As part of our final wrap-up meeting, participants wrote 90 second book talks. The only qualification was that neither the title nor author could have been discussed during the study. Written for library staff, to be shared with library staff, the following shows the variation in how people formalize book talks. The wide variety of titles mirrors the interest of crime fans as well as those newer to crime and the broadness of crime fiction in general. As said by crime writer Karin Slaughter, "The most enduring stories in literature generally have some kind of crime at their center, whether it's the blood butchery of Hamlet, the lecherous misanthropes of Dickens, or the lone gunman from The Great Gatsby."
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Ripper
by Isabel Allende
High school senior Amanda Jackson lives in San Francisco with her mother and grandfather. Amanda is fascinated by crime and the dark side of human nature, and one of her favorite pastimes is playing an online mystery game called Ripper with her grandfather and friends around the world. Initially started to identify Jack the Ripper, Ripper has evolved into investigating other more current cold cases. When a string of murders occurs in San Francisco, Amanda suspects a serial killer is on the loose and begins her own investigation with her Ripper friends. When Amanda’s mother suddenly disappears, Amanda believes she has been taken by the killer and must race to uncover the killer’s identity.
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The Truth and Other Lies
by Sascha Arango
Fans of Ruth Rendell and Patricia Highsmith, take note! The first novel of German TV writer Sascha Arango features Henry Hayden, a bestselling “author” who has not written a word of any of his novels. His wife writes them, happy to allow her husband the fame and glory while she continues her writing hobby anonymously. The story begins with Henry’s mistress, also his editor, Betty, breaking the news that she’s pregnant. When Henry receives this news with disgust, daydreaming of hurling his car off a cliff, we realize we are dealing with another emotionally barren antihero (à la Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, The Dinner, etc.) Obviously, a pregnant mistress won’t do. It would mean the end of his marriage and being outed as a fraud. So, Henry begins plotting Betty’s murder. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned, and the wrong woman is killed. So begins a plot filled with hairpin twists and turns, dry, dark humor, and unlikely love triangles. Arango does a great job of drawing a character so clever, depraved, and manipulative that you can’t stop reading to see what he’ll think of – and who he’ll drag down – next. The detectives involved in the case can never quite pin him down, and I couldn’t either – Henry’s motives remain mysterious, and he’s not exactly passionate about anything. He is, however, really enthusiastic in his game of staying one step ahead. Henry is a sociopath misfit of the Ruth Rendell variety, and Argango’s ability to portray such an unlikeable character in such a familiar, almost lighthearted, way reminded me of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley books. A word of warning: the ending is fairly open, and will leave you thinking. If you don’t mind that, you’re looking for a fast read, and you like the unlikable, this is the book for you! – Mary Kay
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The Shining Girls
by Lauren Beukes
This is the best serial killer book I have ever read. Set in Chicago, it has 2 main narrators and a fluid time frame. The first narrator is a young woman in the 1990s, the only survivor of a never caught serial killer as she is searching for her attacker. The second narrator is that serial killer, a man whose present is the 1930s, but who lives in a home on the South Side, a home that is a portal to other times. Although this may sound confusing, Beukes does an excellent job of letting the reader know where you are in time and space at all moments. Plus, as the action heats up, the time travel increases, making the story even more suspenseful. This was a satisfying and exciting novel by an author to keep an eye on. As I was reading The Shining Girls I kept thinking about how similar it was to Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Both are dark, violent, and intricately plotted psychological suspense novels. Also while Dark Places is not speculative in anyway, it does consciously layer different time frames to keep the pace moving forward and obscure the mystery a bit. Both are also intensely suspenseful. I found The Shining Girls so appealing because how original it is. Interestingly, I felt similarly about The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell but because that was the most original zombie book I had ever read. These two books do share a genre though-- psychological suspense, but they are also both unique, intricately plotted works that tip toward literary fiction, but still keep the suspense and action at the forefront. If you liked either, try the other.– Becky
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The Dresden Files series
by Jim Butcher
When the Chicago Police get stuck on an impossible case, they call Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard. Jim Butcher has created a morally obstinate PI who will use magic or a .45 to keep to protect the innocent and keep evil out of his town. Dresden’s Chicago is so real, you’ll find yourself looking around corners for McAnally’s Pub, while hoping not to meet a T-Rex rampaging down Michigan Ave. His allies and enemies are finely drawn adding depth to the universe, although sometimes friend and foe are ambiguous. Dresden’s self-deprecating wit and biting humor enliven the noir tone and perilous events. While Dresden starts out as a hardboiled, two-bit PI begging for cases, the series morphs into a supernatural thrill ride as Dresden himself gets drawn headlong into the world of Fairy. With audiobooks narrated by James Marsters (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame), a short lived TV show, and graphic novel tie-ins, this series appeals across format types. Fans should check out the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison or the Nightside mysteries by Simon R. Green. – Karen
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The Glee Club Mysteries
by Joelle Charbonneau
This is a cozy mystery trilogy by a Chicago-area author (also known for The Testing YA trilogy). The main character is a high school choir teacher turned amateur detective when, during her first month of teaching, a fellow teacher gets murdered; in the second book, she is performing at a concert when the tenor drops dead! The tone is light and humorous and fun-- the teacher the scampers about, finding clues, deals with students and various wacky characters; the voice is a spirited, 1st-person; and there is a love interest for our young heroine. For people who enjoy the music-themed cozy, or a cozy with a promising romantic element. Read-a-like: possibly the Flavia de Luce series (the first ones) because of the young protagonist (as opposed to many older lady protagonists in cozies) – Sonia
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A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul: Inspector Singh investigates
by Shamini Flint
Sunny Bali is not just an island with great beaches. Its populace struggles with contemporary issues such as unemployment, a tourist based economy and terrorism. There is a bomb attack on a popular tourist bar and authorities find the remains of a person who was killed before the incident happened. Visiting Inspector Singh from Singapore is enlisted to find the murderer. His investigation takes him into the expat community, the tourist hotels and poor villages that surround this tropical plan land. While Singh may come off as an eccentric “Columbo” like character, the reader learns not to underestimate his skill in detection and the underlying evil that he battles against. I enjoyed this glimpse into this exotic culture and was reminded that although this story was seeming set up as a “cozy mystery”, it has immediate relevance with its social issues and world viewpoint. For read-alikes I would recommend Tarquin Hall whose native policeman Vish Puri deals with daily contradictions in India, and newcomer Vaseem Khan whose first novel is The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra. All these witty stories have idiosyncratic characters, intricate plots, and a strong sense of place. – Monique
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Career of Evil
by Robert Galbraith
This is the third in a contemporary mystery series by Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling) after The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm. The main characters in this series, Strike Cormoran and his Secretary/Assistant Robin are flawed and engaging. Strike, the bastard son of a famous rocker, lost part of one leg in Afghanistan and when the series begins, had just broken up with his girlfriend and moved into the back room of his barren PI office. Robin is thrilled to take the job and finds the investigative part of their work satisfying. Cormoran works to keep their relationship professional and the fact that she is engaged is helpful. In the opening Robin is horrified when she receives a package at the office – directed to her – that contains a woman’s severed leg. Cormoran has at least four violent and creepy men in his past that he suspects and is very worried that the package came to Robin. Because of the press interest, their business is slowed to a crawl. This title moves into suspense and thriller territory as alternating chapters are told from the anonymous serial killer’s point of view. The story is fast-paced, atmospheric, tense and full of dread. In the stress of trying to track down a killer who is interested in Robin, more of her back story comes out and the reasons for her attraction to criminal investigations. The relationship between Cormoran and Robin is of central interest and her up and down relationship with her fiancé Matthew creates a barrier that is both convenient and frustrating. The ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger leaving the reader looking forward to the next installment! Read-alikes include Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series, Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Ganache series, and C. S. Harris’ Sebatisan St. Cyr series (if you are interested in historical mysteries with an intriguing main character and strong female assistant). – Chris
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A Pleasure and a Calling
by Phil Hogan
Let’s admit it – sometimes it can be fun to root for the bad guy. If you enjoy getting into the mind of a criminal, then Hogan’s A Pleasure and a Calling is for you. Mr. William Heming seems pretty bland – you might even forget that he was the real estate agent who sold you your house. But little do his clients know that he’s saved copies of each and every one of their keys, and he enjoys paying them visits from time to time when they’re not home. When Mr. Heming observes a young woman being mistreated; however, he decides to take justice into his own hands with troubling results. This enjoyably creepy novel of psychological suspense will leave you asking yourself, who has the keys to your house? It’s similar in feel to Thy Neighbor by Norah Vincent – both dark, disturbing, first-person narratives are told by voyeurs who spy on others to cope with their own nightmarish pasts. – Lorna
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The Walt Longmire series by Craig JohnsonPolice procedural about a sheriff in Wyoming Craig Johnson gives us wonderful characters; tight, interesting plots; and a sense of place that just won’t quit. What I love best: Walt’s 1st person narrative voice (very real, with a dry sense of humor) In an interview, Craig Johnson said that sometimes, at book signings, people will give him notes to pass along to Walt Longmire. Compelling secondary characters: his friend Henry Standing bear and his deputy Vic, who curse a blue streak I love the strong sense of teamwork that infuses these stories. Plus: Walt’s office is in a former Carnegie library. Read-alikes include:
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Alex by Pierre LemaîtreA bestseller in Europe, this book is second in a trilogy (Irène and Camille being the other two), but the first published in the US and can be read as a standalone and won a bunch of prizes. A young woman is kidnapped and forced into a cage whose origin dates from an 18th century designed that was meant to deliver maximum torture (and there are hungry rats involved). Police Commandant Camille Verhoeven, who stands under 5 ft tall, reluctantly takes on the case and races against time to find the kidnapping victim, and now hostage, before it is too late. I don’t want to reveal any more of the plot in fear of giving too much away. - What makes this novel amazing?
Not for the squeamish, this book is brutal, dark, and gory. There is one revelation after another and it just won’t stop with the surprises. It zigs when you think it will zag, is totally unpredictable and original, intricately plotted and fast paced. - Where does it fit within crime fiction?
Police Procedural Suspense Thriller - What are some read-alikes
John Connolly's Charlie Parker for a dark novel where justice is done The Stieg Larsson novels for a strong female protagonist Dept. Q novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen for cops who ignore procedure The darker Gillian Flynn novels for the constant surprises. This is not a cozy, not clean, not cute. It’s French. – Astrid
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The Circle
by Bernard Minier
The Circle is the second book in a French mystery series by Bernard Minier, which started with The Frozen Dead. Once again, we’re reading about Commandant Martin Servaz (the French equivalent of an inspector) and a brutal murder he’s trying to solve. The murder centers around a local prep school teacher named Claire Diemar who is found wrapped in rope and drowned in her bathtub. The teenage son of Servaz’s former romantic interest is found sitting at the scene and immediately arrested for the murder. What looks like a fairly open and shut case soon becomes more confusing when there seems to be distinct clues at the scene that instead point to a serial killer who escaped Servaz’s grip in The Frozen Dead. Twisting, creepy, rocket-paced, and perplexing, I couldn’t put this down. My ideas of what was going on and who the bad guy was changed approximately 5 times and I was wrong the whole time. With a main character reminiscent of Jo Nesbo’s Henry Hole and supporting characters similar to Lisbeth Salander (though admittedly not as dark or sexy), those who have run out of dark, gritty Scandinavian thrillers should grab Bernard Miner’s first book The Frozen Dead and then immediately follow it up with The Circle. I wouldn’t suggest reading them out of order as you won’t understand the links between Julian Hirttman (the serial killer) and Martin Servaz.
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Blood on Snow
by Jo Nesbø
I listened to the audio of this stand-alone novel, read by Patti Smith. It’s the story of Olav Johansen, a painfully self-aware, tragically limited, dyslexic, literate contract killer. Olav, of course, falls in love with his boss’s wife, whom he’s been hired to kill. And then there’s a love that might have been. The plot, pure vintage American noir, is filled with double-cross and heartless killers. It also has a few gruesome shocks and an excellent twist at the end. The writing is dark and lyrical; heartbreaking, humorous stuff. It’s a novel of suspense, focusing on doomed Olav and his struggles; written from his point of view. This short, tight novel is set in 1970’s Oslo, but there isn’t much specific detail of place. When you combine this with Smith’s narration, her gravelly voice and thick New Jersey accent, it feels as much like New York as it does Norway. This gives the story a classic and universal appeal, that does not lack atmosphere. The language is beautiful and there are gorgeous scenes with blood on snow; as pretty as they come. The story ends on Christmas Eve, in a great crescendo of fantasy and death; a true gift, in a neat little package. Any reader of Nordic Noir would be pleased. Good read-alikes are The Postman Always Rings Twice by James Cain or Daniel Woodrell’s Winter’s Bone. – Danielle
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Night Film
by Marisha Pessl
In Night Film by Marisha Pessl, Scott McGrath, a publicly ridiculed journalist, sets out to revive his reputation by investigating the apparent suicide of Ashley Cordova, daughter of the enigmatic horror film director Stanislas Cordova, who has developed a large cult following over the decades. It was McGrath’s previous investigation of the director that tarnished his image, but now he thinks he has a story that will reveal terrible secrets about the director, his transformative films, and his family. The novel takes a hard-boiled mystery and infuses it with horror elements pulled from our darkest nightmares. The main story is broken up with news articles, photographs, and screenshots from Cordova fan sites, which adds an extra layer of realism to the mystery and provides a fascinating backstory for the Cordova family. Some of the images even include a small icon that the reader can use as a QR code to access additional information on their smartphone. Ultimately, this book says a lot about our fascination with darkness and our desperation to believe in a truth beyond reality. Although the writing styles differ dramatically, I kept drawing parallels between Night Film and the creepy tone of Help for the Haunted by John Searles, which straddles the line between reality and the supernatural as a teenaged girl searches for the truth behind the deaths of her demonologist parents. Readers may also be interested in Syndrome E by Frank Thilliez, a noir-tinged psychological suspense novel about a mysterious film and its viewers, who all seem to turn up dead after watching. – Katie.
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Gallows View
by Peter Robinson
Situated in a valley in England’s Yorkshire Dales, the picturesque town of Eastvale, “complete with ancient cross and Norman Church, tree-shaded river falls, somber castle ruins and excavations going back to pre-Roman times” is the home of Inspector Alan Banks. Banks, a 36 year-old devoted husband and father of two, whose current passion is opera, transferred here from London in hopes of finding a less stressful life. But Eastvale certainly has its share of violent crime. In this police procedural, Inspector Banks works well with his team to patiently work on multiple cases – a Peeping Tom, the murder of an elderly lady, and a team of teen burglars, who are becoming progressively more aggressive. There is a thread of sexual tension, both in the cases and in Bank’s personal life, as he is required to join forces with an intelligent, beautiful psychologist to work on the Peeping Tom case. As each storyline evolves and we meet various residents of the town, relationships are exposed layer by layer until personal and professional lives merge in a dramatic climax. With its strong sense of place and well-developed characters, this series should appeal to fans of Louis Penny. Other read-alikes might include Elizabeth George for her strong sense of place and characterizations and Susan Hill, again for characterization and also intricately plotted story lines.
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The Nine Tailors: Changes rung on an old theme in two short touches and two full peals
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Do you know anything about bell ringing? Not hand bells, but those enormous church bells which are pulled with thick ropes. Can you imagine a bell ringing that goes on for nine hours overnight on New Year’s Eve? Amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey participates in such a bell ringing which in turn ties him to the village of Fenchurch St. Paul. At Easter an unknown body is discovered in a grave in that churchyard and Lord Peter returns to determine its identity. This story involves the theft of emeralds, the disgrace of the local squire, switched identities, bigamy, a prison escape, cryptology, and murder. Lord Peter is able to solve all these crimes, but the manner of death of the murder victim remains a mystery until the following New Year’s Day. The Nine Tailors is not just a detective story, but a story of redemption and the interconnectedness of lives in a small English village. It is also a great introduction to campanology – bell ringing – and will send you straight to YouTube to watch the pealing of similar giant church bells. This is a Golden Age amateur detective story with read-alikes including Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley, and Edmund Crispin. Remember: If you haven’t read it, it’s new to you, regardless of when it was published! – Donna
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Girl Waits With Gun
by Amy Stewart
Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart is a darkly hilarious caper mystery based on a historically accurate first female sheriff in the United States. The story opens in 1915 in New Jersey with Constance, a tall, “past her prime”, unconcerned with men or domestic matters character, riding into the town with her two younger sisters. Their buggy gets run over by a motorcar driven by wealthy factory owner and his drunken friends. Constance only asks for the money back to replace her destroyed buggy but the factory owner does ot care to comply and, when she insists by paying him a visit, he and his thug buddies start to threaten her and her sisters. Constance, being resourceful, determined, and not easily intimidated, takes the matter into her own hands, starts investigating the factor owner, and quickly discovers that he may be connected to other crimes. Girl Waits With Gun is a witty, engaging, fast-paced mystery. IT has a sharp, pistol-carrying female protagonist, a great puzzle, excellent historical details, compelling secondary characters, and it’s a first in a series, so the fun is just starting! This book is a perfect pick for fans of The Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood (with a fair warning that unlike Phryne Fisher, Constance cares not at all for fashion) or the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Laurie R. King. – Megan
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Zane's Trace
by Allan Wolf
Zane’s Trace is an intriguing little novel. Its principle characteristic is that it’s written in verse. But this isn’t just a gimmick. Concealed in those sparse lines and abundant white space is a fast-paced adventure – part mystery, part suspense, seasoned with just a smidgen of the supernatural. This book has the best first page of any book I’ve read. The last three lines on page one – “Gotta make good time. The sun’s already up. By now they’ve probably found the old man’s body” – establish the tone of the book yet give nothing away. It’s an intriguing set-up. Zane Guesswind believes he may have killed his grandfather so he steals his dead father’s 1969 Plymouth Barracuda in order to drive to his mother’s gravesite so he can kill himself. This simple synopsis makes the book sound like one big downer but it’s actually a journey of discovery for Zane and has many lighthearted, even funny moments. Puzzles unfold and family mysteries are unraveled as the ‘Cuda eats up the miles. I believe this book appeals to a wide range of ages. The story is intriguing, has many twists and turns and you really feel like you are taking the journey right along with the characters. It reminded me of two other books, both with young male protagonists. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is also about discovery and uncovering family mysteries. Similarly, the catalyst here is another dead grandfather. This story has a stronger supernatural flavor while taking the reader on a suspenseful adventure. The other book is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. The mystery of the black key is the focus of this story while the grandfather figure is also prominently on display. Zane’s Trace is not a hardcore crime novel per se but it has enough twists and turns to keep a reader involved and guessing. While Zane runs from his past how will he solve the mystery of his future? – Valerie
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