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Must-Read Mystery & Thriller Books | March 2021

Are you in the mood for an exhilarating new mystery and thriller book to get lost in? This month we have seen a plethora of amazing new novels and here are our latest recommendations from bestselling authors Mark Reps, Lisa Renee Jones, Rachel Caine, J.T. Ellison, A.J. Rivers, and Phillip Margolin. Enjoy your news books!

Native Dreams

by Mark Reps

Release Date: January 24, 2021

The 11th book in the bestselling Zeb Hanks Mystery Series by Mark Reps... Echo Skysong wakes to a recurring dream of her unit in Afghanistan, a dream that leaves her shaken. A series of accidents drive her suspicions that war has followed her home to Safford. Meanwhile, Zeb investigates a dead man found hanging with a dead horse at his feet. The old woman who reports the murder is evasive at best and may not be telling the truth about what she knows. And he's lost his favorite hat. What more could go wrong?

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The Poet

by Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: March 9, 2021

The first book in the Samantha Jazz Series by New York Times Bestselling Author Lisa Renee Jackson... Some call him friend or boss. Some call him husband or dad. Some call him son, even a favorite son. But the only title that matters to him is the one the media has given him: The Poet. A name he earned from the written words he leaves behind after he kills that are as dark and mysterious as the reason he chooses his victims. One word, two, three, a story in a poem, a secret that only Detective Samantha Jazz can solve.

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Heartbreak Bay

by Rachel Caine

Release Date: March 9, 2021

The fifth book in the Stillhouse Lake Series by New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Caine... A car submerged in a remote pond. The bodies of two girls strapped into their seats. The mystery of their mother, vanished without a trace, leads Gwen Proctor and Kezia Claremont into dangerous territory. On the surface, Gwen’s life is good—two children approaching adulthood, a committed partner, and a harrowing past dead and gone. But that past is attracting the attention of someone invisible… and unstoppable.

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Her Dark Lies

by J.T. Ellison

Release Date: March 9, 2021

"Stunning. Her Dark Lies is a gorgeously atmospheric thriller, a brilliant contemporary twist on a beloved classic." Jutting from sparkling turquoise waters off the Italian coast, Isle Isola is an idyllic setting for a wedding. In the majestic cliff-top villa owned by the wealthy Compton family, up-and-coming artist Claire Hunter will marry handsome, charming Jack Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets.

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The Girl and the Cursed Lake

by A.J. Rivers

Release Date: February 24, 2021

The 12th book in the Emma Griffin FBI Mystery Series by A.J. Rivers... How much of the past do you carry with you? It's a question FBI Agent Emma Griffin has dealt with throughout her career. This time is different. Months after a case brought her face to face with her own past and an unresolved disappearance that haunted her, she finds herself delving into the past of one of those closest to her. She learns about the turning moment of Dean's life and the torment that still follows him as they try to find closure for him. The investigation brings up another question possibly more difficult than the first.

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A Matter of Life and Death

by Phillip Margolin

Release Date: March 9, 2021

The latest book in the Robin Lockwood Series by New York Times Bestselling Author Phillip Margolin... Joe Lattimore, homeless and trying desperately to provide for his young family, agrees to fight in a no-holds-barred illegal bout, only to have his opponent die. Lattimore now finds himself at the mercy of the fight's organizers who blackmail him into burglarizing a house. However, when he breaks in, he finds a murdered woman on the floor and the police have received an anonymous tip naming him the murderer.

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Interview with Kate Dunbar, Author of Used

What can you tell us about your new release, Used?

Heartbreakingly beautiful and completely engrossing, USED is packed full of twists, turns, and a gripping romance. It's a story of heartache and hurts mixed with joy and love. We see Sabra’s journey to finding freedom while falling in love with one of her best friends. Everything is going swimmingly until one phone call changes everything and her past comes back to haunt her. Will it leave readers emotionally spent? I hope so, but in the best possible way and with a HEA we all yearn for.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Laurie Halse Anderson and Lois Lowry are two of my favorite authors. I love how they take hard topics and aren’t afraid to fully take their readers into that topic and through the experience. But even while doing that, they offer moments of light and joy showing how life is not either-or, but it exists with this AND that. I tend to look for those stories as I read, and I’m drawn to that in my own writing. Joy and pain, love and heartache, mountains and valleys all go hand-in-hand in life. I want to be an author who writes the AND in her stories. Those two authors showed me from an early age that it was possible to do that.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee, SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson, GATHERING BLUE by Lois Lowry, TEN TINY BREATHS by K.A. Tucker, 1984 by George Orwell.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I think I would want it to be a panel made up of Laurie Halse Anderson, Lois Lowry, Margaret Atwood, and Gillian Flynn. I'd like to hear how they write through the hard topics while still making their stories accessible to readers and showing the joy and love that happens in life at the same time. How do they balance that? And how do they take care of themselves in the process?

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love the escape it brings to everyone involved and all the different aspects that come with it. That goes for me as the writer, but also for the reader. And I really love the exploration of answering the question “what if…”

What is a typical day like for you?

I'm a Mom of 3 boys, a wife, and I work full-time. My typical day is balancing all of that and finding time to squeeze in writing in between. It's pretty much chaos all the time.

What scene from Used was your favorite to write?

That's such a hard question to answer! I think my favorite scene in USED is a very special scene between Trevor and Sabra. I can't give you much more than that without spoiling quite a bit, but I love moments when the unexpected happens and the characters exceed what you imagine. This scene epitomizes that, and the reader will know they're there when they get to it for sure.

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

The answer is always no unless you ask the question. Putting yourself out there is terrifying. Do it anyway. Don’t let fear be the thing that stops you. There are plenty of other people willing to tell you that you can’t. Don’t be one more person in your life that does that. Be the one that says you can.

Kate Dunbar is the author of the new book Used.

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Interview with Elizabeth Chatsworth, Author of The Brass Queen

What can you tell us about your new release, The Brass Queen?

In an alternate Victorian world, eccentric British aristocrat (and secret arms dealer) Miss Constance Haltwhistle joins forces with a tall, dark, and almost-handsome US spy in a madcap search for a stolen invisibility serum that could spark a global war.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I've always been an avid reader, but I'd never attempted to create my own stories. In my late forties, I decided to give it a go and signed up for an online creative writing class. The instructor, best-selling author David Farland, encouraged my fledgling efforts, and my first assignment turned into chapter one of The Brass Queen. Six years later, the book I started in class has been traditionally published. The moral of the story is that it's never too late to start anything!

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke is set during the Napoleonic wars. Two magicians, opposite in character and practices, form a frenemy relationship. From light Austen-worthy social comedy to medieval folklore layered with gothic overtones, this novel blends disparate elements into a magical brew.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen is a fiendishly funny tale of a fussy angel and a slick demon who join forces to stop Armageddon. Over the centuries, these two supernatural beings have developed an enduring love for humanity that warms my heart.

Soulless by Gail Carriger is set in an alternate Victorian London where vampires and werewolves are accepted as members of high society. Enter prickly bluestocking Alexia Tarabotti, intent on solving a supernatural mystery aided by a handsome werewolf lord. This is a light-hearted steampunk romance brimming with colorful characters and hilarious situations. Soulless is a fantastic start to a delightful series.

American Gods by Neil Gaimen imagines that ancient and modern gods are real, sparked into existence by human faith. Mr. Wednesday, AKA Odin to his few friends and many enemies, is fighting a holy war in modern-day America. Odin takes an ex-con named Shadow on a bizarre road trip through the United States, where an eccentric cast of characters add humor and horror as Shadow attempts to evade his destiny.

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman tells the tale of Irene, a spy who works for the mysterious Library, a shadowy organization that steals books from alternate realities. Witty dialogue, superb worldbuilding, and fast-paced action made this an instant classic for me. The entire series is simply splendid!

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

My first guest would be British author, actor, and comedian, Stephen Fry. He's a superb storyteller, is wonderfully funny, and he appears to know something about everything! I would ask him what questions he wished interviewers would ask him!

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love to daydream about fantastical worlds populated with larger-than-life characters. As much fun as it is to adventure in these places alone, being able to share my imaginings through writing is even better! Nothing makes me happier than when a reader says how my book provided a much-needed escape or made them laugh out loud!

What is a typical day like for you?

I like to write any new scenes early in the morning. Then I take a break for a few hours to let the story play out in my subconscious as I work on other projects. Sometimes that could involve heading into a studio to record a voiceover session. Or it could be tackling household chores, or walking my Yorkie, Boo. I return to writing late in the afternoon and will work for another hour or two editing the scenes I drafted in the morning. I love to spend my evenings with my family. After dinner, we watch movies or play video games together!

What scene from The Brass Queen was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene to write was when Constance and Trusdale waltz across the deck of an airship. For once, they are in perfect harmony with one another.

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

It’s never too late to take up a new passion. Start today and see where the journey takes you!

Elizabeth Chatsworth is the author of the new book The Brass Queen.

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The Story Behind Wizardoms: God King Rising by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

By Jeffrey L. Kahanek

Every genre has its own stable of character archetypes with crossover to similar genres. I write and read epic fantasy, a genre known for characters such as the unwilling hero, the jaded ex-soldier, the jovial dwarf, the stoic elf, the fierce female warrior, the mysterious wizard, and a host of others. Having read many hundreds of fantasy novels, I have developed a fondness for many of these character types, but my favorite is the witty, lovable rogue.

Examples of this character type include Han Solo, Star Lord, James Bond, Tony Stark, Wolverine, Loki, Lucifer Morningstar, and the Dread Pirate Roberts (Westley) from The Princess Bride. These characters are forever ready with a witty quip or prepared to execute an outrageous caper apt to make you guffaw. They often come across as arrogant and self-centered, but when it matters, these rogues do the right thing even if it places their own life at risk.

While my stories include a wide range of male and female characters, I find it too rare for the central character to fit in lovable rogue mold. This was something I chose to rectify in both my Fate of Wizardoms and Fall of Wizardoms epic fantasy series.

Meet Jerrell (Jace) Landish

Self-proclaimed as the greatest thief in the Eight Wizardoms, Jerrell enters the story with years of past exploits behind him. With a flair for the outlandish, his past capers have brought him the kind of fame and attention a thief wishes to avoid, forcing him use the name Jace so others might trust him and so his enemies find it more difficult to find him and exact revenge.

I find Jace/Jerrell incredibly fun to write, often providing comic relief to a story that can otherwise feel intense. Imagine a male dressed as a woman with the task of seducing a wizard so he can steal the man’s enchanted bracelet. Picture a situation where Jace and his party are without funds and in need of a room and a meal for the evening. The barkeep requests a striptease for the patrons, which Jace readily agrees to, thinking it would involve one of the women in his party. When he discovers the men in town prefer to watch a male dance, Jace finds himself on stage and fun ensues. When sandwiched amid a tale packed with magic, quests, monsters, adventure, assassins, dark plots, and darker prophecies, such humorous elements help greatly to break the tension. Evoking emotion from readers is a powerful thing and laughter is even better than sorrow, for far too few stories make readers laugh.

Jace is not there merely for laughs, for like all characters, he undertakes a journey. In my Fate of Wizardoms series, he begins as a loner who is focused only his own pursuit of wealth, still influenced by a difficult childhood that placed him on a path of self-preservation. As other characters enter the fold, Jace slowly begins to change, eventually placing the welfare of the world above his own needs. As one might guess, a woman is at the center of this evolution, but much his maturation has to do with his age and the fact that his past exploits, and riches, did not enrich his life.

Each person has his or her own strengths. In fantasy adventures, bringing together a squad of individuals with varying abilities makes the party much stronger. A skilled thief such as Jace can pick almost any lock. He is clever, intuitive, and is often the first character to reach the conclusion dangling before the party. As a result, he adds as much to any quest as the vaunted warriors or powerful wizards.

Go for Two

When I began writing God King Rising, the first book in my Fall of Wizardoms series, I decided to tap another lovable rogue to become a protagonist. Thus, I brought back a minor character from Fate of Wizardoms and made her a central figure.

The very first chapter introduces readers to Harlequin Ahlee, a female pirate of much renown. She is bold, brazen, and full of snark. Harlequin cheats at cards and is likely to treat a man like a toy because she cannot be bothered with relationships. With a whip on one hip and a sabre on the other, she is sometimes larger than life.

Joined by a prim and proper ex-soldier, a wizard queen, a jovial dwarf, a troubled elf, a female ranger with an enchanted bow, and a jaded warrior with a magic sword, Jace and Harlequin embark on a quest to combat the rise of a long-lost race who wish to crush the Eight Wizardoms. I hope you will join me for this epic adventure, beginning with God King Rising.

Jeffrey L. Kohanek is the author of the new book Wizardoms: God King Rising.

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Interview with Betty Legend, author of Unbound

What can you tell us about your new release, Unbound?

Unbound is a steamy, paranormal romance with humor, action, and a badass heroine who owns the hearts of five powerful and scintillating supernatural men. To survive the curse, she'll have to bond with all five supernaturals.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Since I was 12, I used writing as an emotional and imaginative outlet. I started with writing poetry and short stories. Once I reached high school, I took creative writing. The teacher told me I had true talent and should pursue writing. I started out pursuing creative arts in college but had to change my major in order to keep a job with the National Park Service. I continued taking creative writing as elective courses. After college, I met a co-worker who was a published author. Meeting her helped me see my dream as a reality. I focused hard on writing a book that had been in my mind for years. After finishing it, I heavily pursued and studied traditional and independent publishing. The creative freedom of independent publishing pulled me in that direction. Several years later, I've published fifteen titles.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

There are too many to list only five. Growing up I was a huge fan of Anne Rice, Nora Roberts, and historical regency romance.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Nora Roberts or Anne Rice. I would ask about their writing life and experiences.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The adventure I go on as the writer. I'm a pantser, which means I don't plot out my stories. I sit down with an idea and let it flow and go where the characters take me. What happens as I'm writing is as much a surprise to me as it is when a reader reads my book for the first time.

What is a typical day like for you?

I workout first thing in the morning on my exercise bike, then my row machine. I watch comedy news while I workout. After a shower, I take my dogs out, do a few house chores, then make breakfast. I take my breakfast and a cup of tea into my office and begin my workday. I always start with either writing or cover design work. After, I break for lunch, take my dog for a walk, then come back and either complete the business duties of being an author and independent publisher, watch training videos, catch up on emails or social media, or any other tasks I need to complete. If I'm deep into a story I'm writing, I'll come back from lunch and the dog walk and write more. My workday typically ends between 5 and 6 pm.

What scene in Unbound was your favorite to write?

The last few scenes which include a big battle, the scenes leading to the end, and a scene that is years after the HEA.

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

es, a few. No dream is worth dreaming if it's not lived in life. ~ My personal quote I wrote. Expectation kills joy. I often will put a lot of pressure and expectation on myself and results. I had to post "expectation kills joy" in my office to remind myself not to put so much pressure and expectation that I stop enjoying my writing. I strive for progress, but don't want to overlook what I already have and what I did to get there.

Betty Legend is the author of the new book Unbound.

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Interview with Mark Reps, Author of Native Dreams

What can you tell us about your new release, Native Dreams?

NATIVE DREAMS is the 11th book in the ZEB HANKS: Small Town Sheriff Big Time Trouble series. For new readers to the series, this story centers around Sheriff Zeb Hanks' wife, Echo Skysong, Apache, mystical Knowledge Keeper, Afghanistan war veteran, mother, wife and much more. While Sheriff Zeb Hanks is integral to solving the mystery and its multiple component parts you will see how they truly are a team in the best possible ways. While the book covers branches of Native American mysticism it also covers the day-to-day issue of crime-solving and takes a deep dive into PTSD and its long-term affects.

New readers can pick up at this book and not be lost to many of the interrelationships that have been developed over the first ten books. If you've read the first ten, you will know more of the inside information on how the interpersonal relationships between all the characters work. This book was particularly fun to write as the more novels I write in the series, the more I know the depths of each character and how I can portray them for the reader. Writing the series has grown from mystery writing to character development in a wonderful way for myself and the readers. It has become a way to connect with thousands of fans in a very fun way. Because of their love for the stories I will continue joyfully to write them and with each tell of every new tale hopefully educate readers about not only the Apache way of life, past and present ways of being but allow some insight into the modern relationships between the old west and the new west.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I am currently reading The Last Hundred by Jim Ellis, Three Wise Men by Beau Wise and The National Baseball Hall of Fame Almanac. I'm also a big fan of Henning Mankell and the Kurt Wallander Series. He knows how to write a mystery well.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

I had an idyllic teenage life. The best advice I could give myself would be to do it again and this time take a little more time to learn things that I know now interest me.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

My days go by fast as most people's do, even in Covid 19 times. I guess I would study more acupuncture as I am a Chiropractor and an Acupuncturist. There are 5000 years of acupuncture studies and books that I could learn from.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My day to day life including family, writing, working, playing, thinking, listening to music, dreaming (both day and night dreaming) and just enjoying life itself. Life is like a dream as it presents us with infinite options.

Living, helping others, writing, being myself, evolving, laughing, playing pool, thinking, creating, eating, just about all things in life have a joyful side as far as I can tell.

What scene in Native Dreams was your favorite to write?

Most definitely the opening dream sequence when we see inside Echo and understand her thoughts and realize something big is about to happen to her. It came to me in a thought. I wrote and rewrote it until I had the whole story inside her dream. It was great fun to write. I have had great positive feedback on that chapter as well, probably more so than in any other chapter in any of my books.

Mark Reps is the author of the new book Native Dreams.

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Interview with Lisa Renee Jones, Author of The Poet

What can you tell us about your new release, The Poet?

The Poet is a thriller based on a killer who is judging his victims as unworthy. He has a God complex. He believes poetry is just another form of a bible verse, with judgement in its core. The fun part of the story for me to write is his obsession with Detective Samantha Jazz as his prodigy and her obsession with catching him. Two brilliant minds pitted against each other.

What’s the last book you read?

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. Excellent book. It has a twist in the middle that makes you have to get to the end!

You’re hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?

Well that is hard because I have so many writing friends, I could name about 20 friends I'm dying to see again, thank you, COVID. I'll go with three I don't know.

Dean Koontz: he's a brilliant writer, who has a way of bringing sci-fi into a novel and making it not seem fiction at all, it's incredible. And he loves animals, especially goldens. So I'd have to invite my golden and his as well.

Sandra Brown because she really inspired me in many ways when I first started writing. She's a talented writer who followed an admirable career path.

Mark Greaney: The Gray Man books! Enough said, but there is knowledge in that man's head I'd love to explore.

What's on your writing desk?

Well, considering my desk is usually my bed, blankets and pillows. I know that's crazy but it's my best writing spot. I have an office. It's really just for show.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My family and my animals. And of course, writing. You have to love what you do to be happy.

What scene in The Poet was your favorite to write?

Anything with The Poet himself. He's creepy and yet normal in ways that I think makes us all look to our neighbors a little differently. People can seem normal but really none of us are "normal."

Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the new book The Poet.

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | March 9

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Lisa Renee Jones, Mark Reps, Phillip Margolin, Stephen King, J.T. Ellison, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Romance Books to Read | March 9

Looking to fall in love with some new romance reads? You’ll adore these exciting new novels! This week you can get your hands on books by bestselling authors Skye Warren, Caitlyn Dare, Kate Dunbar, Betty Legend, Jessika Klide, Kennedy Fox, Willow Winters, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!

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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | March 9

Literary fiction readers are in for a treat. This week’s latest releases list is full of intriguing reads you won’t want to miss! The new releases list includes so many bestselling authors like Kate Quinn, Patti Callahan, Imbolo Mbue, Megan Nolan, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!