Here are a few new books, with one debut series from Nancy Lynn Jarvis, releasing this week and my pick of the week is . . .

The Subject of Malice by Cynthia Kuhn ~ The organizers have rustled up plenty of surprises for the literary conference at Tattered Star Ranch. But the murder of an influential scholar wasn’t on the program—someone has clearly taken the theme of Malice in the Mountains to heart. This shocking crime is only the beginning: Other dangers and deceptions are soon revealed. English professor Lila Maclean has a full agenda: She must convince a press to publish her book (possibly), ace her panel presentations (hopefully), and deal with her nemesis (regrettably). “This was a tightly woven drama that immediately grabbed my attention. . . narrative was visually descriptive with engaging dialogue and scenarios that put me in the middle of all the action” -my musing