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Mystery & SF/F Recommendations, 2014

These recommendations were published in our MYS/SFF in-store newsletter.

 

Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach

Kiss Me First reminds me a bit of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and a bit of The Circle by Dave Eggers. When Tess decides to end her life without hurting friends and family, Leila, our sheltered, unreliable narrator, agrees to assume her online presence and update as though she were still alive. At first she relishes the chance to live this sparkling new life but complications slowly emerge. A smart, inventive thriller by a talented new writer.
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Kiss Me First By Lottie Moggach Cover Image
$15.95
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ISBN: 9780345805423
Published: Anchor - April 8th, 2014

California Bones by Greg Van Eekhout

It’s a rough night for Daniel when the all-powerful Hierarch kills Daniel’s father Sebastian and eats him to absorb his power. Ten years later, Daniel has learned all there is to know about osteomancy—the magical ingestion of animals and elements—and he's going to steal back Sebastian’s sword from the Hierarch’s vault. It's enormous fun to watch this adventure unfold in Southern California. An obvious must for fans of the Mistborn series!

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

You may read the summary of this book and think it sounds depressing, but I swear it’s not! This drily funny, thought-provoking mystery is one of the most inventive books I’ve ever read. Winters created an utterly fascinating pre-apocalyptic world with all kinds of interesting goings on, plus a great protagonist and mystery. I absolutely love this book. If you like it, read Book Two, because the third and final book is out in July! 
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The Last Policeman: A Novel (The Last Policeman Trilogy #1) By Ben H. Winters Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9781594746741
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: Quirk Books - May 13th, 2013

Still Life by Louise Penny

The tiny town of Three Pines, Quebec is unprepared for murder, so when a beloved citizen is killed, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called in to investigate. Gamache is a gentlemanly detective, quiet and thoughtful, who detects using his considerable powers of observation and deduction. Penny is a great writer, and Still Life, the first in the series, is an excellent mystery that will keep you guessing until the grand reveal. 
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Still Life By Louise Penny Cover Image
$7.99
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ISBN: 9780312948559
Published: St. Martin's Press - May 1st, 2007

Cemetery Lake by Paul Cleave

If you are looking for a dark and dirty roller coaster ride of a book, I highly recommend Cleave. Theodore Tate—this mystery’s protagonist—is no hero; his is a broken and flawed man full of secrets and guilt. He grasps at redemption through justice but uses unorthodox methods and makes lots of bad decisions. Cleave leads the reader through plot twist after plot twist in a breathtaking and fast-paced thriller.
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Cemetery Lake: A Thriller (Christchurch Noir Crime Series) By Paul Cleave Cover Image
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ISBN: 9781451677836
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Atria Books - June 18th, 2013

Dragon Age: The Masked Empire by Patrick Weekes

Political scheming, interracial tension, and the complex social dance known as the Game are all in a day’s work for Empress Celene of Orlais. When the threat of war creates unease in the empire, Celene’s enemies plan to use the situation to move against her. Briala, the Empress’s elven lover and confidante, finds herself playing a crucial role in Orlais's future. Another excellent addition to the Dragon Age tie-in novels, with lots of backstory to satisfy those of us awaiting Inquisition.
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Dragon Age: The Masked Empire By Patrick Weekes Cover Image
$19.99
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ISBN: 9780765331182
Published: Tor Books - April 8th, 2014

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

From the author of Gone Girl, Dark Places is fascinating, complex thoroughly engaging story. It’s full of characters that are so broken and bizarre you can’t help but feel for them. Every time you think you have it figured out, believe me...you don’t! After the murder of her mother and sisters Libby Day testifies against her teenage brother, but did he do it? Or was he framed in the “satanic panic” frenzy of the 80’s? You won’t want to put this book down.
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Dark Places: A Novel By Gillian Flynn Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780307341570
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Crown - May 4th, 2010

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

Bloody, violent, and morally ambiguous… nobody writes quite like Joe Abercrombie. This is a brutal revenge story with a fast-paced plot and a strong female lead. Monza is a vicious and arrogant leader who builds a team of highly skilled killers to commit seven revenge killings.  Abercrombie packs the story full of visceral action and gallows humor—I found it to be incredibly satisfying.
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Best Served Cold By Joe Abercrombie Cover Image
$21.99
ISBN: 9780316198356
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: Orbit - July 24th, 2012

The Best of Connie Willis

Connie Willis is one of my top authors of all time. While pushing the limits of imagination to explore future and past, her true talent is in communicating the immutability of the human identity. These stories and novellas run a gamut of mystery, farce, despair, and haunting hope. Spend your summer having your heart broken and soul lifted on a trip through time and space with this marvelous author.
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The Best of Connie Willis: Award-Winning Stories By Connie Willis Cover Image
$18.00
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ISBN: 9780345540669
Published: Del Rey - April 22nd, 2014

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

A very different post-apocalyptic vampire story. This is the second of the trilogy—returning to previous characters as well as introducing new ones. It’s an epic saga, intricately detailed and full of piercingly dramatic moments.  Be prepared to move back and forth in time, get to know and care about multiple characters, and be glad you can go out at night without being eaten!
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The Twelve By Justin Cronin Cover Image
$9.99
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ISBN: 9780345504999
Published: Ballantine Books - July 30th, 2013

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