by Matt Lubbers-Moore
The biggest complaint I get when people tell me they read this article is that their TBR (to be read) piles grow or their bookstore purchases are getting too expensive. I know my book dealer loves it when I write this article because she instantly gets an email with all my newest needs. Not wants. NEEDS!!
As the holidays are coming soon, I highly recommend using this list for gifts for your friends, family, or yourself! After all, we all need some escape from the real world right about now and nothing says escapism like a mystery! Mysteries are the greatest of the genres as they provide an intellectual puzzle, criminals get punished, and the heroes are celebrated. It is also a wide genre including cozies that I love to read on nice wintery nights, thrillers that are perfect when snuggled in bed, hardboiled detective stories with your hard-assed take no shit noir perfect for when the real world begins to get you down and you want to see some bad guys shot (spy novels are great for this too).
No matter the mystery genre you love we all need to take care of our mental health and what better way than to escape into a good book. Here are some great suggestions!
The Long Past of Billy McQueen by Neil Alexander
Out Dec. 1, 2024, Embla Books
It’s been over 30 years since Billy last called Northern Ireland home. Back then, his secret love for schoolfriend Conor was the only shining light that kept him going during troubled times. That is, until their romance was tragically cut short when Conor disappeared without a trace. Now a phone call draws Billy back home when his mother falls into a coma. While sorting through old belongings, he stumbles upon an envelope bearing his name. Inside, he finds a mysterious note and a mixtape left by Conor – dated the very day he disappeared in 1989. But who sent it? Why did his mother keep it hidden? And what really happened to Conor?
Speak EZ by Elee E. Ire
Out Dec. 3, 2024, Bywater Books
On New Year’s Eve, in 1923, someone walked into Michelle “Mickey” McFadden’s queer speakeasy hidden beneath the Big City Little Theater and shot her and her dog, EZ, dead. Or . . . sort of, mostly, kind of dead, maybe? Because instead of crossing over, they become trapped within the bar’s cinderblock walls. And though EZ eventually manages to wriggle his way free, Mickey remains, her spirit frozen in time. In 2022, employees of the Big City Little Theater begin encountering a stray dog sneaking in and around the premises. When Ciara, the theater’s bookkeeper, saves the dog from being hit by a truck, she begins to suspect there’s something odd about the mysterious canine and makes it her mission to catch him and either return him to his owners or keep him as her own.
I Might be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman
Out Dec. 3, 2024, Grand Central Publishing
A few years ago, David Alvarez had it all: a six-figure book deal, a loving boyfriend, and an exciting writing career. His debut novel was a resounding success, which made the publication of his second book—a total flop—all the more devastating. Now, David is single, lonely, and desperately trying to come up with the next great idea for his third manuscript, one that will redeem him in the eyes of readers, reviewers, the entire publishing world…and maybe even his ex-boyfriend. But good ideas are hard to come by, and the mounting pressure of a near-empty bank account isn’t helping. When David connects with a sexy stranger on a dating app, he figures a wild night out in New York City may be just what he needs to find inspiration. Lucky for him, his date turns out to be handsome, confident, and wealthy, not to mention the perfect distraction from yet another evening staring at a blank screen. After one of the best nights of his life, David wakes up hungover but giddy—only to find prince charming dead next to him in bed. Horrified, completely confused, and suddenly faced with the implausible-but-somehow-plausible idea that he may have actually killed his date, David calls the only person he can trust in a moment of crisis: his literary agent, Stacey.
The Rivals by Jane Pek
Out Dec. 3, 2024, Vintage
Claudia Lin—mystery novel superfan and, until recently, clichéd underemployed English major—has scored her dream job: co-running Veracity, a dating detective agency for chronically online New Yorkers who want to know if their prospective partners are telling the truth. Unfortunately, along the way, she and her colleagues—tech savant Squirrel, and the elegant and intimidating Becks—have uncovered a far-reaching AI conspiracy. And the corporate matchmakers may be resorting to murder to protect their secrets. In the wake of a client’s sudden death, Claudia convinces her ex, an industry insider, to turn on his employer and feed the verifiers information about what the powerful dating platforms are really up to. But even as Claudia starts to get a feel for this new genre—just call her Lin, Claudia Lin—she’s distracted by the possibility of romance with both Becks and a very charming target.
Waterlogged by Nance Sparks
Out Dec. 10, 2024, Bold Strokes Books
After 19 years as a conservation warden on some of the busiest lakes in Southern Wisconsin, Jordan Pearce is ready for a change of pace in the quiet of the Northwoods on the same lake she used to vacation on with her family. Her wish is granted when a colleague quits without notice. Everything seems to be falling into place. Hanna Quinn returns to the Northwoods to help care for her aunt Dottie after a cancer diagnosis. Both her aunts have been her saving grace and now it’s her turn to be their strength. There’s plenty to keep her busy, and the new conservation warden is a welcome distraction from her overflowing plate. Odd occurrences put the community on edge, and the serenity of the Northwoods is rocked when a body is discovered floating in the flowage. Jordan pushes the limits of her authority to keep Hanna and her new town safe, but the truth isn’t always as it seems.
Again with Feeling by Gregory Ashe
Out Dec. 16, 2024, Hodgkin & Blount
When Dashiell Dawson Dane receives a phone call from his nemesis Vivienne Carver (okay, one of his nemeses), he’s caught off guard—to say the least—by her request: help solve the murder of her brother, who disappeared almost 30 years ago. His gut tells him to say no. But with Bobby preparing to move out of Hemlock House, Dash sees the perfect opportunity for them to spend more time together, whether Bobby likes it or not.
The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler
Out Dec. 24, 2024, Kensington
Chicago, 1898. Rough-around-the-edges Harriet Morrow has long been drawn to the idea of whizzing around the city on her bicycle as a professional detective, solving crimes for a living without having to take a husband. Just 21 with a younger brother to support, she seizes the chance when the prestigious Prescott Agency hires her as its first woman operative. The move sparks controversy—with skeptical male colleagues, a high-strung office secretary, and her boss, Mr. Theodore Prescott, all waiting for her to unravel under the pressure . . . Only an hour into the job, Harriet has an assignment: Discover the whereabouts of a missing maid from one of the most extravagant mansions on Prairie Avenue. Owner Pearl Bartlett has a reputation for sending operatives on wild goose chases around her grand estate, but Harriet believes the stunningly beautiful Agnes Wozniak has indeed vanished under mysterious circumstances—possibly a victim of kidnapping, possibly a victim of something worse . . .
The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap
Out Dec. 24, 2024, Kensington
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1828. Naïve but determined James Willoughby has abandoned his posh, sheltered life at Oxford to pursue a lifelong dream of studying surgery in Edinburgh. A shining beacon of medical discovery in the age of New Enlightenment, the city’s university offers everything James desires—except the chance to work on a human cadaver. For that, he needs to join one of the private schools in Surgeon’s Square, at a cost he cannot afford. In desperation, he strikes a deal with Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon, a dashing young dissectionist with an artist’s eye for anatomy and a reckless passion for knowledge. Nye promises to help him gain the surgical experience he craves—but it doesn’t take long for James to realize he’s made a devil’s bargain . . . Nye is a body snatcher. And James has unwittingly become his accomplice. Intoxicated by Nye and his noble mission, James rapidly descends into the underground ranks of the Resurrectionists—the body snatchers infamous for stealing fresh corpses from churchyards to be used as anatomical specimens. Before he knows it, James is caught up in a life-or-death scheme as rival gangs of snatchers compete in a morbid race for power and prestige.
Other Releases:
Love and Death by Laura Jordan out Dec. 1
The Cobbler and His Elves by C. B. Wren out Dec. 1
What’s Your Name by Miss May out Dec. 6
Hugo Duchamp Investigates: Hotel Beaupain by GN Hetherington out Dec. 6
Twisted Shadows by Allie Therin out Dec. 10
Unspoken by N. N. Britt out Dec. 12
Sold to the Shadows by Monica Corwin out Dec. 13
Wretched Young Things by Saga Hillbom out Dec. 15
Edge of Control by M. Walker out Dec. 17
The Little Shop of Curiosities : Cursed Object by Vawn Cassidy out Dec. 20
The Badger in His Burrow by KM Avery out Dec. 21
The Kelpie Crush by Alexa Piper out Dec. 30
Ghouls out for Summer by Latrexa Nova out Dec. 31
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.
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