After swearing off any series years ago, I’m now attached to too many of them. Yet, they make light, fun summer reading. So, I’m wending my way through more books by Ellery Adams.

But, I also found three new authors this month. I’m looking forward to more books from all three of these talented writers.

“In Any Lifetime: A Novel” by Marc Guggenheim (2024) is a suspenseful, sci-fi romp through alternate universes (or the multiverse). Jonas Cullen is celebrating the greatest night of his life with the woman he loves. He is accepting a Novel Prize for his work confirming the existence of parallel universes (the Many Worlds Proof). His wife Amanda’s announcement that she is pregnant is the icing on the cake.

But, when Amanda is killed in an accident, Jonas takes his research and turns it into a search through the multiverse for a universe where Amanda is still alive. As he reality-slips through  parallel universes, he discovers that the universe favors certain outcomes — that there are laws that could be called fate or destiny — and the chances of finding a universe where Amanda is alive is slim.

The book’s chapters alternate between Jonas’ quest and the past when Jonas and Amanda meet, fall in love and marry, and face a charge of plagiarism from a mentor of Jonas’ who will complicate his search of the multiverse.

I’m not a science person at all, but I found the physics fairly easy to follow and fascinating to think about. Jonas’ quest opens up many questions, including as one person asks, “Why do you get a second chance and the rest of us don’t?”

I didn’t realize Guggenheim was a TV and movie writer until after I read the book. But, I should have guessed, because the book is very cinematic.

“Murder by Degrees” by Ritu Mukerji (2023). Dr. Lydia Weston is an anomaly in 1875 Philadelphia. A “lady doctor” for 10 years, she is an attending physician at the Spruce Street Clinic and teaches at the Woman’s Medical College with like-minded doctors who believe medical care should be available for everyone. Lydia’s mother, who grew up in India, took her for a visit, teaching her to ride, shoot and explore. And, her father encouraged his children to read, keep journals and train themselves to think methodically. But, many hospitals still bar women physicians, so Woman’s Med created clinics at which their students can learn.

Then one of Lydia’s patients, Anna Ward, a young woman in service, goes missing. Dr. Harlan Stanley, professor at Woman’s Med, and his wife, Anthea, also a physician and professor, are Lydia’s friends and treat her like a daughter. Anthea urges her to wait before going to Anna’s place of employment. But, Harlan knows a police inspector and speaks to him.

Inspector Thomas Volcker and Sgt. Charlie Davies are a team of honest cops avoiding cronyism in the department. When a female body is found by the river, it is assumed to be suicide. Anna’s belongings are found near the river. But, Volcker is suspicious and wants an autopsy, which Harlan and Lydia perform. Then Volcker involves Lydia in the investigation (despite Davies’ misgivings). Lydia throws herself into the case, feeling partly responsible for Anna’s demise. Who wished to silence Anna? What secret did she discover?

“Alias Emma” by Ava Glass (2022). Meet Emma Makepeace, a spy for The Agency in London, a branch of MI5 or is it MI6? Who knows. Emma is actually Russian. Her mother was pregnant when she fled Russia, hoping her husband, who had been working for the British, would follow. Growing up, all Emma ever wanted to be was a spy and get revenge on those who killed her father. She loves her job working for her boss and mentor, Ripley. Now she has been sent into the field, only for the second time, and will spend the next 24 hours using every skill she has accumulated to get Michael Primalov, a young doctor and the son of a Russian scientist, to safety.

They must cross a London teeming with CCTV cameras and Russian agents determined to get their hands on him. What’s going on at The Agency? Why is Ripley MIA? Who can she trust? But, we also get a lot of back story about Emma’s past and her training. This is a great thriller, spy caper and race against time, but with real fleshed-out characters and a lot of heart. I’m looking forward to Emma’s next assignment in “The Traitor.”