Louise Penny is the author of the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels (Still Life, A Fatal Grace, and The Cruelest Month). She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (six times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2017, she received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture. Louise lives in a small village south of Montréal.
The White Lady (2023) Jacqueline Winspear "The White Lady is a triumph of storytelling. Rarely have I been swept up into a novel, into the lives of the main characters, so quickly and thoroughly. Winspear creates in Elinor White (The White Lady), a complex, endearing, achingly flawed hero. This is both fast-paced and thoughtful, bold and nuanced, a thriller that is thrillingly human. I loved it."
The Horsewoman (2021) Mike Lupica and James Patterson "Patterson and Lupica manage to get deep into the world of high-level show jumping and also, incredibly for two men, deep into the lives of three generations of strong women. I don't know what's more compelling--the white-knuckle descriptions of the horse shows in the lead-up to the Olympics or the tense, complex relationships among the three women. We grow to care deeply about these horsewomen. This is a hugely entertaining, riveting, page-turner of a book. A thrilling and thoughtful read."
Midwinter Murder (2020) (Murder For All Seasons) Agatha Christie "Agatha Christie’s books are both wonderful crime novels and studies in contrast and duality, and I adore them still. Underestimate them at your peril."
Their Last Secret (2020) Rick Mofina "Rick Mofina's books are edge-of-your seat thrilling. Page turners that don't let up."
Above the Bay of Angels (2020) Rhys Bowen "Rhys Bowen is a gift to all who love great writing, rich and complex characters and a plot that grabs from first words. I dare you to put it down once you’ve read [the] opening sentence. Set in Nice, Bowen brings to life a little known and riveting episode in history—the annual visit of Queen Victoria to the French seaside town and the tumult that ensues. She takes us inside the royal court, inside the kitchens, through the eye of a junior chef, and into the towns and villages of the French Riviera. It is sweeping and intimate, warm and gripping. Above the Bay of Angels is a wonderful read that will stay with you long after the book is finished. I loved it!"
The Escape Room (2019) Megan Goldin "Amazing...a thriller set in an elevator [that explores] the vast territory of people's worst natures. A nightmarish look inside ourselves. Simply riveting."
The Stranger Diaries (2018) (Harbinder Kaur, book 1) Elly Griffiths "At once a homage to the Gothic thriller, and a re-imagining, it is goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting, in every sense. I loved this book! And you will too."
Go to my Grave (2018) Catriona McPherson "Atmospheric, with mind-bending twists, a narrator who may or may not be reliable, and an ending that will take your breath away."
Dangerous to Know (2017) (Lillian Frost & Edith Head, book 2) Renee Patrick "A beguiling champagne cocktail of a crime novel... Design for Dying is a delight."
Four Equations (2016) Robert Landori "Robert Landori writes marvelously intricate international intrigue thrillers..."
The Quality of Silence (2015) Rosamund Lupton "A taut psychological thriller ... The Quality of Silence will have your heart thumping. Lupton’s masterful pacing, riveting plotting, and keen understanding of grief make her a winning rival of Tana French and Val McDermid. Absolutely gripping."
Aunty Lee's Delights (2013) (Singaporean Mystery, book 1) Ovidia Yu "A delicious debut. No mere whodunnit - Aunty Lee's Delights sparkles with insight... Rosie Lee is a terrifically original heroine."
Dante's Wood (2013) (Mark Angelotti, book 1) Lynne Raimondo "A taut, compelling, very moving debut novel."
The Witch of Babylon (2011) (Mesopotamian Trilogy, book 1) D J McIntosh "Ancient history and alchemy combine to terrorize us in this stunning historical thriller. A terrific read."
The Fat Man (2010) Ken Harmon "It's the 'Naughty List' for you, if you don't buy this book for christmas!"
The First Wave (2007) (Billy Boyle World War II Mystery, book 2) James R Benn "What a great read, full of action, humor and heart. . . . Equal parts spy thriller, war story and murder mystery, with a dollop of romance that's never sweet, this is just a terrific book. More please!"
