Kellye Garrett recommends
Off the Air (2024)Christina Estes"In her exhilarating debut Off the Air, Christina Estes uses her years of experience as a broadcast journalist to make us feel like we're side by side with Phoenix reporter Jolene Garcia as she doggedly investigates the death of a controversial talk show host. Chock full of insider info about TV news, the story is as timely as it is fun. I couldn't stop reading!"Hurt Mountain (2024)Angela Crook"Hurt Mountain is the type of story that grabs you from the first page and will have you reading long past your bedtime. Angela Crook establishes herself as a writer to watch by seamlessly blending a haunting mystery, unforgettable characters, and a plot that goes from slow burn to five-alarm blaze. I already can't wait for her next book." One of the Good Guys (2024)Araminta Hall"Araminta Hall's latest, One of the Good Guys, is both a scintillating thriller and a scorching condemnation of how differently society treats men versus women, especially in the social media age. Cole and Lennie are flawed, complex characters who will stick with you long after you reach its shocking conclusion. Their relationship will make you reexamine your idea of fear, perception, and public opinion." Mother-Daughter Murder Night (2023)Nina Simon"Mother-Daughter Murder Night is the perfect mix of family drama and murder mystery. Nina Simon's debut is a spot-on look at the complicated relationship between parents and their children. I can't wait to spend even more nights with her characters. Simon is a writer to watch." Final Cut (2023)(Hollywood Mystery, book 1)Marjorie McCown"Marjorie McCown's Final Cut is both an insider look at what it's like to work on Hollywood's biggest blockbuster and a surprising, timely mystery about a murder on the set. Readers will love all the name dropping, the glamor, and the colorful cast of characters led by key costumer Joey Jessop. The story is a pop culture lover's dream. I'm already lining up for the sequel." The Revenge List (2023)Hannah Mary McKinnon"Well worth the sleepless night. With The Revenge List, Hannah Mary McKinnon once again proves herself to be a master of the suspense genre." Killing Me (2023)Michelle Gagnon"If Dexter teamed up with Stephanie Plum, the result would be Killing Me. At the story's center is Amber Jamison, whose luck somehow manages to only get worse when surviving one serial killer just puts her in the crosshairs of another. The result is an unforgettable, laugh out loud wild ride with an irresistible cast of characters. Murder has no business being this funny." The Golden Spoon (2023)Jessa Maxwell"The Golden Spoon is as addictive as bingeing your favorite culinary competition and as satisfying as a piece of your favorite cake. It's a complex, layered mystery featuring an unforgettable cast of characters who could be either America's next great baker or its next most famous cold-blooded killer. Jessa Maxwell has crafted a debut that's mouth wateringly good." Time's Undoing (2023)Cheryl A Head"Time's Undoing is time well spent - a heartbreaking dual timeline tale about the murder of a Black man in 1929 Birmingham and his great-granddaughter's dogged attempts to find out what happened 90 years later. Cheryl Head uses her own grandfather's murder at the hands of the local police to craft an unforgettable novel that's a compelling mix of historical family drama, well-plotted mystery, and searing social commentary." The Blue Bar (2023)(Blue Mumbai, book 1)Damyanti Biswas"This Mumbai-set story is simply gripping. It's about a detective who realizes his lover - who went missing over a decade ago wearing a blue sequined dress - might be the victim of a serial killer. I read it in one day." Kismet (2022)Amina Akhtar"Kismet is funny, sharp, twisty, and spot on. Whether she's dealing with toxic relationships or everyday racism, Ronnie Khan is a character that you can't help but root for. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading a novel. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is going to be talking about those ravens." We Lie Here (2022)Rachel Howzell Hall"Rachel Howzell Hall continues to prove why she's one of crime fiction's leading writers. We Lie Here is a psychological-suspense fan's dream with both a heroine you'll want to root for and a story you'll want to keep reading late into the night. A must read!" Acts of Violet (2022)Margarita Montimore"Montimore brilliantly combines first person narrative, podcast transcripts, personal letters, and more to create a story that's impossible to put down. Much like one of Violet's magic tricks, you'll find yourself in awe until the final reveal." In the Dark We Forget (2022)Sandra SG Wong"With In the Dark We Forget, the wonderfully talented Sandra SG Wong gives us everything a book lover could want-brutally honest social commentary, rich cultural details, deft psychological suspense, and often heartbreaking family dynamics. The result is a story that will stay with you long after you get to the last word. I couldn't stop reading." Complicit (2022)Winnie M Li"COMPLICIT is a must read for anyone who's sat in a movie theater, watched an entertainment show, or followed their favorite celebrity on social media. It's a harrowing explanation of how powerful men are able to get away with so much for so long - as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine whose dreams to make movies becomes a nightmare. You'll never look at the film industry the same again." Her Name is Knight (2021)(Nena Knight, book 1)Yasmin Angoe"It’s hard to believe that Her Name Is Knight is Yasmin Angoe’s debut novel. This dual timeline story about a highly trained Miami-based assassin who learns to reclaim her power after having her entire life ripped from her as a teenager in Ghana is equal parts love story, social commentary, and action thriller. Nena Knight will stay with you long after you’ve read the last word, and this is a must-read for fans of Lee Child and S. A. Cosby. I found myself crying in one chapter and cheering in the next. I couldn’t put it down!" The Darkest Flower (2021)(Allison Barton, book 1)Kristin Wright"The Darkest Flower is as much a riveting legal thriller as it is an exploration of modern-day motherhood and privilege. The story shows exactly what happens when the much-feared queen of the PTA gets accused of attempted murder. I couldn’t stop reading." Arsenic and Adobo (2021)(Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery, book 1)Mia P Manansala"A much welcome entry into the culinary cozy genre, packed full of mouth-watering food and jaw-dropping reveals. I can't wait to see what's next for Lila Macapagal and the unforgettable characters of Shady Palms. It's guaranteed to be your next favorite cozy series. Just don't read it on an empty stomach!" The Conductors (2021)(Murder and Magic, book 1)Nicole Glover"With The Conductors, Nicole Glover creates a fascinating world where even magic is segregated. She effortlessly weaves both the constellation-based magical system and the real life struggles of being Black in post–Civil War America. The characters, led by former Underground Railroad conductors Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, are as intriguing as the mystery. It’s hard to believe this is Glover’s first book. I found it as enchanting as one of Hetty's spells." They're Gone (2020)E A Barres"A great, succinct style...expertly capture[s] the grief of unexpectedly using a loved one." For the Best (2020)Vanessa Lillie"In just two books, Vanessa Lillie has already earned a reputation for creating beautifully flawed and complicated characters who won’t let past trauma get in the way of their present—especially when it involves solving a murder. For the Best has all the things I fell in love with in Lillie’s debut: the idyllic Rhode Island setting, the layered character studies, and the unexpected reveals. And all while introducing a new main character still desperate for justice, but this time for herself. Lillie remains a writer to watch!" Derailed (2020)(Kelly Pruett Mystery, book 1)Mary Keliikoa"With Derailed, debut author Mary Keliikoa introduces us to single mom and second generation Portland PI Kelly Pruett on her very first murder investigation. The story is straight from the Kinsey Millhone school of private investigation yet still manages to create a unique and complex main character reeling from the recent death of her father and a demanding ex-husband. Kelly must decide if following her father's wishes by pursuing this case is worth possibly losing her daughter. It's that perfect blend of personal and professional that makes Derailed a welcome addition to the genre. I can't wait to follow both Kelly and Keliikoa's careers." Dead as a Door Knocker (2019)(House-Flipper Mystery, book 1)Diane Kelly"When Nashville property manager Whitney Whitaker attempt to flip her first house and instead finds a dead body, it seems everything goes wrong except for the renovations. With Dead as a Door Knocker, Diane Kelly introduces a heroine who is as good with a hammer as she is with a one-liner. Whitney and her adorable scaredy-cat Sawdust are a welcome addition to your home and bookshelf." Travellin' Shoes (2017)(RJ Franklin Mystery, book 1)V M Burns"Travellin' Shoes introduces the world of RJ Franklin, an Indiana police detective who returns from leave to look into the murder of his church's new choir director. RJ's investigation takes him--and us--into the places that serve as the backbone of the urban community--the churches, the hair salons and, perhaps most importantly, the dinner table of the beloved local church women who know any- and everything. Throughout it all, Burns flawlessly mixes the best elements of both cozy mystery and police procedural before reaching a pitch-perfect crescendo worthy of a Sunday morning gospel choir." Awards
| Agatha Award Best First Book winner (2017) : Hollywood Homicide | | Anthony Awards Best First Novel winner (2018) : Hollywood Homicide | | Barry Awards Best Paperback original nominee (2018) : Hollywood Homicide | | Macavity Awards Best First Novel nominee (2018) : Hollywood Homicide | | Anthony Awards Best Paperback original nominee (2019) : Hollywood Ending |
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