Within the Mystery genre, there is a sub-genre called Romantic Suspense. Romantic Suspense was tremendously popular with such authors as Mary Stewart and Mary Higgins Clark (who passed away last year). Modern authors are still writing Romantic Suspense which continues to be fairly popular.  One of the most popular books of all time within this sub-genre is “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier. Today authors like Catherine Coulter, Karen Robards, Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Anne Stuart, Angel, Marie Force, Nalini Singh, Deanna Raybourn, Laura Lippman, Mary Burton, and Elisabeth Naughton are writing Romantic Suspense novels which are huge bestsellers. If this sub-genre isn’t already your favorite, read one of these books and you might find a new love.

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Reading right now:

I recently discovered “Don’t Look” which is the first in the Pike, Wisconsin series by Alexander Ivy. It looks like the second book in the series is coming out in August and that the books are not going to have the same characters, but instead be focused on the town of Pike and those that come into danger there. I just finished “Don’t Look” and really enjoyed the mystery and the romance between the two main characters. When residents of Pike start being displayed in the snow with their throats cut, the son of Pike’s late sheriff comes back for the funeral only to find himself in the middle of the mystery and falling for vet Lynne Gale who could well be the next victim.

On hold right now:

Deanna Raybourn’s sixth book in the Veronica Speedwell mystery series “An Unexpected Peril” continues Veronica’s world adventures in 1889 where she pursues scientific inquiry and sometimes romantic adventures. A princess is missing, a peace treaty is endangered, and Veronica’s resemblance to the missing princess is about to place her right in the middle of a political nightmare as well as a murder.

Ten years ago, socialite Nina Rai disappeared.  Her bones have now been found in the forest that surrounds her elite neighborhood. Her son Aarav needs to know the truth behind the scream he heard in the middle of the night she disappeared. Unfortunately for him the rich like to keep their secrets and have the money to bury them. Nalini Singh’s latest stand-alone is “Quiet in Her Bones.”

“Driven” is the fourth book in Rebecca Zanetti’s Deep Ops series. Angus Force is searching for a serial killer he thought he had shot dead. When shrink Nari Zhang is thrown into the case, the killer becomes obsessed with her. Angus fights his own attraction to Nari as he tries to keep her out of the hands of a ruthless killer.

Other MysteriousThings:

Many mystery authors have written books that center around Valentine’s Day including Charlot King’s sixth book in the Cambridge Murder mystery series called “Valentine’s Day: Kiss of Death.” Kathleen Suzette’s 18^th book in her Pumpkin Hollow mystery series is “Deadly Valentine.” Daniel Hurst’s latest in his 20 minute series is “20 Minutes of Valentine’s Day.” There is always the older books by authors who enjoy writing mystery novels centered around holidays like Isis Crawford’s “A Catered Valentine’s Day” and Leslie Meier’s “Valentine Murder.” Also M.C. Beaton’s “Death of a Valentine” and Joanna Carl’s “The Chocolate Cupid Killings.” These should be enough mystery novels to keep you busy for Valentine’s Day and engaged in mysterious romance for some time.