The CrimeReads editors best new books out in paperback published in January, February, and March, because usually we do this every month but in January and February we were busy, okay?!? Anyway, here is a very long list of books out in paperback to make up for missing the first two months of the year. Enjoy these newly affordable favorites!
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Alma Katsu, Red Widow
(Putnam)
“Terrific…Fans of FX’s ‘The Americans’ will recognize a world where professionalism can fall prey to sexism, careerism, and garden-variety klutziness. Duncan’s job is a lot ‘like juggling knives,’ and Katsu makes us care that she doesn’t bobble.” –The Washington Post
Hank Phillippi Ryan, Her Perfect Life
(Forge)
“Her Perfect Life is a powerhouse of a novel with something for everyone.” –Mystery Scene
Walter Mosley, Blood Grove
(Mulholland)
“The ability to simultaneously keep us readers in confusion and in thrall marks Mosley—winner of the National Book Foundation’s 2020 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters—as a mystery master….The central mystery in Blood Grove—as in all the Easy Rawlins books—is as much about the brazen contradictions of American society as it is about what happened in that orange grove one night. But that mystery turns out to be pretty gripping too.”
–Maureen Corrigan, Washington Post
Alexandra Andrews, Who Is Maud Dixon?
(Back Bay Books)
“A sparkling debut that will keep you guessing.”–New York Post
Richard O’Rawe, Northern Heist
(Melville House)
“[R]eminiscent of such classic caper films as ‘Rififi’ and ‘The Asphalt Jungle.'”–The Wall Street Journal
Donna Leon, Transient Desires
(Grove)
“A splendid read. Through Brunetti’s observations and ruminations, the author weaves Venetian history, architecture, aromas, tastes, and snippets of daily life and family interactions into an immersive narrative.”–BookPage
Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, The Faceless Old Woman Who Lives In Your Home
(Harper Perennial)
A funny, terrifying, and unpredictable slice of Night Vale’s macabre history.” –Kirkus Reviews
Victoria Gosling, Before The Ruins
(Henry Holt)
“Gosling is a stylish, sophisticated writer…a grand scavenger hunt for the truth.” –Sarah Lyall, New York Times Book Review
Alexandra Oliva, Forget Me Not
(Ballantine Books)
“Captivating characters carry this absorbing cautionary tale. . . . [A] riveting, moving masterpiece of both character and plot.”–Shelf Awareness
Stephen Graham Jones, My Heart Is a Chainsaw
(Gallery/Saga Press)
“Jones… has written a masterpiece. The book is… as instinctive and essential as it is harsh. Despite the blood and bleakness, The Only Good Indians is ultimately also about hope and the promise of the future…Read it.”–Locus Magazine
May Cobb, The Hunting Wives
(Berkley)
“Gossipy, scandalous housewives behaving badly might make this the juiciest read of the season.”–Library Journal
Emma Stonex, The Lamplighters
(Penguin Books)
“A ghost story and fantastically gripping psychological investigation rolled into one. It is also a pitch-perfect piece of writing. . . .” –The Guardian
Megan Collins, The Family Plot
(Atria)
“Exceedingly entertaining.” –The New York Times
Jeffrey Deaver, The Final Twist
(Putnam)
““Jeffery Deaver’s action-packed ‘The Final Twist’ is a nail-biter… [it] begs for another visit with Colter.”–South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Christina McDowell, The Cave Dwellers
(Gallery/Scout)
“A brutal, satirical look at life in Washington, DC.” –Library Journal
Louise Candlish, The Heights
(Atria)
“Dark, disturbing, and deeply affecting, this humdinger of a story is full of unexpected twists and is sure to keep readers riveted from first page to last.”–Booklist
Clare Mackintosh, Hostage
(Sourcebooks Landmark)
“The airborne equivalent of a classic country house mystery…Surprising twists propel the story to an unexpected finale.” – Publishers Weekly
Michael Sears, Tower of Babel
(Soho Crime)
“Michael Sears launches a bold action-packed series that delves into ambition, redemption, morality and the changing landscape of Queens . . . ” –Oline Cogdill, Shelf Awareness
Christine Mangan, Palace of the Drowned
(Flatiron)
“Lush, evocative. . . . When you learn the truth at the end, you’ll want to go back and rethink everything you read before.” –New York Times Book Review
Daniel Silva, The Cellist
(Harper Paperbacks)
“Akin to a diabolical game of chess, The Cellist is a sophisticated voyage through the world of concert halls, art museums, lavish receptions and the occasional chase scene—all delivered with Silva’s crafty dry wit and innuendo.” –Bookreporter.com
Sarah Penner, The Lost Apothecary
(Park Row)
“The Lost Apothecary is a poisonously good read… An enthralling work of mystery, murder, trust, and betrayal. Set in an atmospheric London, Penner’s immersive story flows skillfully from past to present, revealing the heartaches and lost dreams of three captivating main characters in a page-turningly tense drama that surprises right up until the final paragraph.” —NPR
Abigail Dean, Girl A
(Penguin Books)
“Abigail Dean wastes no time diving into the wreckage of the Gracie clan… [Girl A] often reads more like a slow-burn character study, though it’s richer for it.” –Entertainment Weekly
