DelValSinC member Marilyn Paolino recommends . . .

THE MAID by Nita Prose

"A modern closed room mystery that surprised and delighted me. Prose created a likable protagonist who is naive, brave, and a stickler for the rules. This debut has received many accolades. It won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction and was an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. The author’s second book released this fall. Yay! It’s on my TBR list."

DelValSinC member Matty Dalrymple recommends . . .

SUNBURN by Laura Lippman

"I was surprised to learn that Laura Lippman's SUNBURN was only 87K words, because LIppman packs a lot into the book. It's not only a complex story of reversals and reveals, but also includes something I love but find is all too often missing from modern thrillers: words and attention invested in scenes or characters that some readers might consider "throwaway," like the movie buff clerk at the small town video store. I also enjoyed Lippman's loving treatment of the meals the story's P.I./short order cook prepares (and I can't wait to try my hand at his bacon and tomato grilled cheese sandwich). Another entertaining story in an ongoing Lippman binge."

DelValSinC member Marilyn Paolino recommends . . .

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman

"Smart, funny, and plenty of murders await the Thursday Murder Club. Osman invites us into a seemingly peaceful retirement village and introduces us to a group of friends who spend time solving murders. The relationships and friendships are as intriguing as the twisty plot."

DelValSinC member Michael Bradley recommends . . .

A CALLER'S GAME by J. D. Barker

"There is no other way to describe THE CALLER'S GAME than as one hell of a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Barker has an immersive style of writing that grabs the reader and draws them into a fictional world that is so realistic that you can almost hear, smell, taste, and see everything the characters do. His non-stop pacing keeps THE CALLER'S GAME moving at breakneck speed, and every chapter leaves you with a cliffhanger requiring you to read on.

Having said all of this, be mindful of the fact that this is a violent book. Some may be turned off by the violence. But if you want a book that ratchets up the tension to eleven and doesn't stop until the very end, THE CALLER'S GAME is for you."

DelValSinC member James McCrone recommends . . .

LIAR'S DICE by Gabriel Valjan

"In Shane Cleary, Valjan has created a protagonist as canny, moral (in his way) and conflicted as Matthew Scudder. A chilly, noir tale of loss and vengeance.

A very good storyteller, Valjan is also a keen observer, and shares gorgeously detailed nuggets about Boston and its past as Cleary traverses 1970's Boston looking for clues and connections. The city comes alive, is a character itself. Highly recommended."