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.

The Best Lucy Foley Books in Order (Updated!)

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Looking for a list of Lucy Foley books in recommended reading order? You’ve come to the right place. Bestselling British author Lucy Foley is a favorite among fans of contemporary mystery and crime fiction and critics alike. She also writes historical fiction. Further, one of her short stories is included in a collection of Agatha Christie fan fiction focusing on Christie’s iconic character Mrs. Marple. […]

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Karma Never Sleeps, a Taut, Entertaining Murder Mystery by R. John Dingle

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The Bottom Line: A taut, entertaining small town murder mystery with a series-worthy hero. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty. Karma Never Sleeps opens on a drizzly morning in the woods outside a small New England town. Sarah Nelson, a triage nurse out for a run, encounters an injured runner on the trail. Her generous offer to help ends with Sarah caught in a sinister,

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MotherLove, a Stunning Crime Thriller by Hope Andersen

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The Bottom Line: A truly stunning crime novel that is emotionally charged, challenging and filled with unexpected twists.  MotherLove opens in St Croix as an assassin in a wetsuit sneaks aboard a yacht, executes a human trafficker and rescues several young Haitian girls. Two days later, in New Jersey, 35-year-old Rebecca Winslow wakes in a frigid guestroom. Rebecca is grieving the loss of a child, multiple

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Justice for Emerson, a Deeply Engrossing Murder Mystery by Karen E. Osborne

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The Bottom Line: Five stars for this deeply engrossing, serious-as-a-heart-attack murder mystery that has profound things to say about social justice, loyalty and the human condition.  Karen E. Osborne’s chilling new novel opens at the headquarters of a local not-for-profit organization 45 minutes North of New York City. If you’re the kind of reader who warns characters about the dangers of dark basements, prepare to get started

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Incident at Devil’s Finger, an Unmissable Crime Thriller by Larry Witham

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The Bottom Line: A wonderfully weird crime, spectacular landscapes and big-time character development make Incident at Devil’s Finger unmissable.  The third book in Larry Witham’s art-crime series opens in visually spectacular Sedona, Arizona. Having somehow secured a permit to perform a stunt among the iconic red rocks, performance artist Magnifica plans to jump from a helicopter and parachute through the Red Rock Pinnacle monuments – all in

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The Tangled Mane, a Compelling Cozy Murder Mystery by Charlie Tyler

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The Bottom Line: Cozy murder intrigue at its finest. Charlie Tyler has a winner in series-worthy PI Cally Simmonds.  Set in an English suburb, we first meet 32-year-old private investigator Cally Simmonds as she’s trying to locate a missing crate of vintage champagne. Having been hired to work undercover at a local hotel to ascertain whether the staff have been stealing, she soon finds far more than she bargained

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The Haunted Artist, a Fascinating Art-Crime Mystery by Larry Witham

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The Bottom Line: The Haunted Artist is a taut, refreshing and fascinating work of detective fiction you can easily finish on a coast-to-coast flight.  The fourth installment of the Julian Peale Art-Crime Mystery series begins with a small town funeral for 28-year-old Sam Mason. Regarded as a rising young star in the art world, Sam had apparently sold enough paintings to pay off his mothers’ mortgage. His

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Danger Inside the Beltway

Danger Inside the Beltway, a Fast-Paced Thriller by Terri Greening

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The Bottom Line: A fast-paced and timely thriller about the outsized influence of wealth in American politics.  Reporter Tarryn Blue secured her dream job right out of Georgetown graduate school – an investigative journalism role that landed her in the White House Press Briefing Room. Overall, Tarryn’s life seems to have nothing but upside. An impending marriage to the man of her dreams, access to

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Dirty Deeds, a Clever Murder Mystery by Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid

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The Bottom Line: A cleverly-constructed murder mystery with a one-of-a-kind heroine at its core. The fourth book in the Sammy Greene series opens in New York City, as smug real estate tycoon Vince Garibaldi is lured into a midnight hour meeting. After handing over a thumb drive and denying accusations of being a snitch, he’s summarily bludgeoned to death, belted into his Porsche, and sunk

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Stuntman

The Stuntman, an Impeccably Paced Action Thriller by Evan Graver

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The Bottom Line: Don’t miss this sharply funny, impeccably paced action thriller. Amidst an ocean of heroes who take themselves far too seriously, Luke Wesson is a breath of fresh air. The Stuntman opens on a Hollywood movie set as Luke Wesson – doubling for actor Jordan Reese – prepares to jump his motorbike onto the roof of a moving train. After a bee sting triggers

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