When we had an open store, I often got recommendations from customers or even authors that guided my reading – Libby Hellman, for example, recommended Elly Griffiths to me very early on. I spent my first winter catching up on Elizabeth George, thanks to a good tip from a reader. Now that I have three wonderful reviewers writing for the website and a book club full of intelligent and discerning readers, I can still, happily, pick up some recommendations. This is a varied list, but there are a few commonalities – Elly Griffiths, Louise Penny, S.A. Cosby, Naomi Hirahara, and Mia P. Manasala. Some are on my own lists – Tasha Alexander, SJ Bennett, Harini Negendra, Elly Griffiths, Mia P. Manasala, Gigi Pandian, Sarah Stewart Taylor and Louise Penny. Vicki’s, Margaret’s and Carla’s reviews of many of these titles can be found on the website.
Vicki Kondelik, reviewer, Ann Arbor:
Margaret Agnew, reviewer, St. Louis, MO:
A World of Curiosities, Louise Penny. I read a lot of books that went back and forth between past and present events this year, but this is the one that nailed it. Penny is on that bestseller list for a reason, and if you haven’t read her books yet, you definitely should.
The Match, Harlan Coben. While I probably like the first one in this particular series best (The Boy from the Woods), this was a good thriller that gave us more about the protaganist, Wilde. He is mysterious and interesting, and I hope Coben writes more in this series. Read Margaret’s review in Mystery Scene here.
Blood will Tell, Heather Chavez. This one may be personal preference! I related hard to the main character, and I even ended up buying it for my library. This is a fun thriller with good family drama and just a strong mystery at the center. Read Margaret’s review in Mystery Scene here.
When the Corn is Waist High, Jeremy Scott. This book is absolutely wild. While I didn’t love every minute, the prose is good and the twist was totally unexpected. What at first seems like a pretty average procedural turns out to be…not that at all. Read Margaret’s review in Mystery Scene here.
Carla Schantz, reviewer, St. Louis, MO:
Steeped in Secrets, Lauren Elliott
State of the Onion, Julie Hyzy
Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes, Karen Rose Smith
Secrets in Death, J.D. Robb
A Room Full of Bones, Elly Griffiths
The Accidental Alchemist, Gigi Pandian
Lisa Arnsdorf, Germany:
Ghost 19, Simone St. James: it was especially fun as an audiobook because the reader has that old Hollywood dramatic actress voice. It almost sounds like an old made-for-radio production. It’s a lot of fun!
Sun Down Motel, Simone St. James: terrifying and SO GOOD!
The Windsor Knot, SJ Bennett: Such a gem! I wonder how this series will develop now that we’ve lost Elizabeth II?
Singapore Sapphire, AM Stuart: Great mystery with a body on the first page (which I love!). Stuart is so adept at writing the setting that you can feel the steamy heat and lush jungle while you’re reading. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
A Dark and Twisted Tale, Sharon Bolton: This is the 4th Lacey Flint book. Bolton released a new book in this series this year, the first book in 8 years! I had to read the 4th book before moving on to the 5th, The Dark (still in my TBR pile). Even though it’s been awhile, it was easy to jump right back in and catch up with Lacey and Mark Joesbury and their complicated relationship. The continued development of Lacey’s (currently former, but soon to be current again) boss, Dana Tulloch, is really great too. And this mystery is timely and interesting and also incredibly odd. And full of Bolton’s signature dark and creepy atmosphere.
Strange Practice, Vivian Shaw: Shaw’s main character is Greta Helsing, a descendant of Dr. Van Helsing (the “Van” was dropped during WWII) and a doctor to London’s monster population of vampires, werewolves, ghouls, witches, etc. The monsters are being attacked by a strange religious cult and Greta is doing her best to save and protect her patients whilt dealing with the very normal problems of running her own primary care practice and trying to make her lack of resources stretch. It was a fun mystery!
The Locked Room, Elly Griffiths.
Clark and Division, Naomi Hirahara.
Roxie Weaver, Michigan:
The Cartographers, Peng Shepherd.
Two Nights in Lisbon, Chris Pavone.
The River, Peter Heller.
Insomnia, Sarah Pinborough.
The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman.
Diane Gross, California:
As for this year’s reading, my local book club opted to keep things light. We started with Helen of Pasadena by Lian Dolan, a satire that we all loved. We read through most of the Fiona Davis titles; I’m done with her! I loved Mia P. Manansala’s series (thank you for the introduction). The title that has stayed with me was The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, which has a mystery but a little too much editorializing about writing and reading.
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles – Not a mystery but my favorite of 2022, too classy a novel to leave off my list.
Joyce Simowski, Michigan:
Tori Booker, Ann Arbor: 
