Time for another entry in this incredibly popular feature here at BOLO Books – The APB (All Points Bulletin).
As always, competition for these slots was tough. Which books are generating that elusive buzz in the publishing industry? Which are books that I personally have been waiting for? As always, I try to keep this a mixture of books from heavy-hitters and those newer to our genre – and across all sub-genres and with some expression of the diversity that exists in our literary community.
This feature works in conjunction with the weekly BOLO (Be On the Look Out) posts. Both are intended to highlight books that I am excited about in advance of their release date. In the case of the APB, the format is simply to present a gallery featuring the covers, the official release date of each book, and a brief explanation of why I am anticipating the title.
As we get closer to that release date, the BOLO post will give you more detailed information on each title, but in the meantime, feel free to research these titles on your own. And remember to pre-order!
Alison Gaylin is coming off of an Edgar Award Win for her last novel, If I Die Tonight, and Never Look Back is even better. Gaylin is a writer who never repeats herself, and yet she is able to make each new book distinctly her own. This novel finds a new way into the true crime podcast trend, becoming irresistible and unforgettable in the process.
This is the third book in Kristen Lepionka’s Roxane Weary series, featuring one of the most unique heroines in the genre. Lepionka is a writer who just keeps getting better, so if you haven’t read The Last Place You Look and What You Want To See, you have some catching up to do.
Adrian McKinty has long been a favorite of connoisseurs of crime fiction, but this is the book that will break him out into the mainstream. Glorious writing married to a jaw-droppingly scary plot make this a must read summer blockbuster.
Look, I’m a Maryland native, so there is not way the new Laura Lippman novel wasn’t going to be on this list, but it’s no exaggeration to say that this might just be Lippman’s best book to-date – and likely her most personal as well. Always breaking new ground in her storytelling, this is a unique novel that is hard to classify, but oh so easy to love.
Laura McHugh’s name is probably not as familiar as some on this list, but she more than holds her own next to these favorites. Tackling the opiod crisis with her own distinctive style, McHugh’s ability to touch the heart of the reader is undeniable.
It has been a long wait for a new release from Jamie Mason, but I am pleased to say that The Hidden Things will prove that it has been worth it. Told in impeccably precise language – the sentences simply sing – this novel finds new ways to explore its criminal elements.
I will be picking up a copy of this one at the American Library Association meeting this weekend. You never know what you are going to get with a Lisa Lutz novel, but you can bet that it will start a conversation. This one seems to tackle gender politics with her usual brand of dark humor and thoughtful commentary told from unexpected angles.
Following on from the success of Trust Me, Hank Phillippi Ryan once again tackles a psychological suspense stand-alone that defies expectations. This year has seen a number of books that revolve around the courtroom, but Ryan’s knowledge of that arena allows her novel to stand-out while never sacrificing this author’s ability to craft believable and sympathetic characters ensnared in twisty plot developments.
Catherine Ryan Howard follows up her Edgar-nominated The Liar’s Girl with this structurally complex read that combines thrilling plot twists, memorable characters, and topical social commentary to make for a truly unforgettable read.
I am a devoted Attica Locke acolyte. Bluebird, Bluebird, the first book in her highway 59 series, was one of my favorite books in 2017 – and remains a favorite to this day. To say I am anticipating the chance to dive into this follow-up would be a vast understatement. I highly recommend every one of her novels. There is a reason The Cutting Season was the first ever BOLO Books review.
BONUS TITLE
Easily one of the most anticipated reads of the year, Rob Hart expands his brand beyond crime fiction with The Warehouse. Everything you have heard about this book is true – maybe even understated. Sure to be his breakout book, give this one a chance and you will be glad that you did. You will want to have read this so that you can participate in the many conversations it will generate over the course of this and many future years.