Here's a page from Longitude, the specialty bookseller for travelers. To order online, and to see the latest, most comprehensive selection of books and maps, go to http://reading.longitudebooks.com/WT10721. You may also call 800-342-2164 to order or request a catalog.

The Shortest Way to Hades  •  Sarah Caudwell MYSTERY •  1995 •  PAPER Subtitled Die First, Pay Later, this is the second of Caudwell's four delightful comedy of manners starring Oxford professor and amateur sleuth Hilary Tamar. The action (which involves settling of a large estate) moves from London to a cruise in the Greek Islands. (GRE245, $7.99)
Sirens Sang of Murder  •  Sarah Caudwell MYSTERY •  1990 •  PAPER  • 277 PAGES A tantalizing comic mystery set in the Channel Islands. Written by Sarah Caudwell, whose Hilary Tamar mysteries (this is the third in a series of four) have become favorites for their clever plotting and erudite wit. She immerses the reader in the legends and atmosphere of Jersey, Sark and Little Sark in this tale of death, law and taxes, all popular subjects. (GBR196, $7.99)
The Sibyl in Her Grave  •  Sarah Caudwell MYSTERY •  2001 •  PAPER A delightful comedy of manners starring Oxford professor and amateur sleuth Hilary Tamar, the last in a series of four. In this installment, the story veers from Britain to Cannes, Avignon, and Monte Carlo. The action (as usual) involves taxes and a group of trouble-prone attractive young barristers. It's all very droll, much better than it might sound in a plot summary. (FRN539, $7.99)
Back to Bologna  •  Michael Dibdin MYSTERY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES Dibdin shows a lighter touch in this installment in the marvelous Aurelio Zen mysteries. His detective, up to his neck in girlfriend trouble, is called to Bologna to figure out who killed a local industrialist. He encounters a diverse cast of characters and, naturally, more murders ensue. (ITL746, $13.95)
Medusa, An Aurelio Zen Mystery  •  Michael Dibdin MYSTERY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES It's hard to say what we like best about Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen series: his knowing police detective, the thoroughly enjoyable Italian settings, fast-paced plot or wry commentary on contemporary society and poltitics. In this ninth outing, Zen finds a mysterious corpse in a long-abandoned military tunnel in the Dolomites, a perfect opportunity for Dibdin to put his detective on scenic train rides and immerse him in some unsavory WWII-era politics. Zen and Gemma are living quietly (or attempting to) in Lucca after the events of the last book, Blood Rain. (ITL576, $13.95)
Dead Lagoon, An Aurelio Zen Mystery  •  Michael Dibdin MYSTERY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 297 PAGES Dibdin -- a master of ambiguous settings, shady dealings and fast-paced prose -- returns to Venice in this sixth book in the thoroughly enjoyable Aurelio Zen series. It may be his best, the city a perfect match for the knowing charm of Dibdin's detective. (ITL577, $14.95)
A Long Finish, An Aurelio Zen Mystery  •  Michael Dibdin MYSTERY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Another enjoyable "Aurelio Zen Mystery" from Michael Dibdin, this time private investigator Zen is in Rome and Alba, enjoying wonderful wine and food while uncovering a murderous plot that may jeopardize the Piemontese wine industry. (ITL193, $13.95)
The Chinese Bell Murders  •  Robert Van Gulik MYSTERY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES These historical mysteries, featuring a Tang-era Chinese magistrate, are taken from the tradition of Chinese suspense novels. Apart from the pleasure of the elaborate plots, the books are rich in details of court and daily life in ancient China. This is the first installment in Van Gulik's satisyingly complex series. (CHN286, $13.99)
The Chinese Gold Murders  •  Robert Van Gulik MYSTERY •  2004 •  PAPER These historical mysteries, featuring a Tang-era Chinese magistrate, are taken from the tradition of Chinese detective novels. Apart from the pleasure of the elaborate plots, the books are rich in details of court and daily life in ancient China. In this installment, a series of murders greet Judge Dee newly appointed as magistrate of Penglai, a port city on the northeast coast of Shantung Province. (CHN289, $13.99)
The Chinese Lake Murders  •  Robert Van Gulik MYSTERY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES These historical mysteries, featuring a Tang-era Chinese magistrate, are taken from the tradition of Chinese suspense novels. Apart from the pleasure of the elaborate plots, the books are rich in details of court and daily life in ancient China. In this book, third in Van Gulik's classic series, set in 666, Judge Dee tackes three difficult cases as the newly appointed magistrate of Han-yuan. (CHN288, $13.99)
The Chinese Nail Murders  •  Robert Van Gulik MYSTERY •  2005 •  PAPER These historical mysteries, featuring a Tang-era Chinese magistrate, follow the tradition of ancient Chinese suspense novels. Apart from the pleasure of the elaborate plots, the books are rich in details of court and daily life in ancient China. In this book set on the northern frontier of Pei-chow, Judge Dee must solve the murders of an honored merchant, a kindly boxing master, and a paper merchant's wife, whose corpse has no head. The nail murder is based on a 13th-century tale. This is the fourth installment of Robert Van Gulik's classic Chinese mystery series. (CHN292, $13.99)

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