Vol. 2 Issue 3
The novels I’m recommending in this issue are a bit of a change of pace for me. Edwin Hall has written a compelling work of domestic suspense, a genre growing in popularity and one I will be reading more of thanks to Hall. The other two novels are character-driven stories in which murder plays a role but is not the primary focus. Both are upcoming movie releases.
The Secrets We Share by Edwin Hall — Domestic suspense at its best When a mysterious stranger is found murdered in an abandoned warehouse, two sisters, Natalie and Glenn Cavanaugh realize they can no longer avoid the truth about the murder of their father when they were growing up. Hall has created a novel of interwoven plots and multiple murders that keep the reader on edge and impel the story toward its dramatic conclusion. By using multiple viewpoints, Hall puts us inside the heads of the major characters, revealing their complexities and helping the reader follow the twists and turns of the storyline. The Secrets We Share, published this year, discloses the painful consequences of keeping secrets that won’t stay buried.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Living in a marsh on the South Carolina coast, Kya Clark, who is abandoned by her family at an early age, grows up sustained by the natural environment surrounding her. She is shunned, however, by the nearby town and referred to as the “Marsh Girl.” When a young man from the town is murdered, Kya becomes the prime suspect. The novel is beautifully written, replete with descriptions of the natural world through Kya’s eyes. And we experience how Kya, a strong, smart woman, overcomes hardships and prejudices to live the life she wants.
The Maid by Nita Prose Molly, the maid in a posh hotel, narrates this story. The recent loss of her grandmother leaves her alone in the world. Still, she works diligently at the job she loves, and for which she is highly suited. Molly is quirky, people find her strange and laugh and take advantage of her largely because she is unable to pick up on social cues. When a guest is murdered in the room Molly cleans, her odd behavior raises suspicions, and she is arrested for the crime. As we read the book from Molly’s viewpoint, we learn what Molly is oblivious to and we root for her to learn the truth. We also see Molly’s personality evolving and ultimately developing close relationships with friends.
Must Read Crime Classic During the 20th century, Eric Ambler brought both gritty realism and literary respectability to the thriller. He is credited with defining the genre and paving the path for other writers, notably Graham Greene and John LeCarre. A Coffin for Dimitrios is Ambler’s most well-known work written in the late1930s during the Nazi threat. In this novel, writer Charles Latimer inadvertently becomes entangled in espionage and assassination in the Balkans. This book cemented Ambler’s reputation as a master thriller writer. All six of his novels remain relevant in our own time of tense geopolitics, violent conflicts, and asylum-seeking refugees. In a 1981 interview in the New York Times, Ambler said that thrillers “say more about the way people and governments behave than many of the conventional novels.”
Patronize Independent Book Stores Whenever you buy books, please consider purchasing from independent booksellers who remain passionate about books, love to share their knowledge, and provide a vital link between readers and authors. You can reach out to me via my email, chrisquarembo@gmail.com, and share your comments about the newsletter, books you’re reading, and books you’d like to recommend to readers of this newsletter. Watch for my next newsletter in July.
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