Now, this is an appropriate topic after yesterday’s review of Keep This to Yourself! Shanah @ Bionic Bookworm Blog has requested five mysteries/thrillers of truly superior caliber, and I am here to provide!
Sadie by Courtney Summers
This book was heartbreaking, but so good. The way it threads itself together in disjointed pieces, revealing the full extent of tragedy and outrage and loss is masterful, and I was on the edge of my seat all the way through. Plus it’s a shorter read, which means the plot keeps moving and the tension stays high. As thrillers go, it’s one of the best that I’ve read.
Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan
Is it cheating to put this one on here? No? Okay, good, because Keep This to Yourself was amazing, and I’m still not over it, not even a little bit. It was filled with grief and determination and queerness and plot twists that truly make a murder mystery great. Plus, it had a spooky atmosphere that just begs to be shown draped in fog and an eerie summertime chill. Bonus points for that for sure!
The Truly Devious Series by Maureen Johnson
I have loved every second of reading this series, and now that Maureen has revealed the final book’s title (it’s going to be called The Hand on the Wall, unless she was joking on Twitter, which she is prone to do, delightfully so), I’m eager to talk about it again! It’s fun and clever and filled with riddles, not to mention anxiety rep, a mystery some ninety-ish years old, and MURDER. Guys, this series is FUN. Pick it up!
Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
I distinctly remember reading this about three years ago. I told myself I’d just read a little before bed, and then ended up @ing the author on Twitter in angry delight around 2 am because HOLY SHIT. Whatever you think is going to happen in this book, you aren’t ready, and it’s AMAZING. Every murder mystery should have a strong plot twist (multiple twists preferable tbh), but this one was twisty and clever and PRECISE like nothing else. I couldn’t put it down, and I gasped (y’know, like a dramatic offended 19th century lady) when I finished it and there wasn’t any more sitting immediately in front of me. SO GOOD, FOLKS.
Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
It’s a hell of a murder mystery when illusions are dying. Y’know, things that don’t formally have life to begin with? The twisty path through the circus this book is set in was EXCELLENT, and just as a concept, it’s absolutely stellar. If you’re looking for nightlife murders, ominous circuses, and no idea of who to trust, this is definitely a book you should pick up!
So, did you see any of these coming? Think any of these are red herrings? Let’s chat, and maybe put each other on the track of some new mysteries altogether!
I loved Sadie!
I’m glad! Me too, obviously, or it wouldn’t be on the list. 😂
Keep This To Yourself looks really interesting! I’ll need to look into that one!
It’s fantastic and coming out next month! Definitely worth it. 😊
Yes on Sadie! I should have chosen her too damnit!
Haha, you could always go back and add her! 😂
I’m glad that you brought Keep This to Yourself to my attention. I want to read a mystery/thriller with queer characters in it and it sounds great.
I can’t remember but does the Truly Devious series have anxiety rep? Or some sort of mental illness rep? I feel like I heard someone say that (maybe you?). I definitely am going to read that very soon.
It really was great, and I think the author is doing another queer mystery for his next book! Very good stuff.
Yes! Stevie has anxiety in TD, so that definitely comes up. There are also queer secondary characters (who are handled better re: pronouns) in the second book.
Sadie is such a good one, and the Truly Devious series is quite enjoyable as well even though I saw a few of those twists coming!
I’m glad you agree! They’re both easily some recent favorites in the genre or they wouldn’t have made the list lol.