Alex Segura recommends
Escape Velocity (2024)Victor Manibo"A high-stakes sci-fi mystery--Foundation if it were written by Agatha Christie--Escape Velocity is an energetic and unforgettable page-turner, deftly honoring the genres it blends together while feeling vibrant and strikingly relevant. Perfect for fans of noir and thoughtful speculative fiction."Forgotten Sisters (2024)Cynthia Pelayo"Forgotten Sisters is a mesmerizing novel that showcases Pelayo's sharp characterization - which pairs perfectly with a memorable setting and two unforgettable characters. The end result is a potent dose of psychological suspense that sits with you in unique and unsettling ways. This is the best kind of novel - vastly entertaining, unique, and impossible to shake. Pelayo's strongest work to date, which is saying a lot." Big Time (2024)Ben H Winters"Ben Winters is a genre alchemist - the kind of writer who blends and weaves the preconceived ideas of story to create something wholly new and riveting, and Big Time is no exception. A brilliant thriller that also dances between the raindrops of reality and time itself, Winters continues to keep readers on their toes, in the best way possible. I'm so glad this book exists." Almost Surely Dead (2024)Amina Akhtar"I didn't think Amina Akhtar could get better, but she has-crafting a wholly unique and mesmerizing novel that is impossible to categorize or forget. Part thriller, part family saga, part supernatural horror, Almost Surely Dead will surprise you in the best way possible and leave you thinking about this magnificent book for a long time after you're done. A powerhouse." Who to Believe (2024)Edwin Hill"Edwin Hill navigates the dark corners and complicated relationships of a small, seaside town with precision and panache." The Lost Van Gogh (2024)Jonathan Santlofer"The Lost Van Goghis a can't miss novel of unforgettable suspense. Santlofer masterfully blends his art world expertise with a game of obsessions, razor-sharp characterization and thrilling prose to create a novel unlike any other--a riveting mystery that explores the weight of family and high-stakes art theft." Here in the Dark (2023)Alexis Soloski"A moody, taut dose of noir, Here in the Dark is a poised, daring debut-the kind of novel I relish and can't get out of my head, evoking the work of icons like Megan Abbott and Margaret Millar in its hypnotic prose and mesmerizing characters. Readers will not forget Vivian Parry-and they won't want to." Vampires of El Norte (2023)Isabel Cañas"A hypnotic, genre-bending supernatural historical novel that grabs you from the opening sentence. Haunting and pulsing with emotion, Canas's writing crafts a world where monsters are real - but they might not be the kind you're thinking of. A one-of-a-kind novel that only she could write." Things Get Ugly (2023)Joe R Lansdale"A potent blend of stories from one of the all-time greats, Things Get Ugly is the kind of collection you never want to end--as it shows the versatility and command of the craft only a legend like Lansdale can execute. There's a reason Lansdale is among the greatest, and this book showcases his knack for shady characters, rural noir, and an innate ability to get to the heart of what drives us all. A can't-miss book." Black Vault (2023)Alma Katsu"A potent, enthralling mix of high-level espionage and the winding darkness of conspiracy thrillers like The Parallax View and The X-Files, Black Vault pulls you in like quicksand - deceptively at first, but once you notice, it's far too late to move away. Alma Katsu is an unforgettable talent." Thicker Than Water (2023)Megan Collins"Thicker Than Water is a haunting, ethereal, and mesmerizing domestic suspense novel that confirms Megan Collins' place as one of the sharpest, most entertaining writers in crime fiction. THICKER THAN WATER creates a potent blend of powerful, kinetic plot and thoughtfully crafted characters, resulting in a story about the seemingly unbreakable bonds we take for granted unraveling in front of our very eyes. I loved this book." The Hunt (2023)Kelly J Ford"Kelly J. Ford is a modern master of the rural noir - dragging the elements of a classic tale and reshaping it with a tone and viewpoint that is undoubtedly modern and alive. The Hunt is loaded with tension and razor-sharp plotting but also lets readers engulf themselves in the all-too-human characters Ford is so adept at creating. A small-town suspense novel that evokes tales like Megan Abbott's The Fever and Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects with Ford's trademark voice. A winner." The Good Ones (2023)Polly Stewart"The Good Ones by Polly Stewart is a riveting debut crime novel that's loaded with elements that readers will love - powerful characters, a fraught homecoming, and twists galore." The Truth Against the World (2023)David Corbett"A sharply written thriller that gives readers a peek at a future that doesn't seem all that far from reality, The Truth Against the World comes pre-baked with plot twists, suspense, and compelling characters. Corbett has outdone himself." The Last Songbird (2023)(Pacific Coast Highway Mystery, book 1)Daniel Weizmann"The Last Songbird is my favorite kind of neo-noir - blending the bright lights of celebrity and fame with the primal urges and darkness that come with any good noir novel. Weizmann is a confident, polished storyteller who honors his influences while weaving his amateur detective through a complex mystery that will keep you turning the pages until you've reached the haunting finale. A sharp, memorable debut." Play the Fool (2023)Lina Chern"A sharp, unique, and memorable debut, Play the Fool is unlike any mystery I've read before - and that's a good thing! Lina Chern's voice shines brightly, and readers will be immediately drawn into Katie True's twisty and gripping investigation. It's a fantastic read." Even When You Lie (2023)Michelle Cruz"Even When You Lie is the kind of debut that completely ensnares you--with a potent mix of romance, noir-laced twists, and the deadly side of the Dallas underworld combining to craft an unforgettable crime novel. Hats off to Michelle Cruz. Remember that name." Time's Undoing (2023)Cheryl A Head"Powerful, timely, emotional and loaded with intensity, Cheryl Head's Time's Undoing uses fiction to do what novels do best - shine a light on society while telling a page-turning story. In Meghan McKenzie, Head has created a fully-realized protagonist who guides readers through a haunting tale that is based on true events. Urgent, riveting, and heartfelt - I was immersed from page one." Luda (2022)Grant Morrison"Grant Morrison is a modern mythmaker--a once-in-a-lifetime storyteller who has crafted some of the most evocative sagas of our generation. With Luda, Morrison has created a mesmerizing, evocative, and unforgettable journey that still manages to be grounded and character driven. Luda discards the trappings of genre boundaries to concoct something wholly new and truly phenomenal." We Lie Here (2022)Rachel Howzell Hall"Loaded with surprises and shocking secrets, and propelled by Rachel Howzell Hall's magnificent prose, We Lie Here is a captivating thriller that I couldn't put down. It's very clear to me that Hall is one of the best crime writers working today, and she keeps getting better. We Lie Here is a can't-miss book." Things We Do in the Dark (2022)Jennifer Hillier"Jennifer Hillier writes the kind of propulsive, no-holds-barred crime fiction that keeps you up at night, with a style and verve that is unmatched. Things We Do in the Dark is a timely, engrossing thriller that will keep you turning the pages until dawn's light starts to creep through your bedroom window. Hillier is a master." In the Dark We Forget (2022)Sandra SG Wong"In The Dark We Forget is a pulse-pounding and memorable thriller that explores the intricacies of family, memory, and identity. Wong has put together a captivating story that will resonate with readers for a long, long time." Complicit (2022)Winnie M Li"Harrowing, powerful, and impossible to forget, COMPLICIT is a novel very much immersed in today's issues and complexities, while also managing to be strikingly intimate and charged with emotion. Winnie M Li explores the dark corners of entrenched power dynamics to shed a light on society as a whole, and she does it masterfully and with precision. A magnificent book." The Murder of Mr. Wickham (2022)(Mr Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery, book 1)Claudia Gray"Claudia Gray's The Murder of Mr. Wickham is a charming, sharp, and engrossing mystery that evokes the meta wonder of League of Extraordinary Gentleman with the evocative depth of the Jane Austen library--delivered in a voice and tone that is modern and mesmerizing. Gray has crafted a book that one won't easily forget." One-Shot Harry (2022)(Harry Ingram Mystery, book 1)Gary Phillips"Few books are able to capture the essence and vibe of classic hardboiled fiction and still manage to make the prose feel modern and of-the-moment. Gary Phillips does just that with One-Shot Harry and the memorable titular protagonist, Harry Ingram. This book is a swift uppercut of gritty storytelling that will keep you hungrily turning the pages, loaded with moments that will linger in your mind long after you've finished reading." Don't Know Tough (2022)Eli Cranor"I loved this book. Cranor blends noir and football masterfully, with the deft touch of Megan Abbott and the hardboiled punch of Ace Atkins. This is the sports crime novel I've been desperate to read, and I'm now unable to shake from my mind. Eli Cranor's debut crackles with voice and power. Don't miss this one." Her Name is Knight (2021)(Nena Knight, book 1)Yasmin Angoe"Her Name Is Knight is a roundhouse kick of a novel—intense, evocative, and loaded with character and international intrigue. Nena Knight is a protagonist for the ages and one readers will not soon forget. Her Name Is Knight isn’t just thrills and action, either—the book lingers with you long after you’ve finished. More, please." A Fire in the Night (2021)Christopher Swann"A rural noir that's loaded with surprises, Christopher Swann's A FIRE IN THE NIGHT blends the moral grays of the best espionage stories with a taut, relentless mystery steeped in setting. Character-driven and memorable, A FIRE IN THE NIGHT is Swann's best yet." A Man Named Doll (2021)(Happy Doll, book 1)Jonathan Ames"A MAN NAMED DOLL infuses the private eye concept with an unpredictable, vibrant energy, while losing none of the genre’s core, noir elements. Ames is a master of blending humor, pathos, and grit - and A MAN NAMED DOLL is no exception. A truly modern L.A. noir that still manages to feel timeless and steeped in the classics that came before." Girl, 11 (2021)Amy Suiter Clarke"GIRL, 11 is a powerful, engaging debut from Amy Suiter Clarke—and gives readers a memorable, genuine protagonist in Elle Castillo. Clarke crafts a tale of obsession, dark histories, and one woman’s quest to bring a terrifying killer to justice, GIRL, 11 is delivered with poise, style, and cunning - making it impossible to put down." Lightseekers (2021)(Philip Taiwo, book 1)Femi Kayode"The best crime fiction transports and enlightens while also entertaining— and Lightseekers, a compulsive and illuminating debut, does that and more. This is a novel that honors and inverts the tried and true tropes of the amateur PI with a contemporary flair that feels assured and innovative. The only thing I didn’t like about this book is that it had to end." They're Gone (2020)E A Barres"They're Gone is a powerful, gritty mystery that firmly establishes E.A. Barres as a voice to be reckoned with in the genre. Barres deftly weaves two very different stories together to create one compulsively readable and defiantly of-the-moment whodunit that lingers with you long after you’ve read the last page." The Lady Upstairs (2020)Halley Sutton"Halley Sutton's The Lady Upstairs is a haunting, unforgettable debut that sizzles with menace and charm. This dark noir is loaded with mesmerizing characterization and a taut, always-moving plot that left me thirsty for more. Packed with well-crafted twists and a hypnotic voice, Sutton evokes the work of authors like Alafair Burke and Megan Abbott while adding her own unique verve and fire. I loved this book." For the Best (2020)Vanessa Lillie"Lillie’s sophomore novel, For the Best, builds on an already impressive debut with a book that crafts a haunting, evocative mystery—starring a complicated and flawed protagonist in Jules. Lillie’s prose is taut and mesmerizing, and that ending knocked me for a loop. Don’t sleep on this book or Vanessa Lillie—a true rising star in crime fiction." Hurry Home (2020)Roz Nay"A chilling, sharply-written and hard-to-put-down book that explores the true weight of our past mistakes and secrets and the primal connection of sisterhood. A propulsive and can't-miss novel that will have you speeding through until you reach its jaw-dropping conclusion. This one will be sticking with me for a while." Blacktop Wasteland (2020)S A Cosby"This book shook me in the best way possible. Cosby’s gritty, powerhouse novel evokes some of the modern masters - Mosley, Pelecanos, and Lehane - with a tone and vibe that is wholly unique. Epic but also grounded and painfully relevant, Blacktop Wasteland is a crime novel for today, and Shawn Cosby is a writer we’ll be hearing from for quite some time. I loved this book." Derailed (2020)(Kelly Pruett Mystery, book 1)Mary Keliikoa"Mary Keliikoa's debut novel is an important addition to the PI genre - strong with voice, a compelling protagonist in Kelly Pruett, and unforgettable family secrets. DERAILED was hard to put down - and I can't wait to read the next book in this crackling new series." Deception Cove (2019)(Winslow and Burke, book 1)Owen Laukkanen"Owen Laukkanen is a powerhouse writer... Intimate and cinematic at the same time. A must-read." The Pandora Room (2019)(Ben Walker, book 2)Christopher Golden"A haunting look at what happens when a legendary myth crashes into our stark reality, Christopher Golden’s THE PANDORA ROOM has it all ? a chilling premise, taut pacing and a compelling protagonist in the complex and heroic Sophie Durand. A globe-trotting supernatural thriller that also feels deeply personal at the same time, Golden’s sharp and powerful prose will keep readers glued to this book. You’re in for a wild ride." Blessed Are the Dead (2014)(Gabriella Giovanni Mystery, book 1)Kristi Belcamino"Gabriella Giovanni ... has the makings of a character fans will be following for years to come ... A must-read." Books containing stories by Alex Segura
More books Awards
| Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2019) : Blackout | | Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2020) : Miami Midnight |
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