Mystery / Thriller
Plot/Idea: Kate Breslow wants to leave Crest Lake, Michigan, after the sudden death of her husband a year before, but in order to sell her lakefront house, she must fight to make it safe for buyers in this eerie thriller that centers on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. When her nemesis is murdered, Kate’s plans for a new life begin to unravel, and Traymore wisely uses that unraveling to spark the plot's upsurge—followed by an explosion of riveting, high-stakes action.
Prose: Traymore’s writing is spare and satisfying, organically feeding the details of the story to readers while masterfully handling multiple flashbacks.
Originality: The Bluff ticks all the boxes for a psychological thriller, and the physical bluff in the story is, itself, a foreboding character that binds the characters together with uncomfortable ties.
Character/Execution: Readers will immediately root for Kate as she navigates her life as a young widow amidst questions about her husband’s death, but when her situation is compounded by small town politics, readers gradually learn to question Kate as a reliable narrator.
Plot/Idea: A band of strong, capable women determined to take down a child sex trafficking ring with the aid of First Nations and other mystical wisdom is a powerful combination in this important story.
Prose: Lowrie’s sweeping natural imagery gives space for readers to process difficult subject matter. A light polish with tighter pacing would further bring out this gem’s luster.
Originality: While sex trafficking is an oft-explored topic, a seldom celebrated, fierce female presence lights up this book—an antidote to its brutal truths. The infusion of spirituality and its intersection with the natural world provides an impactful additional layer of meaning.
Character/Execution: Lowrie’s characters are vibrant and easy for readers to connect to, despite populating an uncommon, strikingly realized setting. Their backgrounds are fully examined and nicely inform the events unfolding in the present.
Model Wave, romance, boats, and bad business in the Wisconsin Northwoods
by TK SheffieldRating: 9.75
Plot/Idea: Tower’s first date in a long time, with a sheriff nonetheless, goes south when a body turns up—a body of a waiter Mel just happened to visit with earlier in the day. Of course, Mel quickly adopts the role of a small-town sleuth, determined to get to the bottom of the murder, and sweeps her blossoming romance with Sheriff Cole Lawrence along for the journey.
Prose: Sheffield’s writing is chock full of Midwest nostalgia, with cheese curds, sun, and pontoon boats strewn throughout the energetic plot. The zippy prose keeps pace with the narrative, bouncing in and out of Mel’s thoughts while driving home a surprising ending.
Originality: The appealing characters give this novel serious lift, making the mystery sing with a curious charm—while still providing enough suspense to keep readers guessing.
Character/Execution: Mel steals the spotlight throughout, with a down-home appeal that makes her relatable and genuine. Cole is a steady, warming influence, and together the pair make the perfect addition to this cozy mystery.[
Plot/Idea: This attention-grabbing story starts with a bank heist gone wrong, quickly jumping forward 15 years to present times, where the authors interlace a paranormal investigator, a skeptical ex-cop, a lost treasure, and a freshly released convict whose wife happens to be a ghost, into a well-ordered, suspenseful novel. The story keeps interest throughout, and the ending has a reveal that will satisfy mystery fans. Readers will be eager for more in this series.
Prose: Strong, simple prose makes this well-crafted mystery as easy to read as it is engaging. The style builds tension slowly while also allowing readers to glean information from the more character-driven moments in the novel.
Originality: What sets After Life apart is the novel’s play on the dead helping solve crimes of the living. The authors construct believable interactions between the book’s supernatural beings and living characters, and Maureen—the resident phantom with keys to the story’s hidden treasure—is gifted a strong, meaningful voice.
Character/Execution: Nate and Jennifer, both facing the fallout from their previous careers, are an unconventional couple: he’s still shaking off an injury from his police days—and convinced every psychic is a fraud—while she’s rebuilding her reputation as a professor interested in paranormal investigations. The two blossom throughout the story, and the authors add in a supporting cast that resonates.
Plot/Idea: Releasing the Reins is a bold and refreshing modern western mystery story with an absorbing plot. Matthews diligently explores the debilitating power of family secrets and the strength of the connection between humans and animals in a compelling page-turner full of unexpected twists.
Prose: Matthews's text is full of breathtaking landscapes that emphasize the beauty of the Alaskan countryside. In addition to the captivating backdrops, Releasing the Reins features a glut of dynamic and suspenseful scenes which are skillfully enhanced by painstaking attention to detail.
Originality: Releasing the Reins is a vibrant take on the modern western with a striking and captivating protagonist and an intriguing storyline. The book boldly tackles themes of gender identity and the male dominated Alaskan horse ranching world with verve and aplomb.
Character/Execution: Bunny O'Kelly is a strong and intelligent protagonist who is excellently conceived by Matthews. Her tough journey of self-discovery is gripping and powerful, enhanced by a supporting cast of surprising and varied characters.
Plot/Idea: Shitamachi Scam is a well-constructed and deeply engrossing mystery concerning a wide-ranging scam in Tokyo that initially centers on the elderly but proves to be even more destructive than protagonist Detective Hiroshi realizes.
Prose: The prose is clear, propulsive, and effectively detailed, bringing the setting vividly to life and enhancing the novel's procedural elements.
Originality: In addition to the unusual focus on uncovering a scamming ring, the details of Tokyo life and the seniors who collaborate to protect one another, add a layer of interest.
Character/Execution: The characters are well defined and distinct. Detectives Hiroshi and Ishii are winning protagonists who readers will have no trouble picturing as they team p to investigate the crimes. Ueno's interest in helping other elderly people who can't support themselves and Hiroshi's queasiness at dead bodies are just the kinds of vibrant details that make the characters memorable and allow the work to stand apart.
Plot/Idea: Ross weaves a mystery that will pull readers in. With all the elements of a timeless whodunnit, the novel offers a sophisticated modern edge via its integration of social media and true crime podcasts.
Prose: Ross's prose is consistently clear and inviting, effectively propelling the storyline and keeping readers guessing until the conclusion.
Originality: Murder in the Mangroves has all the elements of a classic murder mystery, which will appeal to readers of the genre. The plot twists exhibit a great balance between simplicity and surprise.
Character/Execution: Ross populates the novel with complex and interesting characters, while Pete serves as an endearing protagonist navigating the death of a social media influencer and impending coverage of the case via a popular true crime podcast.
Blurb: When the death of a social media influencer rocks a sleepy southern town, can Pete help find the killer before the arrival of a popular true-crime podcast shakes things up even more? Find out in Angie Ross' Murder in the Mangroves: A Pete Brown Mystery.
Plot/Idea: Draw a Hard Line is an unrelenting, hard-boiled investigative thriller that deals with issues related to racism, suicide, drug addiction, and sex trafficking. The consistently compelling storyline is expertly handled by Jimerson in an absorbing and tension-packed powder-keg of a novel.
Prose: Jimerson's text is fast-paced and gritty, his excellent use of language heightening the dramatic atmosphere. Full of carefully curated dramatic set pieces and intense stretches of dialogue, Draw a Hard Line is a powerful and engaging read.
Originality: Draw a Hard Line is a strong, well written thriller with brilliantly devised episodes of deftly orchestrated action and violence. The sharp, dynamic dialogue and excellently written characters make for a winning combination in Jimerson's impressive novel.
Character/Execution: The characters are sharply written by Jimerson, particularly E.J. Kane, who is not only dealing with the death of his son but his daughter's drug addiction too. Kane's intelligence and hard-edged attitude are the driving force of Draw a Hard Line, a bold novel that does not disappoint.
Blurb: An absorbing investigative thriller.
Plot/Idea: The Dream Haunters, book one of the Witches of Maple Hollow series, is a fascinating metaphysical journey into a fantastical world full of magic spells, dreams, and spirituality. Mary's work benefits from sharp and dynamic storytelling that is gripping from start to finish.
Prose: Mary's text features an excellent level of description that emphasizes character idiosyncrasies and mannerisms, while the short chapters are fresh and addictive. The magical world of Maple Hollow is brilliantly realized, with every nook and cranny overflowing with vibrant energy and atmosphere.
Originality: The Dream Haunters is a highly inventive work, packed to the brim with surprise portals, ancient traditions, and dream worlds.
Character/Execution: Mary's central character Hannah Skye embarks on a riveting spiritual journey to the strange and alluring island of Maple Hollow. Bolstered by a plethora of intriguing side characters such as a talking cat dream guide and menacing shapeshifters, The Dream Haunters is relentlessly imaginative and enjoyable.
Blurb: A compelling metaphysical adventure story.
Plot/Idea: It’s college freshman CJ Jennings versus their university as they investigate the cover up of a missing girl. The premise would be made more powerful by exploring additional plausible theories, but Ori does a capable job of revealing CJ’s backstory.
Prose: While dialogue-heavy, Ori’s writing is strong and impactful. Readers may benefit from being better oriented to the circumstances early in the novel.
Originality: A college freshman, podcaster, and trauma survivor crusading for vulnerable kids is a winning and modern combo.
Character/Execution: Ori’s characters are rich, though their personalities and characteristics are somewhat slow to develop.
Plot/Idea: Charlie Goode returns home to regroup after a breakup when her school friend is murdered, kickstarting a long line of local small-town sleuths—including Charlie herself—who are all convinced they can successfully connect the dots and solve the whodunnit. The story is immediately appealing, and Comer deftly combines provincial conspiracies with humor, relatable interplay among old friends, and a healthy dose of suspense that make this a success.
Prose: Comer’s writing is polished and convincing, drawing readers into the story and keeping their attention until its thrilling conclusion.
Originality: The idea of too many amateur sleuths tripping up the main character freshens this murder mystery, transforming it into a sophisticated, riveting read.
Character/Execution: Comer has a masterful grasp of subtle character development, particularly in Charlie, who is likable, clever, and bolstered by an appealing supporting cast.
Plot/Idea: This is an intricate, meaty work that mystery lovers will relish. Isaak offers depth and layers of intrigue, alongside a good old-fashioned mystery, with plenty of twists to keep readers invested and on their toes.
Prose: Isaak's writing is top notch—concise, impactful, and tight—with a narrative that is both fast and even, allowing readers to ride shotgun on Walker's mission to find answers.
Originality: Things Unseen is immensely original, melding gripping plot elements with memorable characters. The setting is brought to vivid life, delivering a distinctive backdrop for this riveting story.
Character/Execution: Isaak excels at characterization, especially with Walker, who undergoes a metamorphosis of sorts as he searches for clues about his sister's murder. In the process of uncovering the truth, Isaak also gifts readers with deep insight into the character of Walker's sister.
Plot/Idea: This harrowing, tension-filled plot takes off with a bang, maintaining a breakneck pace throughout. Chavez delivers plenty of twists—and gritty details, like the monsters who are stalking the mining base—that keep attention while conveying their fair share of shock value. The story’s confined space adds to the anxiety, as the characters have to survive their work, the unnamed terror killing them one by one, and, eventually, each other, all set in an isolated, wintry pocket of the world.
Prose: Smooth, crisp prose is interrupted with a few staccato transitions that ruffle the pace, but overall Chavez is a skilled storyteller, capable of building sharp tension with minimal scene setting.
Originality: Aside from the story’s bleak, near-future setting, Chavez’s skill at crafting a dark edginess makes this raging thrill ride stand out.
Character/Execution: Chavez’s characters serve to advance the plot, though their development is minimal and occurs later in the story, as the action ratchets up. Despite that, readers will quickly feel connected to them, given the sheer scope of the odds they’re up against. There are no particular standouts, but the transport crew, as a group, is engaging—and Ava’s story intrigues.
Plot/Idea: This easygoing mystery finds Simon Moody, newly transplanted to an old Victorian mansion in Caligo Falls, the recipient of a magical ring inherited from Edmund Wilder, his great uncle and former inhabitant of their new home. That ring, the Sacred Shadow Ring of Persephone, allows Simon—and his best friend Clara Barley—to investigate paranormal happenings around the town.
Prose: Hoffman writes smoothly, sketching a mystery that builds swiftly but naturally, with crisp, clean prose.
Originality: Hoffman offers a straightforward, entertaining narrative that will appeal to readers who relish mysteries with a hint of the supernatural. The shining star is Simon and Clara’s inspiring relationship, formed on their mutual interests, a commitment to uncovering the truth, and, above all, a deep regard for each other.
Character/Execution: Hoffman sketches an easy repartee between main characters Simon and Clara, and their fun banter as they grow more intimate carries the novel. They work well together when solving the story’s central mystery, and their personalities are well-defined and appealing. Readers will be eager to see more of them in future installments.
Plot/Idea: Crab Bait is a striking Mystery/Thriller set in 1888 London, where an infamous male escort has been murdered, and the suspects are many. Scotland Yard Detective Oscar Glass is under internal and external pressures to solve the case even as the body count increases, as does the killer's savagery.
Prose: Brennan's prose is lush, lyrical, and hard-hitting, and he wastes no time getting to it: "An away place from the gut-fuck of the New World’s Gilded Age." His descriptions are haunting and often, despite the brutal scenes, poetic.
Originality: As a mystery, Crab Bait is singular, not least because of its sinister title and all it implies. The victim, a "beautiful creature", looms large on every page, a good trick as he's dead before the book begins. Oscar Glass, too, isn't your stereotypical Scotland Yard detective, but a complicated man with very real demons. The author is fearless, pulls no punches, and shows the reader an intoxicating, filthy, gorgeous, world and all trapped in it.
Character/Execution: Brennan's characters are well-drawn, complicated, and distinct, almost to a fault; the reader knows so much about them, it's difficult to find heroes in this tale of sex, hustling, murder, and obsession.
Plot/Idea: Blood and Mascara is a tense and gripping crime thriller focusing on two brilliantly named protagonists, Bronze Goldberg and Iris Margaryan. Well paced and engrossing, the contrast between Bronze's crime-riddled world and Margaryan's realm of romantic fiction proves to be a winning combination.
Prose: Krainin's text subtly blends mystery with poetic, lyrical and supernatural elements in a bold story of hard-boiled crime and touching romance. The acute attention to detail infuses the explosive storyline with an inspiring and magnetic intensity.
Originality: Blood and Mascara is a confidently written thriller which benefits from excellent literary description and an intriguing storyline. While not startlingly original, Krainin's text has enough chaos, drama and romance to keep readers glued to the page throughout.
Character/Execution: The protagonists of Blood and Mascara are extremely convincing; Bronze Goldberg is a grizzled private detective while Iris Margaryan is a talented romance novelist. Their singular voices complement each other well and make Krainin's storyline more rounded and enjoyable.
Blurb: An engrossing crime thriller.
