In the December edition of ITW's webzine . . .

• PATRICIA GUSSIN "wrenches emotion from the reader" in TWISTED JUSTICE
• CURSE OF AL CAPONE'S GOLD by MIKE THOMPSON is "one fast-moving package"
• REBECCA YORK "never disappoints" in BEYOND FEARLESS
• CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS creates "spine-tingling suspense" in DANCING WITH WEREWOLVES
• CRIES AND WHISKERS by CLEA SIMSON is "highly recommended for mystery fans"
• SANDRA BALZO shows an "appetite for murder" in GROUNDS FOR MURDER
• MAUSOLEUM by JUSTIN SCOTT is "among the best of American crime writing"
• Plus in-depth Features with RICHARD DOETSCH, STEVE BERRY, KATHLEEN GEORGE, KATHRYN MACHEL, and AMY J FETZER
• And so much more from the best thriller authors on the planet!

Bestselling author Steve Berry is ready to storm bookstores-and Venice-with his next Cotton Malone adventure, THE VENETIAN BETRAYAL, on December 11. This is Berry's third Cotton Malone novel and sixth novel overall. Former government attorney/agent Malone now lives in Copenhagen and runs an antique bookstore when he isn't otherwise being drafted or dragged into adventures-adventures that typically send him chasing all over the world and delving into historical mysteries. Berry says, "Cotton is a troubled man. He's had some failures in his life. His marriage failed, his relationship with his son had some very troubling aspects to it, though he's tried to make peace with both of those. He can't leave behind the past. The past keeps dragging him back in through all these good friends he's met."

Prior to being a bookseller, Cotton Malone was an attorney for the U.S. Justice Department's Magellan Billet. Berry describes the Magellan Billet as, "Twelve lawyers the Justice Department put together to do some very specialized things. These lawyers have some skills, they're not just off-the-rack kind of people, but they're not trained spies, either. They're just trained people who are put into some very delicate assignments and Cotton has proved himself able to handle those."

ITW contributing editor Bill Cameron recently caught up with Richard Doetsch to discuss his latest thriller The Thieves of Faith. As the story opens, master thief Michael St. Pierre is running through the snowy streets of Geneva , pack on his pack, larceny on his mind. He’s set in motion a complex plan to break into the ultra-secure vault of one of the world’s most notorious underworld art dealers. It’s the first step on a quest to fulfill the dying wish of a dear friend, a quest that will lead Michael across international borders and ultimately into the bowels of the Kremlin to attempt history’s most daring heist. As in Doetsch’s debut thriller, The Thieves of Heaven, the pace is breakneck as Doetsch deftly balances high-tech, adrenalin-surged suspense and rich characterization with challenging spiritual and historical intrigue.

Michael St. Pierre is not just any high-tech criminal. “Eight out of ten thrillers revolve around a cop, an ex-special forces/military type, a private investigator, attorney, or an academic fish out of water,” Doetsch says. It’s important to him that his character isn’t cast from a common mold. A conflicted, strikingly moral man, Michael has tried to leave behind his criminal past, but finds he must resurrect his former skills to protect those he loves. In The Thieves of Heaven, it was his dying wife. In his The Thieves of Faith, it’s the father he never knew. Doetsch finds inspiration, he explains, in “the love for my wife and how far I would go to protect her, it is what helps me to fill my stories with heart.”

Ben Abbott, real estate agent devoted to antique New England homes, convicted Wall Street felon, and private detective, is not happy when Newbury Connecticut's 300-year-old village cemetery is invaded by a gaudy mausoleum. Newcomer Brian Grose's eruption of eternal ego sticks out like a McMansion in an apple orchard. Then Ben finds Brian, shot once in the back and twice in the forehead, locked in his mausoleum 50 years ahead of schedule.

"Best of all, there’s Ben, a likable guy of sound mind and decent character, but with a shrewd sense of his limitations. In a field of fiction overrun with middle-aged boys and girls at play, let’s call him an unreconstructed grown-up." -- New York Times

"Among the best of American crime writing." -- Sunday Telegraph

"The well-crafted . . . . . intriguing mystery features a cast of fascinatingcharacters and an honest look at the effects of modern ideas and design on a steadfast New England town." -- Publisher's Weekly

Justin Scott has written twenty-four novels: eighteen mysteries and thrillers, mostly under his own name; and five modern sea stories under his pen name, Paul Garrison. He created the Ben Abbott detective series (HardScape, StoneDust, FrostLine, McMansion and Mausoleum), has been twice nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award by the Mystery Writers of America, and is a member of the Adams Round Table.

Maggy Thorsen is back! When the coffeehouse owner is dragooned into emceeing the barista competition (think “Iron Chef,” but with coffee) at the industry’s scaldingly competitive trade show, she fears nothing good will come of it. Sure enough: The morning of the finals, Maggy discovers the body of her chief rival and conference organizer, Marvin LaRoche, under the trophy table. Finding herself not only the fill-in conference coordinator, but also chief suspect, Maggy must track the murderer, save her coffeehouse and, if she has some spare time, heat up her love life.

"Maggy is charming and extremely funny, and Balzo’s keep-‘em-guessing plot and fresh, breezy prose are more than enough to ensure that this series will continue to delight." -- Booklist Starred Review

"What moves Balzo's book high above other writers who try to cover the same territory is a sharp and often amusing skill that convinces us that this is real life, and that it matters." -- Chicago Tribune

"Look out Diane Mott Davidson, there’s a new writer with an appetite for murder." -- Denver Post

Sandra Balzo turned to mystery writing after twenty years in corporate public relations, event management, and publicity.  Her first novel, "Uncommon Grounds," was nominated for an Anthony and a Macavity Award, and her debut short story, "The Grass is Always Greener" (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine), was an Anthony nominee and won both the Robert L. Fish Award and the Macavity Award for Best Short Story in 2004. Her second short story, "Viscery" (also EQMM), won the Derringer Award and was nominated for a Macavity.

As feline-friendly journalist Theda Krakow looks into the death of a feral-cat rescuer, her friends, her career, and even her darling pet Musetta are all at risk.

"Readers will thrill to Theda's engaging adventures in amateur sleuthing." -- Publishers Weekly

"Simon has written a fast-moving story full of lively characters, both two- and four-legged. This series is highly recommended for mystery fans who love cats but who prefer to leave the crime-solving to humans." -- Booklist

Clea Simon is the author of the Theda Krakow mysteries, "Mew is for Murder," "Cattery Row," and now "Cries and Whiskers," as well as three nonfiction books. A resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, she also writes for publications ranging from the New York Times and American Prospect to Cat Fancy.

It was the revelation of themillennium: witches, werewolves, vampires and other supernaturals are real. Fast-forward 13 years: TV reporter Delilah Street used to cover the small-town bogeyman beat back in Kansas, but now, in high-octane Las Vegas--which is run by a werewolf mob--she finds herself solving literally cold cases, caught up in  the mob/werewolf/vampire battle for Las Vegas then and now, and working with an ex-FBI guy who can dowse for the dead. She's also the most wanted woman in the world, dead or alive, because a CSI Vcorpse who's now an It Girl in the international sex trade is orphan Delilah's exact double.

"This fantastic first of a newparanormal series. . . handles the premise with spectacular style . . .Douglas spices the action with fabulous characters: CinSims (CinemaSimulacrums), dead celebrities recreated via science and magic; the oldest living vampire in Vegas, once a famous aviator; and Cocaine (aka Snow), a devilish albino rocker. Readers will eagerly await the sequel."-- starredreview, Publisher's Weekly

"This is a smartly written, plot-driven, original novel that deftly combines the elements of fantasy, mystery, and romance to the well sated delight of the reader. . . enthusiastically recommended."--Midwest Review of Books

"Carole Nelson Douglas is wonderful and unique and always ahead of the pack."-- Heather Graham, author of Blood Red.

"A wonderfully written story with a unique take on the paranormal." -- Kelley Armstrong, author of Bitten.

"a story of spine-tingling suspense and dark intrigue."-- Kay Hooper on Chapel Noir

"a wild ride to the Vegas of your nightmares, or maybe of your fantasies."-- Rebecca York, author of New Moon

When it comes to crime thriller, Carole NelsonDouglas has a split personality.  She writes the Las Vegas-set contemporary Midnight Louie mysteryseries (partially narrated by a cat PI) and Irene Adler Victorian Sherlockian suspense novels, where the only woman to outfox Holmes stars in her own adventures. Douglas's new series features: Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator. This dark urban fantasy with a wry, hard-boiled narrative is set in the lethal and literally Hell-bound Las Vegas of 2013, where werewolf mobs run the Strip and celebrity zombies are the latest attractions.  Douglas's 50-some novels have won or placed for more than 35 writing awards.

Anna Ridgeway's mind-reading nightclub act takes her to the Caribbean Island of Grand Fernandino, where she knows she's being stalked by sinister forces. When she meets diver Zachary Robinson, they are inexplicably and powerfully drawn to each other--sexually and psychically. As the physical intimacy between them deepens, so do their psi talents. But island shaman, Raoul San Donato, plans to kill Zach and bind Anna to him in a shocking ceremony that will make her his consort andconsolidate his hold over the island.

"York's magnetic charactersmake this novel a sexy good time." -- Publishers Weekly

"Rebecca York has another winner with "Beyond Fearless." How that woman comesup with one good story after another is amazing. She never disappoints!!!!!" -- Cindy Streicher, Waldenbooks Romance Expert

Ever since she can remember, Rebecca York (akaRuth Glick) has loved making up stories full of adventure, romance andsuspense. As a child she corralled her friends into adventure games or acted out romantic suspense stories with a cast of dolls.

A USA Today best-selling novelist, Ruth is the author of over one hundred books.  She has authored or co-authored more than 65 romantic suspense novels and 20 romances, many with paranormal elements.  Her many awards include two RITA finalist books, two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times, four NJRW Golden Leaf Awards and the Barclay Gold Award.

In Amy Fetzer’s newest Dragon One series, Come as You Are, people are not what they appear to be. A woman who died may be alive. The vice president of Venezuela is alive, but in reality, is dead. What’s true isn’t. What’s false is true.

What’s going on? Who’s behind these convolutions? Is the CIA at fault? Former Marine, Logan Chambliss, has been dragged back into action to find out. Chambliss was a Navy Seal who got out of the Seals when a woman—Tessa Carlyle died—or, rather, he believes, erroneously that she did.

Asked by a US General to rescue a man he despises, someone he’d rather kill than help, Chambliss and seven other members of Dragon One, are catapulted into a politically explosive mess. “All the guys in Dragon One,” says Fetzer, “have had their military careers screwed by the U.S. government. All need to vindicate their lives.”

A polite young woman is murdered in her house in Pittsburgh, PA.  Two days later another murder victim, an angelic child, is found dead in nearby West Park.  Rookie detective, Colleen Greer, has a gut feeling the two murders might be linked. 

As she pursues the case, Greer keeps thinking she’s seeing someone out of the corner of her eye. Llike the title in Kathleen George’s latest thriller, AFTERIMAGE, suggests, these flashes are visual glimpses that linger.  But for Greer, they provoke unsettling memories.  “Greer’s mind is putting together a puzzle in a whole new way,” says George.

Greer's also messing with her mixed up heart.  A spirited almost 40 year-old, the rookie has a crush on her mentor and boss, Richard Christie, Head of Homicide, which is ramping up tension at work and in her personal life. No question, Christie is magnetic and handsome. But he's also married.

Andy Larson, a North Dakota cop, and four close friends will hijack a truck load of bootleg booze coming in from Canada. Everything goes wrong, when after months of meticulous planning, they actually take down the whisky truck and one of his friends is killed by a machine gun toting guard and they end up killing all the men in the trucks. When a shaken Larson and his remaining friends unload the whiskey they find the reason for the extra security is sixty-thousand dollars in gold coins belonging to Al "Scarface" Capone. Capone and his henchmen ignite a furious hunt for his gold and the men who stole it. The hardest task Andy Larson will ever face is saving his friends while trying to stay alive himself...

"Gangsters, Tommy guns, and stolen gold, all in one fast-moving package. Grab a copy of Mike Thompson's new novel and read it before someone makes the movie." -- Bill Crider, author of Death by Accident

"Curse of Al Capone's Gold combines the most entertaining elements of the gangster story, the western, and the caper novel with a fresh voice and agood o'l boy grin that always accompanies the best yarn. Mike Thompson seems to have as much fun as any of his characters, and it's infectious." -- Loren D. Estleman, author of Frames

Mike Thompson is an award winning photographer and writer. He retired from the government where he tested explosives and was curator of an Army museum. He is a Vietnam veteran medic (1966-67) with a military career that spanned 36 years, including Air Force, Army, Army National Guard and Reserves. He has owned several businesses, worked as an actor, carpenter, bartender, oil landman, cowboy and many other things while trying to decide what he would do if he ever grew up. Mike and his wife,Ruthie, live on the Laughing Horse Ranch, Land and Cattle Company, SanAngelo, Texas.

Laura Nelson has it all. But her seemingly perfect world shatters when she discovers her husband Steve, is sharing much more than a news desk with Kim, his sexy co-anchor. When Kim is murdered, Laura is left holding the smoking gun and her perfect life spirals into a perfect nightmare as Steve turns on her in the worst imaginable way.  In an all too real world where things are not always as they seem, looks can be deceiving. And deceit can be deadly.

Through her signature multi-dimensional characters, intense emotion, and exquisite plotting, Gussin has masterfully blurred the lines between right and wrong in this thought provoking novel.

"A thriller that would've made Hitchcock proud: an innocent woman caught in a tangled web of intrigue and mortal danger ... a novel as riveting as it is relentless, driving toward a climax that will have you burning through the pages late into the night. Not to be missed!" -- James Rollins, New York Times best-selling author of The Judas Strain

"Starts with a bang and keeps the tension going. Patricia Gussin is a pro who knows how to write a top-notch mystery." -- Stuart Kaminsky, Mystery Writers of America 2006 Grand Master

"Gussin wrenches emotion from the reader with a spare, objective narrative that draws its power from without, rather than telling her audience what to think and what to feel." -- Loren Estelman, award winning author of fifty-four novels including American Detective

Patricia Gussin's first novel, Shadow of Death, was nominated for Best First Novel in the Thriller Awards, sponsored by International Thriller Writers. Board Certified in Family Medicine, Gussin has practiced medicine and directed medical research in her role as worldwide vice president for a leading healthcare company.  She and her husband Bob have seven children. Patricia and Robert Gussin split their time between homes in Longboat Key, Florida, and East Hampton, New York, and thier vineyards in New Zealand.