A look at the week’s best new releases.
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Gary Phillips (ed.), South Central Noir
(Akashic)
“South Central Noir, edited by Gary Phillips, is a remarkable anthology of fourteen original tales set in South Central Los Angeles. The stories are vivid, atmospheric, thought-provoking, and entertaining with angry a dud from the first page to the last.”
–Mystery Scene Magazine
Stephen King, Fairy Tale
(Scribner)
“A grand, and naturally strange, entertainment from the ever prolific King…A tale that’s at once familiar and full of odd and unexpected twists—vintage King, in other words.”
–Kirkus Reviews
Craig Johnson, To Hell and Back
(Viking)
“. . . those happy to bend crime fiction in the direction of horror will find a smorgasbord of supernatural delights.”
–Booklist
Deanna Raybourn, Killers of a Certain Age
(Berkley)
“The writing is witty and original, and the plot is unpredictable…Raybourn vividly evokes a number of far-flung locations while keeping readers on their toes trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. A unique examination of womanhood as well as a compelling, complex mystery.”
–Kirkus Reviews
Ryan Steck, Fields of Fire
(Tyndale)
“A former Marine investigates the death of his adoptive father in Steck’s strong debut. . . . The suave yet vulnerable lead and propulsive narrative will keep readers hooked. This is an auspicious start for Steck. ”
–Publishers Weekly
Jonathan Ames, The Wheel of Doll
(Mulholland)
“Hard-boiled PI fiction set in the present doesn’t get much better than Ames’s gritty and moving second novel featuring L.A. gumshoe Happy Doll (after 2021’s A Man Named Doll). . . The Raymond Chandler–esque plot is enhanced by superior prose.”
–Publishers Weekly
Daniel Stashower, American Demon
(Minotaur)
“This account is a gripping true-crime thriller that paints a picture of Ness that’s significantly different from the version we’ve seen in The Untouchables…True-crime fans will want this one on their TBR lists.”
–Booklist
Barbie Latza Nadeau, The Godmother
(Penguin)
“In this engrossing account, Nadeau (Roadmap to Hell: Sex, Drugs and Guns on the Mafia Coast) combines diligent research, hours of personal interviews, and vivid prose to immerse the reader in the world of Italian Mafia women… This look at the “feminine” side of the Mafia is a must for true crime fans.”
–Publishers Weekly
Andy Kroll, A Death on W Street
(PublicAffairs)
“Thoroughgoing, riveting narrative…An exemplary investigation, exactly as the author describes it: ‘a true-crime story for the post-truth era.’”
–Kirkus Reviews
Charles Spicer, Coffee with Hitler
(Pegasus)
“The escalation of Nazi violence, Edward VIII’s unexpected abdication, an unprepared Britain, and a government ignoring the danger signs of war all make for a heady brew and an exciting read. Will be easy for history lovers to enjoy.”
–Library Journal
