The Expat Affair

KIMBERLY BELLE

The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle takes the reader on a wild ride, starting in the United States and ending up in Amsterdam, the diamond capital of the world. As is the norm in this generation, Rayna is the protagonist who accepts an online date and meets Xander. After spending the evening with him, she wakes up to his dead body on the floor and many millions of diamonds in the wind. Rayna, not knowing what to do, meets Xander's boss, Willow, who happens to be the head of a large diamond company. The readers rapidly become involved in what the author has created. We see the story unfolding from each of their point of view, dealing with crazy family problems and the mystery of where these diamonds have gone. The readers will encounter bizarre characters, some of whom are straight-out crazy, while others are hardened criminals. As an additional bonus, any reader not familiar with Amsterdam will be treated to a fascinating glimpse at one of the most interesting cities in all of Europe.

KAUAI STORM

TORI ELDRIDGE

Kauai Storm by veteran writer Tori Eldridge is a fascinating mystery that encompasses the twists and turns that make it engaging and provide insights into the Hawaiian culture. These perceptions and cultural glimpses make Kauai Storm a great mystery and a valuable look at a history largely unknown to most people. The story centers around a park ranger, Makalani, returning to her native land to celebrate her grandmother's birthday. Unfortunately, upon her return, she finds her two cousins in the wind and nowhere to be seen. Makalani, a park ranger on the mainland, decides that no one is better suited to locate her cousins. As the mystery unfolds, we learn about the Hawaiian culture and how it can sometimes clash with the culture of those living on the mainland.

Tori Eldridge knows her stuff and spins a fascinating mystery that fans hope will become a long-running series.

DYING TO MEET YOU

SARINA BOWEN

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen has everything a good psychological drama should have.

Dying to Meet You centers on Rowan, a single mother. She is a talented architect working in the Northeast United States. Her current project involves restoring a mansion owned by wealthy people. At first glance, Rowan is a polished and professional person. Unfortunately, like many people, she is dealing with a teenage daughter and the problems that come with it. Rowan's boyfriend dumped her via text; she's depressed, and she starts to plot how to find out why she was dumped and for whom. She begins to follow her ex-boyfriend and finds that he's been killed. Naturally, the police suspect her, as is usually the case in a murder like this, and to make matters worse, Rowan's ex-husband is out of prison and living in the same area as well. Readers will have to think long and hard about who killed the ex-boyfriend. Dying to Meet You is an entertaining thriller that keeps the page turning and the reader on the edge until the end.       

SOUTH OF NOWHERE

JEFFERY DEAVER

South of Nowhere, by Jeffrey Dever, is a fun read that makes the reader feel as if they are accompanying the main character.

Colter Shaw is a reward hunter and tracker, and usually that’s as far as it goes. In South of Nowhere, the fifth in the intriguing Shaw series, Colter is called in to help after a levee breaks in a town in California. Four people die, and Shaw is called in to find out what happened to the family and where the vehicle containing the corpses is. After some time, Shaw believes that the entire town is at risk because the levee may collapse almost immediately. Upon further inspection, he finds an anomalous substance near the destroyed levee. He wonders if the collapse was an accident or a deliberate criminal act. Many balls are in the air as the reader deals with this exciting and entertaining adventure. Readers should keep their eyes peeled for more of Colter Shaw, and if they have not yet, they should read the first four books in the series, although South of Nowhere can undoubtedly be read as a standalone.

THE MURDER SHOW

MATT GOLDMAN

The Murder Show by veteran and versatile writer Matt Goldman is another outstanding work by the author. Goldman entices the reader by utilizing the ever-popular reality show trope, which has made so many people so much money. The show's writer is ready to go into the fourth season; however, there is a writer's strike, and the network has passed on the fourth season. Ethan Harris is the writer of the show, and with nothing else better to do, returns to his birthplace in Minnesota, where he connects with a local law enforcement officer. Together, they reopen a hit-and-run that killed their friend many summers ago. The cop believes this investigation might prove fruitful, and Ethan hopes it will provide him with new material for his show. But all things that should be clear become more murky, and the two of them find that they are digging up information that should not be discovered.

The Murder Show by Matt Goldman is a procedural and a mystery. Goldman is an outstanding writer whose books never fail to entertain. I recommend this book without hesitation. If the reader is unfamiliar with Goldman's other work, they should go to the library or the local bookstore and pick up all of Goldman's books. There will be no disappointment, just great entertainment.

THE BOOMERANG

ROBERT BAILEY

Robert Bailey, well known for his legal procedures, has hit it out of the park with his newest thriller, The Boomerang. The Boomerang grabs you and never lets you go. That phrase can be overused; in this instance, it is spot on. The plot and the premise are equally and outrageously interesting, and the characters are extraordinarily fleshed out. The book is outstanding in every way. I recommend it to anyone wanting to read an unforgettable, unpredictable, and good old-fashioned thriller.

The Undoing of Alejandro Velasco

DIEGO BONETA

The Undoing of Alejandro Velasco, by first-time author Diego Boneta, is a delightful surprise. What interested me most was the intense character development of each player in this novel. The reader understands why the rich are different. This opens a plethora of problems instigated by the family patriarch, a well-to-do Mexican American businessperson. Distrust, unpredictability, and subtle twists pervade the entire novel, making the reader hesitant to put down the book. This is a novel that takes a few pages to capture the interest of the reader. Still, I highly recommend it as a character study and mystery, especially considering today’s instantaneous and hubris-filled materialistic lifestyle that spreads like cancer.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS

DAVID LIST

What Are The Odds by accomplished and talented screenwriter David List reads like a great book should. It is a sure thing. The Odds is an imagery-driven and cinematic novel; you only need popcorn. The book centers on three people: a disgraced and retired NYPD detective, a burned-out IRS criminal investigator, and a tax cheat who's gotten away with millions of dollars. The book takes several twists and turns, ranging from terrorism to Russian oligarchs using the oil business to cause murder and political upheaval. The story is a wild ride that pulls the reader into a story the reader hopes will never end. What are the Odds has everything a significant thriller/mystery needs: unforgettable characters, violence, love interests, and money. What could go wrong? Pick up this book and cross your fingers that Mr. List sends us another novel, A.S.A.P.

TRIKE TRAFFIC

MIKE FARICY

Trike Traffic by prolific, talented mystery writer Mike Faricy delivers an entertaining, fun-filled mystery. His characters remain the same, supplying the reader with wisdom, humor, and, most of all, amusing dialogue.

Traffic begins as our hero, Dev Haskell, private eye, rescues a three-year-old on a tricycle attempting to cross a major intersection. Like the good citizen he is, Haskell rescues the child and returns the child to her mother. Enter the ever-lurking local mob, boss Tubby Gustafson. To operate his business, Haskell is at the beck and call of Gustafson, who has a long reach. The job is determining who operates an after-hours club without Gustafson's permission. This sounds straightforward, but the reader sees Haskell turning up more dirt under more rocks than anticipated. Haskell's partner, Louis, his officemate and lawyer, is present throughout the book, as well as Haskell's loyal dog, Morton, and his cat, Princess. The readers are introduced to a new character, who is also a private eye, who assists Dev in bringing the book to a favorable conclusion.

Faricy is an old hand who supplies the reader with entertaining, laugh-out-loud, and old-fashioned fun. A reader cannot do any better than read all his books. Faricy is one of my favorite writers who always delivers the goods.

THE BATTLE OF PALM BEACH

TOM TURNER

Veteran and prolific writer Tom Turner has done it again. The newest entry in his long-running and successful series, The Battle Of Palm Beach, features detectives Charlie Crawford, Mort Ott, and other familiar characters, making it a pleasure to read. Turner sets his scenes with abundant imagery that makes the reader believe they are on the streets, solving the crime along with Mort and Charlie.

Somebody has callously murdered a famous rock star on the streets of Palm Beach. The outlook does not appear rosy, with no clues, witnesses, or forensics. Charlie narrows their suspect after the usual footwork, knocking on doors, and observing surveillance videos.

In wealthy conclaves like Palm Beach or the Hamptons, entitled citizens like their country clubs. In this case, the Poinciana is a country club that caters to the Uber wealthy, meaning exclusivity. When three or four “outsiders” from the entertainment and manufacturing business get together to buy the club and turn it into a housing development for the wealthy, controversy ensues.

The Battle of Palm Beach takes place on two intriguing fronts: Crawford and Ott doing their jobs and the shenanigans of the “new money“ who want to reshape the Poinciana in their image.

Reading Turner’s novels is like watching movies and having a large popcorn. You never want the film or the popcorn to end. The reader will wish that Turner could write as fast as the reader consumes Turner’s outstanding and entertaining procedurals.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

JESSE SUTANTO

Prolific and talented novelist Jesse Sutanto has done it again with her next installment in the Vera Wong series. As the book opens, Vera's son is dating a police officer, and of course, Vera hopes that a wedding is on the horizon. Unfortunately, like all action addicts, Vera is bored and starts looking for trouble. As it happens, a young woman presents herself to Vera, discussing finding a missing person. As the novel progresses, Vera surrounds herself with suspects who may or may not know where the missing person is.

The writer's strength is embellishing and establishing interesting and realistic characters. The book will appeal to fans of cozies, and some components will engender thoughts about the nature of people and what they are capable of.

While the second installment of this series can be read as a standalone, I recommend checking out the first, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

WHEN SHE WAS GONE

SARA FOSTER

Veteran thriller rider Sarah Foster continues to capture the hearts and minds of her readers, this time with her new book, When She Was Gone. The beauty of this book is that it only takes 10 or 15 pages before the reader is completely hooked on the characters and the premise.

Rose has a daughter who has gone missing in Australia. And to make matters worse, she's the nanny of wealthy Australians whose children have also disappeared while under Rose's supervision. The high-ranking police suspect Rose of abandoning her child but also want her expertise to help find the other children, as she was a former London cop. Of course, the detective assigned to the case intends to work the case his way, which means that he does not appreciate or desire help from Rose.

When She Was Gone is a terrific combination of procedural and psychological drama that captures the best elements. Readers will find themselves drawn to Fosters' backlist, and I recommend that they read this book first and then the rest of her enticing novels.

THE OTHER PEOPLE

C.B. EVERETT

The Other People by writer C. B. Everett is a new look at an old trope. That is the locked room mystery. What makes this unique is that the writer adds a great dollop of horror, which makes the novel a hybrid mystery/horror story. As the book progresses, the reader is treated to a description of all ten guests who have somehow arrived in an old, creepy home; they have no idea how they arrived. Only that they have to find a missing person who is going to be murdered; each guest meets their death in a grizzly way, and the reader becomes more involved as the story progresses. C. B. Everett has written an engaging and clever book that keeps the reader involved to the very end. This thriller/horror story will give the reader something to remember for weeks to come.

DELIVERY VEHICLES

MILTON C. JOHNS

Delivery Vehicles by rookie writer Milton C. Johns reads like a well-polished legal procedural. The protagonist is a well-meaning alcoholic criminal lawyer who has been placed under supervision by the Commonwealth of Virginia State Bar for minor and significant transgressions. Throughout this highly entertaining and humorous novel, our hero gets in his way more than he should. But paradoxically, he is a talented and vigorous lawyer with good, if ill-timed, actions.

Add a terrorist plot, a penchant for womanizing, and barrels of Jack Daniels. These ingredients produce a highly readable and entertaining novel reminiscent of some of the better humorists working in the mystery genre.

Claire, Darling

Callie Kazumi

Callie Kasumi has written a unique suspense novel with realistic characters and unpredictable outcomes. The reader views the player, our protagonist, and her perspective via journal entries and flashbacks until the reader can hardly wait for the riveting endgame. Some might say that the outcome is predictable, but I am not one. This book, which I read in three days, was undoubtedly outstanding. I would have finished sooner if other tasks had not impeded me. The book reminded me of one or two others in the genre.  However, Kasumi, the writer, was very flexible and made this mystery a psychological suspense novel. The book is something to put on all readers' lists and is an excellent introduction to the thriller and suspense genre. 

RETREAT

Krysten Ritter

The retreat by talented writer Kristen Ritter reminds the reader of Patricia Highsmith. As the book opens, we see Liz Dawson as a con artist. She integrates seamlessly into elite social circles, making friends and more with everybody she meets. Liz is suave, debonaire, and overly confident, but these qualities and more make her a brilliant long-game con artist. Isabel Beresford is a rich woman who owns a villa in Mexico; she offers Liz the job of installing a piece of art, which Liz, a con artist, can hardly refuse. Liz would like to live a straight life, but this is not the time. Coincidentally, Liz looks very similar to Isabel, the villa's owner. This makes Liz a quasi-doppelgänger for Isabel, but the question is what is going on with Isabel. As Liz digs deeper into her double life, She finds danger surrounding herself and Isabel. Retreat is a book that grabs the reader by the throat and does not release until the con is ended. What a con it is.

Change of Heart

DR. CRISTINA LEPORT

Change of Heart by Dr. Christina Leporte is as intriguing and exciting as an open-heart surgery. But with more unpredictability and more violence. Amy Winters is a medical student in New York City who is found dead. Her death took place in front of a hospital, which facilitated an easy path to donation. The reader sees more and more of these crimes. Are they murders or suicides? The FBI is brought in to assist the NYPD. Is this an organ trafficking ring or a coincidence? Change of Heart is a superior blend of medical mystery and an absorbing police procedural. It is a wild ride, and readers would be advised to secure the first title in the series, Dissection.

OCEAN DRIVE

SAM WIEBE

Ocean Drive by excellent veteran writer Sam Wiebe contains everything a mystery reader desires. The plot is multi-layered: drugs, guns, and gangs. What else could a reader ask for? Like many of his books, Ocean Drive takes place in British Columbia, specifically the city of Vancouver and its environs.

What would you do to avoid prison? Would you go undercover to work off your sentence? That's what our main character has to decide. He then infiltrates a rat nest of gangs dealing with drugs, murder, and mayhem. The reader must watch the ball as the action is fast and engaging. I vehemently, energetically, and unhesitatingly recommend Ocean Drive and Mr. Wiebe's growing backlist of excellent PI novels and standalone procedurals.

THE LAST HAMILTON

JENN BREGMAN

The Last Hamilton by Jenn Bregman is a unique and fascinating mystery centering around the ancestors of Alexander Hamilton. The Last Hamilton is unique because it blends the history of the United States with an absorbing mystery. Additionally, it reminds and refreshes the readers about how vibrant the city of New York is. And how much history of our country has taken place in New York. As the story begins, Elizabeth Walker is found dead. Her husband and best friend attempt to find out who committed the crime. To find out, you must read the book; believe me, it is undoubtedly worthwhile.

NEMESIS: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL

GREGG HURWITZ

The 10th entry into the exhilarating Orphan X series is Nemesis by prolific action writer Greg Hurwitz. The beauty of Nemesis is that it can be read as a standalone or in chronological order, giving the reader a long TBR list. The main character, Evan Smoke, is a trained government assassin with a small cadre of friends. However, in this instance, he finds that his best friend, Tommy, has crossed the line. Tommy has ghosted Evan to help a friend's son; meanwhile, Evan is on the hunt for Tommy to seek revenge for Tommy's misdeeds. There is enough action within these two plots to keep the reader glued to the book for many hours in one sitting. The interplay between Evan and Tommy produces enjoyable dialogue, and the action is nonstop. Nemesis is for any reader who enjoys action, some bloodshed, and more than a little bit of tricky and outstanding plotting.