Tracey's Book Reviews
From twisty thrillers to heart-tugging romances, sweeping historicals to mind-bending fantasies, I read wherever curiosity takes me. Some of these reviews first appeared in International Thriller Writers’ The Big Thrill and Suspense Magazine, while others are exclusive to this site. No genre limits—just honest, thoughtful takes on the stories that captivated, surprised, and lingered long after the last page.
nemesis by gregg hurwitz
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz takes readers on a raw, emotional journey they won’t soon forget in the latest Orphan X installment, NEMESIS.
At the conclusion of his last mission, Evan Smoak discovers that his best friend and master armorer is deeply entangled in hurting innocents, a violation of two of Evan’s ten commandments: Never kill a kid and Never let an innocent die.
For fifteen years, Tommy Stojack was the closest thing to a friend Evan had ever known. Evan believed they shared the same code. But the evidence provided by Joey Morales—a brilliant hacker and Evan’s sort-of adopted daughter—is indisputable. Tommy seems to care more about making a profit than protecting innocent lives.
The betrayal cuts deep, setting Evan and Tommy on a heartbreaking collision course. But first, they are compelled to join forces one last time before their lives change forever.
Hurwitz’s NEMESIS offers Orphan X fans everything they’ve come to love about the series: thrilling action, expensive vodka, mind-boggling tech, smart-mouthed costars, and Evan’s unique brand of justice. NEMESIS also has a ton of heart, forcing Evan to break one of his own commandments: Never make it personal. Oops! Beware—the shocking conclusion might bring a sting to even the most hardened reader’s eyes.
Review first appeared on Suspense Magazine (Dec 1, 2024)
origin story by a.m. adair
Award-winning author A.M. Adair turns the serial killer narrative on its head in her gripping new release, ORIGIN STORY.
After a brutal attack by a gang, Elyse Tyson wakes from a monthlong coma in a prison infirmary, with no memory of why she’s there. Worse, the gang that assaulted her isn’t finished—they’ve marked her for death, and Elyse has no idea why.
Her only hope for survival is a doctor more interested in studying her traumatic brain injury than the deadly target on her back.
As Elyse watches a series of video confessions, she’s confronted with a horrifying revelation: the woman on the screen is not only a relentless psychopath—a serial killer—but a grieving mother. And that woman is her.
Fans of ’90s sci-fi will catch echoes of Total Recall in Adair’s expertly crafted thriller. ORIGIN STORY is a masterful, mind-bending ride that keeps readers questioning Elyse’s true identity until the very last page—and beyond. Adair redefines the serial killer genre, taking it to exhilarating new heights.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Nov 21, 2024).
The coldest cast by tessa wegert
Senior Investigator Shana Merchant returns in Tessa Wegert’s latest installment of the Thousand Islands series, THE COLDEST CASE.
A blustery, thirty-minute airboat ride across the frozen St. Lawrence River wouldn’t have fazed Shana seven months ago. But now, every decision carries weight—she must consider how it will affect the precious life growing inside her.
When one of the eight year-round residents of Running Pine Island shows up at her door, demanding Shana personally investigate the disappearance of a social media influencer, she faces a tough choice. Instead of taking the case herself, she sends Tim—her husband, soon-to-be father, and fellow investigator—in her place.
While Tim investigates, Shana seizes the opportunity to reopen a cold case that has haunted her for years.
When the missing islander is found dead, Shana is forced to juggle two cases, navigating treacherous winter terrain to assist her team in tracking down the murderer. With only seven suspects to choose from, how hard can it be to catch a killer?
An atmospheric triumph, THE COLDEST CASE is a must-read for crime fiction lovers. Wegert masterfully intertwines a four-year-old cold case with an active murder investigation, offering readers a double dose of heart-pounding suspense.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Nov 15, 2024).
the man in black by elly griffiths
Bestselling author Elly Griffiths delivers her first short story collection in THE MAN IN BLACK and Other Stories, a thrilling array of tales.
Die-hard Griffiths’s fans will gobble up these bite-sized explorations, featuring beloved characters like forensic archaeologist Ruth, no-nonsense DCI Nelson, sarcastic DS Harbinder, grown-up Justice, budding magician Max, and even tail-swishing Flint.
For those who aren’t yet familiar with the author’s work, the collection is an excellent introduction to her richly crafted series. Every tale has a delicious undercurrent of tension and anticipation.
Griffiths provides something for everyone. The stories range from dark and moody to mysterious and thoughtful to poignant and heartfelt, each suffused with a touch of humor.
A real treat for crime fiction aficionados, THE MAN IN BLACK and Other Stories will leave readers eagerly anticipating Griffiths’s next masterful creation.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Oct 10, 2024).
a little getaway by bonnie traymore
In Amazon bestselling author Bonnie Traymore’s newest psychological suspense, a woman’s world slowly crumbles after her beloved husband disappears while on their rekindle-the-romance getaway at a beachside resort.
Morgan Murphy’s ten-year marriage is still full of stolen kisses, steamy nights, and exciting trysts in restaurant bathrooms. It’s the kind of marriage that makes other women sigh for what could be and other men green with envy.
Until her husband Kyle’s warm glances begin to cool and his clothes carry a hint of exotic perfume. Morgan gives him the benefit of the doubt, knowing he’s scrambling to pacify his investors of an unexpectedly stalled development project. But . . . the picture gives her pause, forces her to consider the worst. Her husband is cheating on her.
After Kyle’s disappearance and her near-kidnapping, Morgan dives deeper into their finances and the events leading up to that fateful night at the resort. An unlikely ally offers to help, but she quickly realizes her new friend might not be an ally after all.
Traymore’s page-turner, A LITTLE GETAWAY, is a tension-filled psychological thriller, where the line between friend and foe is razor thin.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Oct 10, 2024).
My darlings by marie still
Author Marie Still plunges into the twisted psyche of a serial killer, blending dark suspense with Real Housewives-style drama in her latest psychological thriller, MY DARLINGS.
Socialite Eloise Williams juggles presiding over the PTO board, planning elaborate themed parties for her wealthy friends, and curating audiences for her daughter’s music recitals. Despite her bustling schedule, Eloise is bored.
Thankfully, she has a side hustle that transforms her emotional wasteland into a vibrant oasis—one she frequents more and more.
Eloise is a serial killer. And a damned good one.
But her daughter, Bryony, is growing suspicious. Her husband is acting strange, her phony friends are ratcheting up their drama, and a ghost from her past has returned.
What’s a serial killer to do when her well-organized life starts to crumble?
Kill, of course.
With visceral precision, Still crafts a chillingly fascinating journey through the mind of a cold-blooded murderer. MY DARLINGS is a gut-clenching psychological thriller that belongs on everyone’s TBR list.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Oct 10, 2024).
the righteous arrows by brian j. morra
In THE RIGHTEOUS ARROWS, author Brian J. Morra transports readers to a critical juncture of the Cold War, when a USAF intelligence officer must navigate his way through Soviet paranoia, a U.S. shadow war, and a slightly unhinged CIA officer.
After saving the world from nuclear holocaust, United States Air Force intelligence officer Kevin Cattani finds himself back in East Germany, inside a permanently restricted area, assessing the Soviets’ current nuclear readiness. Needless to say, things don’t go well, and he’s forced to flee the country.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, GRU intelligence officer General-Major Ivan Levchenko is alerted to the security breach and heads to East Germany to investigate. There, he uncovers a startling fact: one of the intruders is none other than Kevin Cattani—the very man who helped him defuse the Able Archer crisis the previous year.
Fast forward two-and-a-half years later, Kevin and Ivan stand on opposite sides of a CIA-fueled shadow war at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Can the two uneasy allies prevent another dangerous clash between superpowers, or will paranoia and mistrust triumph over reason and diplomacy?
Morra skillfully navigates the intricate and dangerous dynamics of the U.S.-Soviet conflict in the 1980s. THE RIGHTEOUS ARROWS is a tense, character-driven spy thriller that not only entertains but also serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace and the steep cost of freedom.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Oct 1, 2024).
the bluff by bonnie traymore
In Amazon bestselling author Bonnie Traymore’s newest psychological suspense, a woman fights against time to save her crumbling lakefront property before she loses her last chance to escape her idyllic lifestyle.
Kate Breslow has a problem. Several, in fact.
Lake Michigan’s merciless waters are scraping away at her beautiful lakefront property, creating a dangerous eighty-foot bluff that’s wreaking havoc on her resale value.
Minutes before Crest Lake’s town council votes on Kate’s shoreline revitalization proposal, the deciding council member, who publicly opposed her expensive plan, goes missing.
Kate’s situation worsens when the detective, who investigated her husband’s fatal brush with the lake the previous year, comes sniffing at her door and making dangerous connections to the past. Add a destructive shoreline liberation activist group and an enraged neighbor to the mix, and Kate’s desire to get away from her quaint small town grows dimmer and dimmer.
Gripping and full of surprises, THE BLUFF is a clever psychological suspense with layered characters and an atmospheric setting. Traymore does a masterful job of ratcheting up the tension little by little, leading readers to a shocking, explosive, and highly satisfying conclusion.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Sept 18, 2024).
tom clancy's shadow state by m.p. woodward
Author M.P. Woodward hit the pause button on his amazing Handler series (The Handler, Dead Drop) to pen TOM CLANCY SHADOW STATE, the 12th novel in the New York Times bestselling Jack Ryan, Jr. series.
Financial analyst Jack Ryan, Jr. finds himself stuck in a Hong Kong skyscraper, running risk profiles for a $300 million rare earth mining company deal, while his Campus teammates, including fiancée and intelligence operative Lisanne Robertson, are tracking a high-value target in the Philippine wilderness.
On top of being distracted, worried, and, yes, envious of the Philippine op, Jack’s battling with his sniper-sharp gut instincts. Again.
First, his instincts urge him not to ignore a meeting secretly requested by a potential Chinese asset, even though he’s on strict orders not to deviate from his white-side assignment, securing the GeoTech deal. But Jack is trained in establishing complex surveillance detection routes. What could go wrong?
The next day, bruised and battered, Jack learns that to seal the deal, the lending bank is demanding additional information that can only be obtained at GeoTech’s offices in Vietnam. Buried in the mining company’s mounds of paperwork, Jack’s instincts stir again. The only way to calm the niggling that something’s off is to visit the rare earth mine himself.
Jack is treated to the helicopter ride of his life—until the smoking bird spirals out of control to the rugged ground below. Trapped in the gorgeous yet treacherous Vietnamese highlands, Jack puts all of his Campus training to work to get himself and an injured colleague back to civilization while also dodging bullets and the spotlights of known human traffickers.
What Jack doesn’t realize—yet—is that the real danger lies in the very heart of the skyscrapers he’s running towards.
Hats off to the genius who tapped M.P. Woodward to carry on the Jack Ryan, Jr. series. TOM CLANCY SHADOW STATE delivers all the classic Clancy feels—terrifying tech, exciting action, and powerful characters who show their true heart and unstoppable bravery. Woodward’s description of Vietnam’s highlands will make you add it to your vacay bucket list, and his portrayal of Jack, Jr., Lisanne, and Kendrick Moore (if you don’t want to hug this bald, mountainous frogman by the end of the story, we can’t be friends!) will have you flipping pages well into the night.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Aug 22, 2024).
disconnect by traci hunter abramson
Award-winning author Traci Hunter Abramson returns to her popular Saint Squad series and delivers another powerful military thriller in DISCONNECT.
From their first meeting, Intelligence Officer Amy Miller was suspicious of the motives of SEAL Team Eight’s new commander. She does her best to maneuver around the ambitious commander, but when he severs her ability to communicate with the Saint Squad in the middle of a mission—putting her husband’s life and his team’s in danger—she goes on the offensive.
Amy has no choice but to take the issue up the chain—all the way to the Commander-in-Chief, her father. But since taking office, the president’s plate has been filling up fast. An old Nicaraguan nemesis tests a new weapon on a major city in the United States, with devastating results, forcing the president to send SEAL Team Eight back behind enemy lines. What he doesn’t take into account is the crime lord’s willingness to use his new weapon so close to home.
Cut off from their base of operations, Saint Squad must pull off the ultimate mission with nothing more than their prayers, extensive training, and single-minded resolve to protect their country.
Abramson crafted a rich, detailed picture of life as a SEAL, revealing the frustrations of naval politics, the complexity of mission planning, and the power of loving relationships. DISCONNECT hits all of the markers for an entertaining military thriller—band of brothers, action, explosions, fast-pace, high stakes, and a cliffhanger that’s certain to make you preorder her next installment—but readers will also love the tender, quiet moments peppered throughout the story.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (June 27, 2024).
the last time she saw him by kate white
In New York Times bestselling author Kate White’s newest thriller, THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM, a career coach must use every tool in her psychological toolbox to get to the truth of her former fiancé’s sudden death.
Kiki Reed heads to the Connecticut countryside to celebrate her dear friend’s book release, knowing her ex-fiancé will be in attendance—with his new girlfriend. She’s glad Jamie has moved on. He hadn’t taken her “I love you, but I’m not in love with you” conversation well. Now, the two of them will be in a room full of people for the first time since their breakup, and Kiki is anxious about Jamie’s reaction and not looking forward to their friends’ inquisitive stares.
After a bit of circling, Kiki and Jamie have a respectful yet stilted exchange. Minutes later, a shot rings out, and Jamie’s found dead in his vehicle. Many in their circle believe he committed suicide. Some even hint that Kiki and Jamie’s breakup might have been the catalyst. But Jamie’s magnetic best friend, Sam, poses a different theory, one that aligns with Kiki’s suspicions.
Jamie was murdered.
Determined to set the record straight, Kiki, with Sam’s help, investigates the circumstances around Jamie’s death. She starts with his girlfriend, who turns out to be a local and something of a chameleon. As her suspect list grows, Kiki’s plagued by a series of strange, unexplained happenings, like odd smells that wake her up in the middle of the night. Undeterred, Kiki continues her sleuthing while growing closer to Sam until they uncover the truth.
White delivers a lush setting with textured characters and a twisty plot that keeps you jumping from one suspect to the next. One thing is for certain—THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM won’t be the last book of Kate White’s I read.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (May 10, 2024).
never fall again by lynn h. blackburn
In award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn’s newest inspirational romantic suspense, NEVER FALL AGAIN, a mother finds a safe place to settle down and hires the town’s best contractor to build a forever home for her five-year-old daughter.
After abruptly fleeing her Arizona home three years ago, Landry Hutton decides it’s time to establish permanent roots in Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Surrounded by true friends and blessed with a thriving business, Landry purchases a small plot of land near a river, where her five-year-old daughter can run and explore.
No sooner does Landry hire the town’s local hero, Cal Shaw to build their home, when she receives word that the gift shop displaying the bulk of her high-end pottery burned to the ground. When an ominous note is found on-site, Landry wonders if a specter from her past has finally found her.
Cal Shaw is no stranger to pain and loss as a military veteran. But nothing he experienced while serving his country could have prepared him for the devastation of losing the woman he loved and her two boys, who were like sons to him.
He’s determined to keep Landry and her precocious daughter at arm’s length. But the threat of danger hovering around them triggers his protective instincts. He activates his large network of family and friends to help watch over the Hutton ladies, who are quickly squirreling their way into his heart.
Cal soon finds out that no amount of Marine determination can withstand the draw of true love or a little girl’s hugs.
Blackburn found the perfect balance of faith, suspense, romance, and family dynamic in NEVER FALL AGAIN. The harrowing climatic scene—all I’m going to say is, thank goodness for dogs with good sniffers—is worth the price of admission.
Recommended reading accessories: A ceramic mug brimming with your favorite hot beverage, a trusted companion at your side, and a child’s happy squeals in the background.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Mar 15, 2024).
fatal witness by patricia bradley
USA Today bestselling author Patricia Bradley returns to the Cumberland Plateau in this second installment of her popular Pearl River inspirational romantic suspense series. Although part of a series, the novel reads well as a standalone.
In FATAL WITNESS, pottery artist Dani Bennett returns to Pearl Springs after fleeing with her uncle two-and-a-half decades ago. She has no memory of the nine years she spent in Tennessee. But once she meets old friends and her crime-sleuthing grandmother, Mae Richmond, flashes of her past return. Including some details about the night her parents were murdered.
Word of Dani’s homecoming whips through the small town, and she soon finds herself fighting not only to remember but to stay alive.
Veteran K-9 officer Mark Lassiter and his fearless partner, Gem, work around the clock to keep Dani safe. Together, Dani and Mark sort through the clues to the 25-year-old cold case. But her parents’ killer is busy burying loose ends—and Dani’s next.
Bradley did a wonderful job teasing out the clues through Dani’s memories and Mark’s investigative skills. The author found an enjoyable balance between propulsive suspense, sweet romance, and inspirational messages. FATAL WITNESS will also find a home with anyone who loves dogs, small-town dynamics, and wilderness backdrops.
Recommended reading accessories: A creaky porch swing, a warm cuppa, and a wet-nosed companion.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Feb 22, 2024).
blood sisters by vanessa lillie
Known for her thrilling standalone novels, bestselling author and member of the Cherokee Nation, Vanessa Lillie, launches the first book in her exciting new Syd Walker series in November.
In BLOOD SISTERS, archaeologist Syd Walker’s happy life in Rhode Island is interrupted when human remains are discovered in her hometown of Picher, the place where, 15 years ago, a devastating incident changed the course of Syd’s life and that of her two best friends.
A female skull isn’t the only mystery Syd faces when she arrives in the small Northeastern Oklahoma town. No one has seen her troubled sister for over a week and, like so many missing Native women and girls, little is being done to locate her.
Unwilling to let Emma Lou become another tragic statistic, Syd’s determined to find her sister. No matter the cost. But her search for Sister and her Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) case collide to unravel a devil from her past and alter her future yet again.
Author Vanessa Lillie sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss her groundbreaking novel BLOOD SISTERS, her love of poker, and her passion for justice.
What was the inspiration behind BLOOD SISTERS? Why did you want to tell this story now?
I had been drawn to writing about being Cherokee for a while. However, doing so in my debut, Little Voices, which is about new motherhood, and my next book, For the Best, where I explored white female privilege, didn’t feel like the right place.
Also, I wanted to write about Oklahoma, where I’m from, and I’ve always had an interest in Picher. After the government and big mining companies stole the land from the Quapaw, they mined it until the lead and zinc industry went bust, leaving Picher a ghost town and with the label of “the most toxic town in America.”
There’s been more discussion and articulation of missing and murdered Indigenous women, so I’ve been following and understanding that topic. The heart of the book is around a real 1999 case that took place right after my senior year of high school. Two teenage girls went missing in a town near Picher. Their bodies have never been found and their families have never stopped looking. I’ve followed the case for years and read a great true crime book about it—Hell in the Heartland by Jax Miller.
Once I got to know Syd as a character, I felt she would be a good person to follow through a set of contemporary Native stories that would allow me to explore all of these elements in one place.
In your bio, you mention #MMIWG2S is at the heart of BLOOD SISTERS. Can you tell us what the hashtag stands for and how it plays into Syd’s story?
The hashtag for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit is a way of putting a language around injustice and shining a spotlight on the lack of institutional support and local police support, and disregard for the lives of Native women and girls.
The term Two-Spirit is putting a language around a rejection of a Western gendered approach, which, for many tribes, is not the tradition. Some of that was forced on us through Christianity and colonialism. Two-Spirit is this idea of a male spirit and female spirit, masculine and feminine even, that resides within people. Within the tribes, they were viewed with love and admiration, which is very different from how they’re viewed in many communities in this country.
My Syd Walker series will explore why we’re able to see these women and girls go missing, often for a long time, and how that ties back to our relationship with the land and the environment.
The opening epitaph of BLOOD SISTERS is—What happens to the land happens to the women.
In the back of the book, you have an Author’s Note. The first sentence reads, “There’s a lot of truth in this fiction.” How heartbreaking was it for you as an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to learn about stories where the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a department of the US Interior, whose mission is to be an advocate for the various tribes throughout this nation, failed and even sometimes worked against the people they were sworn to protect?
From the earliest time I can remember, I knew that the reason my family was in Oklahoma was because the government took our home and made us go there. So, I wouldn’t say I ever had a real trust.
My dad served in Vietnam, and my grandfather served in World War II. So, it’s not that I didn’t appreciate service or things like that, but I never imagined the government would do anything other than what served the people in power.
Living near Pricher, I watched what capitalism did to a community and saw the complete environmental devastation and the sickness.
There are many good people and good things happening at BIA. My uncle worked his whole career at BIA and retired from there. My brother was at BIA for 13 years. But I never expected the history to be good. BIA was part of the Department of War, created to eradicate Native people.
Syd loves her job as an archeologist with the BIA, but there’s real tension around it when she returns to Oklahoma. She expresses a feeling of “otherness.” She’s home with her family, but feels separated from it all. Do you know a “Syd” or did you pluck that dynamic from your imagination?
I’ve had that experience. I moved away from home for college when I was 18 and never moved back. I don’t have the same family tension as Syd, but I’ve imagined what my life would’ve been like if I had moved back. You miss things when you’re not part of a community anymore, when your family is far away. You create a geographic boundary, whether you meant to or not. I wanted to write about that in a more extreme way. Syd’s family is disappointed and doesn’t understand why she left. And Syd has a number of biases and doesn’t know what’s going on. Since I come from a small town, the otherness tone is easy for me to tap into.
The title BLOOD SISTERS plays into a great reveal toward the end of the story. Did you know the reveal going into the book? Or did that gem pop up later?
I knew it pretty early on. The title BLOOD SISTERS gets to something I believe—there’s blood family and then there’s the family you choose. I’ve been lucky to have people in my life who aren’t family, but feel like it.
The dynamic between Syd and her sister, Emma Lou, felt very real. Did you draw from a relationship in your life to give it that realism?
A few people in my life have struggled with addiction. For that piece, I wrote from a place of familiarity. I always wanted a sister, so I wrote Syd and Emma Lou’s relationship in a way that I always imagined what having a sister would be like. Plus, I drew from what I observed of my friends with their sisters. Because of Emma Lou’s addiction, Syd and her sister’s relationship took on a more parent-child dynamic, instead of a sibling dynamic.
Tell us something about yourself that readers would find fascinating.
Something I’ve been missing is poker. I won a Texas Hold ’Em tournament in St. Martin. There’s something about the rhythm of poker. The people watching, the chips, the whole thing—I love it.
Has ITW played an integral part in you becoming a published author or advancing your career? If so, in what way?
Absolutely, in advancing my career. I went to my first ThrillerFest in 2018. I had already sold my debut to Thomas and Mercer. ITW has great parties, and I got to meet my editor, the publicity people, and the marketing people. My publisher had an extra seat at their banquet table, so I got to sit with all those brilliant people. That was a huge help to connect with them early on. I’ve gone to every in-person ThrillerFest since then. I love that conference.
The community is wonderful. I love supporting other authors. I always learn so many things—it’s like getting an MFA. The new board is fantastic. The Big Thrill provides great information and publicity for authors. I learn about authors I didn’t know about. I’m very proud to be an ITW member—and it’s free to join!
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
James Patterson said that he has days when he wakes up and hates everything he’s written. Then he has days he wakes up and loves everything he’s written. And he can hardly tell the difference between the work.
His advice is a good reminder that even if you don’t like what you’re writing, it’s worth it to push through. This business is all about resiliency. There’s some creativity and ability, but I think it’s a persistence game.
What can you tell us about the next Syd Walker book?
It’s drafted and needs a lot of work. No title or release date yet. It’ll be set in Rhode Island and there will be a connection to the Narragansett Tribe.
Interview first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Nov 16, 2023).
murder and mamon by mia p. manansala
In her newest culinary cozy mystery, MURDER AND MAMON, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity award-winning author Mia P. Manansala returns to Shady Palms, Illinois, where Lila and the gang are once again faced with a dead body. Only this time, the murder victim is one of their own.
On the eve of the Calendar Crew’s new laundromat grand opening, Lila’s godmothers April, Mae, and June make a gruesome discovery. A crudely spray-painted message next to the town’s latest murder victim suggests the godmothers’ zeal for gossip has finally pushed someone too far.
While indulging in delicious Filipino dishes produced by Tita Rosie’s Kitchen and Brew-ha Café, Lila and her merry band of amateur sleuths pick away at the clues until they uncover the culprit terrorizing the Calendar Crew.
But not before more bodies and more mysterious messages appear on their doorstep.
Author Mia P. Manansala sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss MURDER AND MAMON, her favorite Filipino dishes, and how to build meaningful, lasting relationships in this business.
Give us a quick summary of your Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series.
Tita Rosie’s Kitchen mysteries are humorous, light-hearted cozies centered around a family-owned Filipino restaurant in a fictional town outside Chicago and follow my protagonist Lila Macapagal.
Tell us about mamon.
Mamon are individual Filipino chiffon cakes. They’re light, fluffy, and simple to make. They come in a variety of flavors—butter cake being the original—and have different toppings such as butter, sugar, grated cheese. Coffee mamon is my mom’s favorite.
(Readers: Be sure to read through to the end. Mia has kindly provided her recipe for mamon on an adorable recipe card.)
Do you have any recommendations for authentic Filipino cuisine in Chicago?
Ruby’s Fast Food (has my mom’s picky stamp of approval!)
Kasama (Michelin star restaurant)
Do you have a favorite Filipino dish?
KareKare – Oxtail stew with tripe in a peanut sauce.
What set you down the path of writing a culinary cozy mystery series?
Two things. First, I’ve been a mystery lover my whole life. Like my protagonist Lila, I grew up in a multi-generational household, and my love of mysteries began while watching Matlock, Perry Mason, and Murder, She Wrote with my grandparents. My mom introduced me to cozies and Mary Higgins Clark. While working as a page shelving books at the Chicago Library, my mom came across Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders by Joanne Fluke, which is the first book in her popular Hannah Swensen series. We both love food as much as books, so we began buddy reading the series.
After that, I picked up more and more culinary cozies. I soon realized I didn’t see characters that looked like me or have experiences that reflected mine. So, I decided to put my own spin on the genre. While brainstorming with my mentor, Kellye Garrett, about ideas for the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series, she brought up the fact that traditional cozies were like romcoms. I gave it some thought and added my twist—romcoms with dead bodies. I soon wrote the first two lines of the first book, Arsenic and Adobo.
Don’t wait until you have a finished book or a deal. Meet other writers—some at your level and some ahead of you—so they can teach you about the business and craft.
Do you have any cozies that you reread for inspiration or recommend to readers?
Olivia Blacke’s Record Shop Mystery series
Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series
V.M. Burns’s Mystery Bookshop Mystery series
The story takes place in fictional Shady Palms, Illinois. Did you base the town on a real place? Or did you build it from your imagination?
When I started the series, I knew I wanted a fictional small town. Having grown up in Chicago, I didn’t know much about them other than what I saw on TV. With the help of one of my critique partners, I created a town that turned out to be similar to Ottawa, Illinois, in size and proximity to Chicago. Demographic-wise, it’s more like Skokie, Illinois.
Did you always want to be a writer? Or did that urge come to you later in life?
I always loved books and writing, but I didn’t think “author” was an actual career for a long time. In 2015, I took my first creative (mystery) writing class, presented by Lori Radar-Day. Until that point, I thought I’d write middle grade fantasy. Based on my in-class writing prompts, Lori believed I was a mystery writer and encouraged me to join Mystery Writers of America to learn more about the genre. Things blossomed from there.
What advice would you give new writers about building relationships in this business?
Start early. Don’t wait until you have a finished book or a deal. Meet other writers—some at your level and some ahead of you—so they can teach you about the business and craft. Join your local organizations, if you can. A lot of them are doing virtual meetings. There are groups on Facebook specifically for debut authors. “Networking” can skeeve people out. Besides the business side, there’s a mental health aspect to it, too. Your core group can help you through the tough times.
Do you have a craft tip you like to share?
Lean into your strengths. Keep in mind—Why do you write? Who are you writing for? Then block out all the other noise. Remember, you’re not writing for the bad faith reader aka naysayers. Sisters in Crime offer a lot of craft workshops.
What would you like readers to takeaway, or feel, after reading a Mia P. Manansala book?
I would love for people who aren’t familiar with my culture to come away with an appreciation of Filipino food. I enjoy hearing about people who search for and try Filipino restaurants in their area after reading my books. A new awareness that people from marginalized backgrounds can be heroes in genre. We can fall in love, we can go on adventures, we can solve cases. I want readers to really love this world and its characters, to wish Brew-ha Café and Shady Palms were real places. I want people to walk away with the feeling of warmth and community and found family.
Can you share what’s coming up next for the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series?
I turned in book five, Guilt and Ginataan, which will be out next year. Ginataan is any dish that’s cooked with coconut milk. I have a short story, The Furies Detective Agency, in the Fit for the Gods anthology, which released August 1, 2023.
Interview first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Sept 21, 2023).
the last to die by richard osman
New York Times bestselling author Richard Osman returns to Coopers Chase for this fourth installment of The Thursday Murder Club series.
In THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE, a dear friend of the club meets a harrowing end, and retirees Joyce, Ibrahim, Ron, and Elizabeth are determined to track down his killer. To do so, they must locate a mysterious package he was holding for a client that went missing soon after his murder.
A reluctant Joyce takes charge of the investigation, while Elizabeth works through a heart-wrenching issue at home. However, Joyce finds she has a knack for giving orders and seeing things others don’t.
Every time the club members close in on a potential suspect, another body drops.
It’s easy to see why readers have embraced The Thursday Murder Club series with such enthusiasm. Osman’s endearing characters, charming setting, witty dialogue, and engaging mystery make for a thoroughly entertaining read.
Recommended reading accessories: A warm fire or a stretch of sun-drenched sand, a beverage of choice, and a ready smile.
Fans of Deanna Raybourn’s Killer of a Certain Age will enjoy Osman’s witty and fun mystery, THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Sept 21, 2023).
the paris mystery by kirsty manning
In her newest historical novel, THE PARIS MYSTERY, bestselling author Kirsty Manning transports readers to 1938 France, where the specter of war creeping along the edge of Parisian society does little to dampen their enthusiasm for couture fashion, outlandish parties, or newsworthy murders.
After months in lockdown, Manning realized she needed to “write herself happy” and escape reality by writing “herself into another place.” She turned to the City of Light, a place she has traveled to many times and has given her endless joy.
Manning began imagining her readers picking up her book. She wanted them to experience “all the feelings” and to “taste Paris, smell it, and feel it.” Mission accomplished.
For her intrepid, globe-trotting protagonist, Charlie James, Manning drew inspiration from her real-life pal and Emmy-award-winning journalist Sara James and pioneering war correspondents like Louie Mack and Dorothy Lawrence.
As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Australian author Kirsty Manning sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss THE PARIS MYSTERY, writing tips, and her favorite places to travel.
Give us a quick summary of THE PARIS MYSTERY.
An Australian journalist is posted to Paris and assigned to cover the society pages during pre-war Paris. While she’s attending the Circus Ball, someone is murdered, and she decides to hunt down the killer.
Did you have any goals for this book?
I set a personal challenge to write a sexy, joyous Agatha Christie-style story set in Paris, but with more food and wine. I hope readers sit down with their drink of choice, relax, and go on a journey.
Having worked murder investigations before, Charlie understands the value of building a trusted team in her new home. Right away, she senses Violet is someone she can depend on.
Charlie is from a middle-class background and, as a journalist, she’s not wealthy. I had to enlist the help of various friends and invent characters with couture who could help Charlie navigate Parisian society.
Violet is Charlie’s glamorous colleague. Women in 1938 could work, but it was difficult to remain employed once they were married. I loved the fact that Violet is this massively well-educated woman who speaks six-and-a-half languages. She’s so much smarter and sassier than the men she assists at the newspaper. That constant underestimation turns out to be her great strength.
George, Charlie’s boss, is another wonderful character. Did you model him after anyone?
Yes, did. I used to work as a freelance journalist and also in book publishing. I’ve had many bosses who are encouraging, but leave you to get on with the job. You’d be craving feedback on interviews or how you did the setting or you just want them to give you time. But they’re busy people and don’t have the time. So instead of feedback, I’d get, “Good. Thanks. Got it.” In my book, I wanted to capture that gruffness and George’s growing appreciation of Charlie James.
Back to building relationships…Charlie did a masterful job earning the inspector’s trust.
Journalists have a delicate balance between getting the story and nurturing trust with their sources. It’s a crucial balancing act. Journalists and police never seem to work comfortably side by side. But they’re necessary. The police need journalists to report accurately. There’s always a push-pull relationship.
I really wanted to write Inspector Bernard, who is so French. In one scene, Charlie went to his office to speak with him about the murder investigation, but he was on his way to lunch. He agreed to discuss it with her—at the bistro—while enjoying a glass of wine and proper bread. I had a lot of fun playing with that.
How unusual was it for a single woman to travel so far (Australia to France) by herself in 1938?
Not as unusual as you would think. Australians have always been quite hearty travelers because it’s such a commitment to get anywhere. Charlie’s mother was French, so she grew up speaking the language and didn’t consider France as a foreign country. While that kind of long-distance travel by ship wasn’t usual, it wasn’t unheard of.
There’s a long history of people going to Paris in that era—Hemingway, Gertrude Stein. It was that real heyday of writers being in Paris, moving there because they could be who they wanted to be. They could write the words they wanted to write. Have the lovers they wanted to love. It was a city of great freedom. Freedom of words. Freedom to be the people they needed to be, to become great writers. I wanted to capture that on the page. The sense that you could reinvent yourself in Paris. If you’ve been lucky enough to visit Paris, you know we all do it a little: We all stand a little taller and dress a little better. It’s the dream, right? It was then, and it is now.
Your descriptions of Paris—the cafes, the fashion, the parties—really made the city come alive.
Setting has always been a very big part of writing my books. In any kind of great murder mystery, whether it’s set in New York or Scandinavia or Australia, like Jane Harper’s books, place is always so important. I really wanted to paint Paris as a character. I wanted to give readers the joyous experience on the page because I love it when I delve into a book and somebody does that for me.
Traveling to Paris is something you’ve done often. What draws you back to the City of Light, again and again?
My husband and I own a wine bar, and we import a lot of wine from Europe. Paris has been a familiar stomping ground for much of my adulthood. The city has evolved over the years. Paris is one of those cities that is at once comforting with its familiarity—great food, pristine hedging, Haussmann-style buildings, grand boulevards, seasonal tulips in the gardens, plane trees, the nonchalance of the women, and the flirty way of the men. It’s all absolutely wonderful. Every time is magical.
Do you have a craft tip to share?
Writing is a verb. You can’t edit words you don’t have. Quell the negative self-talk. Keep going. Read widely.
What are some of your favorite places to travel and why?
Paris—for the food and fashion; Southern France—for the light, balmy warmth, clear water, beautiful seafood, and wine.
Will we see more of Charlie in the future?
There are many more Charlie James stories to come.
Interview first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Aug 22, 2023).
north of nowhere by allison brennan
In New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s latest standalone thriller, Brennan propels readers into a frigid, unforgiving Montana landscape, complete with relentless action, gut-wrenching family dynamics, and an on-the-run teenager who has more heart and gumption than most superheroes.
Five years after escaping her powerful family in LA, sixteen-year-old Kristen McIntyre is forced to leave everything behind again when her murderous father, Boyd McIntyre, and his hired guns appear in her small Montana town.
Tony Reed, the man who helped her flee the McIntyre clan and has become more of a father than a savior, executes Plan B, sending Kristen, Tony, and her ten-year-old deaf brother Ryan racing for a getaway plane.
Not long after take-off, the plane crash lands, and Kristen and Ryan must continue on without Tony. A building winter storm ravages the region, knocking out communications and making roadways impassable. But Boyd locates the crash site—and Kristen’s trail—before the storm hits.
As Plan B slowly disintegrates, Kristen must call up all of Tony’s outdoor survival training in order to keep her little brother safe. However, an unseen enemy, one more malevolent and lethal than her corrupt father or a blizzard that knows no remorse, stalks Kristen’s every move.
Brennan did a fabulous job of ratcheting up the tension and putting a spotlight on the complexities of family, love, and forgiveness. The author’s in-depth research shines through during the plane crash scene and the shiver-worthy trek through the snow-covered Montana mountains.
Recommended reading accessories: A warm blanket and/or a steaming beverage of choice. Snow goggles might be needed for those who wear winter coats when it’s 50℉/10℃ degrees outside.
Fans of Mark Cameron’s Cold Snap will enjoy Brennan’s atmospheric thriller, NORTH OF NOWHERE.
Review first appeared in ITW's The Big Thrill (Aug 4, 2023).