Three novels comprise this week’s notable new releases.

• SCHOOL DAYS is Robert B. Parker’s latest novel in his Spenser series. That’s Spenser as in SPENSER: FOR HIRE, the ol’ Robert Urich TV show. I’m ashamed (but not really) to say that I didn’t realize the show was based on a book for many, many years. But I never watched the show. Nor have I read any of the books. But Parker’s (or Spenser’s) fans are legion, and this one centers around an all-too-timely school shooting.

• If cyberpunk noir is your thing, Richard Morgan’s WOKEN FURIES is for you. The third of his Takeshi Kovacs novels, the book is sure to please fans of Morgan’s previous acclaimed works like ALTERED CARBON and MARKET FORCES. Look for Ryun Patterson’s review – as well as an interview with Morgan – soon!

• Finally, there’s HERETIC: THE TEMPLAR CHRONICLES from Joseph Nasisse. Though definitely of a lower profile than these other titles, HERETIC is not too be ignored. It’s a mish-mash of several genres wrapped up in a deliriously fun tale of knights, necromancers and religious artifacts. Even Clive Barker agrees with us. If you haven’t already read our review or our Q&A with Nasisse, by all means, click away and do so.