Here are 15 of the best novels to come out in paperback over the past month, as selected by the CrimeReads editors.
*
John Lawton, Smoke and Mirrors
(Atlantic Crime)
“Lawton remains a force to be reckoned with.”–Publishers Weekly
Laura Shepherd-Robinson, The Art of a Lie
(Atria)
“A richly textured narrative, reminding us that Shepherd-Robinson has few equals in the field of the historical crime novel.”–Financial Times
Lisa Jewell, Don’t Let Him In
(Atria)
“Taut with danger . . . one of those gripping beach reads sure to keep you flipping the pages on your next flight.” –Elle
Christina Li, The Manor of Dreams
(Avid Reader)
“A carefully constructed, wholly imaginative novel. . . A page-turner with true literary merit, a very difficult balance to strike.”–The Chicago Review of Books
Holly Jackson, Not Quite Dead Yet
(Bantam)
“[A] page-turning thriller.”–Southern Living
Alex North, The Man Made of Smoke
(Celadon)
“[The Man Made of Smoke] never indulges in gratuitous scenes of violence, and is so well written and neatly plotted that it will appeal even to readers who usually shy away from this sort of thing.” –New York Times
Riley Sager, With a Vengeance
(Dutton)
“The pacing is relentless, the plotting Agatha Christie-esque and the cinematic feel is worthy of an Alfred Hitchcock.” –BookPage
Rob Hart, The Medusa Protocol
(Putnam)
“The Medusa Protocol contains stories that are worth telling and savoring. It also makes for some of the best thriller writing of the year.”–BookReporter
Megan Abbott, El Dorado Drive
(Putnam)
“Megan Abbott’s most doom-laden novel yet . . . The spell of this smart, socially-pointed suspense novel lingers long after the Wheel’s stash of cash—and one of its members—are no more.” –NPR’s Fresh Air
Andrey Kurkov, The Stolen Heart
(HarperVia)
“These novels are more than detective thrillers: They are studies in the surprising ambivalence that people living under occupation may feel…And they are important today not just for their insight into the past but also as a guide for surviving the present.”–The Atlantic
Olivia Worley, So Happy Together
(Minotaur)
“A captivating thriller… The way everything unfolds in the end just felt so cinematic. You won’t be able to put it down.” –Culturess
Danielle Trussoni, The Puzzle Box
(Random House Trade Paperbacks)
“Technically, they’re novels. But what bestselling author Danielle Trussoni writes are riddles, wrapped in mysteries, hidden inside enigmas.”
Maha Khan Phillips, The Museum Detective
(Soho Crime)
“Inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal in Pakistan, Phillips’s novel immerses readers in the teeming Pakistani city as she details how Delani’s quest for the truth may imperil not just her but also her family and friends.” –The Washington Post
Nilima Rao, A Shipwreck in Fiji
(Soho Crime)
“Rao’s winning characters ground the historical tale of community and identity.” –Christian Science Monitor
J.J. Viertel, The Glass Eel
(Mysterious Press)
“Tantalizing . . . three-dimensional characters and an immersive setting enhance this fascinating crime tale. The Viertels are worth keeping tabs on.” –Publishers Weekly
Laura Lippman, Murder Takes a Vacation
(William Morrow Paperbacks)
“This resilient widow proves she has what it takes to confront both gold diggers and killers in a plot that has the charm of a summertime caper.” –Wall Street Journal
