DEATH WORE WHITE

By Jim Kelly (Minotaur Books, 390 pages, $24.95)

The bodies keep piling up in this crisply written mystery set amid a winter storm on the English coast, but the plot twists will keep you guessing until the end. The book mines some familiar themes: a young, upstart detective, Peter Shaw, is haunted by the murder case that destroyed his father's career. Shaw -- of course -- has been paired with his father's former and -- of course -- abrasively old-school partner, George Valentine, who was demoted over the case. At times the long list of characters may have you backtracking, and the tentacles of the plot overreach (touching on a smuggling operation and lethal spider bites), but you'll still want to follow Shaw and Valentine until they untangle the lies to solve each of the killings. Among the smart angles in the book: how the author handles the 12-year-old murder case that weighs heavily on both detectives.

KATHLEEN CLONTS, COPY EDITOR

A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM

By Donna Ball (Berkley Books, 374 pages, $14)

Cici, Lindsay and Bridget decide that midlife means a giant change. They buy a decrepit mansion that they dub Ladybug Farm and envision a cozy, country Martha Stewart life, all snug and all. Except the house is a disaster and it might be haunted, and only Cici knows anything about taking care of a house, really, and even she has limits. The story is predictable and the characters aren't developed. There are some definite laugh-out-loud foibles, but the book could be so much more. It's a great home-improvement lesson against biting off way more than you can chew, but it's better for the cabin than for book club. (Don't read it if you've just bought a fixer-upper, though.)

HOLLY COLLIER, NEWS COPY EDITOR