Crime Archives - Joelbooks https://joelbooks.com/category/fiction/crime/ Selected quality books read by Joelbooks book club Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:05:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.4 https://i0.wp.com/joelbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/wp-1626157867628.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Crime Archives - Joelbooks https://joelbooks.com/category/fiction/crime/ 32 32 154781010 Top 6 Hard-boiled Crime Mystery Novels (In Reverse Chronological Order) https://joelbooks.com/top-hard-boiled-crime-mystery-novels/ Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:03:28 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=31370

The fascination of hard-boiled crime mystery books lies in their...

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The fascination of hard-boiled crime mystery books lies in their realistic portrayal of crime. The complexity of their characters, and the dark, often morally ambiguous worlds they navigate.

Hard-boiled fiction, with its roots deeply embedded in the gritty realities of American life, marked a significant departure from the genteel detective stories that preceded it. Dashiell Hammett's pioneering work in this genre, notably through The Maltese Falcon, introduced a raw, unvarnished perspective to detective fiction, intertwining stark realism with elements of naturalism.

The Evolution of Hard-boiled Crime Mysteries

Over the years, hard-boiled crime mysteries have evolved from straightforward detective stories to complex narratives that delve deep into character psychology and social commentary. The genre has expanded to include diverse settings and characters, reflecting contemporary issues and societal changes.

This following list of top hard-boiled crime mystery novels showcases the genre's growth, featuring books that not only offer thrilling mysteries but also provide insights into the modern world.

I did compose the following list in revers-chronological order.

What Are The Top Hard-boiled Crime Mystery Books?

Full-Tilt Boogie, by Robb T. White (2023)

Set against the gritty backdrop of Youngstown, Ohio, Full-Tilt Boogie is a riveting story that had me on the edge of my seat. Special Agent Jade Hui, the protagonist, is a compelling character, thrown into a complex web of crime involving a new designer drug and a series of unsettling events.

The book excels in its vivid portrayal of Youngstown as a hotbed of criminal activity, with the narrative weaving through various dark and disturbing scenarios.

What particularly caught my attention is the character development of Jade Hui, who confronts not just external threats but also internal conflicts, making her journey through the novel both thrilling and deeply personal. The interplay of different elements like the designer drug plot, the murder of a female prizefighter, and the shadowy figure known as the emissary all contribute to an atmosphere of high tension and intrigue.

The book doesn't shy away from showcasing the harsh realities of crime and its impact on both the victims and those who seek to bring justice. This novel is a standout addition to the hard-boiled crime genre, offering a fresh perspective and a gripping storyline.

Traitors Gate (William Warwick Novels Book 6), by Jeffrey Archer (2023)

Traitors Gate is a masterful addition to the William Warwick series, blending high-stakes drama with intricate plotting. This novel is set in the heart of London, revolving around the audacious heist of the Crown Jewels.

The narrative is ingeniously structured, shifting between the meticulous planning of the heist and the efforts of Scotland Yard to thwart it. Archer's skill in crafting a suspenseful story is evident in the way he ramps up the tension, making Traitors Gate a true page-turner.

The portrayal of the Metropolitan Police and their secret operation is both authentic and fascinating, providing a glimpse into the high-pressure world of law enforcement.

The inclusion of a master criminal with an insider at Scotland Yard adds a thrilling twist to the tale, making it not just a story of crime, but a chess game of strategy and deception.

The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett (2022)

Dashiell Hammett's novel is a seminal work in the hard-boiled crime mystery genre, and its recent reissue in 2022 brought this classic back into the limelight.

Sam Spade, the central character, is the epitome of the hard-boiled detective – tough, cynical, and deeply intuitive. Hammett's narrative is crisp and direct, cutting to the heart of the mystery with an economy of words that is both striking and effective.

The story revolves around the hunt for a priceless artifact, but it's the interplay of the characters that truly drives the narrative. Each character, from the enigmatic Brigid O'Shaughnessy to the shifty Joel Cairo, is masterfully crafted, bringing depth and intrigue to the plot.

Reading The Maltese Falcon is like stepping into a different era, one where the lines between right and wrong are blurred, and everyone has their own agenda. Hammett's portrayal of 1920s San Francisco is vivid and atmospheric, offering a window into a world of speakeasies and shadowy alleyways.

Red Harvest (The Continental Op Book 1), by Dashiell Hammett (2014)

Red Harvest is another exceptional work by Dashiell Hammett, marking the debut of his iconic Continental Op character.

The novel is set in Personville, nicknamed Poisonville, a town rife with corruption and violence. Hammett's skill in creating a palpable sense of place is evident here; Poisonville is a character in itself, oozing menace and decay. The Continental Op, an unnamed detective, is drawn into the town's conflicts, navigating a complex web of crime and corruption. His pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to solving the mystery is both refreshing and compelling. The narrative is lean and fast-paced, with Hammett's trademark dialogue that crackles with wit and tension.

As you read into Red Harvest, you will notice the novel's timeless quality. Despite being written in the early 20th century, its themes of power and greed remain relevant today.

The story unfolds with a series of twists and turns, each more surprising than the last, keeping me thoroughly engaged. Hammett's ability to craft a multi-layered mystery, complete with a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets.

The Postman Always Rings Twice, by James M. Cain (2010)

The Postman Always Rings Twice is a groundbreaking novel in the hard-boiled crime genre, noted for its raw energy and intense emotional depth. The story revolves around a drifter, Frank Chambers, and his tumultuous affair with Cora. Their passion leads to a plot of murder and betrayal that is as compelling as it is disturbing.

Cain's writing is stark and unadorned, yet it conveys the desperation and darkness of the characters' lives with remarkable clarity. The novel's portrayal of illicit love and moral ambiguity is handled with a deftness that is both shocking and captivating.

Frank and Cora are not simply black-and-white figures, they are deeply flawed, yet strangely sympathetic. The narrative is tight and focused, with each scene adding to the mounting tension that drives the story forward. The novel's setting, a roadside diner in rural California, adds to the sense of isolation and claustrophobia that permeates the story.

The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe Book 1), by Raymond Chandler (1988)

This classic introduces us to Philip Marlowe, an iconic figure in the hard-boiled detective genre. Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the novel is a rich tapestry of intrigue, deceit, and moral ambiguity. Marlowe is hired to deal with a blackmailer, but the case quickly spirals into a complex web of murder, corruption, and family secrets.

Chandler's prose is elegant and witty, with a poetic quality that elevates the narrative beyond the typical crime story. His depiction of Los Angeles is atmospheric and vivid, capturing the essence of the city with all its glamour and seediness.

Marlowe is a deeply nuanced character, embodying the ideals of the hard-boiled detective while also displaying a certain vulnerability and moral complexity. The plot is expertly crafted, with each twist and turn adding to the overall mystery. The author's dialogue is particularly noteworthy, with each exchange revealing something new about the characters and their world.

Final Thoughts on Hard-boiled Crime Mystery Books

Reflecting on these hard-boiled crime mystery novels, it's evident that the genre continues to evolve, offering readers not just suspenseful stories but also deeper insights into the human condition. These books, with their complex characters, intricate plots, and richly detailed settings, demonstrate the enduring appeal of hard-boiled crime mysteries.

They challenge readers to confront the darker aspects of society, while also providing thrilling, engaging narratives. Each novel, in its own unique way, contributes to the rich tapestry of the genre, and 2023 proves to be a year where hard-boiled crime mysteries continue to captivate and intrigue readers around the world.

If you enjoyed this list check also our favorite crime thriller novels.

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]]> 31370 Dark Fallen Days by Nicholas Peluso https://joelbooks.com/dark-fallen-days-by-nicholas-peluso-2/ Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:29:28 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=30712

In the town of Toms River, New Jersey, Michael Phy...

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In the town of Toms River, New Jersey, Michael Phy is eighteen years old and losing his mind. A social pariah intent on seeking vengeance on his peers.

Across town, Billy Mallek grew up in a commune of blood drinkers made up of criminals and outcasts. He has aspirations of his own commune in California made up of modern day vampires.

Local police officer Gardener sees the threat Michael and Billy are. His faith is tested, but he is the only one who can stop the dark fallen days from coming.

Amazon

Excerpt from Dark Fallen Days © Copyright 2023 Nicholas Peluso

Michael should be a sophomore but isn’t. Algebra had bested him, and even with the aid of tutors, he failed. So here he sits as a freshman staring blankly at the blackboard with its charts and graphs. Michael could never wrap his mind around the concept that letters can equal numbers in this mathematical expression. He simply tuned out. Due to his health issues and compromised learning, he would eventually be given an exemption from his guidance counselor for algebra. Today, however, he sits quietly. Behind him is Peter Mitel. To some, Peter’s head looks like it is on a swivel. Bouncing up and down and going from side to side. Never fixating on one thing. It is not that he isn’t paying attention to his teacher. He is actually paying attention to everything in the room. Peter hones in on different sounds. A girl to his left is scribbling out a wrong answer, and he can hear the ballpoint pen going back and forth very hard and fast. He can hear the air conditioning kicking on through the vented grate above and to the rear of the classroom. His head turns toward a pencil dropping in the front of the room. Peter can even hear a yellow jacket wasp bouncing off the classroom window.

Peter’s eye sockets are sunken in his head. He was born with anophthalmia meaning he was born without eyes. His algebra textbook is in braille. Leaning against his desk is his walking stick. Peter sits behind Michael because Michael leads him from class to class during the day.

Peter has memorized all the routes to his classes, but the hallways are crowded, and he fears bumping into other kids and dropping his books. When class ends, he always grabs his stick in his left hand, places his right hand on Michael’s right shoulder, and lets him lead the way.

The bell rings, and algebra is done for the day, mercifully for Michael. “You ready?” Michael asks Peter.

“Yeah. Did you want to come over later and play Nintendo with my brother?” Peter takes his stick in his left hand and has his right hand on Michael’s shoulder. Michael also carries

Peter’s books.

“Maybe. I have to ask my mom,” says Michael.

Peter has known Michael since elementary school. He can sense that Michael doesn’t have many friends, if any. Peter would overhear other students snicker and make fun of Michael and his drooping left eye. Peter didn’t feel sorry for many people considering his own condition, but Michael was different. Peter related to him and did feel sorry for him.

As the two navigate the halls, Peter and Michael hear a rude comment from behind them. “Blind leading the blind.”

Michael turns to see two senior football players barreling through all the smaller kids in the hall. The two complete the look by wearing their respective football jerseys even though the season is long over. When the two seniors get next to Michael and Peter, they do take pity on Peter, but not on Michael and push him hard into the lockers dropping his and Peter’s books.

Since Peter was using Michael as a guide, he also lost his balance a little. “Assholes,” Peter says.

The hallway is close to empty now. Some kids laugh at Michael as he picks up the textbooks, but most have sympathy and choose not to look. Michael, of course, only hears the laughter. Michael gets up with books under his left arm and Peter’s hand back on his right shoulder. With his ego bruised again, Michael mutters quietly to himself.

“One day, I’ll kill them all.” Michael forgets that Peter has excellent hearing and hears every word.

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]]> 30712 Silenced by Kiontai Lawson https://joelbooks.com/silenced-by-kiontai-lawson/ Sat, 11 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=30458

In a small, tight-knit town where family legacies are revered,...

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In a small, tight-knit town where family legacies are revered, David finds himself torn between societal expectations and his own desires. Trapped in a house he never wanted, he becomes an unwilling participant in his family's oppressive tradition – a sinister and mysterious custom that demands unwavering obedience. As he delves deeper into this dark inheritance, David's unhinged aunt becomes both a catalyst and an obstacle, propelling him on a journey to uncover the truth behind their twisted legacy.

Amidst the chaos, he grapples with the blurred boundaries between right and wrong, seeking to unravel the true nature of good and evil. In this gripping tale of self-discovery and defiance, David must muster the strength to forge his own path, even as his hesitant brother, Mark, lacks the courage to defy convention. With the love of his life, Zari, hanging in the balance, he faces an impossible choice: should he succumb to the path dictated by his aunt and brother, or will he find the courage to break free from their dark influence?

As the stakes intensify, David's internal struggle mirrors the larger conflict within the town, unveiling hidden secrets and buried truths. The boundaries between reality and superstition blur, and he must navigate a treacherous game of power and manipulation to protect what he holds dear. In this riveting thriller novel, the battle for his identity becomes entwined with the fate of his beloved, as they both become pawns in a dangerous web of family secrets and deception.

Amazon

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]]> 30458 Shantanu by Devansh Kamdar https://joelbooks.com/shantanu-by-devansh-kamdar/ Mon, 02 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=29747

Rakhta Charitra Book I A hardened hitman decides to save...

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Rakhta Charitra Book I

A hardened hitman decides to save a life, unleashing the anger of those above him.

From the heart of the Bombay underworld emerges an extraordinary tale of redemption.

Shantanu, a hardened hitman known for his cold precision, is thrust into a web of moral turmoil when underworld kingpin Kshitij Bhosale assigns him a special target who will forever change his destiny.

Shantanu, the gripping debut installment in the Rakhta Charitra series, combines fierce action and masterful storytelling to tell the tale of one man’s fight to reclaim his goodness.

Get ready to embark on a journey through the sinister underbelly of crime where loyalty, love, and survival collide.

Amazon

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]]> 29747 Top 20 Thriller Books of All Time (Ranked) For 2024 https://joelbooks.com/best-thriller-books-of-all-time/ Wed, 13 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=21208

The best thriller books are like a roller coaster ride....

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The best thriller books are like a roller coaster ride. It's fast, it's thrilling, and it takes you on a wild journey.

The best action movies in Hollywood or on Netflix are often based on great thriller novels. The best thriller books of all time offer an exciting, suspenseful reads and contains a lot of nerve wrecking action and suspense for you.

In this article we collected the best selling thriller books. These books are extremely well written and we believe that you will enjoy reading them as much as we did. We have included a few of our personal favorites, but there are many more to choose from.

Why Thrillers Are So Popular?

People love to be on the edge of their seats, not knowing what is going to happen next. Thrillers are usually full of suspense, mystery, and action. This combination makes for an exciting and thrilling read.

Some thriller book writers are very successful. James Patterson is one such writer. He has written dozens of best-selling thrillers, many of which have been turned into movies. Stephen King is another popular thriller writer with different voice and genre preferences. His books are often dark and suspenseful, keeping readers in uncertainty.

Thrillers are a very popular genre for a reason. They are exciting and fast-paced, leaving readers wanting more. If you are looking for a book that will keep you entertained from beginning to end, then a thriller book is the right choice for you.

Who Are The Most Prominent Thriller Book Authors?

There are many different thriller book authors that have made a name for themselves in the literary world. But there are several authors who are outstanding from the others:

  • Stephen King,
  • Dean Koontz,
  • Ken Follett,
  • Harlan Coben,
  • John Grisham,
  • and James Patterson

Stephen King is one of the most well-known authors in the genre. He has written over 50 novels, many of which have been adapted into films or television series. His work often deals with horror and suspense, and he has a knack for creating truly harrowing tales.

Dean Koontz is another hugely popular author in the thriller genre. He has written over 100 novels, and his work often features supernatural elements. He is known for creating stories that are both suspenseful and thought-provoking, and his books have sold millions of copies worldwide.

John Grisham is a well-known thriller book author. He has written many bestselling novels, such as The Firm and A Time to Kill. His books have been turned into successful movies, such as The Pelican Brief and Runaway Jury. In addition to being a successful author, Grisham is also a lawyer and philanthropist. He has given millions of dollars to charities, including literacy programs.

James Patterson is a world-renowned author, he has written many novels, including the famous “Alex Cross” series. Patterson's books are known for their fast-paced, suspenseful plotlines. Many of his novels have been made into movies, such as “Kiss the Girls” and “Along Came a Spider”. Patterson is one of the most popular authors in the world, with over 300 million copies of his books sold.

What Are The Most Popular Thriller Book Genres?

The thriller book genre has been around for many years and there are many different types of thrillers. We just collected the most important niches within thrillers:

One of the most popular thriller book genres is the mystery thriller. This type of thriller usually contains a crime that needs to be solved. Another popular type of thriller is the horror thriller. This type of thriller usually contains suspenseful and frightening scenes. The action thriller is also a very popular genre. This type of book usually contains a lot of action and adventure.

What Factors Do We Focused On When We Ranked The Best Thriller Books?

When we set out to rank the best thriller books, there were a few factors we knew were important.

  • Factor 1: Age
  • Factor 2: Plot uniqueness
  • Factor 3: Suspense
  • Factor 4: Popularity (Amazon, B&N)

First and foremost, the book must be a thriller. That might seem like a given, but you’d be surprised how many books are marketed as thrillers that don’t actually fit the bill.

The book should be extremely well-written. A poorly written book can be a chore to get through, no matter how thrilling the plot is.

The book should be suspenseful. A good thriller will keep you guessing until the very end.

In terms of age

With those criteria in mind, we set out to find the best thrillers of all time. We looked at both classics and modern novels, and we consulted with experts in the genre to make sure our list was comprehensive. We also took into account things like awards and critical acclaim when making our decisions.

What Are The Best Thriller Books of All Time?

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn (2012)

Gone Girl is a masterpiece and one of the most acclaimed thriller books of all time.

The book opens on the fifth wedding anniversary of the golden couple, Nick and Amy Dunne. But Nick has questions when his wife suddenly gets lost under disturbing circumstances.

Nick is the top police suspect. Amy’s friends are saying that she was always afraid of him and hid things from him. However, Nick swears that it is a lie.

When the police examine his computer, they find strange search results, but Nick denies ever making them. His mobile phone constantly keeps ringing. But what happened to the beautiful Amy?

Win, by Harlan Coben (2021)

More than two decades ago, Patricia Lockwood was kidnapped when her family’s estate was robbed. She was locked in a cabin, but she and her captors escaped. All the stolen items were never recovered.

Later, a recluse also gets killed in his penthouse, and he lays next to two significant objects- a leather suitcase with the initials WHL3 and a stolen Vermeer painting.

These two objects point the police to one man. They belong to Windsor Horne Lockwood III, but he doesn’t know how the dead man got them.

A dead man’s secrets will fall into an antihero vigilante’s hands, and a dangerous road lies ahead.

Never, by Ken Follett (2021)

Pauline Green, the US president, always says that minor problems are what build up to become catastrophic.

There is a stolen US army drone, a shrinking Sahara Desert oasis, and an unoccupied Japanese island. But to top it all, there is a top country secret of stashed deadly chemical poisons. All these things are linked to promoting an escalating crisis.

Meanwhile, there is a group of people determined to stop the outbreak of a world war; a Jihadist undercover spy, a lady intelligence officer, and a Chinese spymaster. The president is also involved, but her populist election rival beleaguers her.

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides (2019)

Alex Michaelides's psychological thriller, The Silent Patient, follows one woman's act of violence against her husband and the therapist obsessed with tracking down her reason.

Silent Patient is Alicia Berenson. Wife of renowned photographer Gabriel Berenson, she is an artist in her own right, able to fill galleries with her hyper-realistic artwork. She loves her husband more than anything, but then one day she hears gunshots and the police arrive and find her standing over his body with a smoking gun, his arms and legs wired down.

From that point onward, she does not speak.

Reminders of Him, by Colleen Hoover (2022)

After being released from prison, Kenna Rowan has come back home where everything first went wrong. She hopes to be reunited with her daughter.

All the people in her daughter’s life are set on shutting Kenna out despite how hard she tries to prove herself. Well, everyone except Ledger Ward. Ledger is a local bar owner and part of the few and final connections to Kenna’s daughter.

If anyone were to find out how he is gradually becoming a crucial entity in Kenna’s life, they would jeopardize the trust of all those who are important to them. Their romance will grow but so will the risk.

The Locked Door, by Freida McFadden (2021)

Nora Davis has no idea that her dad has been murdering women in their basement until the police show up.

Decades later, her father is already in prison, and Nora is a professional and successful surgeon who lives a quiet and solitary life. None of the people around her have an idea that her dad was a serial killer, and she hopes it can remain so.

Later on, Nora will find out about the murder of one of her female patients. The patient has been murdered in the same way her father used to do it. Someone now knows Nora’s identity, and they want her to take the crime’s fall. But Nora isn’t a killer, and the authorities can’t blame her for anything, provided they don’t check her basement.

I Am Watching You, by Teresa Driscoll (2017)

While on a train, Ella Longfield hears two young men flirting with teenage girls, but she chooses not to think about anything. She then realizes that these men just got out of prison. She goes on high alert, but something stops her from calling for help.

The following day Ella finds out about the disappearance of Anna, who is one of the teenage girls. A year goes by, Anna is not found, and Ella’s guilt is only wracking her. She keeps getting threatening letters causing her more fear.

An anniversary appeal then suggests that Anna’s family and friends hide something. Someone might know where Anna is, but they are only watching Ella.

The Maid, by Nita Prose (2022)

Molly Gray is different from everyone. She is brilliant, but she can’t quite make out the circumstances and people around her. She is a germaphobe and only comfortable in a routine setup. These traits make her perfect for a maid job in Grand Regency Hotel.

To her, there is nothing better than working at the hotel.

Molly will keep following this routine to perfection until one day. She finds the wealthy and infamous Charles Black dead in the hotel’s suite. The police target her as a suspect, and Molly finds herself in a deception web that she can’t untangle.

The Perfect Wife, by Blake Pierce (2018)

Jessie Hunt is sure that she has put her childhood darkness behind her and moved into a beach mansion with her husband, Kyle.

Kyle has gotten a job promotion, and Jessie is almost done with her education for a career in forensic psychology.

But Jessie will begin to notice strange developments that keep happening. Their neighbors seem to be keeping secrets. Kyle is also highly desperate and wants to join a yacht club packed with cheating spouses, mysterious and troubling rules. There is also a serial killer in the psychiatric hospital Jessie is studying in who knows a lot about her life.

As Jessie’s world unravels, she will question everything, including her sanity.

The Guilty Husband, by Stephanie DeCarolis (2021)

Vince Taylor is living the life. He has all that he ever dreamed of; a beautiful home, he is a New York firm’s CEO, but most importantly, his wife is Nicole- the one who stole his heart once he saw her. Nicole and Vince have built an almost perfect life, but a guilty secret is in its middle.

Layla, an intern at Vince’s firm, is found dead, and she had an affair with Vince. This secret could bring down his world, but Vince will do anything to keep it hidden.

The police will discover Vince’s lie and be convinced that he is the killer. If he didn’t disclose the affair, what else is he hiding, and what else could he be guilty of?

Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell (2018)

Ellie Mack was like a jewel, and everyone loved her. But days before she could go on her idyllic summer vacation, she was gone.

Ten years down the line, Ellie hasn’t been found. Laurel Mack, her mother, is attempting to put everything back together. This time is also months from when a clue about Ellie’s case was brought to light.

Laurel meets Floyd, and they flirt, developing something deeper. She meets his daughters within no time, but Poppy is the most breathtaking. She looks like Ellie. Unanswered questions haunt Laurel even more, but Floyd and Poppy also raise questions.

If You Tell, by Gregg Olsen (2019)

For sisters Sami, Nikki, and Tori, the word ‘mom’ triggers memories they have kept secret since childhood. Until now.

Their sadistic mother, Shelly, has been living in their farmhouse for many years. She subjected the sisters to unimaginable torture, abuse, degradation, and psychic terrors. But that’s how the girls created a strong bond making them less vulnerable than their mother could ever imagine.

Other people in Shelly’s household kept being drawn to Shelly’s darkness and perverse web, but the girls were courageous enough to escape a nightmare that only brought about many murders.

Before I Go to Sleep, by S. J. Watson (2011)

Before I Go to Sleep is a story about how memories play a significant role in defining us.

Every time Christine sleeps, her mind erases all her adult memories, all that happens, or all she does in a day.

The next day she always wakes up like the previous one. She thinks she is still a child and has a whole lifetime ahead of her, one with many choices.

Christine forgets her identity, name, past, and her loved ones. But this situation is even worse because her husband, the only person she trusts, is lying. Is it for her good, or is he hiding something?

The Stand, by Stephen King (1990)

In a Defense Department Laboratory, a nanosecond of a computer error is how the world almost comes to an end. A million causal contacts are linked and form a chain death letter.

The day after, there is a new and bleak world. About 99 % of the population has been wiped out, and there are now no institutions. The survivors are only a handful, and if you are lucky to have survived, you are chosen or choose a side.

In this world, the good rides of Mother Abagail and the worst evil nightmares are embodied in the dark man, Randall Flagg. He has unspeakable powers and a lethal smile.

Mirror Image, by Sandra Brown (2019)

A Dallas-bound jet crash results in a tragedy for Avery Daniels, who works as a TV reporter. It becomes an act of fate, giving her an excellent opportunity to further her reporting career. Avery also becomes a critical player in a drama about deadly desires and violent passions.

She undergoes plastic surgery that completely transforms her face. She is now mistaken for Tate Rutledge’s wife.

Avery is helpless in the hospital when she discovers that someone close to Tate had a plan for his assassination. She now must save him, but to do so, she will have to live a different life, risking her own.

The Racketeer, by John Grisham (2012)

Judge Raymond Fawcett becomes the fifth dead judge in his country. Who is the Racketeer, and how is he involved with this untimely demise? Currently, it is Malcolm Bannister.

Malcolm knows who murdered Raymond and why but his situation on paper is wanting. The murder scene only reveals two dead bodies of the judge and his secretary. It doesn’t show any forced entry or struggle.

There is also an empty state-of-the-art safe, and the FBI wants to know what was inside. Malcolm would love to tell them, but such information demands a price.

The Girl You Killed, by Leslie Wolfe (2021)

Andrea Brafford lives a nearly perfect life. She is a marine biologist, married to Craig, and they have just moved into a new home in Houston’s suburbs to enjoy life.

Months later, a trial that polarizes the town they live in emerges. Craig has been named as a defendant in Andrea’s murder. The once peaceful serenity of this community is now in shatters.

Everyone is talking about Andrea. Her relationships have been exposed, and her case is all that everyone checks on the internet. Her life remains an unsolved puzzle. Was she happy, like everyone thought?

 The Last Nazi, by Andrew Turpin (2017)

Ex-CIA officer and war crimes investigator Joe Johnson unravels the connections between a dangerous British blackmail plot and the presidential campaign financing, the Nazi train.

But this mystery will only become more extensive and touch on Johnson’s personal life in ways he never expected; an SS Holocaust killer got out of his hands years before.

Criminal networks and a high intelligence agency combine their forces against Johnson in no time. Jayne Robinson, his exMI6 colleague, is also involved.

Johnson will find himself entangled in an incredibly challenging situation on a quest to seek justice and revive his dwindling career.

And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie (1939)

Agatha Christie hold the distinction of being the bestselling mystery writer of all time, having sold well over two billion copies of her 78 books. One of the best titles among her taut oeuvre is And Then There Were None.

In 1939, eight people, all strangers to one another, are invited to Indian Island off the English coast. Where they systematically begin killing each other.

For the survivors, it's now a race against time to find the killer among them, and the identity of their seemingly wealthy host.

The Count of Monte Christo, by Alexander Dumas (1844)

This is a tale of suffering and retribution and one that has a thrilling account of unexpected events that condemn a young man into misery.

Edmond Dantes is thrown in prison for a crime he did not commit. He does not even get the chance to go to trial, and he is soon forgotten.

There, he learns about a treasure on the Isle of Monte Christo. He gets firmly resolved on escaping and unearthing the treasure. He gets the help of a fellow prisoner he befriends and finally manages to escape.

He plans to use the treasure to destroy the men who brought about his incarceration. Edmond plots his revenge while faking his identity.

Final Thoughts on the Top Thriller Books of All Time

Thriller books are some of the most popular books on the market. They are perfect for anyone who loves a good suspenseful story with lots of action. If you're looking for your next read, be sure to check out one of these best sellers.

Looking for another genre? Check out our favorite sci-fi book collection.

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]]> 21208 Fair Winds of Deceit by Billy R Wade https://joelbooks.com/fair-winds-of-deceit-by-billy-r-wade/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:12:14 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=29209

October 1971. It has been four months since one of...

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October 1971. It has been four months since one of the Navy's most prominent scientists disappeared without a trace. He left behind a top-secret submarine defense project that cannot be completed without him. He must be found.

Colt, a highly decorated officer and top Naval Investigative Service (NIS) Internal Affairs investigator, is unlike any other agent in the NIS. With a unique affinity for solving the most unusual cases, he is the Navy's go-to agent for finding leads and solving cases other agents can't. Given free rein by the brass, Colt assembles a task force of old friends from the Norfolk NIS office and a newly-minted Ensign as his partner in a race to solve the case and find the missing scientist.

If the stress of the ticking clock to find the scientist, not to mention the distraction of his downright beautiful new partner, weren't enough, Colt is also forced to contend with a series of murders and assaults stretching his team thin. The further he and his new partner dig into the case, the greater the lies and complexities surround them, until they find themselves targets in an even deeper plot. A deadly plot that takes them to Italy.

With help coming from unexpected corners, Marcus Colt just might have what he needs to succeed with his case – if he can keep his team alive long enough to solve it.

Amazon

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]]> 29209 Shadow of Death by Gayle Katz https://joelbooks.com/shadow-of-death-by-gayle-katz/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 08:20:24 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=29042

Echoes of the String Walker Book 1 Sidra is no...

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Echoes of the String Walker Book 1

Sidra is no longer safe on Earth. Will a faceless attacker wreck the last of her shattered life?

After her daughter dies and her marriage crumbles, this dimensional traveler only has her dog as a friend to share her grief. But her self-imposed exile turns into terror when she’s stalked by a shadowy man in black.

Desperate to hide her family’s powerful lineage, Sidra prepares for the worst. But the only way to stop her secret from being exposed is to break the one promise she swore she would always keep.

Can this last-of-her-kind, weary nomad defeat a relentless enemy before he claims her final breath?

Doctor Who meets The Twilight Zone in this spine-chilling science fiction thriller with intriguing characters, dark conflict, and edge-of-your-seat scares.

Amazon

Excerpt from Shadow of Death © Copyright 2023 Gayle Katz

The day her daughter died was burned into her brain.

And I could’ve stopped it, damnit! Sidra cursed herself, open palms now two hard fists digging into the hollows of her temples. If I had known she wasn’t ready, it all could’ve been avoided. But how was I to know there would be an issue? I swear, I thought it was time for her to learn about the family secret. Honest. Had I known it would kill her… I… I—Oh, God. She was only eight years old! It was all my fault. I-I led my only daughter to an early grave, and I have only myself to blame…

At that hurtful admission, the floodgates finally burst wide open. Chest quivering and knees buckled, Sidra bellowed down at the kitchen table with all her might. She slammed both fists down with a hollow thud. But no matter how hard she cried her daughter’s name, the festering pain inside only worsened. The memories of her sweet baby girl—button-nosed, smile beaming—flashed like pages of an open picture book behind her eyes. Though Sidra still cherished every single moment they had spent together in those eight short years, it wasn’t enough. More than anything, Sidra wanted to go back and fix the awful mistake. To set things right, once and for all.

And only God knows how hard she tried to do just that.

Unbeknownst to virtually everyone in her life, Sidra was a direct descendant of a very rare kind of human. In her case, possibly the very last. Though the surname had changed over time, she came from a long line of women who all possessed the same special, but profoundly archaic, skill.

This skill: the inherent ability to achieve interdimensional time travel by sheer power of concentration and will.

Whether guided by an omnipotent alien force, some special genetic trait that mutated from the original human genome, or possibly both, Sidra could teleport her physical form to countless other dimensions of reality. Just as some microscopic elements can occupy two spaces at the same time, so could Sidra. A focused particle displacement, if you will. This meant she could visit alternate dimensions, fractured timelines, and even other civilized planets. No passport or gas needed. All Sidra had to do was stand still, carefully listen outside of herself to find the appropriate mantra, and then concentrate on when and where she wanted to go. Though the secretive technique had no real name, the practice was a combination of deep meditation and powerful magic. If practiced, the rewards could be tremendous. It didn’t matter the time or place Sidra wished to arrive, so long as it rested within the sophisticated electromagnetic lattice of the known multi-verse. Although her family’s unique gift had somehow remained a secret since the beginning, a singular title for the phenomenon was coined.

Sidra was a String Walker.

She had first been shown this gift by her mother, whose mother showed it to her, whose mother showed it to her—so on and so forth. As was tradition, she started by explaining the rule of total secrecy. No reason was ever given for this, but the strict warning was enough. Sidra’s mother then provided her with the family’s sacred book of star maps. But these weren’t the typical maps of constellations you would find in a typical astrology book. Spanning five thousand pages, the leather-bound behemoth held no title or script, only detailed ink etchings of constellations and their numerous metaphysical astral signs. If anyone outside of the niche group of women happened to glance at the pages of the valuable family heirloom, they would only see a bunch of incoherent scribbles and lines. Gibberish. Nothing more.

But to Sidra, those pages were keys to unlocking every door in the universe.

Growing up, she did well to hone her craft in the secrecy of her bedroom. It took years to get her mind tuned to just the right frequency and pitch, but she did it. By the time Sidra was in her early twenties, she had memorized all the star maps and charts to her favorite places. Aside from visiting different points in time, one of her favorite hobbies in those days was exploring alternate versions of what we know as Earth. She only had to hop a few notches down that string to see wildly different results. And according to the book, these notches were many. In fact, Sidra had yet to visit over eighty-six trillion alternate Earths simultaneously existing at any given moment. Some good, some bad.

Spending most of her twenties bouncing between dimensions, Sidra tried to balance her time. In a way, she used Earth—the “regular” version that she had grown up to know—as a sort of median. A resting point. Really, Sidra didn’t feel that she belonged to any one realm. Just as a lifelong sailor can never bring himself to settle down on just one shoreline for too long, her heart and mind were forever restless. The constant thrill of traveling so far abroad never wore thin for her.

Of course, that all changed when she met Richard and became pregnant. Once the ultrasounds came back that they would be having a beautiful baby girl, a new feeling of excitement arose.

Finally, Sidra thought the day of Maddie’s birth, the fresh young babe swaddled tight in her arms, I’ll have someone to walk the strings with now. Man, I was starting to think I really was going to be the only one left. Once I teach Maddie the importance of keeping her identity a secret, nothing will stop us. Together, I’ll be able to explore all these wonderful places for what will feel like the first time. All I have to do now is wait for just the right time to show her the way…

On Maddie’s eighth birthday, just as her mother had done before her, Sidra decided it was as good of a time as any for her first lesson. While Richard was off at work, mother and daughter stood at arm’s length from one another in the privacy of their living room. Maddie was her inquisitive self during the lesson as her pudgy fingers leafed through the stale, yellow pages of the family star book. With great patience, Sidra explained each vital step. Start to finish. Just to be safe, she planned on accompanying Maddie on her first walk. Thinking of the roaming unicorns and tree elves in her favorite fantasy world, she decided they would go there. The particle migration process was simple for those who already possessed the inherent skill needed. But as a direct female descendant of a long line of String Walkers, young Maddie was already primed to go the distance.

Or so Sidra had hoped.

Hand in hand, mother and daughter closed their eyes and hummed the sacred pitch. In a matter of overlapping moments, a vibrational resonance bent all physical matter around them, warping the very air. Then, like peeling strips of paint, the four walls, floor, and ceiling stripped away. What remained was a depthless chasm of empty darkness, the fathomless space between realities.

When Sidra opened her eyes again, body now standing in the lush backdrop of mossy woods, panic shot through her. Maddie, who was just standing at Sidra’s side not even a second ago, was now nowhere to be seen.

“Maddie!” Sidra screamed as she twirled around in a circle. “Maddie, where are—”

Suddenly, every fiber of her being shuddered. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Worse yet, whatever was causing the molecular disturbance was happening countless jumps away—from Earth.

Hold on, baby! I’m coming! Her racing mind forced to calm, Sidra achieved the proper psychological wavelength and hopped back to her base reality.

Unfortunately, she was too late.

Crumpled in the fetal position, skin pale and long brown hair curtaining her sullen face, Maddie lay motionless on the floor. When Sidra materialized and saw her daughter wasn’t breathing, she tried like hell to resuscitate her. But after several minutes of chest compressions, Maddie was still not breathing. Even when she tried to use her gift to go back in time and maybe stop the whole event from even happening, it still didn’t work. For some reason beyond Sidra’s mortal understanding, the death of her daughter was no longer accessible. As if wiped from the static database of all physical consciousness, Maddie could only exist in old photos and dreams. By the time Sidra called for an ambulance, the worst had already happened.

At 3:16pm, the arriving paramedic officially declared Maddie as deceased.

Since experiencing that living nightmare, Sidra swore to herself never to use her special gift again. As far as she was concerned, her days as a String Walker were over.

For good.

“I can never take back what happened, no matter how badly I wish I could,” Sidra sobbed. Pulling from the napkin dispenser, she wiped away the shallow puddle of tears that had accumulated on her edge of the table. Looking down to a still slumbering Chippy, she then wiped her bloodshot eyes and continued speaking to her sleeping companion. “I tried using all the mystical spells and advanced tech I could get my hands on, but none of it worked. Not one could give my poor Maddie a second chance at life. Sure, the doctors here ruled the cause of death as a freak coronary aneurysm. Virtually undetectable. They said it was brought on by a previously undiagnosed heart condition. I want to believe it was all an awful case of unfortunate circumstance, but I just can’t shake the feeling that—”

Eyes darting to the digital clock in the right corner of the microwave, Sidra realized she had made a huge mistake. While steeped in mournful reminiscing of the unchangeable past, she had let the minutes slip by her like a fool.

So much for not being late.

Jumping up from her chair, sending a now frantic Chippy skittering off into the next room, Sidra gasped, “Shit! I’m ten minutes over on my lunch break! I gotta get back to the store quick!” As she bounded from the kitchen, car keys and purse clutched in her still shaky hands, Sidra sprinted out the front door. Seconds later, she peeled out of the driveway and disappeared back toward the heart of town. Only by the grace of God would she avoid the wrath of Mr. Dicker.

Meanwhile, laying face up on the kitchen table among the other letters, a single unopened envelope remained. Although its pale yellow pastel covering was ordinary enough upon first glance, there was a huge disclaimer that separated it from all the others in the pile.

Where Sidra’s full name should have been in the address on the envelope’s front were only two bold-faced words.

STRING WALKER

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]]> 29042 Top 8 Military Thrillers (2023) Historical Fictions, Navy Books, Investigations and Mystery https://joelbooks.com/top-military-thrillers-historical-fictions-navy-books-investigations-and-mystery/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:46:35 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=28738

Nothing beats a good military thriller. I’ll be honest with...

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Nothing beats a good military thriller. I’ll be honest with you, I’m into thrillers more than I’m into military books. But then, it makes you think for a second. Sure, there’s quite a bit of imagination in these books, but there has to be a bit of reality in such books.

Despite the fictional profile, I believe such things could happen, or maybe they've already happened. All in all, throw in a bit of thrill and action to the mystery, and you have the perfect book. Here are my favorite military thrillers released over the past years.

What Are The Top Military Thriller with a Blend of Mystery?

Fair Winds of Deceit, by Billy R. Wade (2023)

The action takes us back to the fall of 1971, a time in history we all know for the cold conflicts around the world. It's been a few good months since one of the best scientists in the Navy has disappeared without leaving any clues.

It may not be such a big deal, but the scientist has nearly finished a top secret submarine project. Working on the project by himself, no one can really complete it. In other words, the government must find him, no matter what.

Then, the story takes us to Colt. With years of experience in Navy investigations, Colt is the primary choice for difficult cases that most agents can't solve. This project is different from what he's used to, though.

He has been given a free hand by the government, so he takes advantage and builds a small team of old friends for the case. Torn between the mission and the new relationship he's in, Colt also has to face a bunch of assaults affecting his small crew.

It sounds like mission impossible, but a few plot twists change everything in Colt’s favor. With help from unexpected directions, the decorated officers are in a tight race against time. Only if he could actually survive, and this is where I'll stop with the spoilers and let you discover the rest.

Straight Shot, by Jack Lively (2020)

This is the first book in the series, and trust me, once you're done with it, you'll crave more action. The action takes us from the harsh war fields in the Middle East to the beautiful hills of France. Anyway, the story follows Tom Keeler.

Tom has done more than enough for his country after fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. It's now time for his discharge from the Air Force squadron. He's still not sure what he'll do next, but for a start, he's planning a very long holiday in Alencourt, France, a place where his mother used to go as a kid.

Tom gets to Alencourt, and within his first hour there, three men try to murder him. It's not the best start for the experienced soldier, and he suspects there's more than just a random murder attempt.

His first thought is to jump on the first train and go back, but then, there’s something drawing him to this beautiful French town. It could be the fact that it feels like a holiday, with everyone around him speaking a different language. Maybe it's the laid back lifestyle, the cuisine, or perhaps his new crush.

Tom falls for a stunning policewoman, Cecile. During an investigation, she tells him that the murder attempt was aimed at someone else, a case of mistaken identity. Tom thinks those three men are the same thugs who left his French cousin paralyzed, so he decides to investigate further.

At this point, you won’t know what to believe anymore. There are connections with asylum seeking girls from the Middle East, missing people in the area, as well as his previous experience in combat. Tom's fighting spirit kicks in, and he starts an investigation on his own. And that's when things get messy.

Going Dark, by Neil Lancaster (2019)

The first book in the series follows Tom Novak and his real life experience after the army. He knows that his army years changed him as a person. He has got blood on his hands and a dark past he doesn’t want to talk about.

His first years as a refugee didn’t give him too much hope, but hard work put him in the elite Special Reconnaissance Regiment. He has passed his military days, but his military action years just won't let go of him, despite his new career as a police officer.

Things get messy when he has asked to go undercover and infiltrate a group of people traffickers. His cover goes down the drain, so he ends up chased by both Serbian thugs and other police officers.

He knows something is fishy when the Serbian mafia seems to know every move he makes. Someone in the police is a snitch for them, so he knows that he can’t trust anyone. At this point, he only has one option, to go dark.

Get ready for some gritty suspense and plenty of action. And more importantly, let me clear this out first, the book comes from a former detective sergeant, so you’ll get a pretty realistic story that feels like an inside job, totally worth it.

Red Metal, by Mark Greaney and Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Ripley Rawlings IV. USMC (2019)

With a severe military crisis in Asia and a few issues in Europe, it sounds like the perfect scenario for the Kremlin to attempt to take the eastern side of Africa over. Who would notice? Everyone's busy with all kinds of problems, and then, Africa has some incredible deposits of rare earth minerals.

Having access to such resources would make Russia the top leader in the hi-tech sector for many generations.

But the Americans have a different idea. A Marine lieutenant colonel and a captain from the French Special Forces team up with a Polish partisan fighter, a pilot, and a few other professionals to strike from behind enemy lines.

They know their countries have too much to worry about, so there’s no chance anyone would get involved with the Russians in Africa. But these guys are willing to give it a try.

The action spreads from land to sea and air, bringing a small unit of experts fighting in African jungles against Russian forces, only to prevent Russia from reaching world dominance. And to top all these up, there’s also the threat of a Russian nuclear detonation. Who’s going to win?

Raven One, by Kevin Miller (2017)

No guns, no armor, and lost in a hostile world, it sounds like the worst possible scenario. It's more than enough to give you some thrills, but wait until the action unfolds. This is one of those military thrillers so well written, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the action.

This isn't one of those Navy books where the hero gets stuck behind enemy lines. The action takes you inside a plane cockpit, and while it doesn’t seem so exciting at first, trust me, you’ll feel chills down your spine.

To give you a few hints, Wilson faces an enemy fighter plane. Across the space between them, he sees the pilot's eyes. They're dark, and they don't show any emotion whatsoever. The plane goes above him and gets in control of the situation.

Horrified, he realizes he's exposed, and there's not much he can do about it. And in the last moment, he realizes his enemy has an extra weapon that can end everything.

I’ll stop here with the spoilers, and I believe it's enough to get you hooked. Once you go through the first few pages, you’ll crave for action. The tension buildup is simply amazing.

Man Down, by Marine Mark Ormrod (2009)

This is one of those military thrillers written from a personal point of view. It's not just a random author using their imagination, but an actual former marine who loved the action. He spent much of his career fighting on the Afghan front, gathering plenty of prime time experience and detailed insight into the war.

But then, like any other soldier, he had a fear. And the unimaginable did happen one day.

A landmine took his right arm away, as well as both of his legs. Such catastrophic injuries took ages to fix, and the mental trauma is still there.

Written as a memoir, I believe this book is a must for everyone who loves Navy books. It's not a personal journal but detailed action right from the front. I'd go further and say it's also a motivational book for anyone who struggles with a physical disability.

But then, what did it for me was the detailed graphics of the war action. It feels like you’re there. And although many aspects feel like pure fiction, the fact that everything’s real makes this book even better.

All in all, this action-packed book is written with brutal and tough honesty. It’s dramatic at times, but it also exposes the harsh reality of war.

The Hunting, by Stephen Leather (2021)

When you think about doctors, you think about people in white uniforms who save lives. But then, can a doctor actually change his career and start taking lives instead?

This book tells the story of a British doctor, Raj Patel. Deployed in Syria, he has the primary mission to take care of injured military troops, as well as civilians. His great medical skills save lives. But like everyone else in a war zone, he has some fears.

And one day, those fears become a reality when he's mistaken for someone else and taken hostage.

The story takes us to billionaire Jon van der Sandt. His family has been murdered by jihadist terrorists, and he wants revenge. He hires a team of experienced mercenaries and former soldiers and sends them to Syria to find terrorists and transport them to his estate in the USA.

Unfortunately, these mercenaries also snatch Raj by mistake. And when the killing game begins, he realizes it's too late for him to explain his situation. Instead, he ends up caught in a sophisticated survival game, and he has to do whatever it takes to survive.

Get ready for an extraordinary action and, by far one of the most intense military thrillers out there. The pressure buildup stands out, and to be honest with you, I think this is one of those books that will make it into a movie one day.

Call to Kill, by Billy Billingham and Conor Woodman (2022)

This is the first book in a longer series and, by far one of my favorite military thrillers out there, packed with action, tension, and quite a few plot twists.

Mace ends up deployed in Yemen. He has one mission, saving some hostages. All odds are against him and his team. Despite having a decent plan in place, the mission fails.

Now, things are less likely to go in the right direction anyway because the local political scene is too corrupt.

On one side, General Ruak Shahlai is a local warlord who controls many politicians. On the other hand, American arms dealer Erica Atkins has some impressive connections too. She wants the war to go on, it’s just money for her.

Mace and his men team up with CIA agent Redford to prevent a catastrophe that will take Yemen even deeper into war, not to mention causing a horrible environmental disaster that would ruin the region.

It feels like the type of plot that anyone can anticipate, but there are a bunch of plot twists that will change everything. War is such a profitable business that pretty much everyone has some sort of an interest, and sooner or later, Mace realizes there aren't too many people he can actually trust.

Bottom line

I could probably go on with this list even further. There are plenty of good military thrillers and Navy books out there, some of them based on tough war realities, others written from pure fiction.

However, I believe the above mentioned list will satisfy your hunger for action, mystery, drama, and thrillers. And to make things even better, I've also included a few series with great endings, excellent for follow-ups and further action.

Check out also our favorite historical mystery books!

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]]> 28738 Kitchen Fork by Saj Mahalingam https://joelbooks.com/kitchen-fork-by-saj-mahalingam/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:15:58 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=28583

An escape plan from North Korea gone wrong and scattered...

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An escape plan from North Korea gone wrong and scattered a family over three nations for nearly two decades.

Jin Chan was ready to pay the ultimate price to break his wife and three kids out of the most guarded detention camps in North Korea. So, when he saw the opportunity opened up, he didn’t hesitate, but was it worth it?

The sudden plan ended with his family divided along gender lines and lost in the dark on opposite sides of the road. Following a series of events from that night of the escape, the lives of every member of the Chan family took a different drastic turn.

On one side of the divide, Paik, and Shin, who were only 11 and 8 years old respectively, were lost in the woods to survive and fend for themselves through the night while waiting for a mother and sister who never showed up. The two boys were later captured and sent to an orphanage, where their lives took another turn.

Jin's wife, Sun, and their last child Sue ended up on the wrong side of the road and only managed to be captured. Sun had a difficult decision of running away with her daughter and abandoning her sons or risk being caught by the Korean People's Army, who spent all night searching for them.

Paik and Shin would later end up in the United States, forming the most dreaded gang in Chicago and its environs. The Brotherhood was formed to fight against bullies but later metamorphosed into a drug trafficking and other crimes gang.

Amazon Author's Amazon Page

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]]> 28583 Echoes in the Storm: A Redemption by Robert Dobbs https://joelbooks.com/echoes-in-the-storm-a-redemption-by-robert-dobbs/ Sat, 10 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=27784

The book Echoes in the Storm: A Redemption is an...

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The book Echoes in the Storm: A Redemption is an engrossing story that takes the reader into the seedy neighborhoods of Chicago, a city that is mired in the muck of bribery, treachery, and murder. The experienced Detective Lucas Morgan is at the center of the story. He is a guy who is committed to upholding justice, but he is also tortured by his own personal issues.

The events of the narrative begin with the strange disappearance of the daughter of a powerful senator. Lucas enters the dangerous underground of Chicago in an attempt to locate her, but all he ends up doing is uncovering a sophisticated plot that has the potential to break the city apart. As he makes his way through the complex labyrinth of power and corruption, he finds himself in a race against time with the stakes being raised to an all-time high.

Nevertheless, this is not only the account of a crucial research at this point in time. This is a voyage of personal atonement for the protagonist. As Lucas explores further into the city's mysteries, he must also face his own shadowy history in order to continue his investigation. He becomes an icon of overcoming adversity and finding redemption, a representation of the optimism that can be found even in the most desolate areas of a city.

Lucas remains unshaken throughout the turbulent voyage, acting as an echo for the words of redemption that may be heard throughout the storm. His struggle against the creeping darkness becomes a tribute to the unconquerable energy that resides throughout the city and its inhabitants.

The novel Echoes in the Storm: A Redemption is an engrossing combination of suspense and contemplation, as well as an emotionally moving investigation of atonement. It presents a vivid picture of Chicago, revealing both the city's seedy underside as well as the ray of optimism that shines at its very core. In the face of hardship, it is a monument to the city, its defender, and the indomitable spirit of mankind as a whole.

Amazon Author's Amazon Page

Excerpt from Echoes in the Storm: A Redemption © Copyright 2023 Robert Dobbs

INTRODUCTION

The unmistakable buzz of life clashes with the threatening whisper of danger in the narrow alleyways of Chicago, which are coated with graffiti and often become drenched from the rain. This is a city of striking contrasts and harsh realities; it is also a city that breathes and bleeds like any other living being. And in the very center of its intricate network of streets, a seasoned guardian by the name of Detective Lucas Morgan is embroiled in a never-ending battle against an underhanded foe known as corruption.

Lucas Morgan is not your typical private investigator. His features, which are engraved with experience and a determination as steadfast as the Chicago River, are the epitome of a life that has been committed to the pursuit of justice. His eyes, worn out yet ever attentive, are a reflection of the city that he serves and the city that he loves. When a high-profile case is delivered to his aging mahogany desk, his first feeling is one of fear, which is mixed with a strong sense of obligation. In a large metropolis like Chicago, the fact that Senator Gallagher's daughter, the pure and privileged Abigail, has gone without a trace raises a number of questions and raises a number of possible explanations.

Finding one's way through the dangerous terrain of the underground in Chicago is not an undertaking for the faint of heart. It is a world that flourishes in the shadows, with its slender tendrils of wrongdoing stretching out and penetrating the vital organs of the metropolis.

Lucas is completely aware of this fact. However, this case, this frantic quest for a young lady trapped in the underbelly of a metropolis gone rogue, displays depths of depravity that he has never previously experienced in his career.

As Lucas continues his investigation, he discovers a plot that is both so intricate and sinister that it poses a danger to the entire city that might bring it to its knees. There is not a single area in Chicago that has not been stained by corruption, be it the halls of power, the shadowy realm of organized crime, or even the sacred halls of the police department itself. The disappearance of Senator Gallagher's daughter is nothing more than a piece in a game that is considerably more complex and dangerous than the one that she was involved in.

Lucas is left standing on the edge of a chasm as the stakes continue to increase and the hands of the clock continue to tighten their unyielding grip on their hold on the situation. Despite the fact that a whole city is on the verge of collapse, he finds himself lured into a perplexing mystery, a maze that is laced with lies, murder, and stunning betrayals. He is getting closer to a truth that is more horrible than he could have ever imagined with each new piece he discovers and each new thread he pulls. However, he is unable to look away since doing so would signify that he is giving in to the darkness that are ready to engulf him if he does.

The inhabitants of the Windy City clutch their breath as their defender battles an unknown foe. The backdrop is filled with the unheard music of justice, but it is being drowned out by the noise of corruption. In the middle of the mayhem, Lucas, on the other hand, keeps his ears open for that tune, that elusive harmony of salvation. But will he be able to locate it before the clock strikes zero? Can he bring light to the city before he is overcome by the darkness that the wind brings?

In this town, every backstreet harbors a mystery, and every hushed conversation reveals a story. It is necessary for Lucas Morgan to debunk these stories, bring to light these hidden truths, and face the unknown. This is not merely a quest for justice; it is also a quest for his own personal redemption. It is a voyage that takes him into the seedy underbelly of the city as well as into the heart of the power structures of the city, all while he is fighting the ghosts of his own past that threaten to overwhelm him.

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