Eleven Fascinating and Engrossing Mysteries and Thrillers that Offer Exciting Entertainment
In the approaching colder months, the appeal of light-hearted thrillers and mysteries increases. Here are twelve entertaining prospects scheduled for release during this and the next year:
Deanna Raybourn, "Killers of a Certain Age" (Berkley)
This series debut offers an intriguing premise: women of a certain age may be overlooked by society, but their invisibility can sometimes be their greatest asset. In "Killers of a Certain Age", four trained assassins are preparing for their retirement after four decades of eliminating dangerous individuals in an elegant manner. However, their employers have planned a more permanent end to their careers, forcing the women to go rogue and confront their former employers to uncover the reasons behind their selection as targets. The lively dialogue and action-packed sequences will keep readers engaged throughout the night.
Elle Cosimano, Finlay Donovan Series (Minotaur)
In this series, a struggling writer and single mother accidentally becomes a hitwoman after a café patron overhears one of her plot descriptions. Crime and humor intertwine effectively as Cosimano's heroine, alongside her snarky criminal assistant, embark on a series of adventures that are guaranteed to provide a delightful reading experience.
Mur Lafferty, "Station Eternity" (Ace)
Imagine the protagonist of "Murder, She Wrote" self-isolating on a space station due to her tendency to have people die around her. That's the premise of "Station Eternity," in which a young woman, sought by the police for her peculiar knack for solving murder mysteries, flees to a space station and finds herself embroiled in another mystery.
Zarqa Nawaz, "Jameela Green Ruins Everything" (Harper)
Zarqa Nawaz, known for her heartwarming and hilarious sitcom "Little Mosque on the Prairie," branches out into fiction writing with "Jameela Green Ruins Everything." In this novel, a woman's prayer for a book deal leads her into a conflict with the CIA.
Michelle Gagnon, "Killing Me" (Putnam, March 2023)
In Gagnon's upcoming thriller, a woman rescued from a serial killer by a mysterious female vigilante must navigate her new identity while simultaneously evading the authorities as a person of interest and a con artist. The story takes unexpected twists as the vigilante returns with an agenda.
Kirstin Chen, "Counterfeit" (William Morrow)
"Counterfeit" is a fun, engaging read about a woman who, despite a privileged life, finds herself drawn into the world of counterfeit handbags. The allure of financial independence, offered by her old college roommate's scheme, eventually proves too tempting to pass up.
Richard Osman, "The Bullet That Missed" (Pamela Dorman/Viking Books)
The third installment in the popular Thursday Murder Club series is set to be released soon. Titled "The Bullet That Missed," this book takes the club members on a compelling adventure full of spies, mysterious assignments, television personalities, and, of course, several dead bodies. Fans of the series should not miss this entertaining new addition.
Amina Akhtar, "Kismet" (Thomas & Mercer)
Amina Akhtar, the author of the cult classic "#FashionVictim," returns with "Kismet," a thriller set in Sedona that skewers the wellness industry and includes a light supernatural touch. In the story, a young desi woman follows her life coach from New York to Sedona, befriends a group of ravens, and solves several murders along the way.
Janice Hallett, "The Twyford Code" (Atria, Jan 2023)
In her second novel, Janice Hallett continues to create intricate puzzle mysteries with engaging formats. "The Twyford Code" is told entirely through a series of transcribed voice memos recovered from a mysterious smartphone, detailing the narrator's search for meaning in an intricately annotated children's book.
Sean Adams, "The Thing in the Snow" (William Morrow, Jan 2023)
"The Thing in the Snow" is an unusual yet captivating tale set at a remote arctic research facility. The mystery of the "thing" in the snow keeps the small group of workers on edge as they try to unravel its motives.
Rachel Koller Croft, "Stone Cold Fox" (Berkley, Feb 2023)
"Stone Cold Fox" is a social climber novel featuring an antiheroine who will stop at nothing to secure luxury and stability. With a narcissistic mother in the picture, the story promises to be an engaging modern take on "Vanity Fair."
Jesse Q. Sutanto, "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" (Berkley, March 2023)
Vera Wong, a lonely and bored tea shop owner, suddenly finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation when she discovers a dead body in her shop and takes a crucial clue for herself before the police can arrive. This novel is a captivating read, especially for those who enjoy stories centered around mature women solving crimes.
Some other upbeat or darkly humorous upcoming crime fiction titles have been mentioned in broader coverage but are not directly connected to the authors in the Austin Noir article:
- Karin Slaughter, "We Are All Guilty Here" (William Morrow) - Summer 2025 (not necessarily light-hearted)
- Samantha Downing, "Too Old for This" (Berkley) - Summer 2025 (featuring an elderly, crotchety killer, could be considered darkly humorous)
- Morgan Richter, "The Understudy" (Knopf) - Summer 2025 (thoughtful page-turner, not strictly light-hearted but engaging)
- Heather McGowan, "Friends of the Museum" (Washington Square Press) - Upcoming (biting yet funny satire)
While these titles are not directly related to the Austin Noir article, they offer additional reading options for those seeking light-hearted thrillers and mysteries during the winter months.
- Among the upcoming books, 'Jameela Green Ruins Everything' by Zarqa Nawaz could be considered a cold case, as the protagonist finds herself embroiled in a conflict with the CIA.
- For readers who enjoy crime mysteries with a touch of humor, 'Too Old for This' by Samantha Downing features an elderly, crotchety killer, offering a darkly humorous take on the genre.
