Mystery and True Crime

Polish literary fiction? Animal rights-oriented crime novel? Astrologically guided former civil engineer with a penchant for Blake? Check, check, check. I wasn’t really sure which bucket to put this beautifully written pastoral in, but really it can fit anyone looking for stellar writing or a meditatively paced mystery. I think I’m going to have to dig up anything else Tokarcruz has available in English. - Dave

Everyone’s lying, but which lies are dangerous and which are merely for self-preservation? In Sweden, a woman’s child has gone missing, but she can’t contact the authorities. She hires an Iranian detective who promises discretion. He has secrets of his own, but he also has connections that might help him find her daughter. It’s rare to find a fun, page-turning mystery that also takes on immigration policies and represents the underrepresented, but here it is! - Jess

Not quite a memoir, not quite a how-to, this is a new type of true crime book that caught me up and made me read it in one afternoon. Jensen shares his need to help the voiceless, the cold cases of people passed over, and this task leads to his friendship with Michelle McNamara. Braiding together his cold cases, her work on the Golden State Killer, and how he even ended up in this situation, he then tops it off with a common-sense intro to cold case detecting (if you are so inclined). It’s dark with horrible moments but also gives hope, a sense of community that’s waiting out there behind their monitors. - Rachel

A career boost covering the voyage of a luxury cruise ship quickly becomes a nightmare when journalist Lo Blacklock witnesses a passenger fall overboard; or does she? With everyone accounted for, Lo begins to question what she saw. Perfect for fans of Girl on the Train, Ware has crafted a clever, fast-paced thriller that makes for a great beach read. - Jade

Katie moves from Ohio to help her aunt and uncle start a bakery only to find out that her aunt's gaggle of biddies is actually a coven! Katie, the coven, and various animal familiars must band together to solve a murder that happens on the bakery's opening day, with Katie's uncle as the prime suspect! - J Gallo

When Harper Lee learned of the vigilante murder of Reverend Willie Maxwell, the many deaths that preceded his, and the lawyer who both defended him and his assailant, she knew she’d found the story she wanted to write, a true crime narrative with an underlying complexity of race, place, and politics. Almost 50 years later, Casey Cep has realized the same in her first book, a remarkable work of nonfiction that distills extensive research into a broad, insightful exploration of not only the reverend and his lawyer but of Harper Lee, her drive, her demons, and the book she never finished. - Melinda

In the world of professional criminals, there’s always one last job, and it’s always a bad idea. In 2015, a crew of aging criminals called the Bad Grandpas almost pulled off one of the biggest heists of their lives—stealing $19 million in cash, gold, and jewels—almost. Former New York Times correspondent Dan Bilefsky weaves this tale from the testimony of the Scotland Yard detectives who busted the crew. A must-read for all fans of true crime. - Aric

This is the Murderino manifesto fans of the My Favorite Murder podcast have been waiting for! Part dual memoir, part advice book, SSDGM is a tender guide for all the weirdos, latchkey kids, and hot messes. Karen and Georgia dish hard truths with a heaping side of compassion and a wicked sense of humor. Brimming with hope and filled with deeply personal anecdotes from these two extraordinary women, SSDGM is essential reading for navigating this gnarly world, and it’ll show you how to be kind to yourself while still being a badass. - Kelly

Everyone knows the gruesome legacy of Jack the Ripper. We know five women were murdered, some even know their names, but few know anything about them beyond their end. Rubenhold shows us their beginnings with compassion, putting human faces on inhuman crimes. It was a perfect read for my macabre sensibilities and taught me lots of new information about these ugly crimes. - Ivy

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in a delightful, dark and twisted psychological thriller that features a perfect loving couple with the requisite two kids, nice house, and great jobs, who also happen to be serial killers. Samantha Downing’s devious plot goes well with her warped characters in this impressive debut. The surprising twists kept me turning the pages until the final unexpected stab at the end! - Trey