New Fiction
Little black dress by Loren D. Estleman.
Peter Macklin was a hit man for a long time, but he has taken steps to distance himself from his tattooed past, like quitting the mob, moving away from Detroit, and marrying the gorgeous, intelligent Laurie. But retirement isn't easy for an ex-hit man. Now the man accustomed to killing people in cold blood must adjust to a sadistic ritual of early marriage - he must spend time with his eccentric mother-in-law. This event takes an unexpected turn when Macklin discovers that mom-in-law's boyfriend, Benjamin Grinnell, is a spotter for a gang of armed robbers. Unfortunately, Grinnell made a big mistake: he failed to spot a shotgun-toting shop-owner, whom the gang had to turn into red mist. Now Grinnell's life is threatened and Grinnell's jeopardy endangers his sweetie...and Laurie. Macklin, driven by his professional curiosity and his desire to protect his family, can't help but get involved. As Macklin investigates Grinnell's dark affairs, he inevitably gets tangled up with Grinnell's enemies, including the Ohio mob...and the law. All parties converge in a deadly shoot-out, with the lives of Macklin's loved ones and the fate of his marriage precariously hanging in the balance.
Zorro by Isabel Allende.
Between California and Barcelona, the New World and the Old, the persona of Zorro is formed, a great hero is born, and the legend begins. After many adventures - duels at dawn, fierce battles with pirates at sea, and impossible rescues - Diego de la Vega, a.k.a. Zorro, returns to America to reclaim the hacienda on which he was raised and to seek justice for all who cannot fight for it themselves.