In Zeltserman's run-of-the-mill second Bill Shannon mystery (after 2007's Bad Thoughts), Shannon, now a PI in Boulder, Colo., investigates the murder of two college students-Taylor Carver and Linda Gibson, bludgeoned to death in the bedroom of the off-campus condo they shared-at the behest of the condo owner, who's being sued for lax security. After his former colleagues on the Boston police force vouch for him, Shannon gets more cooperation from the locals. Meanwhile, the mother of a girl taken in by the True Light cult calls on the detective for help. Some may find it odd that no one mentions the Jon Benet Ramsey case when the recent history of murders in Boulder comes up in conversation. The predictable plot builds to a final twist that will shock few. Readers might do better to check out the second in Zeltserman's bad-ass out of prison trilogy, Pariah (Reviews, Aug. 3), instead

The supernatural, unmissable new novel by the ALA Best Horror award nominee. In nineteenth-century Germany, one young man counts down the days until he can marry his beloved . . . until she is found brutally murdered, and the young man is accused of the crime. Broken on the wheel and left for dead, he awakens on a lab table, transformed into an abomination. Friedrich must go far to take his revenge --only to find his tormentor, Victor Frankenstein, in league with the Marquis de Sade, creating something much more sinister deep in the mountains. Paranormal and gripping in the tradition of the best work of Stephen King and Justin Cronin, Monster is a gruesome parable of control and vengeance, and an ingenious tribute to one of literature's greatest  Review "Zeltserman's monster is every bit as eloquent as Shelley's, though his rage is more focused. This is juicy material for Franken-fans, and Zeltserman is just faithful enough to the original that his many fresh contributions feel entirely normal. Well, abnormal, to be accurate, but deliciously so." Daniel Kraus, Booklist (Starred Review) "This reworking of Frankenstein is chilling and captivating! A tale of justice, true love, and ultimate forgiveness, this gruesome novel is perfect for fans of Stephen King and similar horror stories."  ForeWord Magazine (Pick of the Week) "Monster is Gothic horror that pulls no punches -- a brutal ride through a hellish tale...likely one of the best books of 2012"  Bruce Grossman, Bookgasm "Zeltserman keeps the action moving relentlessly forward with minimal padding, either in terms of plot or prose. The action is tight and there's no shade of purple in his style, but there's plenty going on thematically." Ed Siegel, WBUR

Dave Zeltserman's last novel was named by NPR as one of the top five crime and mystery novels of 2008 and one of The Washington Post's best books of the year. Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, said his "breakthrough third crime novel deserves comparison with the best of James Ellroy." And Crimetime calls him a name to watch." Now, Zeltserman has written the book his fans have been waiting for-a classic unlike anything you've ever read. Jack Durkin is the ninth generation of Durkins who have weeded Lorne Field for nearly 300 years. Though he and his wife Lydia are miserable and would like nothing more than to leave, Jack must wait until his son has come of age to tend the field on his own. It's an important job, though no one else seems to realize it. For, if the field is left untended, a horrific monster called an Aukowie will grow-a monster capable of taking over the entirety of America in just two weeks. Or so it is said…