Brian Freeman, John McEvoy

Brian Freeman: Stalked

Lt. Jonathan Stride knows his partner Maggie is in trouble when she reports a rime one bitter winter night. She’s obviously hiding a terrible secret. But she isn’t the only one. A seductive young woman has disappeared leaving a trail of lurid fantasies and a cryptic message.

John McEvoy: Close Call

Jack Doyle, the failed advertising account executive with serious attitude and mouth control issues from Blind Switch ($14.95), is back from New Zealand, rueful and wondering what next. His friend Moe Kellman, Chicago furrier to the Outfit but in his way, a perspicacious and stand-up guy (besides, Moe’s a Cubs fan), has a job in mind. Celia McCann’s dad has died and left Celia the thing he loved most, his racetrack. Monee Park is bleeding dough but if Celia can hang on until the Illinois legislature makes a decision on video slot machines at tracks, she can keep her dad’s dream alive. But does Celia’s co-heir, her cousin Niall Hanratty over in Ireland, want to cash out? Moe suggests Jack become the Monee Park publicity director, see what he can do. One thing he can do is go over to Ireland and check Neill out. Another is to work with others in Celia’s circle to help her with her husband, a gifted athlete dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease. And a third is to figure out who has started sabotaging Monee Park and its chances.