It’s relaxing to read a stand-alone novel once in a while. Sometimes it feels like every famous mystery author writes series books. Fortunately for readers who enjoy not having to remember the history of all the characters in a mystery series, there are plenty of stand-alone mystery novels being written. Here are just a few that just came out.

 

Reading right now:

Layne Fargo’s stand-alone mystery “They Never Learn” welcomes a new type of serial killer:  a female English Professor who kills just once a year when she chooses the worst man at her university as her victim. Unfortunately, after a few years the body count has gotten a little too high for the authorities not to notice.

On hold right now:

“They’re Gone” is the stand alone debut novel from E.A. Barres. When two men are murdered in the same way on the same night, their wives look for answers. After they join forces to look for the truth, they find their own lives threatened.

Liz Nugent’s “Our Little Cruelties” is a stand-alone in which the fight for their Mother’s attention becomes a lifelong habit of three working class brothers which eventually brings about the death of one of the brothers. Sinister family relationships are taken to the extreme in this dark mystery novel.

“The Kingdom” is Jo Nesbo’s latest stand-alone which reunites two brothers. One brother stayed home after his parents died and built his life in his hometown while the other went in search of something more. Now the adventuring brother is back with an idea to build a spa which would make everyone rich. Unfortunately, there were deadly secrets that are now being unearthed and the body count is rising.

“The Hidden Hours” is Sara Foster’s new stand-alone about an office worker who is found dead in the Thames after her office Christmas Party. The new office temp cannot remember the hours leading up to her coworker’s death and must find the answers before she is arrested for the murder.

Other Mysterious Things:

Many authors who write famous series also sometimes write stand-alone novels. It seems like even when an author finds a character they like, they too probably want a little variety. David Baldacci has perhaps eight series going, but has also written a handful of stand-alone novels. Michael Connelly has Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer which seems like more than enough, yet he has other series going and a few stand-alone novels. Agatha Christie wrote everything including tons of short stories.  Dashiell Hammett also wrote a bit of everything. Raymond Chandler wrote his Philip Marlowe series and short stories. John Grisham predominately writes stand-alone novels. Gillian Flynn and Ruth Ware have so far written stand-alone novels. I guess the important part for those of us who are readers is that they keep on writing great books. That’s all we need.