Expectation: A straight-forward mystery thriller framed around 90s nostalgia.
Reality: More literary fiction than traditional suspense, Makkai’s use of hindsight evaluation to move the plot forward had me hooked.
All tagged mystery
Moon of the Crusted Snow – Waubgeshig Rice
Expectation: An action-packed post-apocalyptic First Nations-set thriller.
Reality: A slowburn story that uses the end-of-times as an allegory for settler colonialism, the Indigenous focus is what sets this apart from other, similar tales.
Holly – Stephen King
Expectation: The author’s best character in recent years tackles another supernatural mystery.
Reality: Somewhat sidelined by an infusion of current events, it still represents a satisfying entry into King’s recent forays into crime procedurals.
And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie
Expectation: A classic whodunit of misdirection, mystery and murder.
Reality: An expertly plotted slow burn that holds up nearly 100 years after its publication.
Last Night in Montreal – Emily St. John Mandel
Expectation: A noir crime mystery with Mandel’s signature observations about life and culture.
Reality: Dreadfully slow and utterly pretentious, thankfully the author’s storytelling has improved since her debut.
Trust – Hernan Diaz
Expectation: A layered and nuanced old money mystery.
Reality: A sometimes difficult structure and alternating POVs made it uneven but still engaging, even if the payoff wasn't totally there in the end.
A Darling Obsession – S. R. Murray
Expectation: A supernatural thriller with historical fiction elements.
Reality: The supernatural is only hinted at in this overstuffed police procedural.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson
Expectation: An American gothic ghost story set in a small town with evil both real and imagined.
Reality: More mysterious than supernatural, the author keeps readers engaged but the payoff wasn’t there in the end.
The Book of Cold Cases – Simone St. James
Expectation: A fast-paced paranormal mystery with enough plot twists to give you whiplash.
Reality: At times too slow and too long, the story is entertaining enough but far from Simone St. James’ best work.
56 Days – Catherine Ryan Howard
Expectation: A whodunnit cashing in on COVID-19.
Reality: A surprisingly clever, sometimes shocking and utterly enjoyable mystery thriller that used COVID-19 as a logical plot point.
Notes on an Execution – Danya Kukafka
Expectation: A race against the clock of will they or won’t they sensibilities. But with death instead of love.
Reality: A slow-burn character study that takes a few strategic pivots from the usual serial killer narrative.
Razorblade Tears – S. A. Cosby
Expectation: A modern-day revenge tale that doesn’t solely involve rich, white and heterosexual characters.
Reality: A bit clichéd but surprisingly heartfelt and raw exploration for grief, regret and redemption.
The Last House on Needless Street – Catriona Ward
Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller.
Reality: A slow-burn mystery with some satisfying last act reveals.
Billy Summers – Stephen King
Expectation: A supernatural thriller centered around a new Stephen King classic character.
Reality: A crime mystery that goes down several rabbit holes, but it’s an overall rewarding return to form for King.