Beth Kanell

“By the end of The Mirror it’s clear that Sonya and her allies need to enter the haunted past, retrieve seven rings (no hobbits though), and defeat the witch and her curse.”

“Make sure you ask someone whether they’ve even heard of Sallis, Knight, or Ellison before you gift-wrap this massive block of pages. It’s an acquired taste.”

“This Bostwana series is reliably satisfying in how the ‘people problems’ eventually resolve, and Book 25 is no exception. . . .

“Archer’s bold thriller structure bares all motives and manipulations, so there are few surprises and no secrets here, but the suspense of each interaction resembles the final rounds of a c

“Carly’s upcoming disappointments and confrontation with reality can’t spoil the sense of looking through a knothole to witness what we’ve been told not to watch or hint at.”

“Expect to be baffled during much of the book, since this trip of a lifetime is being interpreted by Agnes, who’s rarely sure of what she’s witnessing.”

“Heller’s Burn is unforgettable in its tenderness, its power, and its warning.

“Some Murders in Berlin blends historic forensics and international intrigue in ways that should guarantee it a place on the thriller and investigations shelf.”

“This final episode in the series of an independent woman who’s risen to financial and emotional security through her investigations must diverge from the classic crime fiction patterns in

“As in many of the best series in the genre, Comey offers a strong and generous protagonist who’s justifiably optimistic about long-term friendship and loyalty.”

“Berman crafts a fast-paced thriller from gaming, app-building, and a reworking of the principles once offered to the American ‘hippie’ movement via a book called The Prophet.”

“Elisabeth’s rapid, aggressive, and dangerous actions do more than deal with one threat: They light a movement, in the name of the original Lilith, as well as in her own image.”

“In this season of tangled and terrifying national and global issues, it’s satisfying to dip back into the masterful plotting and ultimate resolution that Connelly offers.”

“Do the addition here, and what you’ve got is bad fixers against good fixers. Which side will cheat more? What kind of win follows?”

“Neatly blending the legal thriller, the rural police procedural, and rich Irish life into this novel is quite an achievement.”

“O’Brien invites a long-term commitment to his ‘fantastica’ nation, and with it, acceptance that lying in public is now accepted, expected, even mandated.”

“Pattison offers once again . . .

“Big Island L.A. is an action film on paper, filled with car chases, shoot-outs, sexuality, even attempted arson, as well as the rumble of local news and the press

“This book is a long read—skimming won’t cut it. But it’s long the way a walk through Brooklyn’s neighborhoods is long, and beautiful, and sometimes very clearly ‘other.’”

“This epic quest with its strands of love and loss frames an American exploration of family, grief, honor, and deep humanity in an unforgettable fashion.”

“Despite the magnetic pull of eagerly described physical attraction, there’s never a moment when Alex Walton yields control over her own heart and life.”

“Allow this novel to float its ideas and its just—if not legal—solutions with its philosophy, and accept an end-of-summer blessing.”

“The perfect start to a pulp fiction series brought into the 21st century.”

“Nesbø never releases the heartstrings through an otherwise classic dark police procedural.”

“How could a former U.S. president finally be able to take over an action-hero team? And what might the costs of that effort become? Or even, dare we imagine, the rewards?”

“Because Mason places the killer and his excuses openly among his protagonists, and the threats to Field and his family are menacing and time-linked . .

“Lawton’s approach to espionage lacks the multiplying deaths and poignant self-blame of a Le Carré novel.

“Crime fiction readers may think they know what’s ahead, based on other noir work.

“Sherlock Holmes—The Final Problem in the hands of Hannes Binder is a must for any collection of Baker Street investigations, opening new awareness of the impact of this classic in

“Fergus’ writing lays out both the struggles of a new nation, and the pains of growing into determined manhood with its allegiances, regrets, and consolations.

“After the first ‘future shock’” this chatty two-points-of-view crime investigation could easily be a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot detective novel.”

“Charles Cumming effectively ramps up suspense, in this hefty page-turner revelatory of modern espionage’s methods. “

“With a set of clever twists, Berkeley finally lays out the issue of how best to see justice served, and the answers are both rueful and entertaining.”

“It all comes together in a grimly satisfying series of events, showing more clearly than ever that Mohlin and Nyström understand costs and penalties.

“This skillfully written and well-polished ‘new classic’ mystery is a perfect winter read, ideal for an armchair journey that’s a page-turner without forcing you to check the locks on the w

“A good gift for readers over a wide spectrum, especially those who like their exploration laced with a hint of mystique, mystery, and the mystic in a tropical locale.”

“The book’s suspense rests on whether and when Cal will finally turn to face his lifelong attacker. What will he lose, in what sequence? How humiliated and abased will he become?

“The finale is happy enough for Decker and Rina—but not for everyone they care about.

“Jackson’s writing is seasoned and taut, and her threads of suspense tangle and writhe.“

“One of Vic’s friends makes a comment near the end that sums up why this investigator finds her work worth the effort: Max comments, ‘If everyone sat at home watching Netflix, we’d never ha

“This fine traditional L.A. crime novel with its Jewish flavor and its quandaries of the elderly provides enjoyable entertainment.”

“The Lightning Rod will suit readers of James Patterson, Stuart Woods, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and John Gilstrap.

“a John Gilstrap thriller, crammed with violence and testing of the soul, might be the perfect work of fiction to sink into in a tough time for the real world.”

“Fadeout marks the debut of one of the 20th century’s most memorable investigators.

“In The Final Case Guterson clearly denounces the forces of destruction in people who choose a dark and abusive anger over respect.

“When You Are Mine serves up top-notch suspense and psychological insight.

“Ryan once again shows her flair for spinning, from a life similar to her own, a set of intense and spiraling threats, with more than one devilish intent behind the scenes, and only the nar

“As more violence enters her tense investigation, and the inner madness of others takes on outer forms, how will Ann choose her own life themes?

“These tales are presented as humorous, but it’s a humor that hides a piercing sorrow at the state of the world and the costs of love and friendship in such a world.”

“If you’re looking for distinctive international bouquet in your ‘Scandi noir,’ this isn’t going to fit your collection.

“For relaxed enjoyment and the diversion of adept time travel, an Andrea Penrose historical mystery is hard to beat!”

“Reading The Dark Remains yields far more than the strangely amazing and touching answer to ‘What if you combined crime noir geniuses McIlvanney and Rankin?’”

“Layered and lethal . . . The only thing better than the pleasure of this suspenseful and tightly plotted ‘Scandi noir’ investigation is knowing there’s a sequel on the way.”

“The Killing Hills probes the darkness in both land and families, along with the limits of forgiveness. It’s not just a fine and unforgettable crime novel.

“When a Stranger Comes to Town will give you the very best of what crime fiction should deliver. Means, opportunity, and obsession—right?”

“With such dark and treacherous secrets, the men of The Lamplighters echo the force of the seas around them.

“Wedding Station is an ideal choice for both Downing fans and newcomers to his fast-paced and intense crime novels.”

“Those who value similar portrayals of place as character—as in Louise Penny’s Three Pines, for instance—will treasure A Fatal Lie and its Welsh backdrop.”

“Before She Disappeared introduces what may be the most powerful sleuth of the decade, an ‘ordinary’ woman driven to uncover the truth at any personal cost.

“Nick Petrie keeps it all moving, with all the balls in the air, so there isn’t really time for disbelief—just for the next weapon and defensive maneuver, with an edge of self-sacrifice.”

“Best of all, Marion Lane responds to deadly threat with creative assessment, and growth in both expertise and self-esteem, so the promised ongoing series featuring this maturing sleuth has

“If you like a book that lands you back in reality feeling relaxed and happy about what could happen to an ordinary guy tossed into deadly events, Madness of the Q is ideal.

“Mma Ramotswe and her allies practice that love of land and courtesy to each other in gently amusing ways that eventually resolve the mysteries, potential crimes, and tensions of their live

“Frear’s writing has the sharp dark tang that Tana French exhibits, and she updates the British crime narrative to the dangerous conflicts of loyalty that Stuart Neville paints best, with t

“Murder at Queen’s Landing is a high-paced adventure with a light feathering of attraction between the protagonists.

“For Salvo Montalbano, the whole episode is as dramatic as a film.

“If you enjoy timing your books to the seasons, Byron’s Halloween-themed Cajun mystery is a must-read for this time of year, an enjoyable spin through the kind of sensible, clue-laden plott

“This is a perfect mystery for summer beach reading—or for motivating yourself to plan a Key West vacation—as long as you can stay clear of the business end of a chef’s knife or heavy-duty

“This thriller should raise more than goosebumps—it’s a raceway of red flags signaling the possible connections of corrupt officials and money-hungry drug developers.”

“Bringing the traditional British mystery up to date with this strong and driven sleuth—not a true amateur sleuth, but an active partner with the official investigation—is the best part of

“The Summer of Kim Novak brings back to life that adolescent quandary of feeling like you know more than the adults around you, but being desperately afraid that y

“Despite the classic investigations that Poke leaps into, with violence and threat and red herrings and regret, Poke Rafferty is a person who cares enough to listen, to experience, and to c

“Mandel’s symphony of belief and offerings builds slowly to a pattern that, in the midst of loss, insists on giving meaning and value to the half-understood, half-intended