Cliffhangers and a small town that “rings true” propel this literary crime thriller. In order to ring true, novels set in small towns should capture something of the local citizenry’s provincial mindset, that sense of “us vs.... Read More

What with the damning convolutions of ignorance, disingenuousness, and angst that shadow so much of the discussion of race in the United States, it is heartening when hope glimmers, as it does when Clifton Taulbert unpacks his defensive... Read More

A witty, observant woman makes for a savvy protagonist in this 1940s murder mystery. When Lauren Atwill shows up, a dead body is not too far behind. Sheila York’s "No Broken Hearts" takes the Hollywood script doctor away from her... Read More

Death, resurrection, and change are woven into the narrative of Talkhoon’s personal experiences during her country’s upheaval. Farnoosh Moshiri’s latest novel is set during the 1979 Iranian revolution against its monarchy. "The... Read More

Twists, turns, and drama drive this sci-fi detective novel. Ambit Welder’s captivating novel, The Adventures of Deacon Coombs: The Case of the Vanishing Vesper, combines the future world of science fiction with the mystery of a... Read More

This action-packed thriller features a highly developed cast of characters. Hidden agendas are enmeshed in "Requiem for the Phoenix", Skip Allen’s intelligent political thriller. Matt and Annie Garret, undercover members of the US... Read More

Topouzian balances the fast pace of his novel with familial love and hope for a culture facing cataclysmic loss. The hatred, wars, and loss of life faced by Armenians are not commonly discussed, but in his novel, "A Perfect Armenian",... Read More

With twists and turns, "In Retrospect" has something for fans of both science fiction and mystery. Ellen Larson’s "In Retrospect" is a sophisticated psychological murder mystery set in an almost unrecognizable future Earth. The plot... Read More