Reviews

Readers can take an international journey with crime novelist Dervla McTiernan. The author is based in Australia and after three novels in her critically-acclaimed Cormac Reilly series – which takes place in Ireland – she now turns her pen to a standalone suspense...

Rob Osler’s debut mystery novel, Devil’s Chew Toy, is a rollicking romp through the tropes of the cozy sub-genre fronted by a gay main character – Hayden McCall – and his clique of diverse sidekicks. Readers will be having so much fun following this gang’s escapades...

After three excellent books in his Hester Thursby series, Edwin Hill is now releasing a tangentially connected standalone novel called The Secrets We Share, which further elevates his storytelling prowess – entrancing readers and leaving them anxious for more. Natalie...

Peter Swanson is one of those writers who can grab a reader’s attention simply with the briefest of plot descriptions. For example: a killer is recreating murders from classic crime novels (Eight Perfect Murders). Or a woman swaps homes with a distant cousin who might...

Alex Segura’s career path in crime fiction – while enviable – is the result of hard-work and determination bolstered by a truly exuberant personality and genuine respect for those he has met along the journey. When his new novel, Secret Identity, hits the shelves next...

Some people are just born storytellers, able to craft narratives that feature fascinating characters in compelling plots with an ease that seems magical. Add Kellye Garrett to that list. After two nearly perfect light-hearted cozy mysteries, Garrett turns her pen to...

The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill by C. S. Robertson is the type of book that once read is not easily forgotten. The impact lingers for a multitude of reasons, but they all boil down to the fact that Robertson is a gifted talent who uses all the tricks in the...

James Patterson is a legend of the crime fiction genre. Whether readers enjoy his books or not, there is no denying that his philanthropic contributions to independent bookstores across the country has helped many of them weather difficult times. His output of work is...

As readers, occasionally we want one of those narratives that can be consumed in just one or two sittings, providing a fully-rounded experience with minimal time investment. But those books should never be confused with being simple or light. Take for example, Cold by...

Finlay Donovan is Killing It, the delightful series debut by Elle Cosimano was recently nominated for the Best Humorous Mystery Novel of 2021 as part of Left Coast Crime’s Lefty Awards. Next week, the sequel – Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead – will be released and fans...

Lisa Lutz is one of crime fiction’s most unpredictable practitioners. Opening a new Lisa Lutz novel is like taking a step into the dark unknown, aware that potential danger lurks around every turn as the storyline coils its labyrinthine path to unexpected places. This...

The winter months are the perfect time to read The Overnight Guest, Heather Gudenkauf’s newest thriller teeming with suspense, shocks, and plenty of snow. Throughout her career, Gudenkauf has proven herself adapt at crafting complex storylines that rarely proceed in...

Thousands of books are published every year and yet the reading public only becomes aware of a small cross-section of those titles. Marketing teams at the big publishers and the limited space at mainstream media outlets often dictate how widespread knowledge of a...

Real Tigers is the third full-length novel in Mick Herron’s Slough House series. While the first two books in the series laid the important groundwork, it is in Real Tigers where all the various elements come together to create a near-perfect spy novel. Real Tigers...

Looking at the description of Allison Brennan’s The Sorority Murder, readers will notice a number of crime fiction tropes are in play – the death of a young (female) college student, a podcast hoping to solve this cold case, a missing diary, a plot that unspools...

I have long said the New Zealand-based crime writer Paul Cleave is one of the most under-appreciated authors in the crime fiction community. From his first book to the latest, every entry in his oeuvre is worthy of bestseller status and critical acclaim. And yet while...

As usual, I have taken this task of selecting my Top Reads List very seriously and really struggled to make sure the list commemorates my favorite books of the year. Simply put, sometimes this means splitting hairs and having to leave off books that I truly loved but...

Sarah Strohmeyer amassed many loyal fans years ago with her quirky and unique mystery series starring Bubbles Yablonsky, so when it was announced that she was returning to the crime fiction fold with a new suspense novel, much rejoicing ensued. That book, Do I Know...

Fans of Cathy Ace’s Cait Morgan Mystery Series will be delighted that for the eleventh book in this series, the author has provided readers with a holiday outing called The Corpse with the Granite Heart. That is, as long as one do not mind their festive mood tempered...

After writing nine novels featuring Inspector Erlendur, Arnaldur Indriðason took an unexpected detour with Reykjavik Nights and gave readers a glimpse back at the origins of his now iconic lead character. As Reykjavik Nights opens, it is the late sixties or early...