Readers and Writers: A mix of novels to keep you cozy on cool fall nights

Sep. 12--We've got an eclectic mix of novels today, including a thriller featuring a paraplegic attorney, crime and cadaver dogs, addiction recovery, fantasy that's equally a thriller, and brave women who lived through 19th-century Indian attacks. Two of the books begin new series. Pour a hot beverage, turn on the fireplace for the first time this season and enjoy these Minnesota authors.

"Deadfall" by Brian Lutterman (Conquill Press, $16)

It was just a three letter word -- "not" -- buried in dozens of pages of legalese, but it got Pen Wilkerson into a world of trouble.

In Lutterman's fifth corporate thriller featuring Pen, the paraplegic former federal prosecutor is jobless and recovering from physical and mental trauma sustained in a previous book.

Pen is surprised when she's contacted by an old friend in the police department and asked to meet with FBI agent Wendy Nomura. They want Pen to go undercover as a lowly clerk and infiltrate a defense contractor that makes highly secret weapons.

Pen's wary of the risky assignment, but when she learns of the murder of a young woman who worked for the company, as well as suspected espionage at the highest levels, she takes the challenge. But can she trust Nomura, who seems to be running the operation on her own time? Can the FBI, or anyone, protect Pen from a ruthless Russian assassin?

After Pen is hired by the company with a new identity provided by the FBI, she is assigned to proofread a long contract sealing a merger between her company and another. She's only supposed to worry about highlighted words, but near the end she discovers someone has inserted the word "not," which invalidates the agreement. No one except a trained and keen-eyed lawyer like Pen would have caught this deliberate sabotage, and she saves herself by implying it was just a typo.

Suspicions about Pen grow among her colleagues, and when Nomura has to abandon her just as the Russian killer is closing in, Pen has only her courage and tenacity to keep her alive. Then a high-level executive recognizes a picture of Pen, her cover is blown, and she's in the greatest danger of her career.

Lutterman, a former trial and corporate attorney, proves that bad guys in the business world can be just as ruthless as those in any other career. And strong-minded Pen is a worthy opponent, even when she's scared to death. Her disability is handled by Lutterman so gracefully the reader forgets she uses a wheelchair. And that's as it should be.

The author will virtually launch "Deadfall" at 7 p.m.Sept. 29, in conversation with Minnesota writer Rob Jung, presented by Once Upon a Crime mystery bookstore. Go to: crowdcast.io/e/brian-lutterman/register.

"The Finders" by Jeffrey B. Burton (Minotaur, $26.99)

Wonderful dogs, a twisty plot, two engaging protagonists. Jeff Burton kicks off a new series in "The Finders," featuring Mason "Mace" Reid, a self-deprecating, humorous guy who trains cadaver dogs who sniff out dead bodies.

Reid, who lives on the outskirts of Chicago, is recovering from a failed marriage when he adopts a golden retriever puppy found nearly dead by Officer Kippy Gimm.

He names the pup Elvira -- Vira -- and she joins his pack, including Sue, a German shepherd and Alpha male (yes, Sue, think of the old Johnny Cash song), and two sister collies. Soon Reid realizes this pup has psychic powers that help her know where to find killers. She's a good girl until she attacks a man in a crowd for no reason. That earns Vira a death sentence, until Reid goes to the home of her victim and finds an abused, imprisoned woman.

"Vira can catch the scent or vision of whatever the hell she does at ten yards away," Reid says to Kippy. "It's like she takes it all in, inhales it or something -- disappears for a moment, inside of herself or somewhere -- and then comes back with some kind of ... insight."

Through more exciting twists and turns, Reid finds himself and his pack in danger of a serial killer called Everyman. This guy's savagery and joy in hurting people is a counterpoint to Reid's love for his dogs. Soon, Everyman is stalking Reid and the cruel man's thoughts and plans are shared with the reader.

Please put this generous, dog-loving book at the top of your TBR fall list. Reid and Kippy are nice people who seem to have a future together, their dialogue is funny, and each dog has a personality as carefully drawn as the human characters. Here is a thriller that will warm your heart.

"A Clean Heart" by John Rosengren (Mango Publishing, $18.95)

Life in Six West isn't easy for Carter Kichner, an addiction counselor for young people, some of whom arrive at the treatment facility with big chips on their shoulders and attitude. One of them is Oscar, who smirks, talks back, disobeys rules and sulks in group. But Sister X, the formidable nun who runs the facility (and is a secret alcoholic), insists Carter take Oscar under his wing and see that the young man completes treatment. She needs a success story so she can get money from the county that isn't paid by insurance. Carter protests that you can't make an addict better; it has to come from inside the person. He knows, because he's a recovering addict whose mother, who has never forgiven him for giving up a hockey career, is dying of cirrhosis of the liver after years of drinking.

Carter remembers when Ward Six had invented the Minnesota Model of treatment, "a marriage of the Twelve Steps with psychotherapy." It had been a free-wheeling place, run by counselors, many of them recovering alcoholics and addicts themselves. But then "recovery from chemical dependency became simply another commodity on the market ..." and the place's vibe changed.

As Sister X's drinking worsens and she makes a fool of herself at a big fundraiser, Carter and the staff secretly set up a meeting with someone from the parent company and soon everyone's loyalty to their jobs, the kids and their own morals is in question.

There is nothing on the jacket of this paperback to indicate it's for the young adult market, but teens would certainly be interested in the contemporary feel of the characters and plot.

"Return of the Wizard King" by Chad Corrie (Dark Horse Books, $12.99)

If you want adventure, magic, hidden doors, and a head-spinning pace, this fantasy is for you. No matter that the Wizard King in the title isn't really part of the action (although his desire to return after nearly eight centuries of exile drives the plot); there are plenty of interesting characters who give us sword fights, heart-stopping escapes, and lots of blood.

In the world of Tralodren, rich in history, a blind seer named Gilban and an elven hunter, Alara, collect a band of mercenaries for a mission. Among them is Dugan, an escaped gladiator who wants revenge and whose sword cuts down anything in its path; Vinder, a gruff and cynical dwarf; Rowan, an idealistic young Knight; and Cadressa, a wizardress who loves books. While they are making their way to their destination, fighting off a variety of creatures, a magician named Valan has discovered some ruins with an ancient room that has a column he thinks holds the power to make him the greatest of wizards. But to prove his theory he has to throw lots of goblins into the mechanism where they die hideous deaths.

It takes a few chapters to get your bearings as the characters are introduced, but once they're on their journey there's nonstop action involving different groups of elves, goblins, hobgoblins, demons, a dragon, humans and a lich (an undead). They all have their own languages, religions, backgrounds and loyalties. That's why it would be helpful to have a cast of characters for reference.

"Return of the Wizard King" was originally published as "Seer's Quest." This new edition has newly-written material and an expanded storyline.

Corrie will launch his book with a virtual author talk and Q&A at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, live on Facebook. He'll do another virtual talk about The Wizard King trilogy at 4 p.m.Oct. 15, live on Instagram.

"Never Let Go: Survival of the Lake Shetek Women" by Pamela Nowak (Five Star Publishing, $25.95)

For those who look for local historical fiction, Nowak recreates a terrible time in our past in "Never Let Go: Survival of the Lake Shetek Women" (Five Star Publishing, $25.95). Rarely has there been such a horrifying book that is also an homage to the bravery of pioneer women.

"He is dead already, and you can do him no good. Stay put.' I whisper the words to Lavina and hope she hears. I think that she does, because she no longer tries to crawl to John. She hugs her children, and I wonder if she will die, too. I think she has been shot in the head."

On Aug. 20, 1862, three bands of Dakota attacked Lake Shetek, a small settlement of about 45 people located in southwestern Minnesota about 70 miles west of Mankato. Former Minnesotan Pamela Nowak, who lives in Denver, tells the stories of five of the women caught in that bloody struggle in which 15 people were killed and 11 or 12 taken captive.

Nowak, author of four romance novels, introduces readers to Laura Duley, who endured years on the hostile frontier and the loss of family before being taken captive by the Dakota; Lavina Eastlick, shot, beaten, and left for dead after witnessing the death of several of her children, stumbling miles to reach safety; Christina Koch, headstrong German immigrant who challenged her captors and finally escaped to safety; Almena Hurd, who set out alone onto the prairie with two small children, surviving by carrying one, then returning for the other, a quarter mile at a time; Julia Wright, practical wife of an unscrupulous trader, who used her language skills and understanding of the Dakota to help the captives during their ordeal.

"Never Let Go" is a rich, detailed 453 pages, the kind of novel you become lost in. About half the book details the women's backgrounds; their childhoods, marriages, how they got to Lake Shetek, and their relationships with their husbands. So by the time the Indians attack, we know these women intimately and ache for their physical and mental suffering.

Nowak is equally respectful to the Indian's frustrations. A character points out that it was not in the Dakota culture to kill and take captives. It was so alien they weren't even sure what to do with the women. But treaties were broken and they were starving. Some of the Lake Shetek women were treated well in the camps, others suffered brutality. It was a group of young Indian men, known as the Fool Soldiers because they disagreed with the War Council, who guided some of the captives to safety.

The author includes helpful maps tracing the captives' journey to release and charts showing the families at Lake Shetek and the relationships between the Sisseton and Wahpeton Dakota bands of Southwestern Minnesota in 1862.

Don't miss this involving book, which also comes with a discussion guide.

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