is on the cover that I may as well plan to sit down in the chair and stay there. It’s almost impossible to put one of her books down.

Lauren Walsh is dealing with the fact that her husband has left her — and for an older woman! The children are having a difficult time dealing with it, especially Sadie, the youngest child. When she loses her stuffed animal, Fred, in the subway, who could imagine it could lead to all sorts of mayhem and death.

This is a book that’s well-plotted from beginning to end.