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Book Review

The Fields by Erin Young [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Fields

Author: Erin Young

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publish Date: January 25, 2022

Genre: Police Procedural

Series: Riley Fisher #1

My Rating: 4/5

The Fields by Erin Young

BOOK BLURB

Some things don’t stay buried.

It starts with a body—a young woman found dead in an Iowa cornfield, on one of the few family farms still managing to compete with the giants of Big Agriculture.

When Sergeant Riley Fisher, newly promoted to head of investigations for the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, arrives on the scene, an already horrific crime becomes personal when she discovers the victim was a childhood friend, connected to a dark past she thought she’d left behind.

The investigation grows complicated as more victims are found. Drawn deeper in, Riley soon discovers implications far beyond her Midwest town.

The Fields by Erin Young

MY REVIEW

The Fields is a debut crime thriller. Riley Fisher heads the investigation in the murder of one of her childhood friends.

The Fields is a dark and gritty police procedural. Riley Fisher is an intriguing character. The mystery is complex and compelling. This is the first book in a new series, and I look forward to reading more.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Riley Fisher series:
  1. The Fields
Book Review

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The End of Getting Lost

Author: Robin Kirman

Publisher: Simon Schuster

Publish Date: February 15, 2022

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman

BOOK BLURB

A young woman and her husband travel around Europe to celebrate their first year of marriage—a year that the woman has no memory of—in this searing novel of intimacy and deceit.

The year is 1996—a time before cell phones, status updates, and location tags—when you could still travel to a remote corner of the world and disappear. This is where we meet Gina and Duncan, a young couple madly in love, traveling around Europe on a romantic adventure. It’s a time both thrilling and dizzying for Gina, whose memories are hazy following a head injury—and the growing sense that the man at her side is keeping secrets from her.

Just what is Duncan hiding and how far will he go to keep their pasts at bay? As the pair hop borders across Europe, their former lives threatening to catch up with them while the truth grows more elusive, we witness how love can lead us astray, and what it means to lose oneself in love

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman

MY REVIEW

In The End of Getting Lost, a married couple, Gina and Duncan, travel around Europe on a romantic adventure. Unfortunately, Gina suffers from amnesia due to a head injury. Gina feels that Duncan is hiding something from her, but she’s not all that forthcoming either.

The End of Getting Lost is told from the alternating viewpoints of Gina and Duncan. It is a domestic mystery of lies and deceit. The story takes place during the 1990s, which I enjoyed. However, I found the characters unlikable, and the story never fully grasped my attention.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Robin Kirman:
  1. The End of Getting Lost
Book Review

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: A Flicker in the Dark

Author: Stacy Willingham

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: January 11, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

BOOK BLURB

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, her own father had confessed to the crimes and was put away for life, leaving Chloe and the rest of her family to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.

Now twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. While she finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to achieve, she sometimes feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. So when a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, seeing parallels from her past that aren’t actually there, or for the second time in her life, is Chloe about to unmask a killer?

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

MY REVIEW

When Chloe Davis was twelve years old, her father was convicted for killing six teenage girls. Twenty years later, teenage girls are being killed, and Chloe suspects there is a connection with her father.

Chloe had a traumatic childhood, but has worked to overcome her difficult past. She is a psychologist with her own practice, she’s planning her wedding, and has the support of her fiancé  and her brother. Unfortunately, she also self-medicates, which makes her a bit unreliable as a narrator. When teenage girls start missing again, Chloe is unsure if there is a connection with her father, or if it’s all unrelated and in her imagination.

A Flicker in the Dark is a gripping debut novel. Flawed characters and an atmospheric setting in this twisty thriller. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Stacy Willingham:
  1. A Flicker in the Dark
Book Review

The Appeal by Janice Hallett [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Appeal

Author: Janice Hallett

Publisher: Atria

Publish Date: January 25, 2022

Genre: Crime Fiction

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

BOOK BLURB

The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward and his wife Helen, the play’s star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their fellow castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival.

But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy—nor of the good intentions of those involved. As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon, an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material—emails, messages, letters—with a growing suspicion that a killer may be hiding in plain sight. The evidence is all there, between the lines, waiting to be uncovered.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

MY REVIEW

The Appeal is an epistolary novel told through emails, texts, and other written communications. I’ve read several books with this format, and usually end up enjoying them. A mystery written in this format allows the reader to attempt solving the crime as the story unfolds.

A local theater group rallies around a sick child in one of their families. Along with preparing for their next production, the group helps raise money for an experimental treatment for the child. Tensions and doubts arise, and then one of the theater group is found dead. As two lawyers sort through the correspondence between the players involved, they start to suspect a killer is on the loose.

The Appeal is a compelling and uniquely told murder mystery. A good read for fans of epistolary novels and armchair sleuths.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in The Appeal series:
  1. The Appeal
  2. The Christmas Appeal
Book Review

My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: My Darling Husband

Author: Kimberly Belle

Publisher: Park Row

Publish Date: December 28, 2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle

BOOK BLURB

Everyone is about to know what her husband isn’t telling her…

Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.

Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.

My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle

MY REVIEW

My Darling Husband starts strong. Jade and her two kids, a daughter and a son, are held hostage in their home. Jade contacts her husband, Cam, with the intruder’s ransom demands. Unfortunately, Cam hasn’t been completely forthcoming about his business and their finances. As Cam scrambles, Jade and the kids attempt to save themselves.

Three points of view are used – Jade, Cam, and Sebastian, the intruder. Each of the characters has a unique voice, though I believe the story could have been more suspenseful without Sebastian’s viewpoint. The characters are relatable and strong, including the kids.

My Darling Husband is an intense and gripping psychological thriller. A good read for fans of domestic thrillers and authors such as B.A. Paris and Liv Constantine.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Kimberly Belle:
  1. The Last Breath
  2. The Ones We Trust
  3. The Marriage Lie
  4. Three Days Missing
  5. Dear Wife
  6. Stranger in the Lake
  7. My Darling Husband
  8. The Personal Assistant
Book Review

Murder at Greysbridge  by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Murder at Greysbridge

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: November 2, 2021

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #4

My Rating: 4/5

Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

Summer has arrived in Inishowen and solicitor Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe is greatly tempted by a job offer from a law firm in America. Yet before making any life-changing decisions, there is her assistant Leah’s wedding to attend at the newly restored Greysbridge Hotel—with its private beach and beautiful pier.

The perfect location—but the festivities are brutally cut short when a young American, a visitor also staying at the hotel, drowns in full view of the wedding guests. And when a second death is discovered the same evening, Ben finds herself embroiled in a real country-house-murder-mystery, where all the guests are suspects.

Sergeant Tom Molloy’s appearance to investigate throws Ben into turmoil, especially when the pursuit of two runaways leads the pair to an island off the Donegal coast, where a violent storm traps them together, completely cut off from the mainland.

A deadly conspiracy is unfolding on this tiny North Atlantic island—fueled by the ruthless pursuit of money—careening toward disaster for the inhabitants—and for Ben.

Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter

MY REVIEW

Murder at Greysbridge is the fourth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series. Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe is a local attorney in Glendara, a small town in northern Ireland. She has been involved with solving a few murder mysteries, and is drawn into a new one.

Ben’s assistant is getting married. The wedding is to be held at a renovated hotel that is rumored to be haunted. Ben’s investigative skills come in handy when not one, but two, hotel guests die. Along with the mystery, Ben has a lot happening in her personal and professional lives.

I recommend reading this series in order. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

Murder at Greysbridge is an atmospheric mystery with an isolated setting. This series has similarities with cozy mysteries – small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth, but it is darker than most cozies. Murder at Greysbridge is a gripping mystery. I can’t wait to read the next book.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes
Book Review

To the Tome of Murder by Lauren Elliott [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: To the Tome of Murder

Author: Lauren Elliott

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: October 26, 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #7

My Rating: 4/5

To the Tome of Murder by Lauren Elliott

BOOK BLURB

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, bookshop owner Addie Greyborne already has a full plate—and a killer on her case . . . 

Addie’s determined to turn a seemingly ordinary November in coastal Greyborne Harbor into one for the books. The windows of her shop display carefully curated works by American writers, including a rare selection of traditional holiday recipes from the influential 19th-century publication Godey’s Ladies Magazine. And then there’s the town’s Civil War-era themed cooking and baking competition, with a hefty cash prize and free publicity going to the winning dish . . .

But when she finds her cousin’s boyfriend murdered, a stunned Addie reluctantly realizes she may be the only person who can blow the cover off a grisly crime. With so many unanswered questions surrounding the victim’s death, Addie must figure out the strange connection between a mysterious vintage briefcase, the disappearance of a first edition copy of Sarah Josepha Hale’s famous nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and a dangerously well-read culprit . . . 

To the Tome of Murder by Lauren Elliott

MY REVIEW

To the Tome of Murder is the seventh book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore mystery series. Addie Greyborne owns the successful bookshop Beyond the Page. Addie is a bibliophile who occasionally helps solve crimes. As everyone in town prepares for Thanksgiving, Addie finds herself involved in another mystery. Her cousin’s boyfriend is killed, and Addie jumps in to help clear her cousin’s name from the suspect list.

As a fan of this series, I have enjoyed watching the characters grow. While To the Tome of Murder can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this series in order. The characters and setting make this a delightful cozy mystery series.

One of the things that I like about this series if that the mysteries have a connection to books. Addie is drawn to help because of her knowledge of books. Plus, she often knows the victim and/or the suspect.

To the Tome of Murder is a charming cozy mystery. This cozy series is one I enjoy keeping up with, and look forward to each new addition. A great read for fans of cozies who enjoy bookish themes set in a small town.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Beyond the Page Bookstore series:
  1. Murder by the Book
  2. Prologue to Murder
  3. Murder in the First Edition
  4. Proof of Murder
  5. A Page Marked for Murder
  6. Under the Cover of Murder
  7. To the Tome of Murder
Book Review

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Getaway With Murder

Author: Diane Kelly

Publisher: St. Martin

Publish Date: October 26, 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Mountain Lodge Mystery #1

My Rating: 4/5

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly

BOOK BLURB

As if hitting the half-century mark wasn’t enough, Misty Murphy celebrated her landmark birthday by amicably ending her marriage and investing her settlement in a dilapidated mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the old inn teetering on both a bluff and bankruptcy, she must have lost her ever-loving mind.

Luckily, handyman Rocky Crowder has a knack for rehabbing virtual ruins and for doing it on a dime, and to Misty’s delight, the lodge is fully booked on opening night, every room filled with flexible folks who’d slipped into spandex and ascended the peak for a yoga retreat with plans to namastay for a full week. Misty and her guests are feeling zen—at least until the yoga instructor is found dead.

With a killer on the loose and the lodge’s reputation hanging in the balance, Misty must put her detective-skills to the test. Only one thing is as clear as a sunny mountain morning—she must solve the crime before the lodge ends up, once again, on the brink.

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly

MY REVIEW

Getaway With Murder is the first book in Diane Kelly’s new series, Mountain Lodge. Recently divorced Misty Murphy has invested in a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The place needs work, but she finds a handyman who can get it done quickly. Her first booking is a group of guests on a yoga retreat. Everything seems to be coming together, until the yoga instructor is killed. Misty wants to solve the case, so her new investment doesn’t suffer any more.

I have read other books by Diane Kelly, including her Paw Enforcement and House-Flipper mystery series. Since I have enjoyed both of those series, I was happy to see a new series available. As expected, I found Getaway With Murder to be a charming book with likable characters and a lovely setting.

Getaway With Murder is a delightful cozy mystery. The characters are relatable, and the story is fun. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Mountain Lodge series:
  1. Getaway with Murder
  2. A Trip With Trouble
  3. Snow Place for Murder
Book Review

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Rock Paper Scissors

Author: Alice Feeney

Publisher: Flatiron

Publish Date: September 7, 2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

BOOK BLURB

Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife.

Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts–paper, cotton, pottery, tin–and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn’t randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after.

Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

MY REVIEW

A husband and wife win a weekend getaway. Adam and Amelia are hoping this weekend will help improve their marriage, but things do not go as planned.

Rock Paper Scissors is told from alternating points of view. Having viewpoints from both Adam and Amelia adds more to the story, plus letters written by Amelia on each of their anniversaries adds insight to their relationship. The novel starts slow, but it eventually picks up.

Rock Paper Scissors is an atmospheric and twisty domestic thriller. Fans of Alice Feeney’s other books are sure to enjoy this one too.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Alice Feeney:
  1. Sometimes I Lie
  2. I Know Who You Are
  3. His & Hers
  4. Rock Paper Scissors
  5. Daisy Darker
  6. Good Bad Girl
Book Review

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Good Rich People

Author: Eliza Jane Brazier

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: January 25, 2022

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier

BOOK BLURB

A destitute woman deceives her way into the guesthouse of a Hollywood Hills mansion and inadvertently becomes a target in the twisted game of the wealthy family upstairs in the next intoxicating novel from Eliza Jane Brazier.

Lyla has always believed that life is a game she is destined to win, but her husband, Graham, takes the game to dangerous levels. The wealthy couple invites self-made success stories to live in their guesthouse and then conspires to ruin their lives. After all, there is nothing worse than a bootstrapper. 

Demi has always felt like the odds were stacked against her. At the end of her rope, she seizes a risky opportunity to take over another person’s life and unwittingly becomes the subject of the upstairs couple’s wicked entertainment. But Demi has been struggling forever, and she’s not about to go down without a fight.  

In a twist that neither woman sees coming, the game quickly devolves into chaos and rockets toward an explosive conclusion. 

Because every good rich person knows: in money and in life, it’s winner take all. Even if you have to leave a few bodies behind.

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier

MY REVIEW

Good Rich People is a psychological thriller about a rich couple and a dark game they play. The couple rents out a guest cottage on their property. They choose people they can torment and attempt to ruin their lives. Unfortunately for them, their latest tenant is not one to go down easy.

Lyla, Graham, and Margo, Graham’s mother, are very rich. So rich they invent their own game to ruin other people’s lives. Their latest target, Demi, is tough to break though. The characters are well developed, unlikable, and fun to read about. The point of views alternate throughout the story, helping make it a more engaging read.

An over-the-top thrill ride of secrets and lies. Good Rich People is a gripping and twisty book for fans of psychological thriller.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Eliza Jane Brazier:
  1. If I Disappear
  2. Good Rich People
  3. Girls and Their Horses
  4. It Had to Be You

Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2021

Posted on by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

Below are the best mysteries and thrillers that I read in 2021. These were gripping, suspenseful, and clever mysteries. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
I Don't Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson
No Going Back from T.R. Ragan
The Other Mothers by M.M. Chouinard
Beneath Devil's Bridge by Loreth Anne White
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
I Know You by Claire McGowan
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine
My Top Ten Mysteries & Thrillers for 2021
  1. A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
  2. I Don’t Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson
  3. No Going Back by T.R. Ragan
  4. The Other Mothers by M.M. Chouinard
  5. Beneath Devil’s Bridge by Loreth Anne White
  6. Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay
  7. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
  8. I Know You by Claire McGowan
  9. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
  10. Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine
mystery genre bingo

2022 Mystery Genre Bingo

Posted on by Darinda
mystery genre bingo

Welcome to the Mystery Genre Bingo challenge!

This reading challenge focuses on mysteries and thrillers. The idea is to create a bingo card with a variety of mystery subgenres and make as many “bingos” as you want. You can set a goal to get one bingo, completely fill in the bingo card, or something in between.

The 2022 Mystery Genre Bingo challenge has 25 prompts. This is a great challenge for readers who enjoy mysteries.

I love to read mysteries, so my goal is to fill in a bingo card. My card for this year is posted below. I will update this post as I work on this year’s challenge. Please comment below with your challenge goals. Good luck and happy reading!

To make a bingo card, visit the Bingo Card Generator. Enter the following information:

  • Card Title: 2022 Mystery Genre Bingo
  • Word List: Amateur Sleuth, Caper, Cozy Mystery, Detective, Domestic Suspense, Golden Age Mystery, Historical Mystery, Hardboiled, Legal Thriller, Locked Room Mystery, Medical Thriller, Middle Grade Mystery, Murder Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Noir, Paranormal Mystery, Police Procedural, Political Thriller, Private Investigator, Psychological Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Spy Thriller, Techno Thriller, True Crime, Young Adult Mystery, Whodunit
  • Free Space: Yes
  • Free Space Text: Any Mystery
  • Free Space Description: “leave blank”
  • Free Space Placement: Center
  • Card Size: 5 x 5
  • Number of cards to create: 1
  • Click “Generate Bingo Cards”

MY BINGO CARD

2022 Mystery Genre Bingo Card
Books Read in 2022:
  • Domestic Suspense – Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
  • Hardboiled – The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
  • Caper – Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen
  • Middle Grade Mystery – The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
  • Murder Mystery – One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose
  • Young Adult Mystery – You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus
  • Paranormal Mystery – The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White
  • Noir – Buffalo Bayou by Tom Abrahams
  • Techno Thriller – Upgrade by Blake Crouch
  • Locked Room Mystery – The Finalists by David Bell
  • Whodunit – The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
  • Police Procedural – Can’t Go Back by Debra Webb
  • Any Mystery – The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
  • Mystery Thriller – The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
  • Historical Mystery – The Lives of Diamond Bessie by Jody Hadlock
  • Private Investigator – Pay Dirt Road by Samantha Jayne Allen
  • Golden Age Mystery – The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
  • Cozy Mystery – Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron
  • Legal Thriller – Cane and Abe by James Grippando
  • Psychological Thriller – This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
  • Romantic Suspense – Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose
  • Amateur Sleuth – The Burning Pages by Paige Shelton
  • Spy Thriller – The Assassins by Gayle Lynds
  • Medical Thriller – Cold, Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs
  • True Crime – The Defense Lawyer by James Patterson