From the October 1, 2001 issue of PW Daily, an e-news list by Publishers Weekly:

Who’s Gonna Do It: The BookSense 76 Fall Mystery List

The following is the first BookSense 76 mystery list, for autumn 2001,
with annotations from booksellers.

1. The Shape of Snakes by Minette Walters (Putnam, $24.95, 0399147330).
"M. Ranelagh is convinced one of her neighbors on Garden Street is
guilty of murder. Was it racism or greed that drove one of them to leave
poor Mad Annie Butts for dead in the gutter? Her compulsion to solve
this case is so magnetic that you are there with her every step of the
way."--Sheri Kraft, Alibi Books, Glenview, Ill.

2. In a Strange City by Laura Lippman (Morrow, $24, 0380978180). "P.I.
Tess Monaghan goes to wait for the 'Visitor' at the annual birthday
gathering at Poe's gravesite. She gets involved with more strange
visitors as well as being stalked herself. Lippman's high level of
writing is eloquent and holds your interest from beginning to end. This
Poe-ish mystery is a delight."--Mary Jane Weber, Town Book Store,
Westfield, N.J.

3. Critical Space by Greg Rucka (Bantam, $23.95, 0553801325; in stores
tomorrow, October 2). "Bodyguard Atticus Kodiak returns, this time
protecting a children's advocate. Read this masterful work. Read all of
his books. Buy them all at once because you'll consume them. Rucka
deserves inclusion on the same list as Connelly, Lehane, Burke, and
Pearson, masters all of the twisting, morally complex, and reliably
entertaining, crime story."--J.B. Dickey, Seattle Mystery Bookshop,
Seattle, Wash.

4. Total Recall by Sara Paretsky (Delacorte, $25.95, 0385313667). "Loyal
fans will be wowed by the latest V.I. Warshawski mystery. When good
friend and mentor Dr. Lotty Herschel is disturbed by the appearance of
an odd man claiming to be a Holocaust survivor and possible relation,
V.I. jumps into action and searches for the truth. Paretsky grabs us and
doesn't let go until the last word."--Marla Alexander, The Book Bin,
Northbrook, Ill.

5. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
(Columbia University Press, $13 paper, 0748662529). "Hailed by the TLS
as one of 1998's International Books of the Year, this book is now
available here. And it is delightful, unusual, and captivating. Precious
Ramotswe has opened Botswana's first and only detective agency staffed
by women. Smith traverses this landscape with an air of simplicity,
euphony, and harmony, never patronizing Precious and never boring the
reader. I loved every word."--Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen,
Scottsdale, Ariz.

6. The Cold Blue Blood by David Handler (St. Martin's/Minotaur, $23.95,
0312280033; in stores October). "The Edgar Award-winning author of the
Stewart Hoag mysteries delivers the first in what looks to be an even
stronger series, featuring New York film critic Mitch Berger and
Connecticut homicide detective Desiree Mitry. Intelligent, witty
writing, and a fine whodunit. One of the best mystery novels of the
year!"--David Thompson, Murder by the Book, Houston, Texas

7. Stormy Weather by Paula L. Woods (Norton, $24.95, 0393020215). "This
is a wonderfully complex police procedural set in L.A. a few months
after the riots, and it has dual themes: historical black Hollywood and
corruption in the LAPD. Woods' story is tight and fascinating, and
heroine Charlotte Justice lives and works in both worlds. It was
impossible to put down!"--Jean Utley, Book 'em Mysteries, South
Pasadena, Calif.

8. Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter (Morrow, $25, 0688174574). "A debut
novel that mystery readers won't be able to resist. Dark suspense, fast
pace, twists and turns that won't let the reader put this one aside.
Pediatrician and county coroner Dr. Sara Linton is an engaging and
interesting character. Can't wait for the sequel!"--Regina Lowry, Best
of Books, Edmond, Okla. Also a HarperAudio (0694523410)

9. Too High by Corson Hirschfeld (Forge, $25.95, 0765300117).
"Unscrupulous artifact collectors, a wacky mountain militia,
rattlesnakes, and a guy who can do more drugs than ... well, all play a
part in Too High. A well-written, offbeat mystery with Hiaasen-like
characters."--Jon Platt, Nonesuch Books, Scarborough, Me.

10. Blue by Abigail Padgett (Mysterious Press, $12.95 paper,
0446677027). "Padgett's first Blue McCarron mystery is full of wit and
excitement. The intricate plot challenges both Blue and the reader,
leading us through a maze of twists and turns. Fans of Laurie King will
delight in discovering this new series!"--Erik Swallow, Lambda Rising
Bookstore, Norfolk, Va.