Mystery / Thriller
Plot/Idea: Imprinted is a Mystery/Thriller about Tessa Schroeder, a teenager already enduring OCD and trichotillomania when her fiancé is murdered before her eyes. As she struggles with PTSD and worries she's losing her sanity, nothing is as it seems, and long-buried family secrets are painfully excised like debris from a wound.
Prose: Charles's prose is precise and descriptive, often telling us all we need to know about a character with just a few words. Her characters endure any number of traumas large and small, and Charles doesn't pull any punches when describing Tessa's 'new normal.' Imprinted is told from several POVs and time periods, a useful technique that adds to the tension.
Originality: Imprinted isn't just the story of one woman's struggles to move past trauma; Tessa's story spans generations, with clues unfolding the more Tessa opens up to a therapist and tries to love again. Her very real fears of being stalked and gaslit are justified, as in a shockingly short time her home is broken into (twice), her fiancé murdered, a person unknown thumbs through her journal, her medication disappears, and photos that prove she's not delusional mysteriously disappear. The resolution to these problems is suspenseful and, ultimately, satisfying.
Character/Execution: Tessa struggles with very real problems, but she doesn't lack for courage, healthy anger, or self-awareness. The other characters are also realistic, being in turn sympathetic, cold, loving, curt, patronizing, encouraging, overtly dangerous, and distant, depending on their relationship to Tessa. Her mother, in particular, is an unpleasantly narcissistic piece of work who puts her own pleasure before everything else.
Plot/Idea: Telling a Thumper is a thrilling mystery novel which follows Colin on a journey to discover the truth about what happened to his father. Colin diligently navigates a dark web of lies and obstacles with able assistance from Pete the ghost and cousin Katie in a captivating and consistently engaging story.
Prose: Fleming's text expertly blends supernatural elements with everyday challenges in a tight and accomplished manner, dilligently knitting the threads of the mystery together with aplomb. The delicate use of language intricately captures the challenges of Colin's blindness as well as creating a haunting and often surreal atmosphere.
Originality: Telling a Thumper is an engaging paranormal mystery thriller with expertly crafted characters and a well written plot. While Fleming's text is not startlingly original, it is written with affection, charm, and intelligence.
Character/Execution: The main players in Telling a Thumper are brilliantly cast. Colin is a likable protagonist, while his strange friend Pete the ghost and his stubborn and opinionated cousin Katie make for a dynamic grouping. In fact, the excellent sense of camaraderie between the main characters is one of the book's main draws.
Blurb: An entertaining paranormal mystery story.
Plot/Idea: A Doula to Die For is a vibrant, fast-paced and well crafted crime thriller. Full of mystery and intrigue, the first installment of the Redondo and Rose Neighbors in Crime series shows off Bonnie Hardy's quality writing prowess while providing a thoroughly entertaining story to boot.
Prose: Bonnie Hardy's text displays a confident use of language that brims with atmosphere and intrigue. Her assured and evocative writing is enhanced by fully formed characters that are dynamic and relatable.
Originality: A Doula to Die For is a vivacious and enjoyable crime thriller written from the perspectives of the two leading characters. Hardy's impressive crime writing displays guile, flair, and undoubted promise for future Redondo and Rose installments.
Character/Execution: A Doula to Die For is written from the viewpoints of neighbors Vivienne Rose and Rex Redondo. This multiple perspective style suits the novel as it brings depth to the characters, with Hardy also displying a knack for producing witty and captivating dialogue.
Blurb: A thoroughly entertaining crime thriller.
Plot/Idea: Dell's Demons is the solid fifth entry in Biddison's Red Mist Girl series featuring a bold protagonist and an engaging storyline. A convincing crime drama with a sharp edge of creepiness and menace, Biddison's novel is sure to please exisiting fans of the series.
Prose: Dell's Demons is a well crafted mystery thriller, cleverly building tension with a keen eye or detail. An eerie atmosphere permeates throughout, while realistic exchanges of dialogue help make the novel seem more authentic.
Originality: Dell's Demons is a well written, accomplished, and consistently captivating mystery thriller. Its short, sharp chapters are easy to digest, and it proves to be a worthy addition to Biddison's Red Mist Girl series.
Character/Execution: Biddison has a knack for writing well formed, believable characters and Deputy Dell makes for a compelling protagonist. The character interactions throughout the novel are naturalistic, with Biddison displaying an excellent command of emotional complexities in her relationship development.
Blurb: A confidently orchestrated suspense thriller.
Plot/Idea: Point of Origin follows Samantha Church on a intense, complex and personal crime journey. Powered by well written characters and interesting stretches of dialogue, the novel features a well written storyline that will keep readers engage.
Prose: Betta Ferrendelli's text benefits from a beautiful level of detail that emphasizes atmosphere and character descriptions. Her short, information-packed chapters are easy to digest, and there is a gentle warmth to the cast's interactions that enhances their individuality.
Originality: Point of Origin is a confidently written mystery thriller with a well established lead character and the promise of further entries in the series to come. The story is full of suspenseful twists and turns that arise organically within the storytelling.
Character/Execution: Ferrendelli's protagonist, the investigative journalist Samantha Church, is well rounded, bravely fighting her inner demons as she diligently tracks a serial arsonist. Additionally, themes of motherhood, justice, and betrayal are keenly reinforced by the authentic, emotional depth of Point of Origin's main characters.
Plot/Idea: The Day My Mother Died is a compelling mystery about an ex-con who finds himself back home under circumstances almost as bad as the reasons he left in the first place. Jimmy Miller finds himself hip-deep in long-buried secrets and must solve his friend's murder between pummeling from locals who will do anything to get him to leave the lies alone.
Prose: Costa's prose is punchy, yet vivid, and to the point, and he builds dread from page one, even when describing innocuous surroundings.
Originality: While some aspects of the plot are familiar, Costa's storyline proves alluring and keeps readers guessing throughout.
Character/Execution: Jimmy Miller is driven by his past and sees the world through decidedly black humor, an understandable coping mechanism given what he endured as an adolescent. As a protagonist, he's driven, brave, and entirely root-able. The other characters are equally vivid and fleshed-out, and though his mother is killed in the first chapter, her death looms large over the rest of the book, as does the memory of his late father. Costa is especially skilled in showing the gray layers in such flawed men and women.
Plot/Idea: Stone Coat Man, the fourth in a series, hatches a rich, inventive, and unexpected premise that combines mystery with mythology. The storyline unfolds rapidly, which places readers immediately into the surreal events. While somewhat more buildup to the discovery of a cadaver and the creature seemingly responsible might be warranted, readers will nevertheless be glued to the page from the get-go.
Prose: Hagan's prose is easy flowing, pleasingly descriptive, and evocative.
Originality: Hagan stages a murder mystery against the backdrop of a fictional New York town. The legend of Genoska provides a deeply intriguing and fresh element to the storytelling.
Character/Execution: This mystery has a clear social justice element to it as it is rooted in white supremacist targeting of an indigenous community. The diverse residents of Cadence, New York (some of whom readers will recognize from previous installments) enliven the text, with Marian serving as a warm and inviting narrator. The author has created a fascinating mystery that weaves together traditions, myth, and crime.
Plot/Idea: Blanchard pens a though-provoking story of resilience, centered on Emma, now an office manager and bookkeeper for her family’s art center. Emma’s years-long struggle to recover from a devastating vehicle accident that left several people dead is heartbreaking to watch, as is her tumultuous relationship with her cousin, Lucy—a wild card who pops back into her life unexpectedly, renaming herself Lyssa, but for all the wrong reasons.
Prose: The prose is efficient and convincing, subtly hinting at the currents that underlie Emma’s fractious relationship with her cousin—and, in many ways, herself.
Originality: Blanchard's finesse for teasing out the complexity of human relationships is a highlight and makes this novel compelling, suffusing the writing with profound depth.
Character/Execution: Emma is a penetrating character, rich with contrast: she is broken and flawed, but at the same time intensely resolute and tenacious. The supporting characters, particularly Jonah and Chaz, are easy to connect with and afford Emma the well-rounded support she so deserves.
Plot/Idea: The Shutdown List integrates elements of a traditional thriller with a timely commentary on climate change, leading to a smart and riveting narrative.
Prose: Dukett writes fluidly, maintaining tension while providing additional levels of interest concerning activism and the unfolding threats of climate destruction.
Originality: Though The Shutdown List has familiar beats, the examination of current political issues, corruption, climate change, and their impact on the primary characters, is sparklingly fresh.
Character/Execution: Distinct characters and some solid, unexpected twists abound in Dukett's The Shutdown List. Protagonist Anita serves as an emotional anchor for the story, and it's through her struggles and quest that the wider plot unfolds.
Plot/Idea: Lawyers, Dogs, and Money is an accomplished mystery novel featuring believable and likeable characters. Carter's well-developed plot is harmless, yet entertaining, highlighting loyalty, durability and the beauty of canine companionship.
Prose: Carter's text is confidently written and maintains the reader's interest throughout with an intriguing and adventurous plot at its center. The second installment in the K-9 Mystery Series, Lawyers, Dogs, and Money is well organized, accessible, and leaves plenty scope for further entries.
Originality: Lawyers, Dogs, and Money is an above average mystery thriller, noteworthy for its well-written characters and entertaining plot. Carter's great passion for dogs shines through, with the bond forged between Veronica and Leda an undoubted highlight.
Character/Execution: Veronica Kildare and her dog, Leda, are the central protagonists of Lawyers, Dogs, and Money, and they extend their charming relationship in a well-written adventure mystery. Carter has a knack for making both humans and animals shine in this charming story.
Blurb: An entertaining mystery yarn.
Plot/Idea: The Guest House is a well written psychological thriller featuring a simple storyline and well developed characters. The plot is densely layered as Allie, a deaf woman with a cochlear implant, inadvertently finds herself caught up in a web of mystery, betrayal and intrigue.
Prose: Bonnie Traymore's text is accessible and intriguing, benefitting from an acute attention to detail that helps build atmosphere and tension. The storyline is expertly crafted with plenty twists and turns that keep the reader guessing from start to finish.
Originality: The Guest House is a bold psychological thriller which adeptly incorporates some of the many challenges deaf people with cochlear implants face on a daily basis. Though there are some run of the mill plot points, Traymore's novel is sure to be a hit with those who like their mysteries served with a dose of chilling realism.
Character/Execution: Traymore's well crafted characters feature the protagonist Allie Dawson, who is a deaf woman navigating the world with a cochlear implant and smart glasses. The characters interact in a naturalistic and believable manner, adding a sense of tension to a spine-chillingly entertaining drama.
Blurb: A compelling psychological thriller.
Plot/Idea: In a follow-up to All About Annie, Miller creates an engaging, cozy mystery set against the backdrop of Execution Rocks on Long Island Sound. Bringing characters to a common meeting place draws the reader in quickly and sets the stage for romance to blossom, personalities to develop, and secrets to be uncovered. Miller adds enough atmosphere and unexpected twists to keep readers turning the pages.
Prose: Well-written, the author engages the reader with fast pacing and astute characters. As the action relaxes, a satisfying discovery is made. Conversations between characters are natural and allow personalities to develop and shine.
Originality: The author blends mystery, history, and the possibility of the supernatural into a layered and entertaining story.
Character/Execution: Miller's protagonist is smart, witty, and experienced in her field. Her eventual love interest may strike readers as overconfident and unlikable. Ultimately, the slow burn between them comes to a gratifying conclusion.
Plot/Idea: Trust No One, the fourth book in the Conor Thorn series, is a well-conceived historical thriller set in the WWII era.
Prose: The prose is rich but dense, and clearly displays the author's knowledge of the era. Suspenseful and engaging, Trust No One packs a punch while also offering a striking portrayal of international conflicts, political turmoil, and the human tolls of war.
Originality: Dyer's focus on WWII-era espionage pulls in familiar elements, but the novel is uplifted via clearly extensive research and attention to detail that brings the historical circumstances to life.
Character/Execution: Characters Conor and Emily emerge as the most complete characters, but the author capably populates the novel with convincing figures, providing historical verisimilitude.
Plot/Idea: Circus Train at Sunrise is a tense and gripping suspense thriller that sees Denning spinning a convincing yarn with well crafted characters in a colorful and inspiring circus setting. The characters' natural and authentic dialogue combines well with the overall sense of tension to create a compelling and consistently entertaining story.
Prose: Circus Train at Sunrise is dense with lyrical prose that helps create a devilishly intense atmosphere. Denning cleverly draws the reader into the world of performance, effortlessly capturing the essence of circus life while dramatic events unfold all around.
Originality: Circus Train at Sunrise is a convincingly written thriller that excellently evokes early 20th century America and the world of circus performance. Denning's keen eye for detail elevates her novel above other like-minded mystery thrillers.
Character/Execution: The central relationship that develops between Charlotte Baxter and Jay Edwards is at the heart of Circus Train at Sunrise. The characters are well written, with convincing, naturalistic dialogue, and a real understanding of human emotion.
Blurb: A bold and intoxicating circus-set thriller.
Plot/Idea: Park entertains with this collection of four mysteries following a sister detective team that specializes in resolving spirits' unfinished business on Earth, to allow them closure and eternal peace. The mysteries build instinctively, with plenty of interesting developments to puzzle out along the way, and readers will be engaged throughout.
Prose: Park is clearly a skilled writer, delivering clear, concise prose that favors a straightforward, unfussy style to drive home the novel's plot.
Originality: Solving mysteries by way of a supernatural ability to commune with dead spirits is unique and makes this novel entertaining as well as dynamic.
Character/Execution: Park constructs characters who readers will relate to and admire, particularly in detective lead Moira, whose paranormal abilities lead to some diverting moments between the story's ghosts and the central cast.
Plot/Idea: After divorced parents experience the unthinkable—losing their young son to a drunk driver—they begin an intricate plan to exact revenge on the heartless killer, who is the son of a mafia boss. When they join a support group to throw suspicion off of themselves, the therapy might just save them from a deadly decision. Hosek keeps readers intricately embroiled in the plot, as it hurtles towards an unseen—but satisfying—ending.
Prose: Hosek’s stark writing style mirrors the splintered existence of grief, unfurling the story of two bereaved parents with nothing to lose in short, grinding spurts.
Originality: Exploring the parents’ moral journey, peppered with a series of support group confessions, keeps this introspective story in motion, and the intimacy Hosek crafts between readers and characters is jolting.
Character/Execution: The two central leads are powerfully wrought, their anguish both haunting and galvanizing. Their therapy gently nudges them onto an unexpected path, and Hosek tenderly airs their motivations, trauma, and healing.
