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 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 Michael Bradley recommends . . .

UNDERCARD by David Albertyn

"UNDERCARD is a riveting, roller coaster that starts at full throttle on page one and doesn't let up until the last page. Albertyn invokes a 24-esque style by spanning the storyline over a single day, and does it effortlessly. The conflict in the twisting plotlines is rooted deep in his characters' individual pasts and, as each thread unravels, it is apparent to the reader that there is much to still learn on the next page.

​Albertyn's book is a gritty, fast-paced thriller with Sin City as the perfect backdrop. UNDERCARD is well written, compelling, and is an outstanding debut from an author that is destined to become a shiny star in the crime fiction genre."