Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to read queer voices, and what better way than with a page-turning thriller, an ingenious mystery, an engrossing psychological suspense, or a charming quozy? Queer Crime Writers* has curated a winter-to-spring roundup, showcasing the genre’s vibrant diversity. From historical mysteries to sci-fi thrillers, these books span various subgenres and thrilling locations. In A Lethal Walk in Lakeland, Chase investigates a murder in England’s Lake District, while Waters of Destruction takes Val to stormy Hawaii for an investigation. Blood of Innocents follows NYPD detectives in a high-profile New York City murder case, and Buried Seeds delves into murder and corruption in Los Angeles. In Pride or Die, a high school LGBTQ+ club is framed for murder, while Academy of Unholy Boys explores toxic friendships at a summer camp. Small-town mysteries include Evil All Along, where Dash investigates a hometown murder, and A Long Time Gone, where Deputy Ben Packard reopens a cold case tied to his brother’s disappearance. Other highlights include The Lord’s Gambit, set in Victorian London, and Murder by Memory, which blends sci-fi and mystery aboard an interstellar ship.
*Queer Crime Writers is an organization that advocates for LGBTQIA+ crime fiction authors and creates community for them.
Winter Highlights
A Lethal Walk in Lakeland, by Nicholas George, 1/21
Chase has two compelling reasons for returning to England: a group walk along the famed Coast to Coast trail in the picturesque Lake District, and a chance to deepen his relationship with Mike, the handso
me Devonshire coroner he met on his last trip. But the journey turns rocky thanks to the Uptons—a wealthy family from Texas whose squabbling antics continually overshadow the scenic surroundings. Brock Upton, his pint-sized wife, three siblings, and a family friend each give a different reason for joining the tour, and Chase’s instincts tell him they’re all lying. When one of the Uptons is fatally poisoned, years of secrets and grudges emerge. In the second book of the A Walk Through England Mystery series, only Chase can uncover the killer in their midst before tragedy befalls the tour again.
A Long Time Gone, by Joshua Moehling, 2/4
Decades after his brother disappeared into the cold Minnesota night, Deputy Ben Packard is pulled back into the mystery that has haunted him since childhood. On leave after a shooting and cut off from department resources, he follows a new lead that may finally reveal what happened all those years ago. But when a strange and unexplained death surfaces—one that may be connected to his brother’s disappearance—Packard is drawn even deeper. Set against the stark winter landscape of Sandy Lake, Where the Dead Sleep is the third novel in the Ben Packard series, featuring a complex, deeply human investigator who challenges expectations of both law enforcement and queer identity.
Blood of the Innocents, by Catherine Maiorisi, 2/13
Catherine Maiorisi returns this year with the fifth installment of the Chiara Corelli mystery series. In this gripping police procedural, NYPD detectives Corelli and P.J. Parker investigate the high-profile murder of rising pop star Alessandra Moreau, found dead in the home of New York State Senator Leigh Drayman, a prominent trans woman activist. Moreau, however, harbors a closely guarded secret shared with only three people—the rising star was transgender—just like the senator. What begins as a focused investigation into three suspects expands when thirteen similar murders of trans women emerge, along with two cold cases from decades past. Corelli and Parker must unravel years of deception before another woman becomes the next victim.
March
The Lord’s Gambit, Neil Plakcy, 3/10
The fourth book in the Ormond Yard Romantic series—historical mystery novels that can each be read as a standalone—is set in Victorian London and follows penniless Jewish scholar Israel Kupersmit and gentleman Reed Lydney as they investigate the suspicious death of Reed’s brother-in-law. What appears to be a nobleman’s suicide linked to gambling debts soon reveals itself as part of a far-reaching conspiracy of international espionage. Israel’s gift for mathematics and Reed’s diplomatic connections reveal a web of blackmail and Russian spies at the heart of London society, drawing them into the shadows of the Great Game against Russia. Their shared love of poetry sparks a quiet romance as they peel back layers of deception and uncover treachery at the highest levels of power.
Murder by Memory, by Olivia Waite 3/18
Near the top deck of the interstellar generation ship Fairweather, Dorothy Gentleman wakes up in a body that isn’t hers—just as a murder is discovered. As one of the ship’s detectives, she’s used to untangling complex schemes, but this time, someone is not only killing bodies—they’re erasing minds from the Library. In this sci-fi cozy, Dorothy suspects her brilliant but chaotic nephew Ruthie may be involved, or perhaps the sultry yarn shop owner—ex-girlfriend of the body Dorothy now inhabits—knows more than she lets on. With murder now a permanent possibility aboard the Fairweather, Dorothy must uncover the truth before the killer, who’s had 300 years to prepare, strikes again.
April
Academy of Unholy Boys, by David Fitzpatrick 4/1
In this debut novel, set in the affluent, idyllic shoreline town of Gently, quiet 16-year-old Jay Souther attends Football Summer Camp, where he’s quickly befriended by two seniors: the charismatic Foster Gold and Latino All-American Bear Santos. Drawn to their magnetic personalities and the promise of brotherhood, Jay becomes increasingly entangled in their hedonistic world—and cut off from his longtime friends, fellow sophomore Basil Sous and senior Tuck Reis. As Foster’s hold over Jay deepens, Basil and Tuck fear Jay may have bitten off more than he can chew, so they join forces to pull him back from the boy’s hypnotic, nearly cult-like sway before tragedy strikes.
Waters of Destruction, by Leslie Karst 4/1
Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have settled permanently on the beautiful—but storm-prone—Big Island of Hawaii. As they enjoy island life with their new dog, Pua, they’ve made friends with local restaurant manager Sachiko and her partner Isaac, though they still feel a bit adrift. When Sachiko asks Val to fill in for a missing bartender, Val dusts off her cocktail shaker and happily agrees—it’s a chance to meet more locals and catch up on gossip. But things take a dark turn when the bartender, Hank, who vanished after a team-building retreat, is found dead at the bottom of a waterfall—and suspicion falls on Sachiko. In An Orchid Isle Mystery Book Two, Val plunges into the investigation to uncover the truth.
Evil All Along, by Gregory Ashe 4/7
They say love makes fools of us all—and Dash Bannon is no exception. It’s his second Halloween in Hastings Rock, and he’s hoping for a low-key season filled with candy, friends, and quiet nights with a certain deputy. But when his friend Keme is arrested for murder, Dash is thrown into a chilling mystery. The evidence is damning, and the town is quick to turn on Keme, convinced he’s dangerous. Determined to clear his friend’s name, Dash sets out to uncover the truth. But the real killer may be watching. The Last Picks Series Book 8 brings murder, mistrust, and a Halloween no one will forget.
No Time for Duplicity, by D.J. Ciccarello 4/8
This deeply disturbing psychological thriller is the third standalone novel by D.J. Ciccarello. It explores the line rarely crossed when humans commit murder. Parker Grant is a young therapist living in Atlanta. When a client from his couple’s therapy is killed in Parker’s condo, his life begins to crumble. Mysterious gifts begin to arrive at his office, which incriminate him in the murder of the client. Haunted by memories he can’t recall, manipulated by friends, Parker is thrown into a haze of mistrust and madness. Facing the realization that he may be the villain in this tale, he must protect his secrets at all costs.
Pride or Die, by CL Montblanc 4/15
In Pride or Die, a satirical sapphic YA mystery, the LGBTQ+ club at a Texas high school is framed for attempting to murder the head cheerleader. Seventeen-year-old Eleanora Finkel, eager to finish her senior year and escape Texas, leads the group as they work to clear their names and find the real culprit. But Eleanora, riddled with anxiety and distracted by her growing attraction to the case’s cute victim, is far from a professional detective. Armed only with her trusty crochet hook, she and her unlikely sleuthing friends must face bullies, unwind the mystery, and ensure the survival of their club for future queer teens in their small town.
Buried Seeds, by Verónica Gutiérrez 4/22
Verónica Gutiérrez returns with Buried Seeds, the second book in the Yolanda Ávila Mystery series. Former LAPD cop turned private investigator, Yolanda stumbles onto a bloody murder scene, thrusting her into a race to save two innocent men: Gamaliel Campamoche, an undocumented immigrant facing deportation, and his employer, Kinji Abe, a WWII American concentration camp survivor. The investigation pulls Yolanda and her diverse team into the dark corners of a changing city, where real estate sharks circle neighborhoods and activists harbor secrets of their own. As Yolanda peels back layers of deception, she uncovers how greed and desperation can turn neighbors into enemies—and enemies into killers. The protective spirits of Yolanda’s mother and uncle seem to be stirring again, sending warnings she can’t ignore. With the body count rising, Yolanda must separate truth from illusion before another life is claimed.
