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.