thriller

‘Storm Warning’ by Alice Henderson is a magnificent combination of thrills and conservation

/ Pamela Kramer

Alice Henderson’s thrilling and fascinating series about Alex Carter, a wildlife biologist whose past adventures have taken her to study jaguars, wolverines, polar bears, and caribou, now takes her to Hawai’i. In “Storm Warning,” Alex has been asked to monitor a beach where hawksbill turtles are laying their eggs. The timing is perfect as she was just coming off of another job and had the time. Also, returning to the island where she lived with her parents for a while brings back fond memories.

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‘Bloodlust’ by Sandra Brown is a sexy thriller

/ Pamela Kramer

In Sandra Brown’s new novel “Bloodlust,” the action is set in the same Louisiana town as her previous novel with “blood” in the title, “Blood Moon.” And while the main characters from “Blood Moon” appear in this novel, it’s not a sequel. The similarities, though, are hard to ignore. In the new novel, it’s Detective Mitch Haskell who sits stage center, with therapist Dylan Reede taking an important, but secondary, role. The main characters from “Blood Moon” are supporting characters, and it definitely helps to have read “Blood Moon” first, but this is certainly a stand alone novel as well.

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‘The Hospital at the End of the World’ by Justin C. Key feels something like the end of our world as we know it

/ Pamela Kramer

“The Hospital at the End of the World” is as much a warning to the world as it is a medical/mystery novel. Justin C. Key implies (or sometimes says boldly and unequivocally) that Artificial Intelligence presents a potential danger to humanity that we ignore at our own very real peril. Though the book deals specifically with the effects of a future AI on our medical systems and beliefs, we can see all too clearly the frightening effects that the technology poses for all of us.

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‘I Came Back for You’ by Kate White; a mother’s love and a serial killer

/ Pamela Kramer

Kate White’s newest thriller, “I Came Back for You,” is truly an edge-of-your-seat mystery because she keeps the lid on tight over the killing that is at the center of the story. Bree Winter lives in Uruguay with her partner Sebastian on a chacra, an idyllic farm, nestled near the ocean. But in spite of her happiness with Sebastian, she’s kept a part of her past life hidden. She’s never completely shared what happened when her daughter was murdered during her junior year of college. Now, information surfaces that perhaps the serial killer whom they thought had killed Melanie didn’t do it.

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‘First Sign of Danger’ by Kelley Armstrong is the second to last novel in the Haven’s Rock series

/ Pamela Kramer

One of the big draws of Kelley Armstrong’s two mystery series that take place in the frigid Yukon is the setting. Both her Rockton series and the current Haven’s Rock series are set in small settlements that were created as sanctuaries for those desperate to hide from their “normal” lives for a few years. Some of those fleeing to safety in the Yukon include financial victims, those who testified against cartels and can’t be kept safe, and those fleeing abusive spouses.

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‘It’s Not Her’ by Mary Kubica is truly a novel that keeps you guessing

/ Pamela Kramer

In the very first chapter of “It’s Not Her,” Mary Kubica describes in detail a violent double murder. One of the main characters and narrators, Courtney, witnesses the brutal slaying of her best friend Emily and Emily’s husband, Courtney’s brother. The other main character is Courtney’s niece, Reese. Cleverly, while both narratives are in first person, Courtney narrates what is happening in the now, while Reese’s narrative explains the events of the preceding week.

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‘What Boys Learn’ by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a stunning psychological thriller

/ Pamela Kramer

Nature versus nurture. Genes versus upbringing. What forces form a child into the adult he or she becomes? In “What Boys Learn,” author Andromeda Romano-Lax delves forces us to consider that dilemma as we meet Abby Rosso, a counselor whose childhood was really rough. Her only sibling is a brother who is a psychopath and ended up in prison. But Abby also has done things she’s ashamed of.

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The “Book of Wonder”–and Murder; The Essential Elements of Gilly Macmillan’s Murder Mystery, “The Burning Library”

/ Pamela Kramer

Author Gilly Macmillan’s brilliant and unique murder/mystery novel, “The Burning Library,” takes us on a most unusual voyage, as first two, then three distinct forces search for an ancient manuscript titled “The Book of Wonder.” Whoever finds it first will have almost immediate access to millions of dollars because that manuscript offers the rare and potentially profitable opportunity to see how a few women centuries ago tried to overcome the alleged superiority of the male of the human species and prove that women were and are equal to or superior to men.

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‘Dogged Pursuit’ by David Rosenfelt – back in time to the beginning

/ Pamela Kramer

David Rosenfelt’s 31st (!) entry in the Andy Carpenter Mystery series is “Dogged Pursuit.” But this one is significantly different from the earlier entries in one important way: it’s a prequel featuring Andy as a rookie in the defense attorney business. He’s approaching thirty years of age and has decided that it’s time to help those who are essentially victims of the system. He wants to give the wrongly accused a real chance in court. And though he’s relatively young, and all his previous work has been on the prosecution side, he has an inner confidence that whispers, “Help people. You can do it.”

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‘We Are All Guilty Here’ by Karin Slaughter is the first in an exciting new series

/ Pamela Kramer

With “We Are All Guilty Here,” acclaimed author Karin Slaughter kicks off a new series set in rural Georgia and featuring Emmy Clifton, a deputy sheriff. There’s something very satisfying about reading the first book in a new series by a favorite author. The first book in a series provides important background information about the characters and their relationships and their backstories. Subsequent mysteries will, of course, fill in enough details so that future stories make sense on their own, but I believe having read the very first novel provides special insight.

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‘The Devil in Oxford; a Ruby Vaughn Mystery’ by Jess Armstrong

/ Pamela Kramer

This is the third novel in the Ruby Vaughn Mystery series, and as is suggested by the title, “A Devil in Oxford,” the setting is Oxford, England, in the days before Christmas, 1922. While the main character, Ruby Vaughn is an American, she spent time in France during WWI and now lives in Exeter with the charming octogenarian Mr. Owen; Mrs. Penrose, their clever and admirable housekeeper; and a black cat. In each novel Ruby travels to a different location where she stumbles on a murder that she is compelled to solve.

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‘The Black Wolf’ by Louise Penny is a thrilling ending to “The Grey Wolf”

/ Pamela Kramer

While most of Louise Penny’s fabulous Inspector Gamache books can be read as stand-alone novels, “The Black Wolf” is certainly the second half of her last book, “The Grey Wolf.” Unlike the other books in the series, that one ended with the clear idea that the ultimate problem was not solved, that there was another issue Gamache and his colleagues (who are also friends and family) must deal with.

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