Mystery Book Reviews

The best mystery book reviews. Mysteries are typically crime stories in which readers follows a detective or amateur sleuth attempting to solve a criminal puzzle. Compared with “crime thrillers,” mysteries often feature less graphic violence and shocking subject matter.

Mystery of the Year: A Chain of Pearls by Raemi A. Ray

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The Bottom Line: Voted the year’s best Mystery novel in the 2024 BestThrillers.com Book Awards The year’s best mystery combines incredible atmosphere, a world-weary detective, a powerful politican and an amateur sleuth that everyone can easily relate to. When the body of a celebrated journalist is fished from the Edgartown Harbor, the official report rules his death accidental. But why was he alone on a […]

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Alpha Beta Gamma, a Murder Mystery with a Highly Charismatic Sleuth

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The Bottom Line: Witty and intellectual, Alpha Beta Gamma introduces a highly charismatic amateur sleuth who risks everything to unravel a sinister international political conspiracy.  Alpha Beta Gamma opens in Tehran, where former spy Nasser and his wife, Fatemeh Ali, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their daughter, Sara. The stakes are high, as they know that Sara is engaged in protests against the morality police, who recently killed a young woman. Soon,

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Black Yéʼii, a Must-Read Small Town Crime Thriller by Joseph Lewis

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The Bottom Line: A must-read small town crime thriller that will please new and old fans. Black Yéʼii opens in Waukesha, Wisconsin, as Carmen Benevides finds three terrifying strangers on her doorstep. The trio is searching for her teenage son, Angel, and they won’t take no for an answer. Minutes later, Angel receives a text message from his mother’s phone: I need you to come home right away. It’s

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Last Call, a Brilliantly Told Crime Thriller by Travis Tougaw

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The Bottom Line: Brilliantly told, this nail-biter about the effort to free a convicted killer will make you question everything you know about our legal system. Highly recommended.  Last Call opens in a hole-in-the-wall bar in Denver, Colorado. It’s 2004, and bartender Paul Humphries is worried about a boisterous troublemaker sitting at a corner table named Dennis. After Dennis starts aggressively hitting on three much younger women,

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Lost Grove, a Hypnotic Murder Mystery by Charlotte Zang and Alex Knudsen

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The Bottom Line: A perfect choice for fans of Wayward Pines and Twin Peaks, Lost Grove is a hypnotic murder mystery that crackles with supernatural intrigue.  Shortly after his father’s debilitating stroke, Seth Wolf resigned from his post as a homicide detective in the San Francisco Police Department. His return to hometown Lost Grove – home to 1,500 residents, quaint Victorian homes, farms and nearby picturesque beaches – comes with

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Lethal Impulse, a Highly Recommended Crime Thriller by Steve Rush

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The Bottom Line: A small town crime thriller that hits all the right notes. Recommended for fans of Harlan Coben.  Reverend Neil Caldera’s calling takes him to Madison, Georgia, a small town graced with antebellum homes, delicious southern cuisine and a strong sense of community. But as Neil eventually discovers, the town has a dark underbelly. When the seasoned former detective is summoned to a

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Their Little Lies, a Terrifying Psychological Thriller by Quinn Avery

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The Bottom Line: Buried family secrets, steamy romance and a terrifying serial killer add up to a masterfully told psychological thriller. Coming off a botched murder investigation, Detective Josephine Kelly is contemplating early retirement. Feeling the need to regroup, she uses her father’s declining health as an excuse to take time off and return home to Ames, Iowa. But thanks to a troubled childhood, the truth

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You Like it Darker, a New Short Story Collection by Stephen King

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The Bottom Line: Experience Stephen King’s latest collection of short stories now, before the inevitable adaptations start popping up on your favorite streaming service.   Some of the best-known Stephen King adaptations for film and TV are based on his short stories and novellas: Children of the Corn, Stand by Me, The Night Flier, Mercy and many others. Throughout his career, King has routinely published story

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Right Across the Bay, a Must-Read Whodunnit by Quinn Avery

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The Bottom Line: A small town murder mystery that is anything but small. Right Across the Bay is a must-read whodunnit infused with romance, betrayal and an unforgettable finale.  Set in a seemingly tranquil lakeside community in southwestern Minnesota, Right Across the Bay opens as sheriffs recover the watery remains of fitness guru Britta Baxter. Three decades earlier, Britta and her cousin/BFF Maxine spent summers together at Lake Shetek. Both subsequently went to college,

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