Mystery / Thriller
Plot/Idea: Book III of the Ages of Malice series, Embers of Shadow is a fast paced and well written fantasy adventure story. Its striking storyline carefully weaves together plot developments from different locations (the US and the Middle East) in a skillful and intelligent manner.
Prose: Jeffries's text is tense and thrilling, showcasing his adept use of language and thirst for detail. The tense and dramatic action scenes are nicely balanced with interesting stretches of dialogue that help aid character development.
Originality: Embers of Shadow features well choreographed action set pieces and finely crafted worlds. Jeffries's confidently written novel is not only a fine addition to the Ages of Malice series, but a noteworthy fantasy adventure novel in its own right.
Character/Execution: The characters in Embers of Shadow are interesting and well developed, particularly the central pairing of Rhyme Carter and Emery Merrick. Jeffries's fresh and dynamic dialogue helps accelerate the plot at an electrifying pace and infuses his characters with depth and complexity.
Blurb: An entertaining fantasy page-turner.
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: No One Left is a tense and involving crime thriller that boldly explores the disregard for the Indian Child Welfare Act. Boyle displays great storytelling abilities as she manages to orchestrate her plot and characters perfectly, creating an immersive and consistently engaging web of intrigue.
Prose: Boyle's text displays a real gift for bright and intelligent crime writing with a forensic eye for detail. The writing is bold, succinct, and engrossing, with chapters dedicated to individual characters, allowing her creations to grow and develop naturally into the story.
Originality: No One Left is the second book in the Pinter P. I. series and it offers great promise for future entries to come. The writing is sharp and detailed, the Native American background is well researched, and Boyle demonstrates a real talent for keeping readers invested in the story.
Character/Execution: Boyle's protagonist, the likeable James Pinter, is a private investigator working on a double homicide case close to home. The character development is sharp, realistic, and believable, particularly George Morris, who is suspected of murdering an Albuquerque judge and his wife.
Blurb: A perfectly pitched crime thriller.
Plot/Idea: Retired Detective Chief Superintendent Oliver Matthews can’t remember what he did one night in the 1960s, but it must be bad because a recurring vision of arms reaching for a young woman fills him with confusion and dread. When he returns to his hometown for answers in a race against his fading memory, he faces the possibility that he might not like what he learns about himself. Experiencing his first few memory journeys in detail would hook readers.
Prose: Bradley weaves together an intricate and psychologically complex page turner.
Originality: This unique mystery is a meditation on the nature of memory itself. As Oliver retraces a lost night from the past, it unfurls more questions, as well as hidden treasures.
Character/Execution: Oliver is a fractured, multilayered protagonist who balances on a knife’s edge between hero and villain, keeping readers guessing up until the conclusion.
Plot/Idea: When international crime invades his family, Dr. Zack Winston is willing to do what the authorities are not. But he must find the line between protecting his family and succumbing to bloodlust in this robust crime thriller. In book three of the Dr. Zach Winston series, Krentz catches up with the titular character, hitting the ground running while also establishing enough of the past circumstances to catch up new readers.
Prose: Krentz’s writing is confident, effectively detailed, and displays a clear knowledgeable about medicine.
Originality: Doctors and hospitals are assumed to be safe, but Death Agent chillingly turns that idea on its head.
Character/Execution: Dr. Winston is the imperfect antihero fans of medical thrillers crave. Krentz is an accomplished storyteller who delivers a tightly wound mystery that subverts expectations.
Plot/Idea: Shulkin's plot is complex, with multiple story lines that will keep readers on their toes as the book progresses. The circumstances surrounding military pathologist Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Englehart are incredibly high-risk and fraught with danger, but Shulkin builds tension organically, immediately digging into the central conflict: soldiers' bodies are miraculously healing themselves from mortal wounds, bodies are turning up for autopsies with strange implants in their brains, and the powers-that-be are cryptic about what's going on. Shulkin keeps the story moving with an even, welcome pace, scattering in plenty of shocks to keep readers engaged.
Prose: Shulkin crafts viscerally raw action scenes, rife with the gore and violence expected for the novel's premise, but the prose is just as smooth and convincing as the action.
Originality: The well-connected plot in Heroic Measures makes it stand out, as does Shulkin's skill at setting a chilling, suspenseful scene.
Character/Execution: Every character in Shulkin's book plays an important role, and each is developed with care and attention to detail. Stephen, tormented by flashbacks and past regret, stands out as a conflicted man desperate to make the right step, even when that means great personal sacrifice. Major Sharon Englehart is also distinctive, a quick-thinking Special Forces Green Beret who holds her own throughout the story.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
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Plot/Idea: Under the Radar is a quietly engaging police procedural that stars Carmel Roch, a level-headed Montreal police detective investigating a murder. Cumyn delivers a pleasingly twisty plot, while making the most of the novel's distinctive settings, particularly the wild regions of Labrador.
Prose: Cumyn's prose stye is sharply observant and detailed. Though there are some moments of dry exposition, the novel generally unfolds clearly, strategically, and vividly.
Originality: Cumyn hatches a unique premise, uplifted by the unusual locations Carmel finds herself while unraveling the truth behind a homicide.
Character/Execution: .Detective Carmel Roch is a winning character whose backstory Cumyn subtly conveys. The author excels at introducing characters with a few brush strokes and manages to maintain suspense leading up to the unexpected conclusion.
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: Bahna sets this captivating mystery against the backdrop of the cut-throat business of thoroughbred horse racing. The author succeeds in intriguing even readers with little previous interest in racing with rich detail and vivid scene-building.
Prose: Bahna offers abundant description without sacrificing tension. The romantic elements provide an additional layer of interest to the storytelling.
Originality: The author's enthusiasm for thoroughbred racing is apparent throughout. Bahna offers a wealth of detail about the sport–including its dark side–while maintaining narrative momentum.
Character/Execution: Matt and Kristine are both intriguing, imperfect, and layered characters whose love for horses sings through the pages.
