Mystery

The indomitable Mary Russell is back at it again, this time tracking down a friend’s missing aunt in a search that leads her from the notorious insane asylum of Bedlam to the canals of Mussolini-era Venice. With a cast of players that includes fascist Blackshirts and Cole Porter in full party mode, King’s writing is, as ever, brimming with wit, rich historical detail, and her own brand of infectious joie de vivre. - Ilana

Don’t miss our in-store book launch event with Laurie R. King on June 24th, 2018.

Helena didn’t know she was a prisoner until she was 12. Raised in a remote marsh in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she spent her childhood shadowing her father, who taught her how to track and hunt like their Native Americans ancestors. Decades later, Helena must use these same skills to track her father, who has escaped from prison and is looking to kidnap again. I was immediately enthralled by Dionne’s thrilling and atmospheric storytelling and read this book in a single sitting. - Jade

Hal is still reeling from her mother’s death and her own new reality of debt and desperation when a letter arrives informing her that she may have an inheritance from her long-lost grandmother. Hal finds that she has embedded herself into a family full of bitterness and secrets that impact her more than she knows. Using her skills as a tarot reader, Hal must read the members of the Westaway family to find out the truth—before danger finds her. - Sara

A tantalizing blend of investigative thriller and introspection into what it really means to know those you love. This is a perfect thriller of a beach read (even more appropriate as the opening scene is set at the beach!). The strong writing and exciting twists and turns make this a very enjoyable mystery and a great read if you loved Gone Girl or The Woman in Cabin 10. - Megan

Suspense fans rejoice! You-jeong Jeong is a master in the genre, translated into English for the first time here. Reading The Good Son, I had the thrilling, stomach-lurching sensation of realizing I had been led somewhere I wasn’t quite expecting, yet the unfolding truth at the heart of the book is chillingly convincing. From the opening scene, when Yu Min wakes inexplicably encrusted in blood from head to toe, this is a gripping, discomforting read. - Ilana

Justy Flanagan is a young Irish lawyer returning to his adopted home of New York City (still in its post-Revolution infancy) with the hope of solving his father’s suspicious death. Wall Street is a cutthroat and sinister part of town, and more bodies quickly pile up. In Justy’s campaign for truth, he comes up against a secret so terrible it may cost him his own life to uncover it. You’ll be gripped to the page until the stunning—and satisfying—conclusion. - Kelly

If you’ve never read the Cecil Younger Investigation series, this new edition of the first book is a great place to start. Winner of the Shamus Award for Best First Novel, The Woman Who Married a Bear finds private investigator Younger traveling across Alaska to uncover the motive and identity of a killer. “A fascinating Alaskan setting, great characters, a highly unusual plot and remarkably good writing. It’s a winner.” —Tony Hillerman

Anthony Horowitz is both author and character in The Word Is Murder. The murder of a film star’s mother the day she’s arranged her funeral brings Horowitz himself into a mystery referencing Google-able reality but seeming too pat. Of course, Horowitz admits to his role as unreliable narrator, to allowing his desire to write compelling narrative win over real-life criminal facts. The result is layers of mystery, from murder to reality itself. I curse Horowitz for playing with me, but I’m still turning things over in my mind. - Jocelyn

Danya Kukafka’s debut novel ticks so many of my good-read boxes: Beautifully written; well-paced; great character development; and then, more specifically, multiple points of view and intertwining story lines. Told from three distinct perspectives, Girl in Snow takes different paths to the same ending as each character passes by, circles around, and eventually collides with the others as this small Colorado town deals with the aftermath of the homicide of a local teen. - Megan

An absolute must-read for any true crime fan or armchair sleuth, this horrifying account of a decades-long unsolved California crime spree is the definition of “gripping.” The compassion and bulldog advocacy McNamara brought to the story is truly a new standard for this genre, and even though the case remains cold, the bittersweet ending is more than satisfying. Be warned that this intense read will have you locking your doors and windows at night! - Kelly