| The Body Lies by Jo BakerWhat it's about: An unnamed narrator takes a job teaching writing at a rural university to escape from the city where she suffered a horrific assault. But when a student's novel takes a turn that hits close to home, she starts to wonder if she'll ever be safe again.
Read it for: the exploration of timely topics such as sexual assault and other kinds of violence against women.
About the author: Best known for her bestselling historical novel Longbourn, Jo Baker's eclectic bibliography also includes the supernatural thriller The Telling and the literary fantasy novel The Mermaid's Child. |
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| Girl in the Rearview Mirror by Kelsey Rae DimbergWhat it is: the intricately plotted story of a young woman who unknowingly steps into a complex web of political power and shifting allegiances after taking a job that seems too good to be true.
Starring: protagonist Finn Hunt, new nanny to four-year-old Amabel Martin; Philip and Marina Martin, Amabel's glamorous and politically connected parents; and Iris, a mysterious woman who approaches Finn one day with shocking information about the Martin family.
Reviewers say: "Dimberg is one to watch" (Booklist). |
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| The Perfect Fraud by Ellen LaCorteWhat happens: Claire, who works as a psychic (just like the mother she's avoiding) and single mom Rena (whose sick daughter is plagued by an undiagnosable illness) meet by chance on a flight to Arizona. Neither woman's life will ever be the same.
Who it's for: parents with difficult children, the adult children of difficult parents, and anyone who likes a touch of the supernatural in their suspense.
For fans of: Brandon Massey, Alexandra Sokoloff, and Yrsa Sigurdardottir. |
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| A Philosophy of Ruin by Nicholas MancusiFeaturing: Oscar Boatwright, a young philosophy professor with a poor sense of self-preservation; Oscar's father, left in dire financial straits by Oscar's recently deceased mother; and Dawn, a young woman with whom Oscar has a regrettable drunken one night stand.
What goes wrong: Dawn turns out to be a student, not to mention the head of an on-campus drug-dealing empire. When Dawn offers Oscar a big payout, he accepts the chance to help his father no matter the risk.
Read it for: the characters, who are well-developed and darkly witty despite their many flaws. |
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| Conviction by Denise MinaWhat it's about: Glasgow housewife and true crime enthusiast Anna McDonald escapes from the collapse of her marriage by getting too invested in the story of a murdered family as it unfolds on her favorite podcast -- especially once she realizes she knows the prime suspect.
Why you might like it: the protagonist is likeable, reflective, and surprisingly funny.
True crime podcasts to try: For stories of unsolved murders, try Someone Knows Something and for white-collar crime, check out Swindled. |
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| Her Daughter's Mother by Daniela PetrovaThe premise: Lana Stone can finally become a mother thanks to an anonymous egg donor, but her curiosity gets the better of her and the two women strike up an extremely unlikely friendship.
The problem: Katya, the "anonymous" donor, suddenly goes missing and Lana is soon the prime suspect in her disappearance.
Read it for: the complex characters, intricate plotting, and unique details about Katya and Lana's shared Bulgarian heritage. |
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| The Perfect Plan by Bryan ReardonStarring: Drew Brennan, a politician whose star is on the rise, and his troubled younger brother Liam, who works behind the scenes as an "enforcer" so Drew can keep his hands clean.
What happens: Liam is finally pushed to his breaking point and commits a shocking crime that threatens to reveal memories and secrets that Drew would rather stay buried.
You might also like: The One You Love by Paul Pilkington; City of Strangers by Ian MacKenzie. |
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| Gone Too Long by Lori RoyThe setup: Imogene Coulter, the estranged daughter of a high-ranking Klansman, returns to her small Georgia town after her father's death and makes an earth-shattering discovery in the basement of a seemingly abandoned house.
What goes wrong: The secret Imogene unearthed is one her father's followers will do anything to keep quiet, and unfortunately her father's followers include the rest of her family and half the town.
About the author: Lori Roy is the author of other compelling thrillers, including Let Me Die in His Footsteps and her Edgar Award-winning debut Bent Road. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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