Dear Burning Questions,
I first read about the Georgia author Karin Slaughter in BookPage. Is she writing any new books? Her books are very intense, but I love them.

Heather Hedden
Dallas, Georgia

We share your admiration for Karin Slaughter. As a matter of fact, we predicted that Blindsighted (2001), her first novel starring Grant County medical examiner Sara Linton, would "propel the Georgia native right onto the 'must-read' list for suspense fans." After five best-selling books in the Grant County series, Slaughter has decided to branch out: her sixth novel, Triptych, coming in August from Delacorte, will be a stand-alone. If you're worried that this means the end of the Grant County books, fear not—Slaughter says some of the characters from Triptych could make their way into future installments of the series.

The action begins in one of downtown Atlanta's most notorious slums, where police detective Michael Ormwood discovers the mutilated body of a young girl. It soon becomes clear that the girl's murder is part of a series of similar killings that could have a personal connection for Ormwood.

UNLEASHING HAVOC

Dear Burning Questions,
When will Jack Du Brul be coming out with a new book?

Lynne Neidenbach
Villa Ridge, Missouri

You'll be pleased to know that Du Brul's Philip Mercer, geologist and green warrior, will appear in a seventh novel, Havoc (Dutton), to be published in the fall. Du Brul's popular books pit Mercer against eco-terrorists and other evil sorts, while incorporating elements of history and adventure travel. Something of an adventurer himself, Du Brul's most recent literary undertaking was co-writing 2005's Dark Watch with legendary author Clive Cussler.

"We are thrilled at the prospect of readers who have discovered Jack through his Cussler work now having the opportunity to experience his Philip Mercer books," Tom Colgan, an executive editor at Penguin, tells BQ.

CASE CLOSED

Dear Burning Questions,
Do you know if Carol O'Connell will be releasing another book in her Kathleen Mallory series? This is a wonderful series with such an intriguing protagonist.

Sheri Brady
Battle Creek, Michigan

We're happy to report that a certain intriguing protagonist will be returning to print this October, when Putnam will release Find Me. Readers of the earlier Mallory novels know that the NYPD detective is one tough cookie—before being adopted by a sympathetic police officer as a young girl, she roamed the streets of New York, a homeless pickpocket and petty thief. But when a discovery indicates that dozens of missing children could be buried along the storied Route 66, even Mallory is shaken, especially since something about the murders has her remembering her own troubled past.

BURNING FOR NEWS

Dear Burning Questions,
I read the first two books by Heather Lowell, No Escape and When the Storm Breaks. I enjoyed them, but it's been a while now and nothing new. Can you give any information about this author and whether we can expect something new soon?

Michelle Davis
Dunnellon, Florida

We, too, were expecting something new from romantic suspense author Heather Lowell—her mother and fellow writer, Elizabeth Lowell, raved about her work-in-progress, Once Burned (HarperCollins), in our February 2005 issue. BQ contacted Lowell to find out what happened to the book, and here's the scoop:

"Thanks for your interest in Once Burned. Well, first let me just say that there's no such thing as 'minor' knee surgery, as I've discovered to my chagrin. So, after a prolonged pause to pursue my new hobby of post-op physical therapy, I'm slowly getting back to work. I plan to submit the manuscript for Once Burned in October 2006. Be sure to check back on the status of former Wyoming sheriff Finn Vartan and ex-venture capitalist Samara Walsh as they both look for answers in the death of Sam's half-sister and the disappearance of her infant niece."

Because of the time period between manuscript submission and publication, this probably means you can start looking for Once Burned in spring of 2007.