The nitty-gritty: Mystery and horror combine with gothic literary elements in this excellent, atmospheric tale. If you haven’t discovered Christa Carmen yet, now’s your chance. In Beneath the Poet’s House, Carmen sets her literary, gothic mystery in Providence, Rhode Island and centers it around 19th century poet Sarah Helen Whitman’s famous house at 88 Benefit […]
The nitty-gritty: A creepy, tension-filled story that will keep readers turning the pages, Snow Drowned was a pleasant surprise. I’ve been lucky with YA books lately, and I’m happy to report that Snow Drowned is yet another one I can recommend (with a few caveats). Jennifer D. Lyle knows how to create tension, and I […]
The nitty-gritty: Secrets, lies, blackmail and murder combine in this excellent locked-room mystery. Whether or not you’re a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and his films, I guarantee you’ll have fun reading The Hitchcock Hotel. This is a locked room mystery with fantastic twists, plenty of unreliable characters, a bit of humor and a lot of […]
The nitty-gritty: Libby Cudmore’s carefully plotted PI story mixes interpersonal drama, music and the emotional pitfalls of addiction. “Junkies will always break your heart.” I have to admit it was the cover of Negative Girl that first caught my attention, and after reading it, I think it perfectly fits this murder mystery that centers around […]
The nitty-gritty: Alice Feeney explores mother/daughter relationships in this highly entertaining mystery, full of twists and plenty of emotion. “My daughter is the villain in my life, and I am the villain in hers. We both believe our stories are true.” After absolutely loving Daisy Darker, I couldn’t wait to read something else by Alice […]
The nitty-gritty: Southern charm and graphic violence collide in this funny and heartwarming story. “Put me in pink lipstick or blue hair if you want when I go,” the old woman was saying, “but bury me with my brassiere on and I’ll haunt you.” Bless Your Heart was a fun horror story with unforgettable characters, […]
The nitty-gritty: Police procedural meets vampires in this exciting horror thriller, another winner from C.J. Tudor. C.J. Tudor never disappoints, and her latest is a great combination of murder mystery, thriller and thoughtful examination of racial prejudice, all set in a remote town in Alaska during one of the darkest times of winter. In Tudor’s […]
The nitty-gritty: Readers looking for the perfect fantasy/mystery will love Robert Jackson Bennett’s immersive world building and lively characters. “Perhaps it is a wise thing, to prepare for death every day, just as the Empire prepares for death every wet season.” I always love it when the first book in a new series works, and […]
The nitty-gritty: Constance Sayers’ latest is a beautifully written, complex story about movies, curses, monsters and fame. “You would be wise to not run around asking about the film. It prefers to live in the shadows.” Like Constance Sayers’ other books, The Star and the Strange Moon is a complex, character-driven story that moves back […]
The nitty-gritty: A haunted museum is the setting for Luke Dumas’ latest, a solid mystery story with supernatural elements. If you’re a dinosaur fan, and I mean if you love scientific facts about dinosaurs, you’ll probably enjoy The Paleontologist a lot. I thought I liked dinosaurs, but I have to admit parts of this book […]