Reading right now:

“Spirits and Sourdough” is the tenth book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series by Bailey Cates. If you need a break from domestic thrillers, you might want to read this cozy series featuring witchy bakery owner Katie Lightfoot in Savannah. This well-done light murder mystery series has supernatural elements and an excellent reoccurring cast. In this most recent installment, Katie goes on a ghost tour of Savannah only to have a newly dead ghost turn up demanding that her murder be solved.

On hold right now:

There are so many bestselling mystery authors coming out with new books in March that you better start putting holds on all your favorites right now. Harlan Coben’s “The Match” is his second book in the Wilde series. C. J. Box’s “Shadows Reel” is his 22^nd book in the Joe Pickett series. Stuart Woods has “A Safe House” coming out which is his 61^st Stone Barrington mystery novel. “What Happened to the Benefits” is Lisa Scottoline’s latest standalone novel. Janet Evanovich launch’s a new series with “The Recovery Agent” featuring Gabriela Rose as a recovery agent. Jude Deveraux’s fourth book in her Medlar Mystery series is “A Relative Murder.” Fern Michaels latest domestic thriller is “Fear Thy Neighbor.” Phillip Margolin’s fifth book in his Robin Lockwood series is “The Darkest Place.” Jacqueline Winspear’s 17^th novel in the Maisie Dobbs series is “A Sunlit Weapon.” If that isn’t enough for you, April brings two of our biggest mystery authors David Baldacci and John Sandford coming out with new books which no one will want to miss. Baldacci’s “Dream Team” is the third in his Aloysius Archer series. Sandford starts a new series with Letty Davenport.

 

With another New Year here, it’s a good time to mention an author that you may have missed that you simply don’t want to miss. If you didn’t read Darby Kane’s “Pretty Little Wife,” you need to make sure you do so right now. The book is a domestic suspense novel with so many twists and turns that you will stay up all night and call in sick the next day to see what is going to happen next. Now to top it all off, her second book “The Replacement Wife” just came out last month. Which means when you finish the first, you’ll have another great book to look forward to.

 

Reading right now:

“Everything We Didn’t Say” by Nicole Baart is a family drama with a mystery in the background. When Juniper Baker fled from Jericho, Iowa, she left behind a daughter to be raised by her parents and a murdered local couple.  She returns to make amends with her now teenage daughter and to solve the murder of her brutally murdered neighbors. Juniper has been holding a secret, but doesn’t know if releasing her knowledge will help her start again or destroy any hope of starting over.

 

On hold right now:

It’s been five years since Joanne Harris added a book to the St. Oswald series called “A Narrow Door.” It seems the time has come for this boy’s prep school to open it’s doors to girls and to a headmistress. The new headmistress, Rebecca Buckfast, is ruthlessly ambitious. It seems she killed to get the job and may have to kill again to keep her secrets buried.

Noah Hawley’s “Anthem” takes the world’s current insanity to a whole new level. Starting with a pandemic of teen suicide, he makes it personal by following a young man who is trying to recover from his sister’s death and finds himself on a quest to end the pandemic which is somehow tied to a man known as the Wizard. This book is an adventure thriller which goes down the road to redemption. It is more thriller than mystery, but is worth mentioning here because of the times we live in and the impact it is having on reviewers.

In “Find Me” by Alafair Burke, Hope Miller reinvented her life after being in a terrible car accident. She gives herself a name and settles into life in a small town in New Jersey for 15 years. Suddenly her best friend discovers that she has vanished leaving behind only a drop of blood where she was last seen. Her DNA sample matches a blood sample connected to a notorious Kansas murder. Now the hunt is on to find Hope and the truth about what she knows.

Other Mysterious Things:

So many books are being turned into movies or series these days that you cannot even begin to keep up. The 1957 Patricia Highsmith novel “Deep Water” is coming out as a movie with Ben Affleck. Kenneth Branagh is working on turning another Agatha Christie novel into a movie (“Death on the Nile”). Hugh Laurie is directing a limited series from another Agatha Christie called “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” A new book called “Argylle” by Ellie Conway is already being turned into a movie.  “Luckiest Girl Alive” by Jessica Knoll will star Mila Kunis is set to come out this year. It looks like there will be so many that this list will grow and grow so enjoy a great mystery book and let’s hope some of the movies are worth watching.

One of Sherlock Holmes most famous quotes is about the evil lurking in the English countryside ("They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside"). Many of the books I am featuring today fit right in with that belief. Small towns have their own secrets, hidden knowledge, vile coverups, anger, and finally revenge. Interestingly enough, it seems that it doesn’t matter where you go in the world, small towns are all the same as you can see from these books from Australia, Sweden, the UK, and Russia.

Reading right now:

As the western United States “drys” up, it might be a good time to read “The Dry” by Jane Harper. Harper was born in England, but now lives in Australia and her side details about the ravages of the drought hitting Australia may strike a little close to home while adding a disquieting urgency to the novel which centers around the murder of a young family by the father who proceeds to kill himself. His childhood friend is now a policeman and is struck by several oddities which seem to point to murder by someone other than his old friend. This novel first came out in 2017 and was followed up by another mystery with the same hero (Policeman Aaron Falk). If you missed this series, it is time to go back and catch up.

 

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Swedish mystery author, Kjell Eriksson’s ninth book in his Ann Lindell series (“The Deathwatch Beetle”) was just released. This time around Lindell finds herself investigating the cold case of a young woman (Cecilia Karlsson) who disappeared from the island where Lindell is living. Lindell receives a tip that Cecilia has been spotted alive. When she attempts to uncover the truth about the case, she finds an old love interest of Cecilia’s who carries a large secret while someone else is hiding on the island waiting for revenge.

C. J. Farrington’s first book in the Olga Pushkin mystery series called “Death on the Trans-Siberian Express” came out earlier this year and the second is set to come out sometime in 2022. Pushkin is a Railway Engineer in the quiet, small town of Roslazny in Russia, but is striving to be a bestselling author. It doesn’t take long for Pushkin to become involved in drama and secrets which include Poison-pen letters, a small-town crime wave, rumors of a murderous witch, and finally an American tourist who falls from the Trans-Siberian train right on top of Pushkin.

UK author Ross Greenwood just released the fourth book in his Detective Inspector Barton series called “The Cold Killer.” After a prisoner dies in jail, Barton investigates but finds nothing suspicious until the dead man’s house is burgled and there is a suspicious fire. Everyone he tries to interview about the death disappears and it doesn’t take long until he starts receiving threats.

 Reading right now:

English author Alice Feeney’s “Rock Paper Scissors” is the latest in her stand-along novels which seem to all be dark and unsettling. Supposedly her 2020 book “His & Hers” is being adapted as a TV series. Her latest is about a couple who are trying to save their marriage with a trip to Scotland for their anniversary. Unfortunately for them there is someone in their background who doesn’t want them to stay alive to celebrate.

                  

On hold right now:

Tess Little’s second stand-alone novel is “The Last Guest.” Elspeth Bell makes the mistake of attending her ex-husband’s, Richard Bryant, birthday party, she is only one of eight guests. When Richard ends up dead, the guests find themselves having an Agatha Christie moment while each examine their memories of Richard and try to determine who might have killed him. This would make a great movie especially since Richard has a very unusual pet – an octopus who shares the spotlight with the dinner guests (think of “My Octopus Teacher”).

Other Mysterious Things:

The extremely popular Amor Towles’ latest is “The Lincoln Highway.” While perhaps not a traditional mystery, there are certainly elements that could very well make this popular with those who enjoy close cousins to the mystery novel. It takes place in 1954 when young Emmett Watson returns home from the juvenile work farm that he served 15 months for involuntary manslaughter. The warden from the work farm offers to drop Emmett off where he can pick up his young brother with the plan that they will move to California. Unfortunately, two friends from the work farm have escaped and are hiding in the back of the warden’s car.

 What do I feel when I read a new mystery author? Hope and excitement. I hope that I am going to love the new addition to the genre and hope that the author writes many more wonderful books. Here are a few new authors full of promise and hope.

 

Reading right now:

“Down Range” by Taylor Moore” is the first book in a new series and this author’s first book. It centers around DEA Agent Garrett Kohl whose family is threated by a vicious criminal enterprise. The place he calls home in Texas is under attack and those criminals are terrorizing both Kohl’s family and his community. When Kohl goes home from Afghanistan to try to deal with the problem, he finds himself fighting a new war.

                                          

On hold right now:

Susan Walter’s first mystery is “Good as Dead.” Secrets and keeping those secrets is the basis of this novel which starts with Holly Kendrick’s husband dying in a hit-and-run accident which she witnessed. When the rich and powerful driver offers her money to start a new life, she cannot afford to refuse. Unfortunately, her new neighbors want to dig up her secrets while keeping their own buried.

“Welcome to Cooper” is Tariq Ashkanani’s debut thriller which centers around Detective Thomas Levine whose transfer from a big city to what he considers a grubby backwater becomes transformational for him and the town of Cooper, Nebraska. He finds himself trying to solve the murder of a young woman while fighting a violent drug cartel.

Dan Schorr’s “Final Table” is a timely political thriller involving sexual scandal, cover ups and media dysfunction.

Other Mysterious Things:

Every author’s career starts with that first novel. Not everyone’s first novel is turned into a movie like David Baldacci’s “Absolute Power” or end up writing over 50 books like Baldacci. Some authors only write one really famous book which was all they needed to do. Edgar Allan Poe only wrote one novel “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket.” Most of the Sherlock Holmes books are collections of short stories. The point is that when you come upon a new author you just never know, but you always hope.

 While series mysteries are some of the most popular items on a library shelf, there are still many standalone novels that come out every month. Series books may be big best sellers for many authors, but standalones also break through and become bestsellers. There are famous authors known for their series, but most of them also write a standalone on occasion. Sometimes it seems that we only remember series books because of movies such as all the Sherlock Holmes movies, Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie), Rex Stout’s Nero Wolf, and so on. However, lots of new suspense thriller movies start out as standalone novels such as “The Girl on a Train” by Paula Hawkins and “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. So here are a few more standalone novels for September and some may be destined for future greatness.

                                                     

Reading right now:

Rachel Howzell Hall’s “These Toxic Things” follows Mickie Lambert’s attempt to honor a dead client by putting together a “digital scrapbook” for the deceased. Unfortunately for Mickie, someone else has a vested interest in the information and starts threatening Mickie and telling him that he needs to leave the information alone. The threats just peak Mickie’s interest and his curiosity makes him cross paths with a killer.

On hold right now:

Christopher Swann’s “A Fire in the Night” follows Nick Anthony’s attempt to help his niece after her parents are killed in a fire. The fire was set purposely and the killers were supposed to take out the whole family. When they find out they missed the niece, they follow her to Nick’s and he finds himself defending both their lives.

“Friends Like These” by Kimberly McCreight is about a group of college friends who will do anything for each other including staging an intervention in the Catskills. Unfortunately, the secrets held by some members of the group will take them places that they never expected to go.

Iris Johansen’s latest is “High Stakes” which is a standalone that follows a professional gambler’s life until his past catches up with him when he tries to get Lara Balkon out of the hands of a Russian mafia boss. Gambler Logan Tanner is offered information that he needs in payment for the extraction. Getting her out of Russian proves not to be nearly as hard as getting her out of the hands of a killer who is waiting for them in Las Vegas.

Other Mysterious Things:

If you love old movies, you might just want to explore some of the book origins of some of our most well-known and beloved movies and TV shows. I always look up a movie and see if it was based on a book I missed. Agatha Christie’s novel “And Then There Were None” (aka “Ten Little Indians”) was a standalone novel.  There are many mysteries that came out years ago that are still worth reading and exploring. One of Dashiell Hammett’s standalone novels that you might consider is “The Glass Key.” A more recent but fascinating standalone mystery is Catherine Steadman’s “Something in the Water.” If you missed Blake Crouch’s mystery books you might want to try “Snowbound.” As usual, lots to read and explore. Have fun.

We love to read mysteries that introduce us to other cultures and explore intrigues from around the world. Authors such as Volker Kutscher (Germany), Charles Cumming (Scotland), Joe Nesbo (Norway), Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Spain), Val McDermid (Scotland), Louise Penny (Canada) and so many others have expanded our world view and given use unforgettable mysteries that have entertained and enlightened us. The following new books fall under this umbrella. Two of the following authors are American authors, but one writes about Americans in Paris and the other about World War II.

Reading right now:

Emilia Bernhard’s third book in the Death in Paris Mystery series is “Designs on the Dead.” This series centers around two American private detectives Rachel Levis and Magda Stevens who now live in Paris. In this third book in the series, they get involved in the world of high fashion when fashion designer Roland Guipure is found dead outside his birthday party. This series is considered a cozy series so be ready for a lighter mystery read.

On hold right now:

Swedish journalist Tove Alsterdal’s latest “We Know You Remember” is the first in a new series. Police Detective Eira Sjodin finds herself investigating the death of a local man whose son was convicted of raping a local girl when Sjodin was only nine. Sjodin remembers the fear she went through at the time and how the person convicted of the rape was only 14 and was sent to a youth home. Now he is out and when he returns home he finds his Father dead in the bathroom shower. As Sjodin investigates the new death, she is haunted by the past and wonders if the two crimes are connected.

Ronald H. Balson’s “Defending Britta Stein” is the sixth book in the Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart series.  This series of legal thrillers involves a crack investigative team and has an historical aspect as well. This time around Lockhart and Taggart takes on the task of defending a 90-year-old Britta Stein who is accused of defacing the property of a popular restauranteur Ole Henryks. Their investigation takes them back to Nazi-occupied Denmark to prove that Henryks may not be the man people think he is.

“Road of Bones” is the sixteenth book in James R. Benn’s Billy Boyle World War II mystery series. This time around Boyle is sent to the USSR to solve a double-murder. Lots of interesting historical information about WWII in these books as well as a great mystery series.

Canadian writer Gail Bowen’s 20^th book in the Joanne Kilbourn series is “An Image in the Lake.” Many of Bowen’s Kilbourn books involve political issues which gives an interesting twist to her books. In this latest book, Joanne and her husband are involved in the political campaign of Ali Janvier and also in a new series for TV that Joanne co-wrote and that their daughter has an interest in because of a romantic relationship with one of the actors. Unfortunately, the couple’s relationship is threatened and Joanne steps in to solve the problem.

Other Mysterious Things:

Several mystery authors from England also have new books coming out this month: Lisa Jewell’s “The Night She Disappeared,” Ann Cleeves’ second in a series “The Heron’s Cry,” Alice Feeney’s “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” and the always reliable Anne Perry’s third book in her Elena Standish series “A Darker Reality.”