An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser (Pantheon; $22). Thirtysomething writer is dumped by new husband for his former high school flame, takes consolation trip to Italy, meets dashing (married) French prof, proceeds to have torrid affair with prof, regains her love of life (not to mention self-esteem) and writes this book. Honest. That's exactly what happened to Ms. Fraser. Signing: 7 p.m. today , Books & Co., 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering (937) 298-6540.

        A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George (Bantam Doubleday Dell. Ms. George is back in stores today with the 11th book in her Thomas Lynley/Barbara Havers mystery series. The New Scotland Yard detectives are called in to work a Hampstead murder case with roots in a sensational child murder that happened years before. Publishers Weekly predicts that this hefty read (624 pages) will “only add to her growing reputation as doyenne of English murder mystery novelists.”

        The Jury by Steve Martini (Putnam; $25.95). Also back on the shelf this week: Mr. Martini and his California lawyer-hero Paul Madriani, starring in his sixth legal thriller. Madriani is defending a genetic researcher accused of killing a young, ambitious colleague. “Lean, speedy and packing a wallop of a plot twist at the end,” said the Publishers Weekly review.

        Two Truths and a Lie by Katrina Kittle (Warner; $22.95). The second novel by the Dayton, Ohio, writer is about a woman who has perfected the art of lying. Having started spinning tales as a child, Dair Canard now has built so much fiction into her life that she is having difficulty remembering what is the truth and what isn't. Signings: 7 p.m. Wednesday , Books & Co., 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering (937) 298-6540; and 7 p.m. Thursday , Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Edwards and Madison roads, Norwood, 396-8960.

Call Allman Brothers fan the midnight writer
Revealing Abercrombie catalog sparks a boycott
Book on intellectuals is playing Yogi's game
Tristate best sellers list
What Tristaters are reading
What's arriving & happening in area bookstores
Teen realizes dream with modeling contract
Get to It