Mystery: 2000+
A Palace of Treason by Jason Matthews. Simon and Schuster 2015. Dominika, the main character of the author's highly acclaimed novel, "Red Sparrow," is working as a double agent for the CIA. As a graduate of "Sparrow" School, she is accomplished in using sex and complex martial arts as tools of espionage. Fully implanted in the Russian Intelligence agency, the SVR, Dominika is attempting to foil Iranian Nuclear weapon development. She is romantically involved with a CIA agent, Nate, and works covertly to execute their plan. Intrigue and rivalry are rife within the SVR. Zyuganov, a sadistic SVR torturer, envisions his rise to the top ranks of the SVR- where Dominika's status is a stumbling block. She singlehandedly makes espionage coups ( aided by CIA information) which put her in the limelight of the agency, diminishing Zyuganov's prospects of eventually rising to the top ranks. Meanwhile, the SVR is aware of an unknown American mole ( Dominika) who Zyuganov suspects and attempts to uncover. Major intrigue ensues- Zyuganov's pursuit of Dominika as she steals Russian state secrets. This is a highly intense, vivid suspense novel, laced with sex and violence. Highly recommended to readers of suspense novels. The author's first book, "Red Sparrow" was reviewed as a "first-rate novel as noteworthy for its superior style as for its gripping depiction of a secretive world" by the Washington Post critic Art Taylor The author is a retired officer from the CIA's Operations Directorate and engaged in covert national security intelligence, with a specialization in denied-areas. Interviews and more author info on his Simon and Schuster web site.
Ghost Man by Roger Hobbs. Random House :2013. Jack Delton( he no longer uses this alias) is an esoteric member of an armed robbery team: the Ghostman, a fixer upper/cleanup person of shifting invisible identities whose capabilities are integral to a carrying out a successful crime. He/she has constant a change of voice, age, facial features, location, and other markers which enable the Ghost Man to disappear easily. "Jack" is hired by Marcus, a "Jug Marker", ( an individual who orchestrates robberies) to "cleanup" an unsuccessful botched casino robbery involving Federal money which will explode within a short time. Although Jack was not a part of the robbery, he needs to find both the surviving gunman in the robbery and the missing Federal money. One of Marcus' rivals, Harry, also seeks the money, and is trying to locate Jack, whose life is constantly endangered by Harry's violent henchmen. The reader is led into the (fictional?) "behind the scenes" working of high-level armed robbery. This is a sterling debut crime thriller, replete with on-the-edge storytelling. The author graduated from Reed College in 2011. This novel will be published in 16 languages. His web site is www.rogerhobbs.com
The Orphan Master by Jean Zimmerman. Penguin Group : 2012. Blandine Van Couvering is concerned about the disappearance of orphans in the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam. Blandine, a successful young trader, is an orphan who grew up under the care of Aet Visser, the orphan master. There is a rumor that orphan children have been abducted by a cannibal demon, the witika. Blandine is an atheist, a feminist, and very suspicious about the disappearance of the orphans. Englishman Edward Drummond is secretly in New Amsterdam to report the whereabouts of the regicides of the English King, Charles I. He becomes attracted to Blandine, and together they attempt to solve the disappearance and murders of the missing orphans. Their lives become increasingly endangered during this time of the looming English invasion. New Amsterdam is a thrilling historical setting for this chilling crime novel. Highly recommended to the general mystery readership. The author's non-fiction books are Love, Fiercely: A Gilden Age Romance, and The Women of the House: How a Colonial She-Merchant built a Mansion, A Fortune, and a Dynasty. Her web site is jeanzimmerman.com
The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith.Henry Holt and Company New York: 2012. The Inquisitor, a.k.a "Geiger," is a professional torturer who is contracted by governmental and "commercial" clients. He uses a sober, rational approach with his victims, who he never kills- although their post-interrogation state is not his concern. A new "commercial" case involving a stolen artwork, goes awry. The interrogatee victim is a kidnapped child, which is against the Inquisitor's modus operandi. Geiger's life becomes endangered and he eventually must hide from his "competitors" who contracted him for the case. This is a creepy, sinuous, and chilling debut. Suspense readers will be awed by the intense complexity of this novel, including Geiger's psychological undercurrents. The author has worked for many years in the movies and TV as a screenwriter, investigative producer, and on documentary films.
The Third Rail by Michael Harvey. Random House New York: 2010. Two women are shot by a sniper in Chicago Transit train incidents. On the same day, a church is targeted by a chemical attack. Private investigator Michael Kelly, a former cop, is present at the scene of one of the murders. Kelly investigates the case with a hardened tenacity, aided by the Chicago Police and an assistant. The FBI is also monitoring the case, overshadowing his investigation. Kelly's leads bring him on sinuous chase, an ex-cop looming as a possible suspect. The murders open a Pandora's box hinting towards another related crime. This book is a masterful page turner, and the tense unraveling of the crimes keep the reader constantly questioning about potential perps. The author has written The Chicago Way and The Fifth Floor. He is also a documentary producer and a journalist, winning multiple Emmy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and an Academy Award Nomination. His web site is www.michaelharveybooks.com
Crime Stories by Ferdinand Von Schirach. Alfred A. Knopf New York:2011. Translated by Carol Brown Janeway. A fascinating array of contemporary German crime stories. The author, a criminal defense lawyer, spins a motley web of characters into his unsettling tales: immigrants, prominent citizens, and ordinary middle class criminals set the stage for a piercing psychological voyage into the lives of the accused. Former clients of the author, include Gunter Schabowski, the former East German spy Norbert Juretzko, and underworld figures.
The Inner Circle by Mari Jungstedt. Translation from Swedish by Tina Nunnally. St. Martin's Minotaur, New York: 2008. An international group of young archaeology students excavate a thousand year old Viking harbor on the historic island of Gotland, Sweden. One of the students is brutally murdered in a ritual fashion. The bodyless heads of recently slaughtered dead horses are also discovered on the island. Inspector Anders Knutas investigates the possible link between the dead horses and the murder. He painstakingly uncovers clues pointing to a serial killer. This is a riveting, dark mystery, cast against the tempo of Scandinavian life on the island. The author has worked as a radio and television journalist. This is her third Inspector Anders mystery set on the island of Gotland.
Unspoken by Mari Jungstedt. Translated from Swedish by Tiina Nunnally. St. Martin's Minotaur New York: 2007. An alcoholic, ex-newspaper photographer has been found murdered shortly after winning a grand prize at the racetrack. Foul play is suspected by his former drinking companions. A parallel story emerges of a young teenage girl who lives with her alcoholic mother and works at a local racing stable. The two threads are brought together as Detective Anders Knutas tries to pin a suspect for the murder. A thrilling denouement ensues in which an unsuspected perp is finally brought to light. The author has worked as a radio and television journalist. This is her second book in the Detective Anders series based in Gotland, an island off the coast of Sweden.
The Good Thief's Guide To Amsterdam by Chris Ewan. St. Martin's Minotaur New York: 2008. Charlie Howard is a novelist who writes a suspense series about a burglar named Faulks. To supplement his income, Charlie surreptitiously takes on the same line of work as his fictional alter ego. During a visit to Amsterdam, he is mysteriously approached by an American about stealing two important monkey figurines which match the one the prospective client already owns. After stealing the two figurines, Charlie finds himself investigated by the Amsterdam Police for the murder of the American. Other thieves are also searching for the three monkey figurines: a dangerous situation ensues, and Charlie must elude both the police and the thieves on his tail while attempting to solve the mystery of the American's now missing figurine. The story wraps up by the novel's main characters revealing the perp. The author won the Long Barn First Novel Competition in the UK.
Go With Me by Castle Freeman Jr. Steerforth Press Hanover, N.H.:2008. Lillian, an outspoken outsider in a small Vermont town, is harassed by a local criminal, Blackway. She seeks recourse with the Sheriff, who can't arrest Blackway without evidence, and instead advises her to find help at the local town mill. Two mill workers, Nate the Great, a laconic strongman, and Lester, a retired logger, join Lillian to confront Blackway. A slow building story climaxes into a hair raising conclusion. The author is the award-winning author of two previous novels, a story collection, and a collection of essays. He is a regular essayist for The Old Farmer's Alamanc
The Grift by Debra Ginsberg. Shaye Areheart Books( Random House), New York: 2008. As a young girl, Marina discovers that she has the "gift"- the ability to read fortunes. Despite her upbringing by a scheming, drug addicted mother, who uses her as a source of income, Marina continues her craft as an adult in her native Florida. She decides to leave Florida and establishes a following in California, where her moneyed clients include a trophy wife of a jewelry magnate and a gay man involved with a wealthy closeted psychiatrist. Marina has a growing number of clients and becomes romantically involved with a man linked to her past. Her powers of the "gift" continue to expand as she can now visualize clearly into the future. Marina eventually becomes a suspect in a crime which she foresees. The novel runs at a furious pace towards the resolution of the crime and her renewed life perspective. The author has written a novel Blind Submission, and three memoirs: Waiting, Raising Blaze,>\> and About My Sisters.
The Risk of Infidelity Index by Christopher G. Moore. Grove Atlantic Press New York: 2008. Vincent Calvino is a disbarred New York attorney now living in Bangkok and working as a private investigator. He is hired by a well connected American lawyer for surveillance of a drug piracy operation. Calvino's client unexpectedly dies of a heart attack- leaving him unpaid and desperate for work. Three expat wives- whose husbands work for the same law firm as Calvino's late client- hire him to investigate their husband's infidelities in Bangkok- a city rife with prostitution. This new investigation brings Calvino closer to the truth surrounding the drug piracy operation- and to the heart of a major crime operation. Calvino shows his true colors: a tough, resilient PI, unwavering in the face of danger. This is the the ninth novel in the Vincent Calvino series and the English debut. The novel captures the mystique of Bangkok as seen through the eyes of a street wise ex-New Yorker and seasoned investigator. The author was the Winner of 2004 German Critics Award for International Crime Fiction (Deutsche Krimi Preis) and Winner of the 2007 Premier Special Director Award Semana Negra (Spain) for Stunde Null in Phnom Penh (Zero Hour in Phnom Penh. The author's website is CGMoore.com.
The Prone Gunman by Jean Patrick Manchette. Translated from the French by James Brook. City Lights Books , San Francisco: 2002. Originally published in 1981 by Editions Gallimard for La Position du Tireur Couché A French Noir tale about a young professional assassin who tries to "come in from the cold". Martin Terrier finds that the bosses of his "company" don't want him to retire. He encounters many violent attempts on his life as he goes into hiding, and the novel settles into a bizarre undetected denouement. The author, who died in 1995, restored the French Noir genre from the stodgy police procedural style. Mr. Manchette was also a Jazz saxaphonist, political activist, and screen writer. Three to Kill is also published by City Lights Books Noir.
The Silence of the Rain by Luiz Alfredo Garcia Roza. Henry Holt and Company, New York:2002. Translated by Henry Moser. An introverted, bookish cop, Inspector Espinosa, investigates the murder of a rich executive in Rio De Janiero. The murder weapon is not found, and the possible suspects do not have clear motives for killing the victim. Eventually, there are other murders related to the original crime and the life of the Inspector is endangered. At a whirlwind pace, Inspector Espinosa tries to solve the case and apprehend the elusive murderer. The Brazilian setting, enhanced by a solitary cop whose main hobby is collecting books, makes an enjoyable read. The author is a distinguished academic and best selling novelist who lives in Rio De Janiero. Henry Holt and Company will publish the other books in his crime trilogy, Lost and Found and Southwesterly Winds.
Jamaica Blue by Don Bruns. St. Martin's Minotaur, New York: 2002. Derrick Lyman, the leader of a Jamaican Reggae and Hip-hop group, Derrick Lyman and The Laments, is hailed as the new Bob Marley. A veteran rock journalist, Mick Sever, is invited by the group's manager to write about their rising fame and emergence as superstars. However, two women have been found murdered after their concerts. This arouses curiosity in Sever, who begins to ask questions about the murders. The trail leads to another murder after the band's appearance in Florida, and a dangerous investigation by the rock journalist-sleuth ensues. This is a solid debut by Mr. Bruns, who intricately weaves suspense within the backdrop of a music superstar culture. The author is a musician, songwriter, and advertising executive. Visit the Mr.Brun's website at don-bruns.com.
Blood Trail by Gary J. Cook. Dennis McMillan Publications Tucson, Arizona:2006. Ben Tails was raised by his grandfather in West Montana, and served as a Marine sniper in Vietnam. His ties to Asia bring Mr. Slide, Ben's nom de guerre in Vietnam, to Japan where he works for a clandestine organization, Raven. Ex-Marines from his Vietnam days are also involved in this venture in which the lines of special interests are murkily drawn. Ben narrowly escapes death after an attempted takeover of Raven ensues, and is forced to leave Japan. He returns to Montana, where he must confront both his violent past and a new attempt to overtake Raven. This is a powerfully intense high-action novel, with vivid imagery: West Montana country, the Vietnam war, and contemporary Japan. The author is a Montana native, a Marine combat veteran, and a former Sheriff's deputy in Western Montana. His previous novel is Graveyard Rules.
The Wheat Field by Steve Thayer. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York: 2002. A small town Wisconsin Deputy investigates the horrendous murder of a local married couple who is found murdered by shotgun blasts in a local wheat field. As the former World War II Army sniper begins to close in on the case, he finds that both the Sheriff and powerful townspeople turn against him. Relentlessly pursuing all possible leads, he discovers that the murders are related to a much more significant motive: national politics. Swift and sinuous, this novel heats up to a cliff-hanging climax. Mr. Thayer is the author of The Weatherman, a New York Times bestseller. Read an excerpt.
Echo Park by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown, and Company, New York: 2006. Detective Harry Bosch works in the Open Unsolved Unit of the LAPD. A call from the DA reveals that a convicted murderer has confessed to one of the unit's unsolved crimes dating back 13 years. A group of police, including Bosch, is led by the suspect to the alleged burial site of the victim. A surprising turn of events occurs, and consequently, the identity of the murderer remains uncertain. This is the latest novel in the Harry Bosch series, and a masterful work of suspense fiction. Be sure to visit the author's website at www.michaelconnelly.com.
The Closers by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown, and Company, New York: 2005. Detective Harry Bosch has returned to the LAPD to work on "cold" cases. A recent DNA match has linked a suspect to a gun used in an unsolved murder dating from 1988. Bosch relentlessly pursues leads and rallies against resistance from within the police force to solve this case. This spellbinder is the latest thriller by Mr. Connelly, a former journalist and the author of the Harry Bosch novels, as well as Chasing the Dime, Void Moon, Blood Work, and The Poet. He is a recipient of The Edgar Award and has received awards for his novels. His website is michaelconnelly.com.
Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown and Company: 2002. The latest novel by the author of The Poet, and City Of Bones. A scientist is about to patent his cutting edge battery pack which will play an invaluable role in the future of body diagnostics. In the midst of this, he has separated from his girlfriend and moved into a new apartment. He finds that his new telephone number was formerly the telephone number of a female escort. Tired of receiving her messages, he tries to locate her. Playing the role of an amateur sleuth, he investigates her disappearance and becomes entangled with sex trade criminals. The plot becomes exceptionally intricate as the scientist himself becomes a suspect in her possible murder. This is the author's best novel- a departure from the Harry Bosch series and even more intense than The Poet. For more information about Michael Connelly, visit his website: michaelconnelly.com
City of Bones by Michael Connelly. Little Brown and Company: 2002. A dog uncovers a bone in the hills of L.A. which leads to the discovery of a buried body of a boy who had disappeared twenty years previously. A detailed investigation of the murder by L.A.P.D. Detective Harry Bosch reveals the victim's skate board as the main key to solving the crime. A list of only a few possible suspects evolves, resulting in a crime which is threatened to remain unsolved due to time constraints and a lower priority assigned to the case. Bosch's dogged persistence solves the case in this latest page turner by the former journalist and noted author. Although not as riveting and sinuous as The Poet, this is an excellent read.
The Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips. Ballantine Books, New York: 2000. A noir novel set in contemporary Kansas. Charlie, a successful lawyer, is bidding goodbye to Wichita on Christmas Eve. We learn that he is leaving with a half a million dollars, money skimmed from shady business operations. Charlie pays his last visit to a strip club, where he witnesses a ruthless beating; his ex wife's home where he is greeted by an eerie silent disapproval: throughout the night he encounters bizarre characters who dwell in an alcoholic netherworld. "Ice Harvest" generates a persistent air of surrealism- right to the unexpected ironic denouement. This is the first novel by the author.
Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker. Hyperion, New York: 2001. A young Deputy, Joe Trona, witnesses the murder of his father Will, as they attempt to rescue a kidnapped girl. Joe is a polite, taciturn, and gifted detective, who slowly pieces together a murder which has links to a Televangelist, a Vietnamese gang, and the county highway department. Suspense driven and tightly wound, this is my favorite novel by the author of Red Light, and The Blue Hour.
Red Light by T. Jefferson Parker. Hyperion, New York: 2000. Another outstanding offering in the Merci Rayborn series. Detective Rayborn, a tough female investigator for the L.A.P.D. and daughter of a retired cop, is assigned to close an unsolved murder case of a prostitute in 1969. Recently, a L.A call-girl has been murdered and her assailant unknown. Merci senses a connection betweeen the two cases, which leads to an unravelling of dirty secrets kept by senior members of the police force. Detective Rayborn is relentless, tough, and pursues this investigation despite the consequences within the L.A.P.D. The author is a master of intense fast-moving dialog, and a plot line which turns unexpectedly before the reader.
The Bomber by Liza Marklund. Translated from Swedish by Kajsa Von Hofsten. New York : Pocket Books, c2001. The novel is set in contemporary Sweden. An explosion occurs at the site of the Olympic Games and the director of the Olympics, Christina Furhage is killed. The newly appointed crime editor for a leading Swedish newspaper, Annika Bengtzon investigates the crime. It is nearly Christmas, and the tensions are high after a second bombing occurs, killing a workman at the site. Annika undercovers the details of Christina's life, and no credible motives are brought to light. As the investigation unravels, Annika's life is endangered and an unsuspected murderer emerges.The novel develops to a high-pitched climax as Annika seeks to avoid the fate of the other two victims. This is the first novel by the print and television journalist and is an international best seller.
4 Phase Man by Richard Steinberg. Doubleday, New York: 2000. Only a few select individuals have been chosen as a"4 Phase Man" and trained by the U.S government in high level covert activity. One of these individuals, "Xenos", who was raised Jewish in New York City, is living in Corsica and sponsors an orphanage for children injured in wars. He is asked by a prominent member of the Corsican"brotherhood" to investigate the disappearance of a nephew. Reluctantly, Xenos travels to New York and discovers an international plot to infiltrate and overpower the U.S. government. This conspiracy is directed by one of his former colleagues- another 4 Phase Man. Violent, cunning, and almost superhuman, Xenos fights a treacherous battle with his equal. A novel of high suspense and action by the author of The Gemini Man.