Paperback quick reads for all tastes …

The Black Widow

By Wendy Corsi Staub
Harper. $7.99

Although she knows it may not be a good idea to seek a relationship through an Internet site, newly divorced Gaby Duran is feeling really down after her divorce. She tells herself that all she is looking for just a distraction and she’s smart enough to know not to believe what someone dishes out on a website.

But smart as she is, Gaby decides to go on line to see what is “out there”. What she encounters is something a little more than even Gaby bargained for. There’s a predator awaiting her who is bent on finding the perfect match; one who will fulfill every one of his twisted desires. And if he’s not satisfied this monster finds it rather easy to eliminate any memory of his victim.

Wendy Corsi Staub has authored over seventy novels. Her cyber predator series, which graphically illustrates what can go wrong with individuals looking for love on the Internet, has attracted a large audience.

A Ghostly Demise

By Tonya Kappes
Witness Impulse. $7.99

The part owner of a funeral home, Emma Lee Rains makes her living working with the dearly departed but she never thought her job would also entail serving as the “go-to-person” for those folks who deaths were also unsolved homicides.

Although she didn’t ask for her special “gift”, Emma can see and converse with the dead. Those who seek her out do so because they can’t rest in peace until their murders are solved and Emma is their sleuth of choice.

In this latest adventure Emma is approached by the town’s former drunk who mysteriously disappeared one day. In spirit form he’s back to get Emma to locate the person who caused his demise. While she reluctantly launches her investigation, a corpse, this one of more recent vintage, shows up in the village and naturally he wants some “assistance” also.

Because the two apparent murders are related, Emma adopts a “the more the merrier” attitude and toils on to try to uncover the person behind these two crimes.

Thanks to a cast of local characters who are all a bit eccentric, this suspense story has plenty of humor. The fact that Emma doesn’t exactly relish her role as a private investigator for those whose violent deaths remain unsolved also adds another element of humor to the proceedings.

Normally I am not a fan of mystery stories that feature ghosts, but this series is so amusing and the characters so likeable that I am more than willing to set my skepticism aside because Tonya Kappes is obviously having fun writing this series and it is very entertaining.

The Three Emperors

By William Dietrich
Harper. $9.99

Adventurer Ethan Gage returns for another episode in this series of historical thrillers that in many respects mirrors the old Indiana Jones novels.

Having just survived the battle of Trafalgar, Ethan is looking for his wife, Astiza, and their son who has been taken captive by a ruthless mystic and his sidekick, a dwarf alchemist.

The quest to set his wife and son free is also wrapped up in the search for the Brazen Head, a medieval device that supposedly can predict the future. Enlisting a Jewish Napoleonic soldier, Gideon Dray, and the man’s father, Aaron, a rabbi who is conversant in the legends surrounding the Golem, Ethan’s new adventure is as exciting as those that have gone before it.

In a new narrative twist, Dietrich allows Astiza to add her point of view in the plot’s development and the exotic beauty is as busy on her end of the story foiling her captors’ plans as her husband looks for her.

If you have followed this series this is obviously a “must” read and you’ll find this reads as quickly and is as riveting as the previous six novels that have gone before it.

Desert God

By Wilber Smith
William Morrow. $9.99

Wilber Smith’s novels set in ancient Egypt have appealed to readers who enjoy visiting the time period and relish action packed adventures. This latest effort, though, is a mixed bag.

Taita, a former slave and advisor to the Pharaoh, narrates this lengthy story which will revolve around preserving the kingdom by destroying the Hyksos army and forming an alliance with Crete.

An extremely egotistical hero, you’ll get the sense that Taita is the sole protector of the empire and its very continued existence rests entirely on his shoulders. That may well be true, but one tires of being continually reminded of the fact!

Although there’s plenty of action in this historical adventure you’ll have to withhold judgment of its protagonist and some of his associates because, all in all, these are not very attractive or likeable individuals.

If you’ve read Smith’s previous novels you might wish to give this one a try, but new readers may not have the patience to put up with the inflated ego of the central character. The reviews of “Desert God” have been all over the spectrum but there are more negative and lukewarm reactions than extremely positive ones.

The Toy Taker

By Luke Delaney
Harper. $7.99

Although Detective Inspector Sean Corrigan has been assigned to an office at Scotland Yard, he’s still going to be assigned those pesky cases that seem to confound his colleagues. Corrigan barely has time to figure out where the bathroom is and where to hang his coat when he faces his first assignment.

A child has gone missing from his bedroom during the night and there’s no sign of a forced entry. The four year old’s parents are distraught and Corrigan is called in to figure out what happened.

Just when he thinks he may have the person responsible for the abduction, another youngster is kidnapped and Corrigan is right back at square one. As the investigation continues, it becomes apparent someone has not only targeted children but is also challenging the police to solve the disappearances.

In this new suspense series, Luke Delaney has used his own experiences as a British police detective to create a realistic set of characters and circumstances that give his novels the ring of authenticity that only an insider could manage.