THE VIOLET HOUR

JAMES CAHILL

The Violet Hour, by the sensational writer James Cahill surpasses his debut novel Tiepolo Blue written in 2022. There is no doubt that Cahill has a unique way of expressing himself. The book can be interpreted as a satire of the rarefied art world and an on-the-nose depiction of the people who populate it. The characters are skillfully sketched, and their motivations are believable, yet they still remind the reader that, after all, the Violet Hour is a novel, albeit one readers will not soon forget. While the book has its share of intricacies and plot devices, it still provides a superbly entertaining story that will keep readers begging for more.

THE BEST LITTLE MOTEL IN TEXAS

LYLA LANE

The Best Little Motel in Texas by Lyla Lane is a comical, cozy, and comfortable mystery that readers will enjoy. The protagonist, Cordelia, is a librarian in Dallas when she inherits a motel in the unlikely named town of Sarsaparilla Falls, Texas. Like most of us, she abhors change but feels obligated to relocate. But what she finds surprises her. Cordelia, with minimal investigation and observation, realizes that she is the new owner of the town's House of prostitution. Unfortunately, a client dies in the motel. Cordelia takes it upon herself to find out who killed the victim, who happened to be the town's pastor. Cordell enlists the locals' help, who offer wit, charm, and a boyfriend.

The Best Little Motel in Texas is an entertaining read that leaves a pleasant impression. One can only hope that the writer decides to turn this into a series, which will have numerous readers.

CRIMINAL NOVICE

MIKE FARICY

Criminal Novice is another entertaining and straightforward private-investigation novel by the talented writer Mike Faricy. The writer is well known for his Dev Haskell PI adventures, which are in their heyday, while Yucky Yates is just getting started. And if Criminal Novice is any indication, readers will have yet another outstanding series on their hands to plow through.

Criminal Novice features Yucky Yates, a former DEA agent who retired and is now a private investigator in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. This time out, he's juggling a riot of cases, including what looks like a rather simple adultery case, a high-end burglary incident, and a hit-and-run resulting in a death. Criminal Novice is a grand example for anybody who wants to know what it's like to be a private investigator. I recommend buying all three titles in the Yucky Yates series and checking out the Dev Haskell collection, which never fails to bring a smile to my face and laughter to my heart. After reading the writer's books, you will feel, as I do, that I owe him a debt of gratitude for keeping me entertained while he slaves away polishing his reputation as one of the best in the business.

BEST BOY

DEBORAH GOODRICH ROYCE

Thriller writer Deborah Goodrich Royce has done it again with her enthralling mystery, Best Boy. The book centers around an ex-actress named Viveca, who left the West Coast to find a new life with her family. Something that is done 1000 times a day with no ramifications. However, when the family moves into their new house, Vivica receives a note signed by someone named 'best boy'. Importantly, after that, their home is burglarized, and her secrets, which are only known to her, become public. What's great about Best Boy is that it imbues the reader with a sense of paranoia and even anxiety that may be hard to shake until the end. The author employs dual timelines, which makes the book that much more fascinating and gut-wrenching. I recommend best boy, especially when you have the lights turned on and the doors locked.

THE HARD LINE

MARK GREANEY

Superb thriller writer Mark Greaney has done it again with his newest entry into the nerve-wracking, volatile Gray Man series. The book starts with a bang and never lets up as multiple characters are up to no good. And it is the Gray Man who blends into the background, coincidentally one of his most outstanding assets, making him so dangerous in the world of espionage and counterterrorism. Like all of the author's Gray Man adventures, The Hard Line can be read as a standalone. However, context and detail will be much easier to grasp if the reader starts at the very beginning of the Gray Man series.

The Gray Man's cliffhanger will encourage you to start at the beginning of this fabulous series while you wait on pins and needles for the next. Greaney is one of the top thriller writers in the genre, and mystery and thriller readers will do themselves a huge favor by picking up The Hard Line and the books on Greaney's extensive back list. The Hard Line is a winner that everyone should read immediately.

JIGSAW

JONATHAN KELLERMAN

Jigsaw, by prolific and super-talented writer and child psychologist Jonathan Kellerman, proves that the longer you do something, the better you become. Jigsaw is Kellerman's 41st Alex Delaware novel, and it is just as involving and entertaining as in any of his prior novels. Reading Jigsaw is like reuniting with old friends who happen to be law enforcement or law enforcement adjacent.

At the beginning, this case looks like a slam-dunk homicide. But, as any mystery reader knows, no such concept exists. The defense attorney presents an airtight alibi for the initial arrestee, and, with a shrug of his shoulders, Milo Sturgis, the long-suffering LAPD detective, goes back to work, but calls in his friend, Dr. Alex Delaware, an experienced psychologist and crime consultant.

Soon enough, the case turns into what looks like a serial killer when Milo and Alex discover a corpse surrounded by brick brack that makes them think that the victim was a hoarder. But they also find an inordinate amount of cash, which adds an ingredient to what is becoming an all-too-difficult case. Add another body to the case, and you have a compelling mystery with great characters and plot. As usual, any Kellerman can be read as a standalone; however, those new to the world of Jonathan Kellerman, and it is a big world, ought to check out every single one of his Alex Delaware novels, starting with When the Bough Breaks, written in 1985.

A WRECKONING UP BLACK CAT HOLLOW

MATTHEW JONES

A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow is an intriguing and involving book that captures the reader and won't let them go until the final page. The plot and characters are well drawn, and soon the reader begins to question assumptions about what is happening in this well-executed, nerve-wracking novel.

The author adds details sparingly until the entire recipe is complete. The reader will find numerous surprises along the way, including empathy for characters who may or may not deserve it. Who is the bad guy and who is the good guy? That is the question that runs throughout this intelligent, scary, and enthralling novel. Turn on the lights and be prepared to stay up all night reading A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow. It's that good.

GREEDY

CALLIE KAZUMI

Greedy, Callie Kazumi, transports the reader to Tokyo. And what happens is certainly not what an expat would expect. And that makes the book what it is: a fun and unpredictable read.

The story opens as Ed and his family experience the trauma of unemployment. So Ed does what so many people do: he seeks escape in gambling. And like so many, he loses and loses heavily. Deceiving his wife into thinking he's looking for a job, he finds employment as a chef working for a wealthy, well-known businesswoman. The only glitch is that Ed is not a chef. Picture yourself as a high school baseball player who decides that he can play Major League Baseball. You are familiar with the tools and the rules of the game. But you don't use them with the proficiency your manager expects.

Greedy is just that. A person who loses his job gets in debt, finds his way out, and into a job that may be the answer to his prayers or the door that leads to his death and the death of his family.

THE IMPOSSIBLE DETECTIVE

BOB REISS

The Impossible Detective, written by novice writer Bob Reiss, gives the reader all they can handle at the outset of this topical story; unfortunately, a young girl witnesses a hit-and-run. But unlike a conventional hit-and-run, the driver doesn't exist because the car is self-driven. Soon, the observer hires a private investigator to find out exactly what happened and why a car with no driver got away with killing an innocent. Politics and intrigue are at play within the detective agency, making for an absorbing backstory. The Impossible Detective combines artificial intelligence and traditional mystery to create an engaging book that readers will want to finish in one sitting.

THE CHARLESTON-SAVANNAH VICTIMS CLUB

TOM TURNER

The Charleston-Savannah Victims Club, by veteran mystery writer Tom Turner, certainly lives up to its author's admirable reputation. Turner has the gift of painting a luminous landscape of his characters, plot, and dialogue. This talent makes all of Turner's books a pleasure to read.

The Charleston Savannah Vctims Club leads the reader down a homicide path for much of its length, then, like any good writer, Turner adds more spices to the pot and all of a sudden the reader is dealing with Russian spies, hit men and women, stolen art and anything else that makes a mystery compelling which is certainly an apt description of this book.

Turner combines the macho characteristics of his recurring homicide cop, Nick Janzek, with those of his more subtle, perhaps more intellectually gifted girlfriend and her sister, both private investigators. Like a good recipe, all the ingredients are there to make the book extremely appetizing and one more outstanding effort in Mr. Turner's long career of writing compelling, entertaining, and amusing mysteries set in Florida, his home base.

CRY HAVOC

REBECCA WAIT

Cry Havoc is an odd, quirky book, but that should not keep readers from enjoying it. The protagonist, Ida, arrives at a rundown bottom-of-the-food-chain boarding school, and here is where the mystery begins. Ida’s family and relationships are mysterious, and her attendance at the boarding school may help her get to the bottom of why her relationships with her family are so murky. We meet her roommate, Louise, and learn enough about her to understand that she is someone to be reckoned with. In the second part of Cry Havoc, we are introduced to a teacher named Eleanor who seems to be just marking time. The book skips around to describe multiple ailments that plague many members of the student body, all the while returning to Aida, Louise, and the rest of the characters in this interesting academic mystery.

THE - STAY- AT- HOME MOTHER

NICOLE TROPE

The Stay-at-Home Mother by prolific psychological drama writer Nicole Trope leaves no stone unturned. This story starts out simple enough when a couple downsizes and moves to a new neighborhood. Andrea is the mother of a young child, and, like all mothers, she needs some time to herself. She meets her neighbor, Gabby. Gabby is also a mom, but of a teenager who longs to be around a younger child, as she did when she had young children.

Andrea comes home one day to find her home in ruins and her baby nowhere to be found. She suspects Gabby, but she has no one else to turn to. A missing child is a parent's worst nightmare, and Nicole Trope deftly escorts the reader through a story that reads like nonfiction. The writer possesses years of experience writing psychological drama, and here she shows why she is one of the leaders in her field. Read this book with the door locked and your kids safely tucked away, it's that good

GODFALL

VAN JENSEN

Godfall, by prolific sci-fi author Van Jensen, has turned a remarkable trick. He has taken what might ordinarily be a sci-fi adventure and added enough mystery elements to capture even the most ardent mystery/slash procedural reader.

Sheriff David Blunt oversees law enforcement in a small town in Nebraska. And he likes it that way. Very few crimes are committed, and those that are committed are easily solved. Without revealing too much about this excellent story, a giant alien lands in the middle of town. Sheriff Blunt, instead of being in charge of a tranquil town, is now in charge of a burg that is hosting an alien with unknown intentions. As is always the case, the town turns into a freak show, attracting drifters, criminals, and even cultists. With so many new people in town, crime occurs, and it is then that local law enforcement springs into action. There is at least one homicide. And with little or no help, the Sheriff is overwhelmed and racing against the clock to prevent more homicides.

Godfall is an excellent mix of light science fiction and mystery. It will appeal to readers of both genres, and rumor has it that this is just the first of a trilogy. I, for one, hope that the rumors are true because Godfall is an outstanding book that will no doubt rob the reader of a few days of sleep.

MEET THE NEWMANS

JENNIFER NIVEN

Writer Jennifer Niven has achieved a difficult task and done so with wild success. She, of the YA genre, has written a book that encapsulates a generation many baby boomers will relate to with pleasure and some antipathy. Meet The Newmans takes place in the 1960s and is a TV show reminiscent of Ozzie and Harriet, Father Knows Best, and Leave It to Beaver. It exemplifies the ideal life and lifestyle that Americans strove for, yet, in their hearts, knew they could never achieve. The protagonist of Meet the Newmans is Diana. It is interesting that on screen, Diana plays the ideal mother, yet off screen, she yearns for her own life that does not dovetail with the values portrayed on the television show, and of course, each member of the cast has their own secrets and problems that could bring down the success of the show. For those readers familiar with the entertainment industry, the book will remind them of how television shows are put together and what goes into a production seemingly as straightforward as Meet the Newmans. The book sits on the precipice of the 1960s, with its innocence and naivete, and the upcoming 60s, which brought civil unrest, racial equality, and women's rights. Meet the Newmans is a rarity because it raises serious questions while offering readers plenty of entertainment amid societal upheaval in the late 50s and the 1960s.

Murder by Muffin: Book 2: Solve the Puzzles―and the Plot of a Cozy Bakery Mystery!

Rosie Point and Charles Timmerman

Murder by Muffin, written by Rosie Point, quickly draws readers in with its creative use of graphics, phone screenshots, and website excerpts. These features come together to create a fun and engaging mini-mystery. The story follows Reggie and Abby, who live in the small town of Cranberry Creek. The book fits the cozy mystery genre well, with detailed descriptions of the town's bakery, church, and nearby trails. This setting helps readers feel part of a warm, nostalgic world. The book also includes interactive word searches to keep readers involved. Abby, the main character, stands out for her curiosity and active problem-solving approach.

EDGE: DETECTIVE HARRIET FOSTER

TRACEY CLARK

Edge, a Detective Harriet Foster thriller, is the fourth entry in a fine procedural set in Chicago. It should be noted that all the books in the Harriet Foster series can be read as stand-alone novels; readers will have a richer experience by taking the time to read the first three in this outstanding series. It's finally spring in Chicago, and Detective Foster inadvertently stumbles upon a group of what seems to be homeless or perhaps even deceased. She investigates further and discovers at least one dead body. Fortunately, she also finds a female survivor. Tension rises when she finds a business card on the young woman, belonging to Detective Foster's partner, Detective Matt Kelley, whose niece is the murder victim. This connection intensifies the investigation, as Detective Miller is determined to bring the killer to justice, and Foster must navigate the emotional complexities of this case while maintaining her professional integrity.

Edge is a complex procedural written by a talented and prolific author. Tracy Clark, the writer of this outstanding series, should be read by novices and veteran mystery readers alike.

WINNING HAND

MIKE FARICY

Winning Hand, by prolific and veteran mystery writer Mike Faricy, has everything that the novice mystery reader is looking for, as well as for long-time readers. Faricy knows how to tell a story, combining his lovable recurring characters, office mate Louie, his attorney, and Tubby Gustafson, the well-known local gangster, for whom Dev Haskell, our intrepid Private Eye and protagonist, is obligated to for many years to come.

Winning Hand finds Tubby reaching out to Dev to find the money and the guest who had misplaced it. The problem is that Tubby wants to use this guest as a professional card player as a partner and model in an ongoing monthly large-stakes poker game, where you can be sure Tubby will make plenty of money, as will anybody associated with Tubby and his gang.

The plot has Dev, our Private Eye, trying to locate the missing money, the person who lost it, and a slew of others you wouldn't want seen with. Combine this plot with amusing dialogue spoken by Dev, his on and off girlfriends, mostly off, his source at the Police Department, and Louie, and you have a winning novel by an author who gives his all every time to make readers laugh and want more of Dev and his theatrics.

THE SNOW LIES DEEP

PAULA MUNIER

The Snow Lies Deep, A Mercy Carr Mystery by prolific writer Paula Munier, is perfect for Christmas time or for any other time of year. It is the 7th entry in the series; however, readers are certainly welcome to read it as a standalone or as part of the series. The protagonist, Mercy, has a seasoned background in law enforcement, emanating from her career as an army MP. Currently, she lives in Vermont with her bomb-sniffing dog and her husband, a game warden, a branch of law enforcement.

Mercy has strong maternal feelings and is trying to be the best mother she can be to her daughter on a mother-daughter trip to the annual Christmas fair, when a homicide occurs, and Mercy is compelled to find the perpetrator. The Snow Lies Deep is a cross between a cozy for those who like less violence and more character development, and a mystery for readers who enjoy action and suspense. The Snow Lies Deep has all the ingredients for a timely, entertaining mystery and suspense story.

THE LAST HITMAN

ROBIN YOCUM

First-time novelist Robin Yocum hit the jackpot with his debut crime novel, The Last Hitman. At first blush, readers may shrug their shoulders and say, "Another mob novel." But within the first few pages, Yokum will prove that this is indeed much more than what the reader assumed. The protagonist, Angelo, is the victim of bad luck and his own poor judgment. He is working as a pool boy for the Fortunato crime family. His good work motivates him to accept a job offer from the family. As with any great novel, there are peaks and valleys, and at first, we see that Angelo is in trouble, to the point where he is contemplating being the stereotypical confidential informant willing to rat out the Fortunatos. Soon enough, Angelo straightens out and becomes an integral member of the clan. The reader learns Angelo's backstory and how he has now reached the zenith of his professional career.

The Last Hitman offers glimpses of a not-so-typical organized crime family and what it means to be part of "our thing. " After a few evenings, you too will feel like a part of a secure and tight-knit family, A.K.A. the Cosa Nostra.

WATCH US FALL

CHRISTINA KOVAC

Watch Us Fall, by thriller writer Christina Kovac, makes the reader feel as if they have just gone ten rounds with a heavyweight fighter. The beauty of Watch is that it appeals to both the large True Crime audience and well-established fans of these psychological mysteries. The novel begins with 100% optimism, glamour, and lifelong ambition, then delivers the hook: somebody disappears.

The story centres on Lucy and her pals, who live in Georgetown, one of the more tony areas of our capital. The problems begin when Josh, one of the members' exes, disappears.

As with any well-written psychological crime story, friendships decay, replaced by privilege, delusion, and other unattractive traits that have been hiding beneath this seemingly ideal group of friends. Lucy, the power behind the throne, becomes obsessed with finding Josh. The truth behind the disappearance is worth staying up all night to read this thriller that keeps on giving long into the night.