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.

 

On hold right now:

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.”

These are mostly stand-alone psychological mystery/thrillers. Only Joanna Schaffhausen’s is an exception since it is the first in a new series. The great thing about stand-alone novels is you don’t have to try to remember what came before. These are all interesting authors with a good track record. Joy Fielding has been writing since 1972 and always writes stand-alone novels. Mark Billingham is a terrific writer from the UK and is well known for his Tom Thorne series. To top it off, the latest from Andrea Bartz is the book club pick in the Reese Witherspoon Book Club.

Reading right now:

Joanna Schaffhausen’s new book (“Gone for Good”) is the first in a new series featuring Detective Annalisa Vega. Detective Vega finds herself reinvestigating a serial killer who starts murdering women again after twenty years of silence. Vega remembers the case well from her childhood since at that time her father was investigating the murders and one of the victims was a neighbor. The clues she follows leads her to some heartbreaking conclusions and the decisions she makes will affect everyone she loves. I had a harder time getting into this book than I did some of her others, but the ending has kept me thinking about choices in life.

On hold right now:

“56 Days” by Catherine Ryan Howard is a stand-alone about a couple who meet in a supermarket in Dublin and start dating at the beginning of the pandemic. They decide to move in together instead of missing the opportunity of a growing relationship because of the lockdown. Unfortunately, 56 days later there is a decomposing body in their apartment and a mystery regarding what happened in those lost weeks.

Joy Fielding’s “Cul-De-Sac” is her latest stand-alone. When someone is shoot to death on their cul-de-sac, the secrets of all the families who live there come to light. Secrets are a prime subject of mystery novels and in this new novel everyone has something to hid so figuring out who would kill to keep their secrets isn’t so easy.

“We Were Never Here” by Andrea Bartz is the latest book club pick in the Reese Witherspoon Book Club. If you were on a trip with your best friend and she kills someone would you help her cover it up?

Mark Billingham’s latest is “Rabbit Hole” a stand-alone thriller. After a murder is committed in a psychiatric ward, police officer Alice Armitage determines to find out who the killer is. Unfortunately, Armitage is currently a patient in that psychiatric ward so even if she solves the case will anyone listen to her?

 

If you enjoy a good series, August finds some amazingly famous bestselling mystery authors adding books to series that you do not want to miss. I spend a lot of time during the year hoping for another Agent Pendergast book and am thrilled that August is finally here so that I can see where Preston and Child are taking the character. August also finds the latest from James Lee Burke and William Kent Krueger and many others. There is certainly a lot to look forward to this month.

Reading right now:

Ace Atkins’ eleventh book in his Quinn Colson series is “The Heathens.” Sheriff Quinn Colson and his former deputy Lillie Virgil who is now a U.S. Marshal work together to find the truth about a murder where a teen is accused of killing her mother and runs away with family and friends. Virgil goes after the group while Colson stays home to investigate the murder. Colson doesn’t believe that the daughter killed her mother and that she ran-away because she knew no one would believe her.

On hold right now:

Louise Penny adds the 17^th book to her Chief Inspector Gamache series this month which is called “The Madness of Crowds.” While taking a snow vacation, Gamache is asked to provide security for a Professor speaking at the local university. Why a Chief Inspector of Homicide was asked to do the job becomes obvious when Gamache examines the views of the woman he would be protecting. When he tries to get the University to cancel the program, he is accused of censorship. His fear of violence is confirmed when arguments and fights start to break out over Professor Robinson’s views and finally someone is murdered.

Agent Pendergast shows up in the 20^th book in the series called “Bloodless” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. This time around Pendergast faces the challenge of finding who left bloodless bodies all over Savannah. There seems to be a link between the murders and the famous hijacker D.B. Cooper.

“Another Kind of Eden” is James Lee Burke’s latest addition to the Holland Family series. It is the early 1960s and Aaron Holland Broussard is riding the rails to find jobs that will help him survive while writing his book. When he gets off in Denver, he gets romantically involved with a young college student. Unfortunately, she is already involved with one of her professors. Before you know it, Aaron is dealing with a drug-addled cult, a sinister businessman, and grotesque murders.

“Lighning Strike” is William Kent Krueger’s 18^th book in the Cork O’Connor series. In this book about small town life, it is the summer of 1963 and twelve-year-old Cork O’Connor finds the body of a man he knows hanging from a tree in an abandoned logging camp. Cork wants answers as much as his Dad (who happens to be the local sheriff) and finds himself trying to find out what is happening in his home town.

 

Sometimes when you have read too many serial killer novels or intense psychological thrillers, a good cozy is just what you need to bring your blood pressure down to normal levels and step back from the ledge. Luckily this month there are any number of cozies coming out. Holly Danvers released a new cozy series this month with the first book in the Lakeside Library series called “Murder at the Lakeside Library.” Esme Addison just added a second book to her Enchanted Bay mystery series called “A Hex for Danger.” Popular Canadian author Vicki Delany added a second book to her Tea by the Sea series called “Murder in a Teacup.” Kaitlyn Dunnett added a fourth book to her Deadly Edits series called “Murder She Edited.” The very popular G.A. McKevett adds the 26^th novel to her Savannah Reid series this month which is called “A Few Drops of Bitters.” July is definitely an excellent month for cozy murder mysteries with all the above coming out and the following as well.

Reading right now:

Carolyn Hart’s tenth book in the Bailey Ruth Ghost series is “Ghost Blows a Kiss.” As a member of Heaven’s Department of Good Intentions, Bailey Ruth Raeburn finds herself even busier as a ghost than she was when she was living. This time around, she is tasked with helping a young widow who was running away from family secrets and lies.

On hold right now:

 The third installment of the Ancestry Detective series is available this month by S.C. Perkins (“Fatal Family Ties”). Genealogist Lucy Lancaster takes on her third case investigating the family of a former co-worker, Camilla, whose ancestor was a civil war corporal who is being accused of being a liar, a phony, and a deserter in the local paper. As she starts her investigation, one of Camilla’s co-workers is murdered and important evidence is stolen.

Julie Anne Lindsey’s latest Cider Shop mystery "The Cider Shop Rules" is the third in the series of books about Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe who has an apple orchard and opened a Cider shop (to make ends meet). It is fall in Apple Blossom Valley, West Virginia and local harvests are flourishing as is the Fall Festival. Unfortunately for Jacob Potter while his pumpkin farm is flourishing, he is found dead in the back of Winona’s pickup truck.

The second in the Home to Ireland mystery series is “Murder in Connemara” by Carlene O’Connor. Former New York interior designer Tara Meehan has moved to Galway County in Ireland and is opening an architectural salvage shop. Unfortunately, one of her new clients whom she just sold an antique brooch to is murdered and Tara finds herself in the middle of a messy situation.

Other Mysterious Things:

I love reading a good cozy especially a series with funny and heartwarming characters that you cannot wait to revisit when the next installment comes out. Next month one of my favorite authors Donna Andrews adds “Murder Most Fowl” to her delightful Meg Langslow series. This is the 29^th book in the series and I hope she never stops writing them. The other cozy to look forward to in August is the 18^th book in the Chocoholic Mysteries “The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole” by Joanna Carl.

 

Reading right now:

Gary Braver and Tess Gerritsen combined forces to write a stand-alone murder mystery called “Choose Me.” After Taryn Moore plunges from a balcony to her death, Detective Frankie Loomis doesn’t believe she killed herself. The investigation finds that Taryn had a dark side. One in which her English professor played a major role as either her murderer or perhaps the one who drove her to suicide.

On hold right now:

 “Razorblade Tears” is S.A. Cosby’s third stand-alone mystery. “Blacktop Wasteland” was the New York Times Notable book for 2020. In his latest, Ike Randolph has been recently released from jail and is devastated to learn that his son Isiah and Isiah’s husband has been murdered. Ashamed of Isiah being gay when he was living, Ike is determined to do better by his son now that he is dead and bring vengeance down on the heads of their killers.

Just coming out this week the stand-alone, “An Ambush of Widows” is the latest by Jeff Abbott. Two seemingly unrelated men are murdered together. Their widows form an alliance to find out what secrets their husbands were keeping, who murdered them, and why.

David Bell’s new stand-alone is “Kill All Your Darlings.” When English Professor Connor Nye becomes famous after publishing his first novel, a former student shows up at his door demanding that he admit he didn’t really write the novel and admit that she wrote it. When the police show up at his door demanding to know why his novel sounds much like a real murder case they have been investigating, Connor must decide whether to keep up the lie or confess.

Other Mysterious Things:

Caroline B. Cooney has been writing since 1979. She has written mystery, fiction, romance, horror, and fantasy for children, young adults, and adult readers. If you haven’t read one of her novels…well that is hard to believe. Her young adult series which started with “A Face on the Milk Cartoon” was incredibly popular. Now she presents a new stand-alone adult mystery called “The Grandmother Plot.” After Freddy is forced to place his grandmother in a nursing home, one of the other old ladies in the nursing home is murdered. Freddy has to step up to keep his grandmother safe.

I’ve noticed that a great many mystery novels whether they are amateur detective, domestic fiction, or center on a police detective seem to delve into unresolved issues which the main character is forced to deal with throughout the book and sometimes throughout the series. These books are very personal journeys that the character must take to resolve grief or childhood trauma. Paula McLain’s (“When the Stars Go Dark”) latest very much falls into that category as does Liz Moore’s “Long Bright River” which came out in 2020. While the main character in” Long Bright River” is a police officer, her journey deals with her own family drama, addiction, and ultimately social problems and the failure of the police.

Reading right now:

I was happy to get to read the recent new books by David Baldacci and John Sandford, both long standing authors which I depend on for fun, exciting reads with characters that I know and love. After finishing those, I decided I wanted something new and found Paula McLain’s latest stand-alone “When the Stars Go Dark.” This book takes us on a journey to recovery from trauma and grief with Detective Anna Hart who has worked for many years in San Francisco on missing persons cases. When tragedy strikes in her personal life, she flees back to where she grew up only to get involved in the case of a missing teenage girl. Going home brings back difficult memories for Anna who now finds herself dealing with her grief, the terror surrounding the missing person case, and the ghosts of her past.

On hold right now:

May Cobb’s “The Hunting Wives” centers around a clique of wives whose socialite status allows them time to play dangerous games. When a teenage girl dies in the woods close to where they gather, the latest member to the group finds her life has become dangerous and full of secrets.

Karen Slaughter’s latest stand-alone is “False Witness.” Two decades ago, two sisters did something terrible which resulted in violence and a life of secrets. Now someone comes forward who knows the truth and could tear their world apart.

Tess Gerritsen’s latest is a stand-alone written with Gary Braver (called “Choose Me”). While Taryn Moore’s death looks like a suicide, Detective Frankie Loomis suspects that there is more to the story including a possible affair with her English professor. Did her secrets make her a target for murder?

Other Mysterious Things:

The books mentioned above revolve around secrets: childhood secrets, secret desires, secret affairs, and so on. Often involving things that were done to the characters as children that are too shameful to even remember or things that were done to others that could destroy their lives. These books are often heartbreaking and frustrating and leave us questioning the very nature of human existence. After reading too many of these books we are driven to read a cozy!