If you’re looking for a well-written, richly atmospheric mystery, consider John Banville’s latest novel, “The Drowned,” the fourth installment in his Strafford and Quirke Dublin-based mystery series.
The story unfolds in a small coastal town where a loner walking his dog discovers an abandoned car, still idling, with no driver in sight. A man appears claiming his wife was at the wheel and is now missing or may even have drowned herself. The mysterious disappearance leads to an investigation by Detective Inspector Strafford and his brilliant but troubled pathologist Quirke. Strafford, juggling his own problems, with a wife seeking a divorce and a pregnant lover, must navigate a web of characters, including a sinister university professor, a convicted child molester, and an unhappy woman and her hemophiliac toddler, against the backdrop of 1950s Ireland.
A renowned Booker Prize-winning author, Banville uses rich prose that elevates the detective genre, vividly painting the moody landscapes and capturing social and moral intricacies. While some might anticipate the resolution, the emotional life and human motives of the novel’s characters keep the tension taut and drive the plot’s suspense as much as the crime. With sharp wit and moments of levity to offset grim themes, “The Drowned” is a blend of mystery and introspection, and of grief and guilt.
Best-selling author Chris Whitaker returns with another popular (A Read with Jenna book pick) novel, “All the Colors of the Dark,” a blend of mystery, crime thriller, and multi-decade love story. This propulsive 600-page book, written in a series of brisk urgent chapters, is filled with page-turning twists and a bit of melodrama.
It’s 1975 and a small Missouri town is on edge — someone is abducting young girls. Patch, the local misfit teenager, becomes an unlikely hero when he unexpectedly saves the daughter of a wealthy family from the kidnapper. The heroic act forever changes his life, as well as the others touched by the crime.
When the hero himself becomes a victim, featured characters — including his loyal best friend, aptly named Saint, the embattled police chief, and the rakish town gigolo and wealthy art dealer — are drawn into a desperate search for answers. Whitaker blends raw emotion with suspense, and skillfully layers his narrative with unexpected revelations that will surprise readers till the end. Against the backdrop of a hunt for a serial killer, “All the Colors of the Dark” is a deeply character-driven story that probes the blurred lines between love, devotion, and obsession.
“Death at the Sign of the Rook” is Kate Atkinson’s latest arrival and sixth installment in her beloved Jackson Brodie private detective series. It’s my first entry into her work, which was recommended by friends who are crime and mystery fans.
The story is set in a stately but tired Yorkshire estate where Lord and Lady Milton are hosting a murder-mystery weekend to help pay the bills. Guests are invited to enjoy a real-life version of a Clue-like game, cast with amateurish actors. Amid the staged intrigue of solving a fake murder, an actual one occurs, pulling Brodie — the veteran private investigator already hired to recover a missing painting — into the fray.
Atkinson introduces an entertaining mix of eccentric characters — some nursing their own losses: a war veteran missing his leg, a disillusioned reverend, and Lady Milton herself, lamenting the loss of her family’s former status. Brodie’s gruff and jaded manner belies his incisive curiosity and ability to deftly solve the mysteries and tie up all the seemingly loose ends.
With nods to Agatha Christie and an undercurrent of modern humor, “Death at the Sign of the Rook” delivers a jaunty fresh take on the classic mystery.
I couldn’t resist adding in acclaimed author William Boyd’s latest novel, “Gabriel’s Moon,” a Cold War espionage mystery steeped with intrigue. Inspired by the style of Graham Greene, Boyd in his 18th novel crafts an immensely readable tale, delivering the kind of cinematic experience you’d expect from an accomplished screenwriter.
The story introduces Gabriel Dax, a successful travel writer haunted by childhood memories of his mother’s tragic death. His seemingly good life — frequent journeys, fine dining, encounters with admirers — takes a turn when he meets an alluring older woman who is an MI6 handler. He’s unwittingly drawn into a spy plot where his misadventures grow increasingly complicated, dangerous, and perilously close to home.
Boyd’s vivid narrative captures the dynamic settings, from foggy London to sweltering Cadiz to the shadowy corners of Warsaw. Gabriel’s transformation into a reluctant spy and self-proclaimed “useful idiot” sets the stage for a new anti-hero and his future capers.
