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6 Books to Read for Fans of Ann Cleeves

If you've been spellbound by Cleeves' gripping storytelling and are yearning for more thrilling reads, this post is tailor-made for you. From intricate whodunits to pulse-pounding suspense, these gripping reads will have you eagerly flipping through the pages, unraveling secrets and solving mysteries alongside unforgettable characters!

The Poacher's Pocket (DCI Jack Mason series Book 6)

by Michael K Foster

Release Date: April 28, 2023

Calling all bookworms! This highly anticipated and utterly gripping read (Northern Echo) is bound to please. A fellow police officer is missing, failure is unthinkable, DCI Jack Masons next decision could be his last. In a world where dreams can be made at a price, nothing is what it seems. Order a copy today.

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Lesson Plan for Murder: A Master Class Mystery

by Lori Robbins

Release Date: June 1, 2023

It was a truth universally acknowledged: No self-respecting English teacher would kill herself without leaving behind a perfectly penned suicide note, with detailed footnotes and suggestions for further reading. When Liz Hopewell finds a series of coded clues instead of a letter beside her colleague' dead body, the assignment is murder.

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Out of Reach (A Dylan First FBI Suspense Thriller Book 1)

by Kate Bold

Release Date: April 18, 2023

Dylan First, brilliant psychologist, is haunted by the horrific discovery of her past: her mentor and father figure, a brilliant psychiatrist and professor, was secretly a serial killer. He is behind bars, but with everything Dylan thought she knew turned upside down, she feels lost when the FBI suddenly comes knocking.

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Little Girl Vanished (Harper Adams Mystery Book 1)

by Denise Grover Swank

Release Date: June 20, 2023

With a friend’s child missing, and the police failing, disgraced ex-detective Harper enlists the aid of a former crime boss to untangle a mystery that strikes too close to home.

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Central Park West

by James Comey

Release Date: May 30, 2023

In the thrilling first crime novel from the former director of the FBI, a murder investigation reveals deadly connections between high-ranking politicians and the mafia.

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The Night Out

by Wendy Clarke

Release Date: June 8, 2023

Utterly captivating and gripping until the final page, The Night Out is perfect for fans of The Family Upstairs, The Housemaid and The Marriage.

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Interview with J Rose Black, Author of Vengefully Yours

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Vengefully Yours?

This is a collection of stories spanning several years' worth of work. I started out thinking that I could provide a variety of works short enough to enjoy while on a quick break or waiting for kiddos (which is why there's an audiobook coming soon!) - in the romantic mystery/suspense genre. And then as I tried to arrange it into some order...I realized that each one represents a "beat" in a story of two people drawn together by fate, made for each other in a way. But the world tries to get in the way - especially where the MMC is concerned. As he feels like he's too tainted or not enough for the FMC. But, he can at least protect her. And he would do anything to keep her safe.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Vengefully Yours, what would they be?

I have six heroes and six heroines, so that's a lot of theme songs. For some reason "I am a Stone" by Demon Hunter comes to mind for a couple of the male characters. At least, their view of themselves before their heroine shows up in their life. (Ha!) As for the heroine(s), hm, something like "Ignite (Rebel Hearts)" by Startisan.

I admit to making playlists for my stories. lol

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Mysteries. Give me anything from cozy Miss Marple to streetwise Marlowe. But, I'm also a huge Jane Austen fan. As a kid through my teens, I read everything. We would read "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" for school. And I would have to read all the sequels. We'd read "A Wrinkle in Time", and I would read all the sequels. Ditto: "The Three Musketeers", "The Hobbit" and so forth. And I tried very hard to read every Nancy Drew that was ever written (up until my teens).

Is it the same as my favorite genre to write? Well, I think the trick is that because I love mystery / suspense, there is that element in all of my writing. I think it's my way of keeping stakes (and drama) high for the characters.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I have at least 10 ARC's I'm reading for Indie authors. Everything from YA fantasy to a non-fiction book on communication. I've got paperbacks of Lucy Foley's The Guest List, and Roderick Thorp's Nothing Lasts Forever sitting on my nightstand, as soon as I can catch a breather. Oh, and The Second Murderer by Denise Mina is on preorder!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I think it was Maxen and Aveline (Watson), where Maxen gets to tell Aveline the famous Sherlock Holmes' line: "The game's afoot." Basically, that whole scene was a little like how I imagine Sherlock Holmes' mind would have worked: seeing something and knowing something was out of place before his mind caught up. But, Maxen's a very different person. It was just showing that aspect of his intellect.

I also had a ton of fun writing Stellan's more neurotic perceptions of his world. I really could have written a whole set of sessions where he was visiting his therapist... Plotting all the ways he could make the old man's death look like an accident - while on some level really hoping the old guy could help Stellan improve his mental health. lol

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I'm a total pantser. Like most writers, powered by caffeine. I probably get most of my ideas by turning on a Spotify playlist I've been cultivating (of songs that 'speak to me') - and driving around.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

When the whole world's gone crazy, I'll believe in myself. Never give up.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That love wins. Even in darkness. Love is forgiveness and faith, and it will always win.

J Rose Black is the author of the new book Vengefully Yours

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Interview with Lori Robbins, Author of Lesson Plan for Murder

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Lesson Plan for Murder?

I love puzzles, and the protagonist of this mystery solves crimes using clues from the books she teaches. Also, as a former English teacher, I’m well aware of the homicidal tendencies a school setting can inspire!

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I do love reading mysteries, in addition to writing them. There’s something so satisfying about solving a crime as an armchair detective.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m a former dancer, and so I’ve got Alice Robb’s memoir Don’t Think, Dear queued up. I’m also delving into some Golden Age detective fiction like Charlotte Armstrong’s The Unsuspected.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I loved writing the scene where Liz confronts the killer. It’s dramatic, yes, but it also ties together elements of her past and present in a way that felt very personal to me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I am capable of drinking an enormous amount of coffee when the writing is going well. The same condition applies when things aren’t going according to plan.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I’m a fan of every quotation, motto, or philosophy that includes the word persistence.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I’d like readers to reflect upon the ways in which unrealistic expectations, both the ones other people place upon us and the ones we’ve internalized without realizing it, define who we are. We don’t have to let that happen.

Lori Robbins is the author of the new book Lesson Plan for Murder

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Interview with Owen O'Ryan, Author of Virgil Bonaventure in the Land of the Iron Lions

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Virgil Bonaventure in the Land of the Iron Lions: Escape to the Wilderness!?

The main character inspired the story. He’s all I had, apart from the fantasy setting. I knew the events of chapter one, and Virgil Bonaventure carried me along. As I picture him, he’s got elements of at least two characters from the USA network from years ago. He’s got the looks of Neil from “White Collar” and the leap-first, look-later impetuosity of Shawn Spencer in “Psych”. His favorite play at the card tables is the bluff, and that carries over into the rest of his life. His first reflex is often to hide the truth, not out of malice or a desire for manipulation so much, but as a defense mechanism.

After Virgil, an amazing young woman named Lilly appeared, and I had two goals with her immediately. She couldn’t exist as a typical love interest, and she had to prove that it’s possible to be strong without being physically dominating. Then the task was to plunge them both into outrageous trouble, and watch them cope.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Virgil Bonaventure in the Land of the Iron Lions: Escape to the Wilderness!, what would they be?

Virgil's theme is "I Know You Know" by the Friendly Indians.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Horror is my first fiction love, but Robert E. Howard and Jules Verne got me through High School. I’m not really a dark dude now, though, so writing action-adventure fantasy sprinkled with attempts at humor is my lane.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Three Musketeers. I’d also like to get into some classic Agatha Christie and Louis L’Amour.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There’s a small chapter that is dominated by a three-way conversation between Virgil, Lilly, and another woman. There’s tension, as a shift in plans is occurring, and Lilly is not fully aware of what the other two are talking about. That allows for some comic relief.

After the rough draft, I challenged myself to rewrite it so that no tags were needed to tell who was speaking, or to convey the speaker’s emotion. If I’ve done my job defining the characters and their goals in the moment (I reasoned) it should be perfectly clear without resorting to repeated “she said” and “he answered angrily” sort of statements. I feel a little guilty about how much that scene delights me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I have one that is embarrassing, but my defense is that it was imposed on me. It wasn’t initially something I could control. My 50-something wife is a colossal BTS fan and has her playlist running continuously in our office. So, this book was written with the entire BTS portfolio playing on a loop.

At first, it was something to tune out and work through. Now, it’s hard to write without it. Don’t tell anybody.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

A famous coach said, “90 percent of success is a stubborn refusal to give up.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Heroism lives in the little decisions.

Owen O'Ryan is the author of the new book Virgil Bonaventure in the Land of the Iron Lions: Escape to the Wilderness!

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Interview with J Mercer, Author of In One Life and Out Another

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write In One Life and Out Another?

My parents got divorced when I was eight, and unlike most kids I knew, I was happy about it. Still, as a young adult, I often reflected on how my life would have been different if they'd stayed together, and then later, as I thought about destiny and how we end up where we end up, the book was born.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Young adult fantasy and women's contemporary fiction, along with young adult, and I've been writing them all lately as well.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close, Carrie Soto, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, and The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Chapter 8, I think!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

If possible, I keep a scent close by that reminds me of the book. And I try to read in the genre I'm writing when I'm writing it. Not too quirky, I guess.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Prioritize and simplify. You can do it all, but you probably can't do it all at once.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I hope they're left feeling something. My favorite books are the ones I close and feel more than think about. Like I went home for a little while, or like someone gave me a great hug.

J Mercer is the author of the new book In One Life and Out Another

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Interview with Jiffy Kate, Author of The Brickwall and The Bombshell

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Brickwall and The Bombshell?

Mack and Greer's story had been in the works for years. Even though this is a complete standalone, the characters originated in earlier books of this interconnected series. But the details of their story were actually inspired by a TikTok we watched a year or so ago. That's where we got the idea for Greer to have a stalker. We hadn't written that level of suspense in a long time and it was so much fun.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Brickwall and The Bombshell, what would they be?

Shivers by Ed Sheeran.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Contemporary Romance, and yes, it's what we write. But we also REALLY love Romantic Fantasy... Fantasy Romance... yeah, that.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

TOO MANY TO COUNT or list. LOL

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There were two scenes we really looked forward to writing.

1) The scene where Mack and Greer take a bath together. It was so much more than being naked in a bathtub. It was a different level of intimacy and allowed them both to drop their walls and really get to know each other.

2) The scene where the stalker is revealed... that's all we can say about that.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

We pick coffee mugs that inspire us or go along with what we're writing. "You've got this. - Coffee"

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

This too shall pass.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Be you (at whatever cost) and follow your dreams.

Jiffy Kate is the author of the new book The Brickwall and The Bombshell

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Interview with Michael K Foster, Author of The Poacher's Pocket

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Poacher's Pocket?

The main reason for writing the new book was panic. I hadn’t written a full-scale novel since before lockdown in 2019. Apart from a novella involving Jack Mason’s early life in London’s East End, which was released in 2020. I needed another book out there, and fast.

In 2017 four men were arrested in Spain in connection with a massive diamond heist which had taken place at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in 2005. I was a magistrate at the time and remember the case well. It happened in February 2005 when armed robbers dressed as KLM staff hijacked an armed car in a secure area. Driving up to a Lufthansa jet the gang stole $72M’s worth of uncut diamonds. Only part of the haul has ever been recovered, and even today $43M is still missing. After the gang's mastermind died before he was brought to trial, I felt there was a story there.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Poacher's Pocket, what would they be?

Jack Mason always hates listening to piped religious music at funerals. He thought they invaded his privacy. He’d often wondered what kind of music they’d play at his final send-off. Something livelier, he hoped. Maybe Iron Maiden or Guns N’ Roses.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Crime thrillers.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Dark Remains by Ian Rankin.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

A fellow police officer has gone missing. Fearing the officer has fallen foul to a dangerous diamond smuggling organization, Mason and the team must enter the dark criminal underbelly of Amsterdam’s notorious red light district.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Waking up in the middle of the night and writing down my ideas.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

They enjoyed the ride.

Michael K Foster is the author of the new book The Poacher's Pocket

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Interview with Robert John DeLuca, Author of The Battle For Sam Jacinto

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Battle For Sam Jacinto?

As a former Marine, who has a great concern for the direction our country is headed, the indiscriminate destruction of memorials to our war heroes was troubling. After studying the matter, like my protagonist, Marshall Morris, I came to realize there was much more to these protests than I recognized.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Battle For Sam Jacinto, what would they be?

We used the USMC hymn in the trailer.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love thriller fiction, usually with a business world twist, which is what I write both in full adult and young adult levels.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I am working my way through William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor Series. I also thoroughly enjoy Mark Greaney’s Grayman Series.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Probably the night battle scene when the ancient old vets and teenagers defend the statue with water hoses and paint ball guns against hired thugs bent on destroying it.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

My wife would say I have dozens of quirky habits. My fifth son, Floyd, a very active yellow Lab, is under my feet most of the time. Each morning when I sit down to write, I have to inspect my desk carefully to see what changes our two cats have made since yesterday. My desk apparently provides the best “Cat TV’ window in our house.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I sincerely try to always be considerate of the other person, and of course, Semper Fidelis.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Being passionate about a cause can be admirable. Just be certain you have thoroughly considered all sides of an issue. Your high school years are a wonderful time of life.

Robert John DeLuca is the author of the new book The Battle For Sam Jacinto

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Interview with K. Sinko, Author of Safe Harbor

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Safe Harbor?

While there's a big focus on the love story, Melanie is also grappling with her brother being an addict. It's actually a similar story to my own, and the process she works with (and finally opening up to others) is one that I personally have gone through over the years.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Safe Harbor, what would they be?

Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift — definitely a theme song for Melanie & Calvin combined.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I do love contemporary fiction and romance...but I'm also a *big* sucker for fantasy.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The entire Throne of Glass series...it's queued up on my Kindle ready for some summer reading!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

When all of the Scoopers hang on the beach after Haverfest and slice into that disgusting ice cream cake...and everyone get's a little surprise. 😉

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Even though I need complete silence when I write, I *do* need a clicky keyboard. It somehow makes me feel powerful??

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Write what feels right, and don't overthink it.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That whatever hardships you face, know that you never have to go through them alone. There's a lot of beauty on the other side when you open up your heart to the people you love.

K. Sinko is the author of the new book Safe Harbor

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Interview with Amanda Braun Boe, Author of A Devil in Every Dark Corner

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write A Devil in Every Dark Corner?

I've always gotten a kick out of old monster movies. I've also been fascinated by ghosts, fairies, and folklore since I was a kid. One fall, after watching quite a few Halloween movies, I had the urge to write something witchy of my own. This itch swam around in my head for a while, and then one night an idea finally materialized. I imagined two witches tossing snarky comments at each other while a monster chased after them. I bolted out of my chair and wrote the first ten pages of this novel.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of A Devil in Every Dark Corner, what would they be?

Imogen's song would be "Doesn't Remind Me" by Audioslave because she's constantly trying to forget the past.

On the other hand, Carmen's song would be "Are You Having Any Fun?" by Elaine Stritch because she thinks monsters, magic, and mayhem are the recipe for a great time.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

My favorite genres to read are fantasy, romance, historical fiction, and mysteries. My favorite genres to write are fantasy and romance. But writing historical fiction would be a fun challenge someday!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

It's never-ending! I'm finishing the Blood and Ash series, Six of Crows, Normal People, Crescent City...the list goes on and on!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There's a scene where two side characters are in a dungeon for their own safety. They're being kept there to protect them from the Thistle Witch. The scene starts out as a humorous one, but then an otherworldly moment happens when they realize that they aren't safe from evil after all. There's suddenly a very superstitious, creepy tone to the moment. I really enjoyed that shift from the ordinary to the ominous.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I can't have any sound...none! I'm not the kind of person who can write while listening to music or sitting in a coffee shop. I wouldn't be able to concentrate at all. I can listen to a playlist before I write for inspiration, but as soon as that computer is in front of me, I need silence.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

What would the person who you want to be do?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I think the relationship between the witch sisters, Imogen and Carmen, is what I'd like people to remember the most. They are very different people, but they are still fiercely loyal to each other. I think that kind of love and understanding between two people is a universal desire.