Mystery / Thriller
Plot: Fast-paced with high intensity, the plot takes the reader on an adventure set in Tokyo, Japan introducing the reader to plenty of cultural and environmental issues resulting in a legal battle. There is no doubt that the author knows his subject well. Readers will be left guessing until the end only to realize that there is more to come.
Prose: Well-written and easy to follow, Weeks propels the action forward by ending each chapter leaving the reader wanting to know more. While the scenario could lead to a complicated plot, Weeks skillfully relays the issue, helping the reader engage. While the main character understands his work and other adults, his conversations with his own children may strike readers as stiff and unnatural.
Originality: Weeks introduces a number of original elements, notably the titular 'bottled lightening' and the focus on environmental concerns. The Tokyo backdrop and the infusion of Japanese culture into the narrative also provide entertaining and enlightening content.
Character/Execution: The main character is smart and courageous, yet flawed. Trouble in his personal relationships allows him to be especially relatable. His risky behavior does not end with his work as it carries over into his romantic life as well. Readers will understand the other characters primarily through interactions with the protagonist.
Plot: Parker’s mystery, following private detective Rusty Macduff as he tries to steal the other half of a legendary historical object, moves at a dizzying pace, intertwining folklore with nonstop action—and delivering a surprising ending that will please genre fans.
Prose: A lively story delivered in first-person perspective, The Lost King has a snappy rhythm and entertaining prose. Parker’s use of humor is spot-on and gives the story a definitive edge.
Originality: This is a distinctive mystery—equally light and chaotic—that incorporates a variety of literary themes into one intriguing, and amusing, package.
Character/Execution: Parker’s characters are humorous and appealing, although the sheer number of them and their bewildering antics can feel overwhelming at times. Rusty’s voice is enjoyable and clever, and he makes the perfect eccentric detective.
Devil's Ledger: A Female Sleuth Financial Thriller with International Espionage (A Louise Moscow Novel Book 3)
by Lorraine EvanoffRating: 8.00
Plot/Idea: The third Louise Moscow novel is a fast-paced, globe-spanning narrative focused on an international banking scandal. A highlight of the novel is the author's attention to historical detail, landscapes, and architecture.
Prose: The prose is evocative and smooth, with ample detail sprinkled throughout.
Originality: Devil's Ledger is an international mystery with numerous original elements and high personal stakes for the protagonist.
Character Development/Execution: Louise is finely developed as a character, although one never fully discovers the secrets of her heart. Side characters are written with attention and care, adding layers of intrigue and verisimilitude to the story. Perhaps some attention could be revisited to Big Steve's vocabulary and dialect.
Plot/Idea: In this high stakes and energetically-paced fourth installment in the Nico Argenti historical mystery series, Nico must balance his skills as a lawyer and an amateur sleuth to investigate and argue a case connecting an orphanage threatened by abductions with a group of mercenaries aiming to capture Florence, the then capital city of Italy.
Prose: Tentarelli transports readers to Renaissance Italy and its legal system through rich historical detail grounded in research and a variety of settings and supporting characters. The blend of realism and suspense will satisfy fans of historical fiction and mystery alike.
Originality: Conspiracy in Bologna offers readers an intriguing and intimate window on Renaissance Florence and Bologna via an effective blend of courtroom drama, adventure, and unexpected plot twists.
Character Development/Execution: The omniscient narration presents a multifaceted view of protagonist Nico Argenti, whose navigation of the facts and the law drives the plot. A multitude of secondary characters keeps the story fresh, if, at times, they individually feel less well developed.
Blurb: A lawyer in Renaissance Italy must draw the right connections between a plot against the Florentine Republic and a group of missing orphaned boys.
Plot/Idea: Paper Targets is a compelling story, with a simmering pace that picks up from the first pages. Readers will be immediately invested in Enzi's fate, and Saroff expertly intensifies the plot through unfolding backstories and quiet tension.
Prose: Lyrical yet succinct, Saroff's first person narrative is well crafted, granting readers an inside view of Enzi's sentiments.
Originality: Saroff's voice is original and skillfully mixes genres covering mystery, noir, and suspense.
Character Development/Execution: Saroff's characters are immersive, equal parts raw and delicate. Pascal is a standout, and readers will quickly take to his character. Although Kaori is central to the plot, her outlandish personality becomes distracting, often conflicting with readers' inside knowledge of Enzi.
Plot/Idea: This novel is built on a solid premise: an innocent man discovers that he has been set up to look like a suspect in his colleague's murder. Trafford skillfully builds tension and uncertainty as the protagonist pieces together the events of the night in question and attempts to clear his name.
Prose: The prose is clear, concise, and filled with immersive details.
Originality: While the premise is somewhat familiar, Trafford effectively develops the St. Louis setting, and a unique set of circumstances behind a white-collar crime.
Character Development/Execution: Gray is a well-crafted, complex man, whose trauma and distress in the aftermath of his attack is convincingly depicted. Readers will welcome the unexpected developments and the level of psychological intrigue the author explores.
Plot/Idea: In the first of the Nick Tanner series, Cox delivers an impactful ecologically-minded mystery that centers on the discovery of deceased bears being harvested for their organs and paws in the California Redwoods.
Prose: The prose is smooth and engrossing, with tension and suspense sustained throughout. Cox also injects the narrative with refreshing wit.
Originality: This novel's focus on the dark world of animal trafficking and the individuals who fight for the protection of vulnerable species, is highly unique. The setting of the California Redwoods is vivid and immersive.
Character Development/Execution: Both Kathleen and Nick come across strongly as tough-minded, dedicated, and charismatic.
Plot/Idea: This novel explores the circumstances surrounding an individual being convicted for a crime he did not commit. The book explores the nuances of the criminal justice system, and examines the questions of who holds influence within a community.
Prose: The prose is clear, straightforward, and easy to read.
Originality: Dry Heat is a moving coming-of-age piece about a man who spent years in jail while innocent.
Character Development/Execution: The reader gets to know protagonist Joey quite well and will empathize strongly with his circumstances. Other characters, while somewhat less complex and vivid, are depicted clearly.
IMPLOSION: The search is on for six million dollars hidden in a Las Vegas hotel destined for destruction!
by Carolyn V. HamiltonRating: 7.75
Plot/Idea: Hamilton’s novel is a tense, meticulously plotted story that will easily hook readers. The storyline is seamless, despite a plethora of characters who work in the hotel, all of whom have unique motives to find the previously stolen and currently missing six million dollars.
Prose: The prose is carefully wrought, and the dialogue proves snappy and memorable.
Originality: Traditional heist story beats, combined with well-crafted suspense elements, create an interesting spin on the genre.
Character Development/Execution: Despite the numerous cast members in IMPLOSION, all are memorable, interesting, and incredibly varied characters.
Blurb: This suspenseful tale of a hotel slated for imminent destruction will keep readers on the edge of their seats as the mad dash for six million dollars in stolen cash begins.
Plot/Idea: This thoughtfully-composed thriller mystery novel is set around ancient prophecy and the Vatican.
Prose: The prose is straightforward, and sometimes even thrilling as it propels the action scenes.
Originality: While the genre here is somewhat niche in nature, McAvoy and Moore are seasoned and skilled storytellers, offering a fine blend of action, adventure, and history.
Character Development/Execution: The numerous characters could be described in greater depth. The two female detectives, Rebecca Lancaster and Sabrini Felici, come most alive on the page and exist outside of their careers and professional aspirations, as the audience gets to know them as individuals.
Plot/Idea: Fenwicke delivers a solid plot, with easy-to-follow exposition that will immediately draw readers in. The story maintains ample excitement near the conclusion – and will leave audiences ready for another installment.
Prose: There are a few instances when Fenwicke’s prose does not quite keep pace with the plot, but overall she uses economical and accessible writing that supports the story’s forward movement. The author’s tone and composition advance the more tense scenes particularly well.
Originality: Switched Up consists of a distinctive storyline that is bolstered with creative characters, lending it an air of novelty that will set it apart.
Character Development/Execution: Fenwicke’s characters are equal parts relatable and intriguing, offering readers familiar experiences alongside their peculiarities. Given this is the second in a series, the author skillfully incorporates character backgrounds to give new and already acquainted followers a comprehensive understanding of her main players.
Blurb: An exciting montage of villains, superheroines, and good-versus-evil that will leave readers asking for more.
Plot: Book three in the Euphemia series, Empty Nest, keeps the reader interested as they read about a lonely corner of New Zealand. Perhaps what Rosy Fenwicke does best is write about an often overlooked and underestimated group - middle-aged women.
Prose: Fenwicke's prose is easy to follow, and paints a clear image of the bucolic, quiet countryside. She has an aptitude for writing about beautiful, yet morose, areas, and everything within the novel feels a touch sinister. Occasionally jumpy storytelling would benefit from additional smoothing over.
Originality: Empty Nest stands apart through its focus on an oft-ignored demographic and a unique, vividly portrayed location.
Character/Execution: Euphemia, as the main character, is the most sympathetic character in the book. While some interactions throughout the novel can feel somewhat stilted, Fenwicke represents the complicated inner world of the characters well, diving into their insecurities, desires, wants, and needs. Eschewing standard matriarchs in maternal roles, Fenwicke features women with a wide range of personalities, emotions, and egos.
Plot: After the sudden death of her brother, Dex, Malaya begins seeing other people's deaths in her dreams--including her brother's, which is beginning to seem suspicious after all. And after a coincidental meeting with a (sexy) PI named Jude, Malaya's life gets a lot more complicated as she is sucked into a plot involving those she cares about the most--a dangerous game that she and Jude must navigate as they continue to navigate their feelings for one another.
Prose: Weaver's prose gets the job done with fast-paced, old-fashioned storytelling--engaging the reader, and making them want more.
Originality: A PI and his partner/girlfriend trying to solve an unusual case while also trying hard to resist their feelings for each other--while not terribly original, it's engaging and great fun. Malaya's abilities add a layer of freshness to the story.
Character/Execution: The chemistry between Malaya and Jude is undeniable (and even outright smacks the reader in the face at times), however, their dynamic adds both interest and suspense to the story. Villains are deserving of somewhat more development. Nevertheless, this remains a deeply entertaining page-turner of a novel and readers will undoubtedly be anxious for the next book.
Plot: The concept behind the novel is an interesting one that makes for an engaging, quick read; however, the plot stalls toward the end with the protracted boat incident, and there are elements of the plot's "mystery" (especially surrounding Margaret's charade as a fellow patient) that are not fully explicated in a satisfying manner.
Prose: The author writes in an easy-to-read, natural prose style. Even though this book is an installment in a series, the writing is strong enough that it can be read, comprehended, and enjoyed without prior knowledge of the series.
Originality: The blend of subtle fantasy and detective novel plots makes for an interesting read, though there are points at which it feels like the two plotlines are in competition with each other (especially toward the end of the novel).
Character/Execution: Character development is one of the highlights of the novel, especially in terms of the relationships formed throughout the work. Euphemia's relationships (with her daughters, husband, Jane, etc) feel very relatable, which in turn makes the characters feel very real to the reader. Jane's shift over the course of the novel is particularly satisfying.
Blurb: Another page-turning installment in the Euphemia Sage Chronicles. When personal tragedy strikes Euphemia's circle of friends, it is up to the everyday superwoman to save a dear friend
Plot/Idea: In this addition to the PI Clifford Dee series, the plot is fast-paced and engrossing, adding unexpected developments that will keep readers on their toes as the story progresses.
Prose: This dialogue-heavy narrative packs in plenty of repartee between characters. Though the text is not overly descriptive, the prose is enjoyable and never feels contrived.
Originality: This story occasionally struggles with formulaic writing, but the author expertly balances plot threads--from government conspiracies to rap stars--and maintains tension throughout.
Character Development/Execution: Reed's skills in characterization are on full display in this book, and readers will quickly familiarize themselves with the main players, who are all equally rich.
Plot/Idea: Bhattacharjee offers a creative and meditative plot focused on making sense of internal struggles and navigating the decision-making that impacts life events. More reflective than suspenseful, the pace often slows and may feel heavy to some readers.
Prose: The prose is beautifully metaphoric at times, evoking arresting images juxtaposed with lyrical writing. However, readers may find the novel's intent challenging to discern, and there are instances when dialogue and style become overly formal.
Originality: Crossroads of Life is a unique take on what makes a relationship persevere, and the author's emphasis on introversion adds to the story's originality.
Character Development/Execution: Bhattacharjee's narrative approach empowers the novel's characterization, and the story's introspective commentary is a powerful thread weaving the different elements together.
