There's a little something for everyone in March. After a slow start, I've now had three Best Reads practically right in a row, and-- as with any new release post-- I'm wondering if there's another Best Read waiting for me in this list.
I've grouped my picks for the best new crime fiction in March according to their release dates. The book covers and synopses are courtesy of Amazon.
Let's see if I'll be adding any of these titles to your own Need to Read lists!
=== March 5 ===
Author: Chris Nickson
Series: #6 in the historical mystery series featuring Simon Westow, a former workhouse orphan working as a thieftaker (recovering items stolen from the rich) in 1820s Leeds, England.
240 pages
Synopsis: "Leeds, October 1824.
Thief-taker Simon Westow's job seems straightforward. Captain Holcomb's
maid, Sophie, has stolen important papers that could ruin the family's
reputation, and he's desperate for their return. But the case very
quickly takes a murderous turn, and it becomes clear the papers are
hiding a host of sins . . .
During the search, Simon's assistant, Jane, hears a horrific tale: men are snatching young girls from small towns for use by the rich. Those who are unwanted are tossed on to the streets of Leeds to survive among the homeless. With the help of an unlikely, deadly new companion, Jane will do everything to discover who's responsible and make them pay.
Can Simon and Jane recover Holcomb's letters and get justice for the stolen girls? It becomes a battle that might result in them losing everything . . . including their lives."
During the search, Simon's assistant, Jane, hears a horrific tale: men are snatching young girls from small towns for use by the rich. Those who are unwanted are tossed on to the streets of Leeds to survive among the homeless. With the help of an unlikely, deadly new companion, Jane will do everything to discover who's responsible and make them pay.
Can Simon and Jane recover Holcomb's letters and get justice for the stolen girls? It becomes a battle that might result in them losing everything . . . including their lives."
Title: Perfect Opportunity
Author: Steven F. Havill
Series: #26 in the Posadas County police procedural series set in southwestern New Mexico.
224 pages
Synopsis: "The morning after his eighty-seventh birthday bash, former Posadas
County sheriff Bill Gastner drives past a couple of vehicles stopped on
the highway shoulder. It's not an unusual sight: a sheriff's patrol
unit, emergency lights ablaze, pulled in behind a pickup truck. The
female deputy hasn't radioed for backup. But there's something about the
scene that makes him feel uneasy.
The next day, Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman is called to a rather more dramatic and disturbing roadside scene, with the same truck the star of the show. But this time, its occupant is in no fit state to talk - his dead body stabbed through the chest with a Ka-Bar, a second corpse in the ditch beside the car.
What happened to the two men? And what were the dead man and the deputy discussing in the quiet of pre-dawn the previous day?
The truth is more twisty and complex than even Estelle and her long-standing friend and former colleague Bill are ready for, and it will take all their combined years of experience to untangle the sorry tale and ensure justice is served.
Fans of CJ Box, Anne Hillerman and Terry Shames will love this thrilling, small-town Western mystery set in New Mexico, as will readers who love strong female protagonists and retired sleuthing heroes."
The next day, Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman is called to a rather more dramatic and disturbing roadside scene, with the same truck the star of the show. But this time, its occupant is in no fit state to talk - his dead body stabbed through the chest with a Ka-Bar, a second corpse in the ditch beside the car.
What happened to the two men? And what were the dead man and the deputy discussing in the quiet of pre-dawn the previous day?
The truth is more twisty and complex than even Estelle and her long-standing friend and former colleague Bill are ready for, and it will take all their combined years of experience to untangle the sorry tale and ensure justice is served.
Fans of CJ Box, Anne Hillerman and Terry Shames will love this thrilling, small-town Western mystery set in New Mexico, as will readers who love strong female protagonists and retired sleuthing heroes."
Title: The Dead Years
Author: Jeffrey B. Burton
Series: #1 in the Chicago K-9 thriller series set in Illinois.
224 pages
*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.
Synopsis: "Siblings Cory and Crystal Pratt are still trying to get their
lives together after a tragic accident which killed their parents years
ago. The only thing that distracts them now is their jobs. With Crystal
working as a newly minted detective at the Chicago Police Department and
Cory owning a dog training academy with two human remains detection
dogs of his own, their professional paths cross every now and then.
Crime, and especially murder, in Chicago is nothing new, but when a string of killings happen that seem to be connected to a Netflix docuseries and its cast and crew, Cory and Crystal are called in to stop the number of bodies from piling any higher.
But when the siblings start poking around the killer's business, the killer sets their sights on the pair . . . and particularly on Cory and his dogs! Will they be able to escape the fury of the serial killer or become the newest victims?"
Crime, and especially murder, in Chicago is nothing new, but when a string of killings happen that seem to be connected to a Netflix docuseries and its cast and crew, Cory and Crystal are called in to stop the number of bodies from piling any higher.
But when the siblings start poking around the killer's business, the killer sets their sights on the pair . . . and particularly on Cory and his dogs! Will they be able to escape the fury of the serial killer or become the newest victims?"
Title: The Road to Murder
Author: Camilla Trinchieri
Series: #4 in the Tuscan mystery series featuring Nico Doyle, a former NYPD homicide detective living in a small town in the Chianti region of Italy.
336 pages
Synopsis: "Though it took some time to settle into his new life in Gravigna,
Italy, following the death of his wife, former NYPD detective Nico Doyle
has figured out a thing or two. The locals have not only welcomed him,
but are giving him rave reviews on his cooking, and his budding
relationship with Nelli, a local woman, is healing old wounds.
When Nico receives a phone call before dawn, he wants to ignore it. A phone call at that time can only mean trouble. Sure enough, it’s Perillo of the local carabinieri. A woman has been found dead in her home, slumped over her piano, and the sole witness speaks only English. Nico reluctantly agrees to help Perillo with the case.
Judging by the crime scene, Perillo and Nico determine foul play, and they don’t have to look long for suspects. Following the death of her husband, the late Signora Nora had taken on a number of lovers, her two daughters weren’t on the best terms with her, and there’s a lot to be gained from the sale of her residence. Nico and Perillo have their hands full as they try to solve the murder and restore peace to the otherwise sleepy Gravigna."
When Nico receives a phone call before dawn, he wants to ignore it. A phone call at that time can only mean trouble. Sure enough, it’s Perillo of the local carabinieri. A woman has been found dead in her home, slumped over her piano, and the sole witness speaks only English. Nico reluctantly agrees to help Perillo with the case.
Judging by the crime scene, Perillo and Nico determine foul play, and they don’t have to look long for suspects. Following the death of her husband, the late Signora Nora had taken on a number of lovers, her two daughters weren’t on the best terms with her, and there’s a lot to be gained from the sale of her residence. Nico and Perillo have their hands full as they try to solve the murder and restore peace to the otherwise sleepy Gravigna."
=== March 8 ===
Title: The Dubrovnik Book Club
Author: Eva Glyn
Standalone cozy mystery set in Croatia.
387 pages
*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.
Synopsis: "Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire
Thomson’s life is about to change forever when she starts working at a
local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a
professor, they form an unlikely book club.
But when
their first book club pick – an engrossing cosy crime – inspires them to
embark upon an investigation that is close to the group’s heart, they
quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as
lives and stories begin to entwine…"
=== March 12 ===
Author: Andrew Mayne
Series: #5 in the Underwater Investigation Unit law enforcement series set in Florida.
299 pages
*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.
Synopsis: "After the Underwater Investigation Unit’s disbandment, public
outcry ushers Sloan McPherson and her partner, former navy diver Scott
Hughes, back into the depths of crime solving. But Sloan’s return comes
with a personal case. 
Title: The Mystery Writer
Title: To Slip the Bonds of Earth
Longtime family friend Fred Stafford has disappeared. Left behind: his abandoned truck in the vicinity of an unmarked sinkhole and new findings that have Sloan second-guessing everything she thought she knew about the man. There are his gambling debts, his association with a treasure-hunting band of underwater cavern junkies called the Dive Rats, and most alarming of all, a discovery in Stafford’s storage shed that raises the stakes even higher and plunges Sloan into an unfathomable mystery.
As
Sloan’s investigation unfolds, a tragic Florida cold case, local
superstitions, and a shocking conspiracy collide. For Sloan, finding
Stafford and uncovering the buried secrets of the past soon drag her
deeper into the dark unknown than she feared."
=== March 19 ===
Author: Sulari Gentill
Standalone thriller.
400 pages
Synopsis: "When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney
and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an
unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother
support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will
her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what
it takes to be a successful writer?
Title: Kill for Me Kill for You
What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. When her mentor, a highly successful author, is brutally murdered, Theo wants the killer to be found and justice to be served. Then the police begin looking at her brother, Gus, as their prime suspect, and Theo does the unthinkable in order to protect him. But the writer has left a trail, a thread out of the labyrinth in the form of a story. Gus finds that thread and follows it, and in his attempt to save his sister he inadvertently threatens the foundations of the labyrinth itself. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die.
USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill takes readers on a rollercoaster ride in The Mystery Writer,
a literary thriller that turns the world of books and authors upside
down and where a writer's voice is a thing to be controlled and
weaponized, to the peril of everyone who loves a good story."
Author: Steve Cavanagh
Standalone thriller set in New York City.
352 pages
*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.
Synopsis: "One dark evening on New York City’s Upper West Side, two strangers
meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realize they have much in
common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against
the men who destroyed their families. As they talk into the night, they
come up with the perfect plan: if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you.
In another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She’s attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there?
Intricate, heart-racing, and from an author who “is the real deal” (Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Kill for Me, Kill for You will keep you breathless until the final page."
In another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She’s attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there?
Intricate, heart-racing, and from an author who “is the real deal” (Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Kill for Me, Kill for You will keep you breathless until the final page."
=== March 26 ===
Author: Amanda Flower
Series: #1 in the Katharine Wright historical series set in Ohio.
288 pages
Synopsis: "December 1903: While
Wilbur and Orville Wright’s flying machine is quite literally taking
off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with its historic fifty-seven second
flight, their sister Katharine is back home in Dayton, Ohio, running the
bicycle shop, teaching Latin, and looking after the family. A Latin
teacher and suffragette, Katharine is fiercely independent,
intellectual, and the only Wright sibling to finish college. But at
twenty-nine, she’s frustrated by the gender inequality in academia and
is looking for a new challenge. She never suspects it will be sleuthing…
Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville accept an invitation to a friend’s party. Nervous about leaving their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans unattended, Wilbur decides to bring them to the festivities . . . where they are stolen right out from under his nose. As always, it’s Katharine’s job to problem solve—and in this case, crime-solve.
As she sets out to uncover the thief among their circle of friends, Katharine soon gets more than she bargained for: She finds her number one suspect dead with a letter opener lodged in his chest. It seems the patent is the least of her brothers’ worries. They have a far more earthbound concern—prison. Now Katharine will have to keep her feet on the ground and put all her skills to work to make sure Wilbur and Orville are free to fly another day."
Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville accept an invitation to a friend’s party. Nervous about leaving their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans unattended, Wilbur decides to bring them to the festivities . . . where they are stolen right out from under his nose. As always, it’s Katharine’s job to problem solve—and in this case, crime-solve.
As she sets out to uncover the thief among their circle of friends, Katharine soon gets more than she bargained for: She finds her number one suspect dead with a letter opener lodged in his chest. It seems the patent is the least of her brothers’ worries. They have a far more earthbound concern—prison. Now Katharine will have to keep her feet on the ground and put all her skills to work to make sure Wilbur and Orville are free to fly another day."
Author: Erica Ruth Neubauer
Series: #5 in the Jane Wunderly historical series set in 1920s Scotland.
272 pages
Synopsis: "Isle of Iona, 1927: Cast away
on a remote locale, Jane’s latest assignment depends on concealing her
identity and blending in at an occult gathering. Not even her fiancé,
Redvers, can be too close as she uncovers the truth about Robert
Nightingale, enigmatic leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn—a group
made up of supernatural ceremonies, influential people, and an
undefinable darkness. When a woman tries to escape to the mainland only
to be found murdered in the moors, the shocking scene reveals it’s
easier to join the Golden Dawn than it is to leave.
Jane, set on solving the crime and catching the next ferry with Redvers, realizes she may be among the few still grasping reality. One high-ranking member searches for the killer by attempting to access otherworldly planes of existence, while others become immersed in a strange solstice ritual. Then there’s Nightingale and the rivals who discarded him to start a new temple. As a second death brings fresh clues into focus, Jane needs to navigate a frightening dilemma—playing along won’t help her crack the mystery, but revealing too much could be a fatal mistake . . ."
Jane, set on solving the crime and catching the next ferry with Redvers, realizes she may be among the few still grasping reality. One high-ranking member searches for the killer by attempting to access otherworldly planes of existence, while others become immersed in a strange solstice ritual. Then there’s Nightingale and the rivals who discarded him to start a new temple. As a second death brings fresh clues into focus, Jane needs to navigate a frightening dilemma—playing along won’t help her crack the mystery, but revealing too much could be a fatal mistake . . ."
How'd I do? Did you add any of these to your own lists... or were they already on there? Inquiring minds would love to know!
Some great books here, Cathy! I'm especially glad to see Sulari Gentill's book. She's a really talented writer, and just as lovely as can be in person. I had the privilege of meeting her once, and we had a great conversation.
ReplyDeleteIt's always such fun to be able to talk to authors whose books you've read.
DeleteNice list, Cathy! I already had THE MYSTERY WRITER on my list and hope it's a good one. We'll see as I've already heard a bit of so-so comments on it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Gentill's standalones are either loved or disliked.
DeleteI totally want to check out The Dead Years and Dark Dive. Those two look really good to me. :D
ReplyDeleteI thought The Dead Years would probably appeal to you! :-)
DeleteI just thought of Trinchieri's series yesterday! So nice to have a visit to Tuscany to look forward to soon. I've also added The Dead Years to my list (siblings in law enforcement don't come along often, and the K9 aspect is a bonus), and have been reminded that I have the first of Nickson's series on my list to try.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who waxes poetic whenever Nickson has a new book out.
Delete