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Ripper by Isabel AllendeHigh school senior Amanda Jackson lives in San Francisco with her mother and grandfather. Amanda is fascinated by crime and the dark side of human nature, and one of her favorite pastimes is playing an online mystery game called Ripper with her grandfather and friends around the world. Initially started to identify Jack the Ripper, Ripper has evolved into investigating other more current cold cases. When a string of murders occurs in San Francisco, Amanda suspects a serial killer is on the loose and begins her own investigation with her Ripper friends. When Amanda’s mother suddenly disappears, Amanda believes she has been taken by the killer and must race to uncover the killer’s identity.
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The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha ArangoFans of Ruth Rendell and Patricia Highsmith, take note! The first novel of German TV writer Sascha Arango features Henry Hayden, a bestselling “author” who has not written a word of any of his novels. His wife writes them, happy to allow her husband the fame and glory while she continues her writing hobby anonymously. The story begins with Henry’s mistress, also his editor, Betty, breaking the news that she’s pregnant. When Henry receives this news with disgust, daydreaming of hurling his car off a cliff, we realize we are dealing with another emotionally barren antihero (à la Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, The Dinner, etc.) Obviously, a pregnant mistress won’t do. It would mean the end of his marriage and being outed as a fraud. So, Henry begins plotting Betty’s murder. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned, and the wrong woman is killed. So begins a plot filled with hairpin twists and turns, dry, dark humor, and unlikely love triangles. Arango does a great job of drawing a character so clever, depraved, and manipulative that you can’t stop reading to see what he’ll think of – and who he’ll drag down – next. The detectives involved in the case can never quite pin him down, and I couldn’t either – Henry’s motives remain mysterious, and he’s not exactly passionate about anything. He is, however, really enthusiastic in his game of staying one step ahead. Henry is a sociopath misfit of the Ruth Rendell variety, and Argango’s ability to portray such an unlikeable character in such a familiar, almost lighthearted, way reminded me of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley books. A word of warning: the ending is fairly open, and will leave you thinking. If you don’t mind that, you’re looking for a fast read, and you like the unlikable, this is the book for you! – Mary Kay
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The Shining Girls by Lauren BeukesThis is the best serial killer book I have ever read. Set in Chicago, it has 2 main narrators and a fluid time frame. The first narrator is a young woman in the 1990s, the only survivor of a never caught serial killer as she is searching for her attacker. The second narrator is that serial killer, a man whose present is the 1930s, but who lives in a home on the South Side, a home that is a portal to other times. Although this may sound confusing, Beukes does an excellent job of letting the reader know where you are in time and space at all moments. Plus, as the action heats up, the time travel increases, making the story even more suspenseful. This was a satisfying and exciting novel by an author to keep an eye on. As I was reading The Shining Girls I kept thinking about how similar it was to Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Both are dark, violent, and intricately plotted psychological suspense novels. Also while Dark Places is not speculative in anyway, it does consciously layer different time frames to keep the pace moving forward and obscure the mystery a bit. Both are also intensely suspenseful. I found The Shining Girls so appealing because how original it is. Interestingly, I felt similarly about The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell but because that was the most original zombie book I had ever read. These two books do share a genre though-- psychological suspense, but they are also both unique, intricately plotted works that tip toward literary fiction, but still keep the suspense and action at the forefront. If you liked either, try the other.– Becky
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Storm Front by Jim ButcherButcher writes urban fantasy that is very humorous. However, as the series develops, both the tone and the humor get darker. The graphic novel adaptations, which start with Welcome to the Jungle, were recommended later.
As Chicago's only practicing, professional wizard, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is used to being mocked. However, when the Special Investigations Division of CPD encounters an impossible case, Harry is the one they call. No sooner has the destitute Harry agreed to meet a new client looking for her missing husband than Lieutenant Karrin Murphy also phones. Against the laws of men and wizards, someone is using thaumaturgical magic to kill. One of the first victims was a henchman for Gentleman Johnny Marcone, bringing the mafia into the case. Harry’s self-deprecating humour lightens the mood as he fights fast paced battles with forces beyond his control. -- Karen T.
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The Glee Club Mysteries by Joelle CharbonneauThis is a cozy mystery trilogy by a Chicago-area author (also known for The Testing YA trilogy). The main character is a high school choir teacher turned amateur detective when, during her first month of teaching, a fellow teacher gets murdered; in the second book, she is performing at a concert when the tenor drops dead! The tone is light and humorous and fun-- the teacher the scampers about, finding clues, deals with students and various wacky characters; the voice is a spirited, 1st-person; and there is a love interest for our young heroine. For people who enjoy the music-themed cozy, or a cozy with a promising romantic element. Read-a-like: possibly the Flavia de Luce series (the first ones) because of the young protagonist (as opposed to many older lady protagonists in cozies) – Sonia
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A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul: Inspector Singh investigates by Shamini FlintSunny Bali is not just an island with great beaches. Its populace struggles with contemporary issues such as unemployment, a tourist based economy and terrorism. There is a bomb attack on a popular tourist bar and authorities find the remains of a person who was killed before the incident happened. Visiting Inspector Singh from Singapore is enlisted to find the murderer. His investigation takes him into the expat community, the tourist hotels and poor villages that surround this tropical plan land. While Singh may come off as an eccentric “Columbo” like character, the reader learns not to underestimate his skill in detection and the underlying evil that he battles against. I enjoyed this glimpse into this exotic culture and was reminded that although this story was seeming set up as a “cozy mystery”, it has immediate relevance with its social issues and world viewpoint. For read-alikes I would recommend Tarquin Hall whose native policeman Vish Puri deals with daily contradictions in India, and newcomer Vaseem Khan whose first novel is The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra. All these witty stories have idiosyncratic characters, intricate plots, and a strong sense of place. – Monique
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Career of Evil by Robert GalbraithThis is the third in a contemporary mystery series by Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling) after The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm. The main characters in this series, Strike Cormoran and his Secretary/Assistant Robin are flawed and engaging. Strike, the bastard son of a famous rocker, lost part of one leg in Afghanistan and when the series begins, had just broken up with his girlfriend and moved into the back room of his barren PI office. Robin is thrilled to take the job and finds the investigative part of their work satisfying. Cormoran works to keep their relationship professional and the fact that she is engaged is helpful. In the opening Robin is horrified when she receives a package at the office – directed to her – that contains a woman’s severed leg. Cormoran has at least four violent and creepy men in his past that he suspects and is very worried that the package came to Robin. Because of the press interest, their business is slowed to a crawl. This title moves into suspense and thriller territory as alternating chapters are told from the anonymous serial killer’s point of view. The story is fast-paced, atmospheric, tense and full of dread. In the stress of trying to track down a killer who is interested in Robin, more of her back story comes out and the reasons for her attraction to criminal investigations. The relationship between Cormoran and Robin is of central interest and her up and down relationship with her fiancé Matthew creates a barrier that is both convenient and frustrating. The ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger leaving the reader looking forward to the next installment! Read-alikes include Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series, Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Ganache series, and C. S. Harris’ Sebatisan St. Cyr series (if you are interested in historical mysteries with an intriguing main character and strong female assistant). – Chris
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A Pleasure and a Calling by Phil HoganLet’s admit it – sometimes it can be fun to root for the bad guy. If you enjoy getting into the mind of a criminal, then Hogan’s A Pleasure and a Calling is for you. Mr. William Heming seems pretty bland – you might even forget that he was the real estate agent who sold you your house. But little do his clients know that he’s saved copies of each and every one of their keys, and he enjoys paying them visits from time to time when they’re not home. When Mr. Heming observes a young woman being mistreated; however, he decides to take justice into his own hands with troubling results. This enjoyably creepy novel of psychological suspense will leave you asking yourself, who has the keys to your house? It’s similar in feel to Thy Neighbor by Norah Vincent – both dark, disturbing, first-person narratives are told by voyeurs who spy on others to cope with their own nightmarish pasts. – Lorna
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The Walt Longmire series by Craig JohnsonPolice procedural about a sheriff in Wyoming Craig Johnson gives us wonderful characters; tight, interesting plots; and a sense of place that just won’t quit. What I love best: Walt’s 1st person narrative voice (very real, with a dry sense of humor) In an interview, Craig Johnson said that sometimes, at book signings, people will give him notes to pass along to Walt Longmire. Compelling secondary characters: his friend Henry Standing bear and his deputy Vic, who curse a blue streak I love the strong sense of teamwork that infuses these stories. Plus: Walt’s office is in a former Carnegie library. Read-alikes include:– Stacey
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Alex by Pierre LemaîtreA bestseller in Europe, this book is second in a trilogy (Irène and Camille being the other two), but the first published in the US and can be read as a standalone and won a bunch of prizes. A young woman is kidnapped and forced into a cage whose origin dates from an 18th century designed that was meant to deliver maximum torture (and there are hungry rats involved). Police Commandant Camille Verhoeven, who stands under 5 ft tall, reluctantly takes on the case and races against time to find the kidnapping victim, and now hostage, before it is too late. I don’t want to reveal any more of the plot in fear of giving too much away. - What makes this novel amazing?
Not for the squeamish, this book is brutal, dark, and gory. There is one revelation after another and it just won’t stop with the surprises. It zigs when you think it will zag, is totally unpredictable and original, intricately plotted and fast paced. Where does it fit within crime fiction? Police Procedural Suspense Thriller What are some read-alikes John Connolly's Charlie Parker for a dark novel where justice is done The Stieg Larsson novels for a strong female protagonist Dept. Q novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen for cops who ignore procedure The darker Gillian Flynn novels for the constant surprises. This is not a cozy, not clean, not cute. It’s French. – Astrid
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