by Matt Lubbers-Moore
As we say goodbye to Halloween, and skip Thanksgiving decorations and go right for Christmas, it seems insane how fast the year has passed. I feel as if I only just finished the Summer Reading Program at my local library and now I’m figuring out programming for the Winter Reading Program! I also bought a house, moved, and renovated a room for my gay mystery library. I also started teaching at a local community college, and I am still working part-time as a reference librarian.
I have also been writing this article, co-writing another, and have been asked to co-write a standalone article. I am also busy updating my bibliography which I had hoped to publish in February of 2024 but may not get around to until February of 2025 if I’m lucky.
Therefore, I am stepping away from this column in March of 2025, so if anyone is interested in writing a monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly article please let me or Lorie know of your interest.
Upcoming Queer Mysteries for November 2024!!
A Fatal Autumnal Stew by Dahlia Donovan
Out November 7, 2024, Hot Tree Publishing
Life for gender-fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass has never been better. Her cosy village bookshop is thriving as is their new relationship with witch and taco bus owner, Teresa Vega. Autumn is in full magical tilt in their corner of the Scottish Highlands. Everything is beautifully perfect right up until a tainted meal ends with Hyde sick and someone dead. The police immediately suspect the restaurant owners. Hyde and Teresa find themselves drawn into yet another investigation, trying to save their friends from arrest and themselves from a murderer. The situation becomes even more complex when family feuds become tangled in the midst.
Bless Our Sleep by Neil S. Plakcy
Out November 12, 2024
In the sultry heat of 1968 Miami, private investigator George Clay finds himself entangled in a web of murder, smuggling, and forbidden desire. Fresh out of the Navy with an honorable discharge and a taste for adventure, George sets up shop on Miami Beach, where the glittering facade of Art Deco hotels hides a thriving underground gay scene. When wealthy banker Will Broadwater hires George to find a missing signet ring, the PI stumbles upon the battered body of a teenage boy known as “Worm” in Matheson Hammock Park. As George digs deeper, he uncovers a tangled network of privileged teens, Cuban exiles, and shadowy figures with dangerous secrets to protect.
The Lost Boy by S. F. Williams
Out November 12, 2024, Intrigue Press
Hoping to escape the memories of his mother’s brutal murder, Callum “Cal” Nowak fled his hometown in the Catskill Mountains when he aged out of foster care at 18, and landed in New York City, where he became a police officer. Fourteen years later, placed on administrative leave for roughing up a suspect, Cal returns home because his former foster mom broke her wrist and needs help. Soon after his arrival, the husband of his high school girlfriend dies in his arms from a gunshot wound, and he must figure out who pulled the trigger before she gets convicted of a crime she didn’t commit.
Fatal Foul Play by David S. Pederson
Out November 12, 2024, Bold Strokes Books
This closed circle mystery is the first contemporary title and standalone from Pederson. Closed circle mysteries are about a group of individuals in a closed location like an island or snowed-in house that is inaccessible from the outside world. Milo, Mark, and six other men vacation in northern Arizona where they get stranded by a blizzard. At first, they worry about how to keep themselves entertained but when one is murdered they need to figure out who did it before they themselves are killed.
Secrets of a Prodigy by Lynn Wood
Out November 14, 2024, Fall Into a Story Books
Run! The single warning was communicated through a stranger in a hoodie carrying the backpack he thrust into her arms before he disappeared down the busy street. The same stranger who knew the code word between her and her mom so Maddie would know he was legit, seeing as Maddie had no way of reaching her parents for confirmation. She’d neither seen nor heard from them since they handed her a new set of aliases along with false ids and a ticket across the country to New York City when she was 16 and told her she was on her own. Maddie turned the single sheet of paper her mother’s note was written on over in her hand, looking for any clues as to her parents’ whereabouts.
Between the Lines by Zachary Steele
Out November 19, 2024, Steele Design Studio
In the quaint town of Havenwood, where mystery meets history, 17-year-old Ethan Morris is about to discover that his new home sits at the crossroads of infinite realities. As summer unfolds, the veil between worlds grows thin, and Havenwood’s secrets begin to unravel. Ethan, a reluctant newcomer with a hidden ability to traverse realities, finds himself caught between two worlds – the ordinary life of a teenager and the extraordinary role of a Realmwalker. With the help of Jamie, a talented musician whose melodies can bridge dimensions, Ethan must learn to harness his newfound powers and uncover the truth about his family’s enigmatic past.
Under the Cold Moon by C. Jean Downer
Out November 19, 2024, Bella Books
PI Sloane West understands every murder begins with a lie, and in the village of Denwick on Vancouver Island, the lies people tell are deadly. Under the cold moon a horrific killing occurs and a boy disappears. The RCMP believe the child committed the crime, but in Old Denwick things are not always what they seem. A battle has begun. An ancient Demon and an Order of evil Magicals threaten everything and everyone Sloane loves. To find the boy alive and protect the West coven, she’ll need her keen investigative skills and a few new spells.
Wretched Young Things by Saga Hillbom
Out November 25, 2024
When Oxford freshmen Jules and Geoffrey meet in 1947, their worlds instantly collide. Charismatic but reserved, Geoffrey has been raised with everything he could wish for except kindness. Jules meanwhile is impulsive and blunt, defiant of the elitism that surrounds him. What the boys share is a passion for literature, a contempt for convention, and a growing infatuation with each other. Tasked with maintaining century-old family connections, Geoffrey joins the unscrupulous Clarendon Club. The club’s members will do anything to protect their own privilege—even wreck innocent lives—and Geoffrey must align with their values or expose his parents to financial ruin.
Other Releases:
Back in the Rain by Elen Chase out November 4, 2024
Absolute Devotion by N. Slater out November 7, 2024
Terror by J. Hali Steele out November 8, 2024
Carillon’s Caliber by Sionnach Wintergreen out November 11, 2024
Readjustment by B. H. Lynn out November 15, 2024
They were 11! by Moto Hagio out November 19, 2024
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.
Click on this link to take you to Mysterious Galaxy’s website where you can purchase many of these books & a portion will go to help support KRL:
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
0 Comments