Articles tagged "agatha christie"
Thriller Thursday (12/15/16 Edition)
Three new adventures in continuing mystery series are our #ThrillerThursday picks:
THE REEK OF RED HERRINGS by Catriona McPherson
Perfect for fans of PG Wodehouse, Dorothy L Sayers, and Agatha Christie, this next book in the Dandy Gilver series is set in a seaside fishing town. “This is a grand mystery, full of fishy motives, events that don’t pass the smell test, and, of course, plenty of metaphorical red herrings, all leading to a well-thought-out and clever ending.” — Booklist
BURIED IN THE COUNTRY by Carola Dunn
Intrigue and murder invade a quiet Cornish village when it becomes the unexpected site of a secret Commonwealth conference. “The rewards of this entertaining cozy include characters with depth, an interesting bit of history, and an exciting chase through the moors.” — Publishers Weekly readmoreremove
Thriller Thursday (9/15/16 Edition)
Historical mysteries, a spy thriller, and a tropical debut get our #ThrillerThursday stamp of approval:
THE SECRETS OF WISHTIDE by Kate Saunders
A September 2016 LibraryReads pick with two starred reviews! “Combining the strengths of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin, Laetitia Rodd towers over both of these genteel sleuths in wit, tact, and ingenuity. The book is a sheer delight, with its deliciously intricate puzzle and well-drawn characters whom readers are sure to continue to enjoy in volumes to come.”
— Booklist, starred review
BLACK WATER by Louise Doughty
From the author of APPLE TREE YARD comes a masterful espionage thriller “in the tradition of Graham Greene and John le Carré.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). “Doughty takes a page from John le Carré, crafting a riveting, psychological, morally ambiguous tale. Harper’s backstory is richly detailed, and his budding relationship with Rita is convincing. Finally, the role of mercenaries in world affairs adds a new perspective to the spy novel genre.” — Library Journal, starred review
SUN, SAND, MURDER by John Keyse-Walker
Winner of the Minotaur Books/MWA First Crime Novel Award! Teddy Creque’s life turns upside down when a tourist is murdered on his peaceful, remote tropical island, Anegada. “Spectacular as a Caribbean sunset, Keyse-Walker’s debut is a well-paced puzzler no one should miss.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review readmoreremove
Oh My (Mystery) Stars!
The *stars* are piling up for these six outstanding mysteries:
BECAUSE I’M WATCHING by Christina Dodd — THREE STARS!
“Dodd continues her flawless pivoting from romance to suspense with the third book in her riveting series set in the small Washington town of Virtue Falls. Scary, sexy, and smartly written, BECAUSE I’M WATCHING is Dodd at the top of her game.”
— Booklist, starred review
“Two emotionally damaged characters find hope, self-forgiveness, and love in this exquisitely crafted, modern version of Gaslight that hooks readers and keeps them mesmerized until the end. A chilling and gripping tale, beautifully done. ” — Library Journal, starred review
“Romantic suspense favorite Dodd heads back to Virtue Falls for another smart, dramatic mystery that will keep readers flipping pages until the very end, with unexpected twists, psychological tension, and emotional depth. Another Virtue Falls winner.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
THE WHITE MIRROR by Elsa Hart — THREE STARS!
“Hart seamlessly melds the complex politics of 18th-century Asia with a superior fair-play plot in her second whodunit featuring Chinese librarian Li Du. The isolated and eerie manor setting is reminiscent of a classic golden age puzzle mystery, and Hart populates it with well-rounded characters.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Fans of the first book who wished to know more about the enigmatic Li Du will be well rewarded here. Readers who appreciate historical mysteries, especially the classic ‘Judge Dee’ series by Robert van Gulik, will be enthralled by this fascinating mystery.” — Library Journal, starred review
“Hart is a gifted storyteller… Her writing is intensely detailed, and vivid images range from the bells and bright red plumes of the caravan donkeys to the demon-inspired ornamentation of a mountaintop monastery. Highly recommended for fans of Robert Van Gulik’s venerated Judge Dee stories, and readers lamenting the conclusion of Laura Joh Rowland’s Sano Ichiro series.” — Booklist, starred review
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by B.A. Paris
An August 2016 LibraryReads & Indie Next pick! “Debut-novelist Paris adroitly toggles between the recent past and the present in building the suspense of Grace’s increasingly unbearable situation, as time becomes critical and her possible solutions narrow. This is one readers won’t be able to put down.” — Booklist, starred review
“Making her smash debut, Paris switches chapters between the present and the recent past, taking us along on Grace’s journey and keeping the suspense level high. In the same vein as GONE GIRL or GIRL ON THE TRAIN, this is a can’t-put-down psychological thriller.” — Library Journal, starred review
THE DRY by Jane Harper
A Library Journal “Summer Promise — Debut Novels” pick! “A stunner… It’s a small-town, big-secrets page-turner with a shocker of an ending… Recommend this one to fans of James Lee Burke and Robert Crais, who mix elements of ‘bromance’ into their hard-boiled tales.” — Booklist, starred review
“From the ominous opening paragraphs, all the more chilling for their matter-of-factness, Harper, a journalist who writes for Melbourne’s Herald Sun, spins a suspenseful tale of sound and fury as riveting as it is horrific.” — Publishers Weekly, boxed & starred review
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Thriller Thursday (7/21/16 Edition)
Check out these two funny new mysteries with starred reviews:
THE BAKER STREET JURORS by Michael Robertson
Two starred reviews! “Agatha Christie fans will revel in Robertson’s fifth novel featuring London solicitor Nigel Heath. This is Robertson’s best work yet, a classic fair play whodunit leavened with humor.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
THE BRANSON BEAUTY by Claire Booth
In Booth’s taut, witty debut, Branson, MO’s new sheriff has finally rescued all 100 passengers on a sinking showboat when he discovers a young woman’s body locked in the dining room. “Touches of sly humor add appeal to Booth’s standout debut… [which] promises to be [the start of] a most engaging regional police series.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
What are you reading this #ThrillerThursday? Share your picks with us @MacmillanLib.
For Your Consideration: September 2016 LibraryReads Titles
Download, read, and nominate your favorite titles for the September 2016* LibraryReads list!
*Nominations are due July 20! Click here for the full list of 2016 deadlines.
HERE I AM by Jonathan Safran Foer
THREE starred reviews! Foer’s “intensely imagined and richly rewarding”* new novel focuses on the unraveling of a Jewish-American family in Washington DC over a 4-week span, during which time an earthquake sets off a Pan-Israel invasion. “Foer fuses these complex strands with his never-wavering hand. That he can provide such a redemptive denouement, at once poignant, inspirational, and compassionate, is the mark of a thrillingly gifted writer.” — *Publishers Weekly, starred review
Download the e-galley from Edelweiss
DAISY IN CHAINS by Sharon Bolton
The new standalone novel from the LibraryReads author of LITTLE BLACK LIES!
A criminal defense attorney with a reputation for getting the wrongly convicted exonerated is drawn into the machinations of a serial killer who claims innocence. “Bolton has created a page-turner of a story with a surprise ending.” — Elizabeth Kanouse, Denville Public Library, Denville, NJ on LITTLE BLACK LIES
To request a print ARC, please email library@macmillanusa.com with the subject “Daisy in Chains” and include your library’s mailing address.*
CHILDREN OF THE NEW WORLD by Alexander Weinstein
This debut collection of speculative short fiction for our tech-savvy era is an ABA Summer/Fall 2016 Indies Introduce selection. “[Weinstein’s] stories look like SF but read like literary fiction. Calling all fans of Margaret Atwood and Emily St. John Mandel.” — Library Journal, pre-pub alert
Download the e-galley from Edelweiss
THE SECRETS OF WISHTIDE by Kate Saunders
“Combining the strengths of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin, Laetitia Rodd towers over both of these genteel sleuths in wit, tact, and ingenuity. The book is a sheer delight, with its deliciously intricate puzzle and well-drawn characters whom readers are sure to continue to enjoy in volumes to come.” — Booklist, starred review
Available on NetGalley. To be pre-approved for an e-galley, please email library@macmillanusa.com with the subject “Secrets of Wishtide.”*
KAROLINA’S TWINS by Ronald H. Balson
A saga inspired by true events of a Holocaust survivor’s quest to fulfill a promise, return to Poland and find two sisters lost during World War II. “Readers who crave more books like Balsam’s ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS and Kristin Hannah’s best-selling THE NIGHTINGALE will be enthralled by KAROLINA’S TWINS.”
— Booklist, starred review
Download the e-galley from Edelweiss
THE WHITE MIRROR by Elsa Hart
“Hart seamlessly melds the complex politics of 18th-century Asia with a superior fair-play plot in her second whodunit featuring Chinese librarian Li Du.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Hart, in a twist on the classic British county manor mystery, adds her characteristic elegantly crafted atmosphere and keen eye for character and writes with an ease and an assurance that makes it feel like this is her twenty-second book, not just her second.” — Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Public Library, Overland Park KS
To request a print ARC, please email library@macmillanusa.com with the subject “White Mirror” and include your library’s mailing address.*
MAD ENCHANTMENT: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies by Ross King
A BEA 2016 “Shout ‘n Share” pick with THREE starred reviews! “Best-selling King consummately meshes biography with art history as he turns the creation of one resounding masterpiece into a portal onto the artist’s life. Never before has the full drama and significance of Monet’s magnificent Water Lilies been conveyed with such knowledge and perception, empathy and wonder.” — Booklist, starred review
Available on NetGalley. To be pre-approved for an e-galley, please email library@macmillanusa.com with the subject “Mad Enchantment.”*
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2016 Macavity Award Nominees
Happy #ThrillerThursday, lovely librarians! First, some awards news: we have 6 nominees for the 2016 Macavity Awards!
Best Mystery
LITTLE BLACK LIES by Sharon Bolton
Best First Mystery
THE UNQUIET DEAD by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Best Critical/Biographical
A IS FOR ARSENIC: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup
THE LOST DETECTIVE: Becoming Dashiell Hammett by Nathan Ward
Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award
THE MASQUE OF A MURDERER by Susanna Calkins
TOM & LUCKY (and George & Cokey Flo) by C. Joseph Greaves
Now for some new mysteries hitting shelves this month:
WIDOWMAKER by Paul Doiron
A June 2016 LibraryReads pick! In this riveting new novel from Edgar finalist Doiron, Game Warden Mike Bowditch is on the trail of a ruthless vigilante amid the snow-covered mountains of Maine. “The suspense is strong and the action is well rendered. WIDOWMAKER will go down well with armchair outdoorsfolk, especially fans of C. J. Box and Craig Johnson.” — Booklist
PRESSURE by Brian Keane
A free diver is called in to investigate a seismological event in the Indian Ocean when events take a deadly turn and she and her crew must fight the monsters in the depths and those ashore. “Don’t just suggest to horror readers—although Keene does include a few fun insider references for genre fans. This is a perfect beach read for fans of Michael Crichton, Mira Grant, or Preston and Child—if you dare to take this book anywhere near an open body of water.” — Booklist, starred review readmoreremove
Minotaur Stars Roundup
We’re seeing *stars* for these four excellent mysteries:
A GREAT RECKONING by Louise Penny (FOUR STARS)
“The lyrical 12th entry in bestseller Penny’s remarkable series, which has won multiple Agatha awards, finds former Chief Insp. Armand Gamache coming out of retirement to clean up the corrupt Süreté Academy du Québec. This complex novel deals with universal themes of compassion, weakness in the face of temptation, forgiveness, and the danger of falling into despair and cynicism over apparently insurmountable evils.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Once again Penny displays her remarkable ability to serve equally well both series devotees and new readers (if there are any of those still to be found). Gamache fans will be thrilled by the way this installment unlocks some of the series’ enduring mysteries… At the same time, the main plot offers a compelling mystery and a rich human drama in which no character is either entirely good or evil, and each is capable of inspiring empathy.” — Booklist, starred review
“A chilling story that’s also filled with hope—a beloved Penny trademark.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“This riveting read, with characters of incredible depth who only add to the strength of the plot, will keep readers guessing until the last page. For series fans and those who enjoy the small-town mysteries of Julia Spencer-Fleming.” — Library Journal, starred review
THE ONE MAN by Andrew Gross (FOUR STARS)
“Bestseller Gross revisits the horrors of Auschwitz in this harrowing, thematically rich thriller… Alternating between scenes of American hope-against-hope optimism and Nazi brutality, Blum’s deadly odyssey into and out of this 20th-century hell drives toward a compelling celebration of the human will to survive, remember, and overcome.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“This is Gross’ best work yet, with his heart and soul imprinted on every page.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“This is a genre departure for Gross, who was inspired by his Polish father-in-law to write a Holocaust espionage novel. While the Mendl plot is fictitious, the background and many characters are historically based, adding compassion and depth to a story that is as moving as it is gripping. A winner on all fronts.” — Booklist, starred review
“This is a first-rate tale from a real pro who here takes a different direction from his previous work.” — Library Journal, starred review
A New Podcast for History Fans
Did you hear the one about the guy who survived the sinking of the Titanic by drinking whiskey? Or what about the man who survived the atom bombing of Hiroshima, only to take a train to Nagasaki and survive the bombing of that city as well?
In the spirit of storytelling, Quick and Dirty Tips and Picador have teamed up to bring you Unknown History, a new podcast for history buffs and anyone who loves a great, quirky tale. (Our favorite? The Mysterious Disappearance of Agatha Christie.)
The show is hosted by bestselling author and historian Giles Milton, whose newest book, WHEN HITLER TOOK COCAINE AND LENIN LOST HIS BRAIN, is also the basis for the Unknown History podcast.
Since its launch earlier this month, the podcast has already been ranked in the top 50 on iTunes and even reached #3 in the iTunes Education category!
You can listen or subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Quick and Dirty Tips.
Thriller Thursday & Bouchercon 2015 Winners
Happy #ThrillerThursday! We’ve got several starred mysteries out this week, but first a #humblebrag on behalf of our Minotaur Books pals. Last weekend during Bouchercon, INVISIBLE CITY by Julia Dahl was the breakout hit, nabbing a Barry AND Macavity Award!
The Barry Award
Best First Novel: INVISIBLE CITY by Julia Dahl
The Macavity Awards
Best First Mystery Novel: INVISIBLE CITY by Julia Dahl
Sue Feder Historical Memorial Award: A DEADLY MEASURE OF BRIMSTONE by Catriona McPherson
Now on to the books!
THE ADVENTURESS by Tasha Alexander
“This tenth delightful entertainment featuring the Hargreaves detective duo is very acceptable indeed. For fans of Amelia Peabody, of course, but also readers who can’t resist Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey novels, starring the British aristocrat and her delectable husband, the brooding detective Nicholas Brisbane.”
— Booklist
DARK RESERVATIONS by John Fortunato
The newest winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize for best debut mystery set in the Southwest stars Bureau of Indian Affairs Special Agent Joe Evers who must resurrect his failing career to solve a mysterious cold case. “Fortunato spins an intricate tale, overlaying multiple story lines with a galaxy of characters, some of whom have much to hide. Readers who relish mysteries against the backdrop of the Southwest and who are fans of Tony and Anne Hillerman will savor this page-turner.” — Library Journal, starred review
DEATH WEARS A MASK by Ashley Weaver
Amory Ames and her rakish husband Milo, first introduced in MURDER AT THE BRIGHTWELL (an October 2014 LibraryReads pick), take on a murder at a masked ball. “Librarian Weaver, whose series debut was tapped by the RUSA Reading List as the best mystery of 2015, has whipped up a delicious confection of a mystery set in 1930s England. It sparkles with personality and an appealing plot. Devotees of golden age authors such as Agatha Christie as well as contemporary writers such as Rhys Bowen and Barbara Cleverly will settle down in their cozy armchairs for a pleasurable read.” — Library Journal, starred review readmoreremove
Elsa Hart’s Chinese Library Adventure
Two weeks ago, Elsa Hart‘s fabulous debut, JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN, about an 18th-century exiled librarian who must learn the truth about a Jesuit priest’s death, arrived on shelves and is raking in rave reviews!
“In addition to being a satisfying mystery, JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN also powerfully evokes the aesthetics of the time and place it describes. Its visual vistas often resemble centuries-old watercolors…” — The Wall Street Journal
“…perfectly melds history with the mystery genre for a lush look at China on the cusp of change…. one of the year’s most engrossing debuts and establishes Hart as an author to watch.” — Associated Press
“Hart’s sure command of historical complexities, conflicts between cultures, and plot twists leads to a satisfying conclusion.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The mix of history, thriller, and layers of storytelling make for a complex and rewarding novel that deserves a wide readership.” — Library Journal
“Part mystery, part exploration of a culture fading into history’s shadows, Hart’s novel is a fascinating, intelligent debut…. Think Agatha Christie writing Shogun—Hart’s captivating debut has solid cross-genre appeal.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Decorated with a careful attention to detail, this old-fashioned mystery suits its setting in atmosphere and pacing, drawing the reader into an exotic territory. …the first in a series sure to please fans of Laura Joh Rowland’s Sano Ichiro mysteries, set in Japan, and those who enjoyed the magical Malaysian setting of Tan Twan Eng’s Garden of Evening Mists.” — Booklist
How did Elsa Hart get such fabulous detail in her book? Why, research on location, natch! Here’s a piece she wrote about an encounter in the out-of-date foreign language collection of a provincial Chinese library…
I am sitting in my quiet little corner of the library. My chair is in a recess so all anyone can see of me is a dirty blue converse sneaker. I can hear Sherlock Holmes: “But the shoes reveal everything, Watson. Observe the heels, emblazoned ALI STRS, an approximation of the authentic ALL STAR logo. They were obviously purchased in China. They are dirty, which means she has had them for a while, but not long enough to know that the accepted practice is to take shoes to the laundry in order to maintain their clean appearance. The style of the shoes, familiar and therefore comforting, suggests she anticipates homesickness. She is using a library card as a bookmark, which means she has established proof of residence in the city. Clearly she has not been in China long, but intends to stay for some time.” readmoreremove
