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Last update: July 13, 2008 - 3:57 PM

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Ø STALKING SUSAN

Events: 7 p.m., Tue., Once Upon a Crime, 604 W. 26th St., Mpls.; 11:30 a.m. Wed., Barnes & Noble, 801 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 10 a.m. Fri., Lake Country Booksellers, 4766 Washington Sq., White Bear Lake.

STALKING SUSAN

By Julie Kramer

(Doubleday, 240 pages, $24)

"So the deal is this -- any cop who tickets me for a moving violation gets an 'atta boy' from the chief and a day off-duty, off the books." So begins "Stalking Susan," the debut novel by Twin Cities writer Julie Kramer. The mystery stars Minneapolis TV reporter Riley Spartz, a determined young woman dogged by grief and guilt over her policeman husband's murder. Now she tries to quell her demons by obsessively working to solve crimes for the camera.

She discovers that two women named Susan were murdered on the same date in different years; more cases emerge and suspects start popping up, including the mayor and an ex-cop in love with Riley. The mystery is sometimes absurd, sometimes predictable, but engaging enough to keep you reading. But the real kick is the description of a TV reporter's love-hate relationship with the job, which Kramer knows well as a former investigative producer for WCCO. Twin Cities readers will enjoy its descriptions of local culture, landmarks and people, from the Holidazzle parade and Jesse Ventura to the 2007 bridge disaster and the upcoming GOP convention.

PAMELA MILLER

JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

By E. Lynn Harris

($24.95, 336 pages, Doubleday.)

Urban fiction favorite E. Lynn Harris offers a new tale of love, lies and football, but this one is reminiscent of Pearl Cleage's intense family dramas. Written through the letters and voices of three characters -- Brady Bledsoe; his mother, Carmyn, and his girlfriend, Barrett Manning -- the book finds Brady, star student and member of the "Celibacy Circle," learning that the women in his life aren't what they seem. The seductress Barrett is really a two-timing grifter working with her crooked sports agent boyfriend to put Brady in a compromising position, while Carmyn holds a dark secret.

After past lives are revealed and characters exposed, Harris ties the package up with one of his signature happy endings. Although the plot is a departure, it's still Harris, with a theme of love in all forms and enough excitement to make this book a page-turner.

MELISSA WALKER, CALENDAR WRITER

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Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.