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Editors’ Picks: Mystery, Thriller & Crime
Books to read from one of the most popular genres by readers and editors alike.
Pubblicato il 06 Ottobre 2022
Razorblade Tears: A Novel
S. A. CosbyI loved Cosby’s cinematic first novel, “Blacktop Wasteland,” so I was thrilled when he followed it up with this equally full-throttle crime novel. It’s pitch perfect pulp, blending heart-pounding noir thrills with heart-wrenching topics like homophobia and racism. Adam Lazarre-White nails the narration, rendering Cosby’s words even more unforgettable. — Katie W.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Stuart TurtonThis page-turner feels like a mashup of video games and “Clue,” “Groundhog Day” and “Quantum Leap,” and yet it’s totally unique. It’s no wonder Turton won the Costa Award for this engrossing 1920s locked-room mystery. Aiden Bishop is doomed to repeat living the same day over and over at Blackheath Manor, but in the body of a different guest each time. He only has so many lives before it’s game over for him, unless he can figure out who keeps killing Evelyn Hardcastle and stop them before it’s too late. — Katie W.
One by One
Ruth WareThis chilling tale of a corporate retreat gone wrong is often compared with Agatha Christie’s classic, “And Then There Were None.” An avalanche leaves employees of a tech startup trapped in the French Alps — then people start dying. Terror and accusations take over, wiping out any chance of bonding. Ware unspools different motives chapter by chapter, but the big reveal is still a shock. She also offers clues via the startup’s invasive tracking app, which feels a bit too realistic for comfort. — Lanie P.
Unraveling Oliver: A Novel
Liz NugentMost crime novels are focused on the “who” in whodunnit, but this is one all about the why. Seemingly out of nowhere, Oliver brutally attacks his wife, Alice, putting her into a coma. From this dramatic scene, “Unraveling Oliver” does just that, diving into the mind of the titular character. Nugent takes readers through Oliver’s life in a steady, spellbinding exploration of psychopathy that explores the idea of nature vs. nurture. A series of small mysteries surround the larger one (Oliver’s motive), making this an engrossing read. — Lanie P.
The Hunting Party: A Novel
Lucy FoleyThings turn deadly after a group of college friends, now in their 30s, reunite for a cozy getaway in a Scottish hunting lodge. Foley moves back and forth between before and after the murder without revealing the killer or the victim. I love a good twist, and “The Hunting Party” delivers — not just on who the killer is, but also their sinister motive. — Lanie P.
The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel
Laura DaveThe character development in this mystery is worth noting, as is the evolving relationship between Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey. I was definitely rooting for Hannah. It seemed like she could never catch a break, from losing her mom, marrying a great guy who came with a difficult teenager only for him to disappear, and then getting caught up in trying to solve the case of his disappearance. There were several plot twists that kept me guessing and made the book hard to put down. — Sarah S.
The Guest List: A Novel
Lucy FoleyThe moody setting of an island off the coast of Ireland sets the stage nicely for an ominous turn of events for a posh, celebrity wedding. Every reader knows that when the cell service is spotty, there will be trouble. This slow-burn, whoddunnit murder mystery out in the middle of nowhere with an unreliable narrator pulls a lot of levers and keeps things pretty entertaining all the way through. — Sarah S.
The Last Mrs. Parrish: A Novel
Liv ConstantineAmber, a calculating and devious con artist, hates the wealthy and privileged women around her. And yet, she would do anything to be one of them. She befriends Daphne Parrish, a local woman who runs a charitable foundation, and slowly infiltrates her life as she sets out to seduce Daphne’s husband to become the new Mrs. Parrish. The Constantine sisters’ debut psychological thriller had the right number of twists, turns, and skeletons in the closet to keep me engrossed right up until the deeply satisfying end. — Emma C.
Then She Was Gone: A Novel
Lisa JewellJewell’s spin on the missing person trope makes for an edgy and addictive read. Fifteen-year-old Ellie went missing 10 years ago and was never seen or heard from again. Although her mother, Laurel, never gives up hope of finding her, she eventually begins to rebuild her life and starts dating a man named Floyd. However, she’s drawn inexplicably to Floyd’s young daughter and decides to do some amateur sleuthing to pick up Ellie’s case. The plot focuses less on what happened to Ellie and more on the why and how of her disappearance, along with the effects on her family and friends. — Emma C.
The Way Out
Ricardo PigliaTo escape the aftermath of a tumultuous divorce, Emilio Renzi leaves Buenos Aires for a position at an Ivy League school in New Jersey, only to wind up with more intricate problems. His affair with Ida, a fellow professor, is cut short when she dies in a suspicious car accident, which he sets out to solve. Piglia’s hypnotic prose blends addictive suspense with a study of American culture, privacy issues, and academic elitism in this gem of a novel. — Andrea B.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel
Robin SloanThe difference between Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore and a Barnes & Noble is, well, everything. Clay Jannon works the night shift, and soon realizes that, as with most things, he shouldn’t judge the contents of the bookstore by its cover. Follow Clay as he tries to unlock the mysteries of the 24-hour bookstore and the strange cast of characters who pay him a visit every night. — Alex P.
I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller
Terry HayesScreenwriter Hayes’ debut novel is a blockbuster thriller that will have you reading for hours on end, perhaps with a bucket of popcorn in hand. A pedal-to-the-metal cat-and-mouse chase around the world. — Mallory F.