Mystery / Thriller
Plot/Idea: Kendrick’s ambitious plot follows Katrina Winslow, an American living in 1990s Bosnia, as she struggles to take care of a group of refugee orphans following a raid that killed their caretakers—and Katrina’s fellow Americans. The novel takes off immediately, and Kendrick interjects numerous significant events into the storyline, but their development is more instant than gradual. As Katrina wades through the waters of war—and the accusation that she’s functioning as a spy—she must learn who she can and can’t trust, all while experiencing a personal metamorphosis from unfettered to driven by a special purpose.
Prose: Flashbacks add depth to the story, and Kendrick delivers plenty of background to structure the history behind the novel, though the buildup to pivotal scenes is often abrupt, sacrificing some tension at times.
Originality: Kendrick strikes a nice balance between historical perspectives and character-driven moments, allowing readers a glimpse into an important time period for Bosnia alongside a cast of deeply engaging, appealing characters who undergo believable transformations.
Character/Execution: Katrina’s musings and reflections on how her world changes are engaging and intuitive, speaking to a larger context of destructive hate and discrimination. Her gradual understanding of the motivations driving the war in Bosnia is mirrored in the way her relationship with Lucien Brezak changes throughout the novel, and readers will be swept into their story as their mission merges into one.
Plot/Idea: Near Death, a Raney/Daye investigation, is a paranormal mystery novel which is briskly paced and consistently engaging. Its impressive cast of characters, spearheaded by the odd couple of Raney and Daye, are well orchestrated and the storyline is dynamic and involving.
Prose: The text is a collaborative effort between Hosek, Rudnick and Auerbach, and their skills combine well, providing great attention to detail in the crime scenes in particular. The world of paranormal investigations is convincingly realized, with sharp, naturalistic dialogue and a keen eye for plot development to boot.
Originality: Near Death is a gripping paranormal mystery thriller littered with tangible elements of psychic phenomena. The writing team has a knack for effortlessly creating tension-filled drama, with promise of further entries in the Raney/Daye series to come.
Character/Execution: The bizarre investigative pairing of Jennifer Daye, a parapsychologist, and Nate Raney, a police detective, is extremely effective and gives the book a sharp and dynamic focus. Furthermore, the often intricate character descriptions help transmit personality traits very successfully.
Blurb: A dynamic paranormal mystery thriller.
Plot/Idea: Billed as a "language app parody and whodunit," Toys in Babylon does exactly what it says on the tin. Brilliantly eccentric and packed with a colorful and unforgettable cast of characters, readers will instantly lap up Finegan's effervescent and mindbogglingly enjoyable journey.
Prose: Finegan's fresh and vibrant text is humorous, well written, and consistently entertaining. His sharp and witty observations are infectious, lending the book a vivacious and charismatic spirit.
Originality: Toys in Babylon is a bold and jocular novel that shares a close affinity with the madcap world of Douglas Adams. Finegan's undoubted love of language and language learning shines through and although the story teeters on the edge of being too clever for its own good, it eventually wins through with its compulsive energy and boundless wit.
Character/Execution: Finegan's characters are affable and well crafted, particularly the array of digital cartoon characters. These altogether creative and imaginative characters perfectly illustrate Finegan's insatiable thirst for the eccentric and bizarre.
Blurb: A curious and compelling murder mystery parody.
Plot/Idea: Shadow House is an intriguing murder mystery novel in which a pair of private detectives uncover a dark web of secrets. The storyline unfolds in a direct and straightforward manner, with well written characters and a tense and involving atmosphere.
Prose: Rielinger's text is simple, concise and effective, written in a confident, direct and accessible manner. Occasionally diaristic, the first person narrative is acutely realized, consistently engrossing and quietly effective.
Originality: Shadow House is a confidently written murder mystery novel which is regulalry endearing, without ever being startlingly original. Rielinger displays a solid, skillful writing style that is easy and enjoyable to read.
Character/Execution: Rielinger's protagonist, Terry Luvello, is an intelligent private detective with a sharp sense of humor. The first person narrative creates a more personal and intimate dynamic, resulting in the sense that Luvello is talking directly to the reader, which works effectively throughout.
Plot/Idea: Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place is an engrossing historical fiction novel which centers on the character of Pennie Goode who is haunted by strange visions that somehow connect her with the strange past of Malaga Island, Maine. The storyline is well-paced and consistently illuminating, with Maine's unique coastal heritage and bold mix of past and present day combining effectively to create a page-turner.
Prose: Safford's text benefits from excellent evocative detail that enhances the vivid Maine landscape as well as a well crafted and brilliantly orchestrated cast of intriguing characters. The rhythm of the sentences is impressive, as is the lyrical use of language which deftly emphasizes the dark history of Malaga Island.
Originality: Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place is a bold and fascinating historical novel with well written characters and an intriguing plot. It delicately explores themes of societal oppression and the dark, haunting secrets of the past in a stark and compelling manner.
Character/Execution: Safford's darkly comic portrayal of central character Penelope Brigid Goode forms the compelling centrepiece of her story. The richly described supporting cast of characters, in addition to the majestic Maine landscape, blend wonderfully to create a convincing and dramatic backdrop for the story to unfold.
Plot/Idea: On her way to her final performance, musician Sky Black stumbles over a teenage addict named Sam who reminds her of herself. In order to save them both, she makes a difficult choice that affects everyone in her life.
Prose: Knudsen spins a well-crafted story anchored in authentic emotion and the protagonist's relationship with her art.
Originality: One Night Only leads readers through a unique examination of the difference between what you should want, and what you actually want.
Character/Execution: Sky Black’s journey reveals a strong, complex main character and demonstrates the author’s insight about conflicting desires.
Plot/Idea: Calm. Down. Dear. is a thoughtful and affecting story that exposes a society quivering with power imbalances.
Prose: Stacy Walsh's text is simplistic and direct. The author confidently captures the tension and drama of a difficult and testing relationship despite an occasionally repetitive and labored approach.
Originality: Calm. Down. Dear. is a fine drama that bravely attempts to tackle issues surrounding mental health in relationships.
Character/Execution: Sam and Casey are the protagonists of Walsh's drama and the raw, emotional depth of these characters seeps off the pages. The tension that develops in their relationship is astutely realized and profoundly affecting.
Plot/Idea: Overmatched is a suspenseful and thought-provoking techno-thriller that centers around the bond between a feminine AI and a female fighter.
Prose: Chandler writes with forward momentum and builds tension as the nature and identity of Molly is revealed. While there are dry sections, the tone is a solid match for the genre and circumstances.
Originality: Chandler explores the ethical boundaries of advanced AI while developing a cohesive storyline and focusing on an AI's quest for agency.
Character/Execution: Molly, the AI at the center of the story, is the most compelling of the characters. The fierce relationship between Riley and Molly provides a dramatic and emotional hook to the narrative.
Plot/Idea: Thorn City, a multilayered and tense thriller, follows two troubled young women–Lisa and Jamie–as they partner with local authority members in order to unravel one of Portland's rampant drug dealerships. As Lisa and Jamie are dragged deeper into the city's spreading shadows, they are forced to confront past trauma regarding broken relationships and a boarding school for troubled teens.
Prose: Statz has a strong awareness of literary craft and intentionally creates engaging, relatable, and entertaining characters, all of which deepens the novel's complexity. The author strikes a fine balance between drama and humor, which will keep readers turning the pages.
Originality: Statz brings originality to the circumstances via an insider's perspective on Portland's weirder side.
Character/Execution: Statz infuses her multiple characters with energy, life, and substance. Each has a distinct personality and applicable background which, as a result, invigorates their relationships with one another.
Plot/Idea: Moneymaker, a lively and engrossing Southern mystery/thriller about Navy vet Mack Abbott, a "freelance surveillance expert" trying to readjust to civilian life. When his mysterious client hires him to track a drug shipment, all hell predictably breaks loose. He teams up with exotic dancer Avery Calloway (stage name Ava Applebottom) and the pair set out to puzzle together the case as his employer exposes him to lethal danger and leaves him almost literally holding the bag.
Prose: Boldt's prose is peppered with clever observations and well-placed humor that sets the tone. He does a fine job capturing Mack's struggles to adjust post-Navy and the boredom that comes with being a freelance surveillance expert, while tight action moves the story along at a clipped pace.
Originality: Boldt tells an undeniably thrilling story, albeit one that embraces classic private eye tropes.
Character/Execution: Moneymaker's characters have big personalities and make a splash on the page. Despite their occasional predictability, richly humorous dialogue provides energy and likability.
Plot/Idea: Venturini fully engages readers in this accelerated, twisty story. The plot hinges on red herrings and snappy procedural prose, though a handful of relationships never fully evolve. The novel ends with a promise to bring back main character Detective Dante Bartoli in the next installment.
Prose: Despite the novel's considerable length, Venturini manages to keep it brisk and appealing through skillful storytelling. However, there are several grammatical issues that distract from the central mystery's flair.
Originality: Venturini's New York setting is vibrantly reconstructed here, and the character of Hackman expertly portrayed, adding a chilling, sinister level to the mystery.
Character/Execution: Former police officer Bartoli is an intriguing character—cultured, flawed, and eminently believable. He gains solace and calm through the arts, all while running from a career that won't let him go. Secondary characters are memorable as well, notably Italian chef Mom Manzini, a larger-than-life maternal influence on Bartoli.
Plot/Idea: Way of the Bow is a spiritual and lyrical adventure story of comradeship and belief. The central characters of Bernie and Sarge make for a compelling double act that drives the storyline forward in a dynamic and provocative manner.
Prose: Fratello's text benefits from vibrant attention to detail that brings atmosphere and setting sharply into focus. In addition, the book is peppered with quotes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Machiavelli and Buddha, effectively enhancing its spiritual themes.
Originality: Way of the Bow is a deeply profound and affecting buddy story with excellently formed characters and a stirring plot. The contrast between the central characters gives the book an effervescent and infectious energy that is extremely enjoyable to read.
Character/Execution: An unlikely patring of Vietnam vets, Bernie and Sarge, form Way of the Bow's endearing and relatable center. Their acutely observed dialogue nicely emphasizes their unique personalities, traits and idiosyncrasies.
Blurb: An absorbing and uplifting buddy story.
Plot/Idea: Book four of the Cavanaugh mystery series, Six Weeks offers a glimpse into the intriguing world of deep undercover surveillance and the dark world of sabotage. The work delivers on tension and excitement, though further orienting readers at the start of each chapter may tighten pacing and development.
Prose: Lane’s evocative, description-rich writing builds a damp Northwest backdrop for readers, but may be sharpened by the critical eye of a copy editor.
Originality: Lane takes the sedentary occupation of surveillance and injects it with high-stakes thrills, offering readers a fascinating twist on undercover operations stories.
Character/Execution: C.J. Cavanaugh and the cast of characters populating Six Weeks arrive fully formed for readers to enjoy as their journeys unfold.
Plot/Idea: There is much to like in Stanley's fast-paced, intriguing mystery, which centers around family secrets and an incident of sexual assault by an individual ascending to a position of great power and privilege.
Prose: Stanley's prose is straightforward and clear, but exposition often stands in for more subtle, in-scene development. Dialogue can similarly come across as heavy-handed.
Originality: Collective Vengeance draws from contemporary concerns, particularly the #MeToo movement, but the work offers unexpected twists that will keep readers guessing.
Character/Execution: The author effectively builds the characters, though they tend to emerge via their broad actions and overarching roles within the story rather than through more intimate interactions.
Plot/Idea: Improbable Future (A Cadence Mystery #5) is a thriller featuring Madison Hayward, a beautiful survivor whose life is imploding around her. Her abusive father is found dead in his prison cell, which sets the events of the book in motion. Her mother, Patricia, dies in prison soon after, raising even more questions. With the help of her chosen family, Madison must try to reconcile her past with her present even as sinister forces seek to shut her up...permanently.
Prose: Hagan's prose gives readers entry into Madison's chaotic, dangerous world.
Originality: Madison's story is fascinating, her history horrific, and her chosen family has plenty of baggage as well.
Character/Execution: Madison's backstory is gut-wrenching, and readers will enjoy seeing her embroiled in a mystery. Her chosen family (e.g. Enoch, Henrietta, Lester, Phil, Joshua.), are compelling individuals themselves, with their own trials to overcome, but Madison story and personality can overwhelm the narrative.
Plot/Idea: The Shattered Bones spotlights military veteran and widower Rylan "Rye" Beam, who takes justice into his own hands in a bid to end his life. The plot examines Rye's ravaged emotions as his motivation for a unique brand of vigilante justice, in contrast to his devoted, tender treatment of his wife when she was alive.
Prose: Santana crafts this thriller in chilling tones of horror, with disturbing imagery and crisp prose that paints a picture of a broken man on an intimate path to destruction.
Originality: Santana sets an exciting pace—from time skips between Rye's high school years, his time in Iskandariyah, and the present—while depicting a tortured inner journey that vibrates with tension.
Character/Execution: Despite his horrific crimes, Rye is a sympathetic character, to a point, as he vacillates between questioning his mission and stubbornly insisting he's an anti-hero.
