Here are some books from tried-and-true mystery writers. Hope there’s one here that you’ll like.

Murder of a Wedding Belle

By Denise Swanson

Obsidian, 2010, $6.99

Here’s another of Swanson’s Scumble River mystery series featuring Skye Dennison, a school psychologist who seems to have a habit of finding dead bodies.

Skye, against her wishes, is tapped to assist her cousin’s wedding planner, Belle. When Belle turns up dead, Skye is pressed into becoming the wedding coordinator. Between that task and trying to help the police find out who killed Belle, Skye has her hands full.

Also, her boyfriend Wally is waiting for her answer to his proposal, and her former boyfriend Simon is determined to win her back.

Lots of fun characters make this a fun read.

The Seventh Witch

By Shirley Damsgaard

Avon, 2010, $7.99

This book is the newest of Damsgaard’s Ophelia and Abby series. Ophelia, her grandmother, Abby, and daughter, Tink, head to the North Carolina mountains for a visit with Great-Aunt Mary, who is about to turn 100. The family is throwing a big party, so everyone is there, including Ophelia’s parents.

The outspoken Mary gives Ophelia a hard time because she has only recently begun to use her special gift. (Oh, did I say this family is magical?) Ophelia is discovering that her family has some important secrets that may place all of them in danger.

Deadly Deals

By Fern Michaels

Zebra, 2010, $7.99

Every time one of these Sisterhood novels reaches my desk, I always say, “No, I’m not going to read another one” — but I always seem to read it anyway!

The one thing I can’t understand about this series is that the dialogue seems stilted, which is not the case in other Michaels’ books. Also, if you read this without having read the other books, you’re not going to get enough background to know all of the characters, their relationships and how they all got together in the first place.

While the story is OK, it’s just not worth the effort.

The Dakota Cipher

By William Dietrich

Harper, 2010, $9.99

Dietrich offers readers another of his Ethan Gage adventure novels. Ethan is like an early Indiana Jones, and his adventures have taken place in France and Egypt.

Set in the early 1800s, Ethan is carrying out the wishes of President Thomas Jefferson and French emperor Napoleon while searching for proof that people from Norway made their way to the center of America before other foreign visitors. Ethan, whose decisions are not always the best, finds himself in hot water with some Indian tribes as well as the military and others.

This is an enjoyable (and educational) series.

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com or (910) 693-2475.