Top 10 Tuesday: Mysteries that need a little love
A new Tuesday, a new prompt for Top 10 Tuesday. This week the prompt is a genre freebie - explore or share 10 books about a specific genre in any way you want. I'm going to share ten mysteries/thrillers (my go-to genre) that I think didn't get enough online attention and maybe you haven't read them yet.
Thanks to Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting another week of Top Ten Tuesday. I enjoy participating each week for a couple reasons. I'm a compulsive list maker and love a good list. And, I love a connection with other readers as I wander their book blogs. Here are ten mystery/thrillers that need a little more love.
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
An Edgar award winner, and the first in a series, the protagonist is a black cop in Texas and in addition to solving difficult crimes has to deal with racism in many guises. A flawed but likeable, sympathetic character is a great linchpin for the stories.
Celine by Peter Heller
A lighter mystery involving a missing person, the focus of this book is the charming, determined Celine - a 60 something wealthy woman who has dedicated her life to finding 'lost' people. She's one feisty heroine and I liked reading about an older protagonist. (I've mentioned it before and will likely say it again, The River by Heller is an outstanding adventure/thriller)
Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay
A popular author in the thriller genre, this book was a random find and well worth the read. Most of his books are standalones and are very readable.
The Never-Open Desert Diner by James Anderson
My sister recommended this one and it is a surprise. It's a quiet book with good characters and several small mysteries that revolve around a truck driver with a route through remote Utah who finds a damsel in distress.
Slow Motion Riot by Peter Blauner
An Edgar award winner for a debut mystery, this gritty story is about an idealistic probation officer who comes in contact with a sociopath who drags him into the worst of humanity.
Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh
Though this is part of a series, it is easily a standalone - and a really good one. A strong example of a good legal thriller where we're wondering if the killer is actually on the jury. And, the lawyer, Flynn, isn't above pulling a trick or two himself. Excellent read.
Booked to Die #1 by John Dunning
An award winning book, it's the first of a series where rare book collector Cliff Janeway seems to find himself always in the midst of a mystery. I liked learning about rare book collecting and the characters and mystery is great.
Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman
I've read 5 or 6 of his books and have found them good psychological thrillers. This is his best (of what I've read) - it's a great unreliable narrator story as a reclusive author sees a little boy in a snowstorm, brings him in and finds that he's afraid for his life. She works to help save him. Deliciously twisty.
Nathan's Run by John Gilstrap
This thriller by an award winning author is quasi-YA. It's about a young boy who kills a guard when escaping from juvie. He calls in to a radio talk show to tell his side of the story. Tense, suspenseful, and gripping all the way through. Sometimes a banned book for language.
Breaking Creed #1 by Alex Kava
The first in a good series about a ex-soldier who starts a K-9 search team to help with his PTSD. The dog training and relationships are part of what sets this series apart - plus Creed is a pretty cool character.
Did you find some new-to-you authors in my suggestions? Some are pretty hard core thrillers and several are quite mild - something for everyone.
I think this will be another week that will cause my TBR to grow (and grow). I can't wait to see what other genres are covered. Here's to all of us reading lots of good books in 2023.
