Mystery / Thriller
Plot/Idea: This is a light, appealing story that combines mystery and fantasy, populated with delightful characters and an easy, relaxed tone. The author has crafted a clever premise that will charm readers.
Prose: Cardel writes skillfully, crisply unfolding an engaging plot while delivering first-rate entertainment.
Originality: Better Gnomes & Gardens takes advantage of fantasy by incorporating it into a solid mystery that will amuse readers and hook them from the first pages.
Character Development/Execution: Cardel illuminates Bob's nature through the first-person narrative, saving an enjoyable twist—readers eventually learn that Bob isn't even aware of who he really is—for the end.
Plot/Idea: This is a well-written plot that takes readers on an adventure at the edge of their seats. Nikolich has created a hauntingly clever story in which no one can truly claim the title of hero or villain.
Prose: Fast-paced and intricately detailed, Nikolich writes to appeal to all five senses using only words.
Originality: In the long history of crime novels, some common themes inevitably crossover into this story, but the choice of setting, character development, and twists reflect Nikolich's own unique fingerprint.
Character Development/Execution: A good character can pull a story along even in the dry spots. A great character is memorable long after the last page. Nikolich produces characters worthy of their own prologue.
Plot/Idea: Rivers delivers an exceptional story that portrays the inner battles within the human heart as a contender equal to the external volatile situations her characters face.
Prose: The author showcases incredible skill in storytelling with prose that builds emotional depth, connects flashbacks seamlessly to the present, and captivates the reader without losing momentum in the pace of the story.
Originality: This story feels truly unique. While each element may be familiar (such as a missing family member and the danger of seeking justice) on its own, the arrangement of how they woven put together within the context of place and time gives this novel its own flavor —one that is quite memorable.
Character Development/Execution: Readers will enjoy how the author gives each protagonist her own voice and authority. It felt like either main character could effectively lead the story on her own, yet the relationship between the two is central to creating a lifeline of hope. Rivers does an excellent job in creating full character profiles, even for those that play smaller roles.
Plot/Idea: Royer-Derr's High Bluffs will keep the reader on the edge of their seat with her effective storytelling, thrilling plot, and fast-paced narrative. High Bluffs is hard to put down and will delight anyone looking for an exciting and uneasy mystery.
Prose: Royer-Derr is talented at moving the plot along while each sentence comes across as intentionally meaningful.
Originality: The book has lots of twists, turns, and many intriguing aspects that keep it fresh. For instance, the age difference between the protagonist and her lover is sizable, and the context of her having a daughter with a disability adds another layer and more nuance to the story.
Character Development/Execution: Royer-Derr is excellent at crafting and developing mother-daughter relationships, as well as showing the evolution of romance through the veil of grief.
Plot/Idea: Black Jade is a meticulously plotted mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie, with a plot that unfolds intriguingly in this quickly-paced novel.
Prose: Told in first-person perspective, Jacques’s narration proves an almost Watson-like counterpart to Daiyu Wu’s Holmes. The snappy and fast-paced dialogue brings the story to life.
Originality: Readers will find this to be a classic mystery set in 1930s Texas. Though frequent readers of the genre may target the culprit early on, protagonist Dai’s keen eye, curiosity, and wit are delightful fun.
Character Development/Execution: The blind Chinese protagonist Daiyu Wu is inherently clever and memorable, and narrator Jacques is a loyal yet complex companion.
Blurb: A gripping Agatha-Christie-esque whodunit whose atmosphere and characters are sure to delight readers.
Plot: Clearer Waters offers a well-conceived plot. A police officer is unfairly accused of insubordination in England and visits her uncle in Florida until the hearing. While she's there, she discovers a mystery that she works with the local police to unravel. The narrative is carefully constructed and makes for a gratifying procedural mystery.
Prose: The prose is highly readable, vivid, and effectively paced, with tension upheld from the first to the final page.
Originality: The storyline deals with many familiar elements - sexual harassment and the old boys club, funerary artifacts found on a dig, and blackmail - but the story has an original tone and endearing characters. The banter between the American cop and Sam (from the UK) is especially funny and refreshing.
Character/Execution: Clearer Waters provides a fine blend of strong characterization, alluring mystery, and flair. Fans of Agatha Christie classics will find much to enjoy.
Plot: Former CIA operative Mari Ellwyn is hired by a federal appellate judge to uncover his blackmailer, but her investigation soon overlaps with the wrongful death of French dual-passport student Sophie Michaud. Recurrent themes of double lives and double-crossing propel the storytelling through a series of inventive plot twists, buoyed by a cast of well-drawn eclectic characters and moments of true humor.
Prose: The combination of short chapters, punchy dialogue, lyrical first-person prose, and immersive scene setting will captivate readers from page one.
Originality: Lisa Towles’s use of the double life motif across several characters, including narrator Mari Ellwyn, adds a fresh layer of intrigue to this already complex and well-paced thriller in which several crimes overlap and ultimately threaten Mari, her partner, Derek Abernathy, and Mari's search for her missing father.
Character/Execution: Towles’s unique characters bridge the seedy world of private investigation with the high-end polish of the LA art world. Mari must connect the dots even as she seeks to maintain a double life of her own.
Blurb: A California crime thriller marked by double lives, double-crossing, and overlapping mysteries that have PI Mari Ellwyn as a common denominator.
Plot: West Wind Clear is the fourth title in the Clement Wisdom series, which centers on the titular character, who was once a married vicar in East Sussex before being recruited as an intelligence operative. Knox brilliantly blends history with espionage and compassionate characterization.
Prose: Knox's prose offers winning blend of voice-driven warmth and historical detail.
Originality: While subtle in its execution, Knox brings a quiet and unique power to the page.
Character/Execution: Readers will benefit from having read the previous titles in the series, but Clement will nevertheless leave an impact on first-time readers as, in this installment, Knox whisks her protagonist away to far-flung war-time regions.
Plot/Idea: Cole's entertaining novel uncovers how far people are willing to go to save themselves and what is most important to them. She blends the tensions of a society at war with that of a family fighting its own personal battle, making the ability to survive the only currency that is truly useful.
Prose: Cole writes with the precision of a veteran in capturing the mood, circumstances, and backstory of each character. Her prose is descriptive yet direct, and it transports readers into the adventure of the story without losing their attention.
Originality: Only One Lie opts for the common route most mystery novels take when a missing person is involved, but Cole adds her own twist by mirroring the personal struggles of a family to the bigger problem at large—a nation at war.
Character Development/Execution: Cole creates characters who will effortlessly draw out human emotions, from pity to disgust. She captures the personalities and mindsets of her characters well, avoiding overreliance on their physical details.
Plot: Martin crafts a twisty and evocative suspense story about the abduction of a married couple and the secrets that are revealed in the aftermath of their disappearance.
Prose: The Lowlands develops tension from the first sentence, while the differing perspectives provide additional intrigue and uncertainty. Readers may experience a degree of confusion when encountering new characters and circumstances, but the players and events eventually fall into place.
Originality: Martin injects a number of original details into a well-played thriller.
Character/Execution: The author creates a broad spectrum of characters, from bumbling criminals and inept police officers to frantic family members. The couple at the center of the story--along with their kin--are finely developed and sympathetic. While there is talk of snakes, alligators, and swamps, the locals will make the reader squirm more than the natural wildlife.
Plot/Idea: Detailed descriptions do not get in the way of a fast-moving plot focused on the perils of the drug trade. The author brings even pacing and a vivid sense of place to this complex narrative full of suspense and Mayan history.
Prose: Whitlock utilizes a rich vocabulary to describe the action, setting, and characters, while effectively establishing tension and intrigue throughout.
Originality: This well-constructed and chilling story features a timely subject matter and explores the circumstances with a degree of nuance.
Character Development/Execution: Characters are unique and broad-ranging, each consistent throughout the story and seemingly necessary to the engaging plot.
Plot/Idea: This is a captivating tale that will interest even readers who are not familiar with the Coast Guard nor its lingo. While there is plenty of action in the story, it is the character-driven plot that elevates this adventure novel.
Prose: With alternating POVs, Hochsmann's prose maintains a consistent tone while allowing for the distinct traits and quirks of his characters to come through. The prose may not be flowery, but it can certainly be evocative and it expertly places the reader in the middle of some harrowing situations.
Originality: Bravely and Faithfully is an adventure tale with elements of the suspense novel woven within. Its setting, alternating POVs, and excellent writing put it ahead of many comparable novels.
Character Development/Execution: The characters in Hochsmann's tale ring true to life and the camaraderie that is on display greatly aid the story and its action. The villains are intriguing, and readers may crave additional time with them on the page.
Plot: Set in a future Chicago, Battle in the Avenue unfolds in the aftermath of the "Fuel Wars," following the crash of the fossil fuel industry. McCutchen shows a strong knack for storytelling, subtly developing the parameters of the future world for readers while maintaining a character-driven narrative.
Prose: McCutchen is a fine writer. The prose is immersive, propulsive, and offers a graceful blend of exposition, dialogue, and description.
Originality: This work stands apart for its satisfying combination of tight plotting and the focus on family relationships.
Character/Execution: While it may take a beat to warm to the characters, as their identities, roles in the narrative, and relationships with one another take shape, readers will appreciate how their individual sacrifices become central to the broader storyline.
Plot/Idea: Jimmy needs to raise money to keep his dad's business afloat. His solution? To embark on a quest to learn about his grandfather's relationship with Elvis--a quest that proves highly entertaining and wholly unexpected. While the work falls somewhat short of its ambitions, it's still a fun and gratifying read.
Prose: The prose is clear, clean, and has forward momentum.
Originality: This storyline is highly original; Elvis fans will find much to appreciate.
Character Development/Execution: The most fascinating characters are the Elvis impersonators, especially George. The reader will easily be able to envision the cast of endearing and eccentric individuals.
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Plot/Idea: Snake in the Grass is an alluring and timely mystery with a well-established sense of place. McKenna smartly exposes the deeply sinister ideologies lurking below the surface of many communities.
Prose: The prose is clear, effective, and propulsive.
Originality: The author offers an original setup that is heightened by its setting in a gated community in the South. McKenna has a unique storytelling style that integrates well-explored and weighty issues, such as the insidious nature of white supremacy, while also providing subtle humor, satire, and engaging characters.
Character Development/Execution: The characters come across quite clearly, especially the primary cop on the case, Will Kelley, and Mr. Charles Norton, a Bellevue resident who helps him understand the murder case and the neighborhood. Although the conclusion is somewhat vague, Snake in the Grass is a striking and entertaining mystery that will leave readers wanting more.
Plot/Idea: The author has crafted an engaging, if violence-laden, story that introduces readers to the underbelly of Tokyo. There's plenty of action, suspense, and even some romance as Fisher's saga unfolds, keeping readers on their toes.
Prose: The author is a strong writer, able to tell the story at a perfect pace that keeps the reader invested. Garver succeeds in defining the characters through their actions, rather than through extensive backstory or exposition--particularly Fisher, who at first presents as a hot-headed brute, but evolves to become highly sympathetic.
Originality: This book is fresh and unique, offering a vivid setting and distinctive characters.
Character Development/Execution: The author does a fine job with characterization, particularly for Fisher, but also for lesser players who enhance the story.
