Winter seems to have arrived, so I imagine everyone is looking for some good mysteries to enjoy on those cold nights.

You can't go wrong with a Deborah Knott novel from Margaret Maron. The latest is "Three-Day Town" (Grand Central, $25.99). And the best part is that readers also get an appearance from Maron's other protagonist, NYPD detective Lt. Sigrid Harald! Deborah and her husband, Dwight, are finally taking a honeymoon trip to New York. Deborah is asked to deliver a package to Sigrid's mother, but the contents of the package come into play after a man is murdered in the apartment in which Dwight and Deborah are staying. Deborah and Sigrid, with some help from Dwight and the NYPD, must solve the crime.

I've followed David Baldacci's career since his first book. "Zero Day" (Grand Central Publishing, $27.99) ranks up there with the best of them. This is the first book of a series featuring John Puller, a combat veteran who is an investigator with the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Command. Son of a legendary retired general, with his brother serving time in a military prison for treason, Puller is called on to go to a small town in West Virginia to investigate the murders of a family that included a military man. He teams up with local detective Samantha Cole to figure out why this family was killed, and before they know it, other members of the community become casualties as well. It's obvious that the town hides a secret, and Puller and Cole have to dig it out in order to avoid more deaths.

Another prolific writer whose books I enjoy is James Rollins. "The Devil Colony" (William Morrow, $27.99), another of his Sigma Force series, will keep readers on the edge of their seats. There have always been suspicions regarding the Founding fathers of the U.S., in particular Thomas Jefferson. When two Native American teenagers find a cave full of mummified bodies, it sets in motion a series of cataclysmic events. Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force, gets involved because his niece is suspected of being part of a radical group. Sometimes you're never sure who the good guys are in Rollins' books, but they are always good reads.

Marcia Muller brings her readers another Sharon McCone mystery, "City of Whispers" (Grand Central, $25.99). Sharon, a private investigator, starts a search for her half-brother Darcy, who is emotionally disturbed, after receiving a strange email from him. Her investigation leads Sharon from the worst parts of the city to the richest, as she finds Darcy is inadvertently in the middle of something he can't control.

J.A. Nance is also one of my favorite mystery writers. "Betrayal of Trust" (William Morrow, $25.99) is from the J.P. Beaumont series set in Seattle. Beaumont and his partner, Mel Soames, are asked by the governor when she discovers a snuff film that was sent to the cell phone of her grandson. It turns out that this incident is the tip of the iceberg. A can't-miss read.

Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush team up for "Wicked Lies" (Zebra, $7.99). This duo can always be counted on whether writing together or solo. Justice Turnbull escapes from Halo Valley Security Hospital and goes in search of the group of women who live at Siren Song lodge. Laura Adderly, who was raised at Siren Song but no longer lives there, is in his sights. Harrison Frost, a local reporter, starts asking questions about Turnbull and Siren Song. If Laura's connection is revealed, danger lurks around the corner.

Jeanne Adams is the author of "Deadly Little Lies" (Zebra, $6.99). In this fast-paced romantic suspense novel, Davros Gianakopulos, a wealthy shipping magnate, has finally convinced Carrie McCray, a local gallery owner, to have dinner with him. He has been in love with her for years. Things don't go so well when Dav and Carrie are kidnapped and taken to Central America, dumped in a pit and left there. It's up to Dav's friends to find them and rescue them. Meanwhile, they must do what they can to help themselves.

Lisa Jackson is another prolific writer. Her latest is "Trail of Blood" (Harper, $7.99), featuring forensic scientist Theresa MacLean. A decapitated body found in an old building is thought to be the victim of a psychopath from early days: the Torso Killer. But it seems that there is a copycat in the area because another body has just turned up, this one killed more recently. Theresa's investigation puts her in danger, as always.

"Act of Deceit" (Harper, $9.99) by Steven Gore features former detective Harlan Donnally. When his neighbor Maurico dies, he asks Harlan to deliver a letter. Easy enough, Harlan thought, but boy, was he wrong! Following clues and agitating suspects, Harlan is determined to get to the bottom of the puzzle.

Mary Jane Clark brings readers another in her Wedding Cake series, "To Have and To Kill" (Avon, $7.99). Piper, reeling from a broken engagement and struggling to make her rent because acting jobs are few and far between, decides to move back home to New Jersey. Helping out in the family bakery business, Piper does discover she has hidden talents as she plans the wedding cake of her friend, who stars in a soap opera. It seems someone doesn't want the wedding to take place. She teams up with Jack Lombardi, her neighbor (and an FBI agent), to track down a killer.

Matt Hilton is the author of "Slash and Burn" (Harper, $9.99), a fast-paced novel full of blood and guts. I liked the story, but have to admit there was just too much shooting and killing to suit me. Definitely not for those with queasy stomachs!

Wendy Corsi Staub is one of the best thriller writers around. "Hell to Pay" (Avon, $7.99) continues the story of Lucy Walsh and Jeremy Cavalon, now married, who survived encounters with a serial killer. They are excited about the impending birth of their first child, not knowing that they are being stalked by someone they believe to be dead. Another good book from Staub!

"Reckoning for the Dead," by Jordan Dane (Harper, $7.99), is part of her Sweet Justice series. Alexa Marlowe goes undercover to find out what has happened to her boss, Garrett. She is going it alone because her partner, Jessie, is trying to solve a cold case that may tell her truth about her identity. Lots of fast-paced excitement on both fronts.

"Dead by Nightfall" (Zebra, $7.99) is the last book by Beverly Barton, who died earlier this year at the age of 64. She had already written this book, the conclusion of a trilogy. Griffin Powell and his agents have their work cut out for them as they track down the man who has abducted Griffin's wife, Nic. A fitting conclusion to the works of a good author.

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com.