As the days grow shorter and fall is in the air, we hope to share some mysteries that may be right up your dark alley (or might hit the cozy spot on a chilly evening, if that’s your preference). Here’s what we reviewed in the past month – some books by familiar authors, some who may be new to you, one that’s a debut…and some that we hope will hit the spot.
Kate Westbury, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies – “Westbury’s debut takes readers to a time and place where adventures can happen…It’s the kind of book where you imagine the author has enjoyed every moment of writing it.” Barbara Fister
Emiko Jean, Before You Were Anne – “This engrossing and emotionally-charged story is often challenging thanks to its depiction of abusive relationships. But it’s hard to put down, as a well-plotted multi-vocal mystery with compelling characters.” Barbara Fister
Don MacDonald, The Faithful – “While murder isn’t completely uncommon in Winnipeg, the identity of the body confronting Detective Michael Shelter is unusual. The victim, found with his throat slit in an upscale vacation rental, must be a Hutterite, to go by his traditional clothing.” Barbara Fister
Laurie R. King, Those Who Are Gone – ” This is a complex, slow-moving novel with two time-frames that requires readers to follow several cases with multiple players that are eventually braided together.” Barbara Fister
James Sallis, Backwater – “Reading James Sallis is like reading poetry, or having a dream that is vivid and tactile but yet somehow elusive. That’s the feeling evoked in his last, posthumous novel…” Barbara Fister
Gary Disher, Sanctuary – “…a wonderfully knotty bundle of double-crosses and pursuits, all rendered in confident, spare, and graceful prose.” Barbara Fister
Michelle L. Cullen, A Field Guide to Death & Deceit – “The plot and the crime have a lot of moving parts, and Cullen neatly weaves together all the loose threads to create an exciting, satisfying conclusion. Not only Harry and Emma, but any of their supporting cast, are subjects worth studying, in field guides yet to come.” Mary-Jane Oltarzewski
Tom Hindle, A Fatal Crossing – “Taking place in five days in November of 1924, A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle harks back in many ways to Golden Age mysteries. It’s set onboard the Endeavour as she sails from England to New York, and when a man is found dead at the foot of a staircase, the scene is set for a “closed room” sort of mystery.” Meredith Frazier
Ann Cleeves, The Dying Light – “This is a deeply satisfying mystery that offers enough red herrings to fill the Bristol Channel…Ann Cleeves is a pro, and The Dying Light is further proof that she may be prolific but she’s not taking her readers for granted.” Barbara Fister