Category Archives: detective

Culpability by Bruce W. Holsinger

12 Friday Sep 2025

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“I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence!”—Oprah Winfrey

“If you want an engaging novel sure to spark great discussion about that thorny [AI] future, this is it.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“A fascinating, thought-provoking novel. Bruce Holsinger is a master at combining revelatory social commentary about important, timely issues (AI this time) with deeply moving insights about family dynamics. I highly, highly recommend this book.”—Angie Kim, author of Happiness Falls

“Holsinger seems to have created his own subgenre of psychosocial thriller, spinning super-smart, propulsive page-turners out of zeitgeisty worries . . . If you are not already hooked on Holsinger, it’s time to join the club.”—Kirkus (starred review)

“In Culpability, Bruce Holsinger brings his sharp eye and fearless storytelling to one of the most urgent questions of our time: What does it mean to be responsible in a world shaped by systems we no longer fully control? Part family drama, part techno-thriller, this riveting novel traces the moral fallout of a self-driving car crash through the lens of a fractured family. With piercing insight and deep compassion, Holsinger captures the unsettling drift between human intention and algorithmic consequence—never losing sight of the fragile, fallible people at the heart of the story. Gripping, wise, and eerily prescient, Culpability is a family novel for the age of AI.”—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train

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Heartwood : a Novel by Amity Gaige

08 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in action, adventure, detective, Fiction, mystery, nature, suspense, thriller, United States

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“A literary thriller of the highest order” (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Couple), Heartwood takes you on a gripping journey as a search and rescue team race against time after an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. (Amazon)

“A crackling adventure story, a meditation on the fraught human connection to nature, and a subtle examination of the rocky relationships between mothers and daughters that shape the lives of its women characters, the novel tightens its grip as it moves toward uncovering its central mysteries.”—BOOKLIST, Starred Review

“The best thriller of 2025.” —The Boston Globe 

“Heartwood by Amity Gaige shines as a gritty, evocative and heart-stopping wilderness thriller. Yet this journey into the harshness of nature and the horror of being lost, is also a beautifully crafted eulogy to human survival and an ode to the power of the spirit as it echoes between the generations. An unforgettable treat from first page to last.”—JANICE HALLETT, bestselling author of The Twyford Code

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Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

04 Wednesday Dec 2024

Posted by in adventure, detective, Fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, United States

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After Michael Crighton’s death in 2008, his wife, Sherri, knowing how special her husband’s notes and unfinished manuscript were, waited until she found the right author to complete it.  The result is the history-making eruption of Mauna Loa about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii. But a secret held for decades by the US military is far more terrifying than any volcano. (Amazon)  – prepare for 116 hours of nail-biting suspense.

“Explosive…The action scenes will make readers’ eyes pop as the tension continues to build…Red-hot storytelling.”―Kirkus, starred review

“Eruption is so much more than just a great read. It combines the impeccable research and scientific knowledge that Crichton consistently infused into everything he wrote with the breakneck suspense of a James Patterson novel… A wild ride that takes no prisoners.”―Bookreporter

“Eruption is extraordinary……Michael Crichton and James Patterson have come together to create a novel that is as thrilling and jaw-dropping as Jurassic Park. Every page of this novel features the best gifts of two writing giants. Full of suspense, frighteningly real and absolutely unforgettable.” ―Don Winslow, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Cartel and City on Fire

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Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate

15 Tuesday Oct 2024

Posted by in adventure, detective, Fiction, Historical Fiction, mystery, nature, United States

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“I barely put Shelterwood down as my new favorite heroine, Ranger Valerie, uncovered the chilling story of children displaced by land barons. This book has it all—two fabulous heroines, a little-known true story, and a setting to die for.”—Martha Hall Kelly, author of Lilac Girls and The Golden Doves

“Wingate is at her best writing in her sweet spot of writing for children’s rights while introducing us to a moment in Oklahoma history that would otherwise be forgotten”. —Sadeqa Johnson, author of The House of Eve

“Wingate’s stellar latest explores a centuries-long legacy of missing child cases. . . . Wingate’s insightful depiction of her young characters’ vulnerability and resourcefulness enriches the intricate plotting, and her portrayal of the region’s history, culture, and landscape enthralls. Wingate is at the top of her game.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A complex and fascinating tapestry woven with threads of history, mystery, and menace that proves yet again that there is no finer storyteller at work today than Lisa Wingate.”—William Kent Krueger, author of The River We Remember

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The Devotion of Suspect X: A Detective Galileo Novel (Detective Galileo Series, 1) by Keigo Higashino

18 Wednesday Sep 2024

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We know who committed the crime at the very beginning of this Japanese mystery, yet there are still many twists and turns to come in the story of a man who helps his neighbor cover up a murder.

“Winner of Japan’s prestigious Naoki Prize and a bestseller there with more than two million copies sold, this literary psychological thriller is a subtle and shifting murder mystery. It will make readers redefine devotion and trust in an otherwise complete stranger.” ―Library Journal (starred review)

Veteran police detective matches wits with a brilliant rookie criminal. This character-driven mystery by the prolific Higashino has much to recommend, including a droll Columbo-like sleuth and a great surprise ending.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In The Devotion of Suspect X, Keigo Higashino weaves a web of intellectual gamesmanship in which the truth is a weapon that leads both police and readers astray. The ingenius conclusion is so unexpected that it’s difficult to imagine anyone seeing it coming. Smart, smart characters.” ―Jaqueline Winspear

“Irresistible! A mind-twisting story that will have readers plunging in to try to solve the crime before the math genius, the physics professor, or the cop get there first.” ―Nancy Pickard, New York Times bestselling author of The Scent of Rain and Lightning and The Virgin of Small Plains

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The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

19 Monday Aug 2024

Posted by in adventure, detective, Fiction, Historical Fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, United States

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A literary mystery set at a summer camp, where two siblings vanish years apart. Well written and haunting.

“A rare gem, an immersive and enthralling literary thriller: a novel about love in the aftermath of tragedy, and about families of the very best—and the worst—kind.”—Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

“Liz Moore’s extraordinary new literary suspense novelreminds me of Donna Tartt’s 1992 debut, The Secret History. . . . [T]he vital connection for me was a reading experience where I was so thoroughly submerged in a rich fictional world, that for hours I barely came up for air. . . . The precision of Moore’s writing never flags. . . . Unforgettable.”—Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air, NPR

“Rich in background detail and secondary mysteries . . . this ever-expansive, intricate, emotionally engaging novel never seems overplotted. Every piece falls skillfully into place and every character, major and minor, leaves an imprint.”—Kirkus, STARRED review

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Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

01 Wednesday May 2024

Posted by in detective, Fiction, murder and investigation, United States

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Lucy was there the night her best friend was murdered, but she can’t remember anything. She is also the main suspect. When a podcast host focuses on the crime years later, Lucy returns to find out what really happened. This mystery page-turner has great characters and lots of dark humor.

“Listen for the Lie is a page-turner from the first sentence to the very last. In addition to being a world-class whodunit, full of carefully doled-out twists, Lucy is a terrific character, feisty and funny and, it turns out, brave as hell. It’s great fun. Readers will rip through this one.”―Stephen King

“Every so often, a book comes along that takes you for a ride–now buckle up, because Amy Tintera has written it. Listen for the Lieexplores the cruelest kind of world through the eyes of a woman whose grit is only outmatched by her razor-sharp wit. This bitingly funny and subversive thriller is one of the freshest and fiercest you’ll read this year.”―Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie

“Original and deliciously dark with a wicked sense of humor. An addictive page-turner that will keep you guessing until the end.”―Alice Feeney, New York Times bestselling author

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The Mona Lisa Vanishes: a Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day and Brett Helquist

20 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in detective, History, mystery, Non-fiction, True crime

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“A propulsive work of narrative nonfiction about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world—and how the painting by Leonardo da Vinci should never have existed at all.  NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2023 by Publishers Weekly • School Library Journal • Booklist • Kirkus Reviews • NPR • The New York Public Library • The Chicago Public Library.” – Amazon.  Easy reading full of very interesting facts and amusing detective errors of the times.

“The playful prose in direct address charmingly invites readers into a story that details everything from the stuffy gender roles of fifteenth-century Florence to a wildly inept police investigation to a rather deceitful and not at all admirable Pablo Picasso.” —The Bulletin

 “A multistranded yarn skillfully laid out in broad, light brush strokes with some cogent themes mixed in.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 “A completely engaging book.” Booklist, starred review

 “A wildly entertaining, thoroughly contextualized look at art, history, and fame.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

14 Wednesday Feb 2024

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Vera Wong’s quiet life running a tea shop in San Francisco is abruptly changed when she discovers a dead body in her store. As the victim’s friends and family try to solve his murder, Vera grows close to each one of them. This is a charming mystery led by Vera, a bossy, funny, and lovable character.

“Vera Wong is my new favorite sleuth! This book is comfort food for the soul. Every chapter is bursting with wisdom and heart.”—Elle Cosimano, USA Today bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

“Following the success of Dial A for Aunties, Sutanto is back with another charmer, this time following the exploits of orthopedic-sneaker-wearing Vera Wong Zhuzhu, who finds a dead body in her Chinatown tea shop. When the police investigation isn’t thorough enough for her liking, she concocts a plan to find the murderer, aided by a locked flash drive she found on the body and stashed away for safekeeping. Sutanto excels at skewering with affection, and an earnest hilarity shines through in this entertaining whodunit.”—The Washington Post

“A mystery with warmth, humor, and many descriptions of delicious teas and foods. Recommended for fans of Sutanto and of character-driven cozy mysteries.”—Library Journal, starred review

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The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

27 Saturday Jan 2024

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“The thing about picking a handful of berries is that each one is different—some are sweet, some sour, some extra juicy. The Berry Pickers is just like a handful of berries. It’s an unassuming novel filled with so much sweet, so much sour, so much juice. Reading this book, I was only ever hungry when it ended.” —Morgan Talty, author of Night of the Living Rez

“The strength of Amanda Peters’s novel lies in its understanding of how trauma spreads through a life and a family, and its depiction of the challenges facing Indigenous people . . . [A] powerful message about truth, forgiveness and healing.” —Marion Winik, The Washington Post

“A harrowing tale of Indigenous family separation . . . [Peters] excels in writing characters for whom we can’t help rooting . . . With The Berry Pickers, Peters takes on the monumental task of giving witness to people who suffered through racist attempts of erasure like her Mi’kmaw ancestors.—Eric Nguyen, The New York Times Book Review

“Peters beautifully explores loss, grief, hope, and the invisible tether that keeps families intact even when they are ripped apart. A poignant debut from a writer to watch.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A marvelous debut. The Berry Pickers has all the passion of a first book but also the finely developed skill of a well-practiced storyteller. …The Berry Pickers is a triumph.” —Katherena Vermette, author of The Strangers

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