Reading right now:

“The Garden of Angels” by David Hewson is a thriller about a 15-year-old who inherits a gift from his dying grandfather. The gift is a yellow manuscript which sends him into Nazi-occupied Venice in 1943 where he discovers that his grandfather was not who he thought he was.

On hold right now:

Flynn Berry’s latest standalone novel is “Northern Spy” a thriller in which BBC producer Tessa finds out that her sister is involved with the IRA. This thriller follows Tessa’s attempt to find out the truth about Tessa’s sister and the havoc it has on everyone around them.

“Endings” is Linda L. Richards latest standalone and is the story of a woman who faces lose by finding a new vocation—that of killer for hire. She finds out she is good at her job, but is stopped in her tracks when she comes across a serial killer whose evil forces her to reevaluate her life.

Wallace Stroby’s “Heaven’s a Lie” is a standalone about a young widow who witnesses a fatal car accident which thrusts her in the middle of gang violence. When she tries to help those in the wreck, she finds money which she desperately needs and takes it with her. Unfortunately for her, the drug dealer who the money belongs to wants it back.

Other Mysterious Things:

We are living in an amazing time when there are so many great books available to read that it is impossible to read even a small percentage of the books that look interesting. In addition, the mystery genre has expanded to include thrillers, paranormal, suspense, and so much more. Many of these books may not be what we once considered traditional mysteries, but many have mystery elements which are well worth reading. One such book is “The Drowning Kind” by Jennifer McMahon which is her latest standalone about a woman who returns home after her sister drowns in the family’s swimming pool only to find that a family’s past is never really behind us. This scary thriller has a mystery element, but is really horror. If you haven’t read McMahon’s horror thriller’s, she might be an author worth considering especially if you like a little blend of mystery and ghost story.

 

Reading right now:

Harlan Coben’s latest stand alone mystery just came out a couple of weeks ago (“Win”). If you haven’t watched the Netflix shows based on Coben’s work, do so right away since they are all great. In the meantime, Coben’s latest revolves around a current murder in which clues from a 20-year old murder are found on the premises. The cold case involved “Win” Lockwood’s family and when the police question him about the newly found clues, he finds himself using his large fortune to help solve the case.

On hold right now:

John Sandford’s latest Lucas Davenport book is out this month (“Ocean Prey”). After there is a death a sea and the FBI cannot solve the cause, Davenport is called in and finds he needs the help of Virgil Flowers to protect his back.

Marcia Talley’s 18^th book in her Hannah Ives series is “Done Gone.” After her neighbors disappear, Hannah discovers terrible secrets and gets involved in their disappearance with deadly consequences.

“On an Outgoing Tide” is Caro Ramsay’s 12^th book in her Anderson & Costello series. After 81-year-old Jimmy Pearcey is tortured to death, Detectives Anderson and Costello uncover secrets in his past that link to another murder.

“What the Devil Knows” is C.S. Harris’ 16^th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. It’s 1814 and it’s been three years since a notorious murderer hanged himself in his cell, but now the lead investigator from that case is murdered in the same manner and the police must face the idea that they caught the wrong man. Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to St. Cry to help find the real killer.

Other Mysterious Things:

April is showering mystery readers with some great books including two written by some of my favorite authors: John Sandford and C.S. Harris. No month is better than a month that brings a new book by an author that I love. Finding a great new author is the constant quest of those of us who love to read. We find a great book and pray that more will follow. The secret is to keep reading new authors to find a new favorite author to add to our already long list. Good hunting.

 

MEDICAL MYSTERY/THRILLERS

I currently have carpel tunnel syndrome so have to be careful how much I type, but having that has made me think about medical thrillers. At one time, there were many medical thrillers on the best-seller lists. Now it seems there are not so many. The ones I found are fairly current or coming out soon. There is one non-fiction which sounds interesting. Keep on reading!

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.

Travel is a great experience, but sometimes not possible. Thank god that there are amazing mysteries set in locations all over the globe that we can enjoy while on our couch or even in bed with hot chocolate.

Reading can take you everywhere...

and anywhere…

Reading right now:

Cecilia Ekback’s latest stand-alone mystery “The Historians” is an historical set in 1943 Sweden. Laura Dahlgrens’ best friend is murdered after writing a report on racial profiling in Scandinavia. Mystery and political intrigue combine for a fascinating look at Sweden in the 1940s.

On hold right now:

Katrine Engberg’s second novel “The Butterfly House” in her Korner and Werner series which started with “The Tenant” features Detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner in Copenhagen. Now they find themselves trying to solve a series of murders set in a Danish hospital where the levels of greed and ambition shock even hardcore detectives.

“The Shadow” is Melanie Raabe’s third novel which once more brings revenge to the forefront of this unnerving psychological thriller set in Vienna. Raabe writes stand-alone novels and her first book “The Trap” also centered around revenge. In “The Shadow,” Norah Richter is walking to work when she is accosted by a homeless woman who tells her that she is going to kill Arthur Grimm on February 11. Richter soon meets an Arthur Grimm and begins to realize that her past has caught up with her and she may just have a reason to kill Grimm.

“Sleep Well, My Lady” is the second book in the Emma Djan series which takes place in Ghana and is by Kwei Quartey. Private Investigator Emma Djan is hired to investigate the death of a fashion icon and social medical celebrity. Djan goes undercover and finds a long list of suspects.

Other Mysterious Things:

Out this month was English author Priscilla Master’s third book in her Claire Roget series “A Game of Minds.” “Death and the Singing Birds” is the third book in English author Amy Myers historical novel set in Kent. Swedish author Anders Roslund’s “Knock Knock” is his first novel writing outside his usual team up with Borge Hellstrom.

It is important to point out that there are many new historical mystery novels coming out which should not be missed. Even if you don’t usually like historical mysteries, there is surely something here for you.

Reading right now:

“Portrait of Peril” is Laura Joh Rowland’s fifth book in the Sarah Bain series. This is a fantastic historical mystery series set in 1890 London which opens with Sarah Bain finally getting married to Detective Sergeant Barrett. Unfortunately, murder follows them right into the church and takes them on a journey into the world of spiritualism. The murder victim was a photographer who was trying to photograph ghosts in the church because many believe it to be haunted. While trying to solve one complicated mystery, Sarah is also dragged back into her family’s dark past which forced her father into hiding from a murder charge. All of Sarah’s fascinating friends are back while they all try to cope with how their lives are changing especially with Sarah now married.

On hold right now:

“A Sinister Service” is the sixth book in the Lady and Lady’s Maid series by Alyssa Maxwell.  This series takes place in post-World War I England where a young Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid seem to always be ready to solve a mystery. Even trying to commission a gift for her grandparents’ wedding anniversary puts her in a position to find a dead body and try to discover who the killer is.

Bill Pronzini’s ninth book in the Quincannon & Carpenter book is “The Paradise Affair.” This historical series takes place in 1890s San Francisco where this time former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and her detective partner, ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon, go in pursuit of two con men who have stolen from their employer and left for Hawaii.

“Death Comes to the Rectory” is the eighth book in the Kurland St. Mary series by Catherine Lloyd. After one of their guests for their daughter’s christening is found dead with a note in his hand, Lady Lucy and her husband Major Sir Robert Kurland both jump in to solve the murder. Sir Robert because it is his job and Lady Lucy because her father is implicated in the murder.

“City of Schemes” is the fourth book in the Counterfeit Lady series by Victoria Thompson. World War I is over and Elizabeth Miles is planning her wedding to Gideon Bates. Unfortunately, one of their friends, recently discharged from the army, receives a letter from a woman in France that he fell in love with and she now needs help. Elizabeth is convinced the letter is a con job, but how can she prove that it isn’t real?

Other Mysterious Things:

There were several historical mysteries that came out in December that are must reads. “The Mystery of Mrs. Christie” by Marie Benedict is an exciting take on why Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days in 1926. Alys Clare’s second novel in the World’s End Bureau Victorian Mystery series is out and is called “The Outcast Girls.” Clare’s series is definitely one not to miss. “Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder” is T.A. Willberg’s first book which takes place in London in 1958. Harald Gilbers’ first book is also the first in a new series. Called “Germania” it takes place in Berlin in 1944 where Jewish detective Richard Oppenheimer hunts for a serial killer in war-torn Nazi Berlin.

Happy New Year!

Here are some hot new releases to look for over the next three months:

Patricia Cornwell’s second book in the Captain Chase series “Spin.”

Faye Kellerman’s 26^th book in the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series is “The Lost Boys.”

Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston presents the second book in the Nora Kelly series “The Scorpion’s Tail.”

Gregg Hurwitz adds the sixth book to his Orphan X series “Prodigal Son.”

Rachel Hawkins’ latest standalone “The Wife Upstairs.”

Janet Evanovich and Steve Hamilton’s seventh book in the Fox & O’Hare series “The Bounty.”

Harlan Coben’s latest standalone is “Win.”

C. J. Box presents the 21^st book in his Joe Pickett series “Dark Sky.”

Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen’s latest in the Kendra Michaels series which is the 8^th book in the series “Blink of an Eye.”

Jonathan Kellerman’s 36^th book in his Alex Delaware series is “Serpentine.”

Linda Castillo adds a short story collection to her Kate Burkholder series “A Simple Murder.”

Walter Mosley’s 15^th book in his Easy Rawlins series is “Blood Grove.”