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.

Veil of Doubt

Veil of Doubt, an Engrossing Courtroom Thriller by Sharon Virts

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The Bottom Line: Veil of Doubt is a perfectly paced courtroom thriller with flourishes of forensics that will excite fans of Caleb Carr’s Angel of Darkness or the TV series Law and Order. I love murder mysteries, courtroom dramas and psychological thrillers. Virts adds all these elements together in a very engrossing tale about a woman who is charged with murdering her husband and four …

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Every Silent Thing, an Irresistible International Crime Thriller by Alan Brenham

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The Bottom Line: An irresistible international crime thriller that delivers an intoxicating mix of mystery, murder and mayhem. Life hasn’t come easy for identical triplets Claire, Megan and Boyd Deveraux. Adopted in Texas after their biological parents died in a car crash, Claire, who is also deaf, has worked hard to land her dream job as a foreign service officer stationed in Paris. But her …

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When Things Fall Apart, a Twisty Page Turner by Alan Brenham

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The Bottom Line: A twisty, gut-punch crime thriller that manages to both enrage and entertain en route to its shocking conclusion. The definition of a page-turner. When Things Fall Apart opens with the brutal murder of Texas attorney Sydney Hanover. Told from the point of view of a jealous husband who is initially identified as “Ken” (a nickname from his wife, Elaine, who he calls “Barbie”), he cites a shortlist …

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In the Shadow of the Sun, an Atmospheric Thriller by Poli Flores

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The Bottom Line: A meticulously-crafted and atmospheric thriller that explores themes of homecoming, survivor’s guilt, forgiveness and the impact of war on returning soldiers.  Matt Bradley carries a scar on his face that will forever remind him and others of his service in Vietnam. The only survivor when his helicopter was shot down by the Viet Cong, he has applied his military training as a tracker to his post-war civilian life. Working as a Border Patrol officer, he patrols the remote corners of Allen County, tracking dopers and smugglers.  Despite establishing a post-war career, Matt’s life is far …

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No More Lies, an Ingeniously Crafted Mystery by Alan Brenham

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The Bottom Line: An absorbing and ingeniously crafted mystery that will hold readers captive until the very last chapter. Austin Police Department detective Jason Scarsdale traveled to Washington D.C. for an in-person job interview with the U.S. Marshals. Or at least that’s what his wife, Dani Mueller, believes. But when Jason fails to return to their hotel, and Dani reports him missing, she’s told that everything …

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Once Upon a Crime, an Absolute Nail Biter by Alan Brenham

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The Bottom Line: The hunt for a serial killer becomes personal in this absolute nail biter. Michael Connelly fans may find a new favorite in Alan Brenham.  In Alan Brenham’s Once Upon a Crime, Detective Madison Chase hunts a serial killer named PG who seems to prey on child sex offenders. As a series of child predators turn up dead, PG also turns out to be an amateur poet, taunting Chase with sinister and highly memorable rhyming …

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The Desiderata Stone, an Unputdownable Historical Thriller by Nick Aaron

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The Bottom Line: An unputdownable historical thriller that gloriously tethers ancient Rome to the 1960s. In the sixth installment in Nick Aaron’s wildly popular Blind Sleuth Mysteries series, set in 1964, 41-year-old intern Daisy Hayes travels to Rome. There, upon invitation from doting Father Boudry, she has the opportunity to study sculptures by touch at the Vatican Museums. It’s a rare treat – as Daisy …

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When I Killed You, a Magical Blend of Mystery and Physics by Liam Fialkov

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The Bottom Line: Fialkov’s best book yet is a truly magical blend of mystery and physics with two shocking twists.  Told from alternating points of view, When I Killed You is a captivating mystery about Helen Avery’s obsession with her daughter Alice’s disappearance 30 years earlier. In early chapters, we learn about a haunting childhood visit to a fortune teller, about her resentment toward her ex-husband – …

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The Best Stephen King Audiobooks Ranked In Order (Updated for 2023!)

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Newly updated to include King’s newest novel, Holly! The reigning master of suspense is the author of more than 60 books and audiobooks, all of which have been international bestsellers, and many have been translated to the screen. The names are instantly recognizable:  It. Pet Cemetery. Misery. Thinner. All instant classics, and yet King’s craft seems to sweeten with age, with King still churning out some …

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The Loneliest Places, a Suspenseful LA Noir Novel by Keith Edward Vaughn

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The Bottom Line: An atmospheric, suspenseful and wistful work of LA Noir. Recommended for fans of Lisa Gray and Michael Connelly.  Can a private investigator’s worst nightmare also be his salvation?  In Keith Edward Vaughn’s debut novel, second-generation PI Ellis Dunaway lives in the shadow of his late father, a former LAPD detective with a rock-solid reputation. But on Ellis’ watch, the shrinking firm’s cases wrap too …

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