Mystery and Suspense from our 2017 Winter Newsletter

Attica Locke is a rising star in the mystery world and is a writer/producer for TV’s Empire. In her latest novel, Bluebird, Bluebird, she has penned a rural mystery about a black Texas Ranger forced to return to his East Texas hometown to unravel two murder cases that are causing racial tensions to rise to a boiling point. Locke is a skilled wordsmith, clever plotter, and thoughtful writer. I’m so excited about this book! - Flannery

Ritter’s debut novel is a powerful study on how the present can be a recapitulation of the past. The nonprofit lawyer Abby Williams lives a tidy life, her past hidden, until an investigation in her hometown blurs the divisions between geographies and timelines, good and bad, right and wrong. Abby’s story strangely becomes familiar, holding you long past its final pages. - Karen

Hidden deep in the Canadian wilderness, the town of Rockton is cut off from all society, inhabited by those in need of a total reset in life, fleeing all varieties of danger in their past. As Detective Casey Duncan knows, some of those inhabitants never let go of their dark side—and that darkness is what she’s there to root out. I’m hopelessly in love with this smart, chilly series and can’t wait for more. - Flannery

The House at Baker Street is a delightful addition to the storied world of Sherlock Holmes, with the landlady of the house on Baker Street and her close friend Mary Watson taking on an investigation rejected by Sherlock. Michelle Birkby brings us a fresh perspective and voice in the person of Mrs. Hudson. Familiar characters such as the Baker Street Irregulars and the inimitable Irene Adler combine forces with the two women to solve a difficult and complex mystery. - Trey

If you love short stories, mysteries, and books, or any combination thereof (or need a gift for someone who likes at least two of the three), look no further than this handsome anthology. This collection of crime stories focusing on books—from bookstores and booksellers (my personal favorite) to rare books and libraries—curated from a wide mix of authors, is perfect for book lovers who like a good crime. - Flannery

Washington Post national security columnist and editor David Ignatius is taking a break from the stranger-than-fiction-Trump-putting-us-on-the-brink-of-nuclear-war reality with a new thriller that is guaranteed to entertain while providing a unique perspective into the machinations of the battle between China and the U.S.’s intelligence agencies for the future of technology. Ignatius gives an up-close look at the day-to-day global operations (and bureaucratic battles) of the modern intelligence world, with a fast-paced plot and conflicted characters. - Ryan

If you like your mysteries on the darker side or enjoy a morally ambiguous protagonist, you’ll love the latest in the Scandinavian crime catalog, this one featuring Leona—a detective and a sociopath with a knack for solving crimes. When a naked, blood-covered little girl robs a bank, Leona is thrown into the case of her life and her personal life slides into darker shades of grey. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to more! - Flannery

When Army vet Michael Skellig’s veteran-staffed limo company is hired to drive a famous rapper, things take an unexpected detour into trouble. This is a thrill ride, with a lovably eccentric cast of characters and a sly sense of humor that refuses to shy away from or sugarcoat the realities that veterans face. Hanson was the creator of TV’s Bones and he has a unique pop culture sensibility that plays out wonderfully here. - Flannery