Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Within the span of about 24 hours, Dan Wilcox finds that his mother has been murdered, his long-lost father is dead, and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead has had a fatal heart attack. It is the last of those three that finally makes him cry. And so begins Victim or the Crime - The Day Before Jerry Died by Paul Sanders. The book weaves between the events of Dan's childhood that led to his separation from his sister and mother, his father's abandonment, and his meaningful relationship with his brother Mark. Dan's youth is fraught with abuse, neglect, and outright contempt from those whose love is of the utmost importance. All of this is hinged on the fact that his mother's murder looks a lot like it was done by him. Dan has no recollection of what transpired. While on the run, Dan seeks answers, and the backstory of his life and that of his family unfurls itself, painting a picture of a troubled man who finds professional redemption but still grapples with the ghosts of the past, who is in the biggest trouble of his life once again.

"The Grateful Dead tune playing right now? It's called, Mama Tried. Want me to turn it up?" There is a scene where Dan's mother nearly kills his sister Louise in a violent rage that is absolutely heartbreaking, and as a reader, I had this uncomfortable moment where I was convinced that Mom deserved to have a knife thrust into her horrible neck. This is when you know a novel is an excellently crafted piece of literature as the ability to justify a violent death is no easy feat, but Paul Sanders gets the job done in Victim or the Crime. Based on the title, I expected going in that the events would be replayed in their entirety within a courtroom setting and through the primary point of view of a juror. I understand now the significance of the title but readers should note, to the book's extreme benefit, that this isn't the case (no pun intended). The point of view is largely omniscient when Dan's childhood is depicted, wherein scenes like the one mentioned occur in detail and Dan is then called from upstairs. These are the retellings that have the feeling of being for a juror's benefit, but from Dan's perspective, we do experience his search for answers, which happens alongside his therapist Diana who becomes a fugitive with him. Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead are never too far off in the background, and this murder mystery is one of the most beautifully twisted works I've read this year. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ronél Steyn for Readers' Favorite

Blood on the Bayou by Douglas J. Wood is a thriller of note. New Orleans’ French Quarter is plagued by a serial killer. The Bayou Slasher slits the victim’s throat, carves 3 X’s on the forehead, puts a wooden cross in their hand, and normally leaves no evidence at the scene. The police find DNA at the latest one and arrest the man they believe to be the killer. All the signs point to someone steeped in Voodoo. This is when Agent DiMeglio from the FBI contacts them to inform them they have the wrong man. As one of the best profilers, he uses his skills to uncover the motives for the murders and also discover who the true killer is.

Douglas J. Wood has created an amazing pot of Cajun cuisine of his own with just the correct amount of information in Blood on the Bayou. I was intrigued from the very first bite. The assortment of characters was a perfect blend, and the dialogue was just informative enough to keep me speculating as to who the real killer was for the entire time. With each glorious bite, I found myself wanting more. I would gladly recommend this book to more mature readers due to the violent content of this story. The psychological aspect is also interesting, especially with the ever-present curiosity concerning the serial killer’s mindset. This book will have you guessing over and over in different directions. When you reach the end, you will be guessing even more.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Unnatural Causes by T.E. Harkins is the first book in An Egret’s Loft Murder Mystery series. Madeline never thought she would move to Florida until her children decided that she needed a change of location. She finds herself moving into a retirement community (but don’t call it that) named Egret’s Loft where she meets an assortment of zany neighbors. She has a chaotic start when she has to fight the high-tech refrigerator and gets the latest gossip on her neighbors from Carlota, the President of the Board of Directors. But her warm welcome quickly sours when Carlota is found dead and it's soon established that she was murdered. Suddenly, her neighbors seem a lot less friendly, and with a little help from her children, she takes on the role of a sleuth and sets out to find a killer.

The setting comes to life instantly with the qualities that define Egret’s Loft, making it feel like another character in the story. The residents double as suspects, with each one having a colorful personality. Each element that T.E. Harkins incorporates adds quirkiness to the community that drives the tone, such as not being allowed to say 'retirement' or 'old.' The humor will have you rolling from the beginning. The dialogue adds to the cleverness of the humor which pairs well with Madeline’s attitude as she doesn’t take life too seriously and makes solving a murder so much fun. Harkins sets up Madeline’s great voice instantly with a prologue that has her musing (trying to not be melodramatic) as she expresses her thoughts about moving to Florida.

Other important characters include her two kids who are seen throughout as they make various appearances to help her along the way with the mystery while still finding time to bicker. Her late husband Clint doesn’t appear in the story but his influence is apparent throughout as she investigates, following in his footsteps and allowing her to feel closer to him. The story is fast-paced with the plot going directly from Madeline moving into the community to a murder mystery within just a couple of chapters. Unnatural Causes is a clever introduction to the series with an assortment of quirky characters, a delightful setting, and humor that will have you laughing out loud.

Reviewed by Crissi McDonald for Readers' Favorite

Mystery and romance merge in Cause for Elimination by Marla A. White. This feisty and engrossing story is set in Los Angeles, California, and takes place within the cutthroat world of horse showing and training. Emily Connors, an equestrian, and Justin Butler, a local detective, cross paths when Emily’s friend and employer Pam is found dead in a stall. Emily, still healing from a traumatic horse wreck, rallies herself and convinces Detective Butler that the horse didn’t kill Pam. Through the twists and turns of a complex murder investigation, Emily and Justin grow closer, even as outside forces threaten to keep them apart.

Marla A. White has done an amazing job combining the best elements of two genres I enjoy: a good murder mystery and a complex romance. Cause for Elimination (much like L.A. and the equine Eventing world) shows both a flashy surface and a dark underbelly, filled with humans ranging from benevolent to murderous. I especially enjoyed the banter between Detective Butler and his partner, Dennis Ames. Ms. White skillfully blends male humor and police dynamics using dialogue that is modern and clever.

There are numerous strands of stories in this plot. Besides the complex characters of Emily and Justin, there are several murders, ongoing barn and horse dramas, family dynamics, and even an animal communicator. All are handled with deft skill, and the resolutions to each are fulfilling. I’m also an equine professional and know that when I don’t stumble over details about horses or the people who work with them that I’m in the hands of a knowledgable horse person. Ms. White is an engaging writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

Victoria followed her husband Nick to Angie’s house as she suspected Nick and Angie of having an affair. At Angie’s house, Victoria got out of her car, stumbled on a rock, and lost her balance. She scraped her arm when she fell. Victoria saw Nick and Angie upstairs in an embrace, kissing. Victoria took photos of them, planning to file for a divorce. Later, Angie’s body was found at the bottom of the stairs in her home in Pocantico Hills. Detectives Jack and Lexi make an appointment to see Nick at his home as he was the last person to see Angie alive. The detectives ask Nick for the store slips to confirm his alibi. When looking in the bin for the slips, they find Victoria’s blouse, covered in blood. Who was Angie’s killer? Find out in Killer Motives: A Hudson Valley Mystery by Bonnie L. Traymore.

The plot in Killer Motives by Bonnie L. Traymore is complex, intriguing, and thrilling, and I could not put the book down until I found out who the killer was. Victoria suspecting that her husband was having an affair was a great addition to the nonstop suspense. The story is fast-paced and full of action. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I just kept turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. There are many different characters and each one contributed to the success of the story. They are well developed and described in detail. I could relate to them, but I did not like all of them. The story is excellently written, and I enjoyed reading it. The ending exceeded my expectations and was a big surprise.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

In the crime fiction Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold, detectives Madison and Terry investigate the gruesome murder of Tara Jackson. Tara's distraught roommate, Christina, hints at a romantic involvement with someone named Gabe. Madison and Terry gather information about Tara's involvement with a charity, discover suspicious items in a tote bag at a soup kitchen, and find her suitcase among homeless individuals' belongings in a park. Interrogating Gabe yields no concrete evidence, but when a similar murder occurs to victim Johanna Chase, Madison suggests showing Gabe's photo to a key witness. Leaving no stone unturned, the detectives investigate Tara's dating app connections and discover a silver truck near a crime scene. Links start to emerge with an older cold case, and the detectives believe they are dealing with a brutal serial killer—a serial killer who is secretly watching Madison's every move.

Her Dark Grave is book twelve in the prolific Carolyn Arnold's Detective Madison Knight series. The novel reads as a standalone, and I had no trouble whatsoever following Madison's personal life, which is tied in loosely as a subplot. Arnold is a master of classic crime twists, but weaving through Tara's alternating lifestyles and the men she's dated by scrolling through matches on a dating app really added a contemporary spin to the overall mystery. I liked that we had the killer themselves as a narrator and were brought along as he stalked his lineup of victims up to the moment of meeting. This includes Madison, whom he is also stalking, but Arnold keeps us in the dark on who he actually is. The tension threads through every single scene, and the locations and characters all come to life while the body count rises. Overall, this is a well-written and fully immersive novel, and I will absolutely be going back to Arnold's other books in the series for more. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Perfect Brother by Chris Patchell is a murder mystery with a twist. The story follows Indira Saraf who was used to living in the shadow of her perfect brother, but she loved him too much to resent him. Coming from a traditional Indian family where boys were always better than girls, Indira knew that her job as a software engineer would never match up against college professor Amar Saraf. However, the perfect image of Amar was shattered when he was arrested for the murder of Mallory Riggins, his student and his lover. But Indira believed Amar was innocent and was simply being framed. She used her skills to look into the murder and hunt for any clue that could prove to be Amar’s salvation. But could Indira do it all before she became a victim herself?

I sympathized with Indira a lot. I understood why she fought so hard to gain her parents' praise and tried to compete with her brother without resenting him. Coming from a subcontinent household myself, where the male child always is the priority, I could understand her dilemma. But she loved Amar and that showed in how hard she worked to clear his name. Chris Patchell did wonders with this story. I would not have guessed who was behind the murders for the life of me. Realizing the identity of the killer was a guessing game, but I had no idea who it was until the climax. The details were fantastic and vivid, the dialogues were realistic, and the characters were wonderfully human! It doesn’t get better than this!

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Cat Wright is shocked when she is called to the scene of a murder investigation, only to find out that the prime suspect is none other than her little sister. She jumps into action to find out why someone would want to frame a member of her family for such a heinous crime and this is where she discovers links to an unsolved murder from almost a century ago involving a famous personality in Barkley. With the aid of the ever-dependable G-Paw and some useful tips from Sky Barklay’s diary, Cat sets about to save her sister and clear the sullied reputation of Barkley’s most famous female aviator as the past and present collide in C.B. Wilson’s Doodled To Death.

Doodled To Death is a fast-paced mystery novel by C.B. Wilson. The author takes time to let the plot thicken as the anticipation builds up with each passing chapter. The characters are also impressive in their make-up. Cat juggling her sleuthing skills with salvaging the wreck that is her relationship with the dashing Russ Hawl makes for an interesting romance subplot that I found amusing and easy to relate to. It is obvious to see that C.B. Wilson knows her canines and the affectionate manner in which she injects G-Paw’s activities into what would otherwise have been a straightforward mystery is a credit to her impressive storytelling ability. If you are looking for a mystery to tax your clue-connecting skills then Doodled To Death is one novel you should read. Its quirky humor and intelligent banter give it the feel of a Nancy Drew and Miss Marple murder mysteries hybrid with an even more exciting conclusion.

Reviewed by Soumya Sreehari for Readers' Favorite

Detective Joe Erickson of the Chicago Police Department returns from a leave of absence to integrate back into work life. On the first day of his return, a high-profile murder falls on his desk. What was the motive to kill the young graduate student who was universally liked by everyone? These questions take on their own meanings in Lynn-Steven Johanson’s Corrupted Souls. As Joe and his partner Sam follow lead after lead, they find connections far into the past. Everyone has a back story. Getting almost killed twice makes Joe confident that there’s more to the crime than meets the eye.

Lynn-Steven Johanson weaves a story of many threads in Corrupted Souls. This murder mystery is a page-turner in a surprisingly unhurried manner. For me, the most interesting aspect was how the investigation was a part of the detectives’ lives. It was revealing to know that investigations are not all about spectacular moments but are a series of routine follow-ups and leg work. The story was not only about solving the murder but was also about the lives of all the people connected to it. Pick it up for a relaxing weekend read.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Touch the Dead is a sleuth murder mystery novel by E.S. Thornton. Nineteen-year-old Eden Sinclair returns to her Aunt Billie's Fox Dunes Lodge in Florida, determined to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her beloved cousin, Jess. But things don't go according to plan as her childhood crush, Jess's ex-boyfriend Johnny, still evokes conflicting feelings inside of her. Additionally, on top of being physically assaulted by Aunt Billie's boyfriend, Cap, Eden also receives multiple creepy messages from an unknown stalker. Thrown into the mix is Jess's twin brother's veteran friend, McCabe Jones, who is hell-bent on helping Eden solve the mystery. However, bodies keep piling up, and Eden finds herself unable to trust anyone. As past secrets are revealed, Eden finds herself more lost than ever.

A swirling mix of suspense, mystery, and romance makes Touch the Dead a captivating sleuth story you're hooked on from start to finish. The plotting is intricate and completely unpredictable. Author E.S. Thornton keeps his cards close to the chest as you find yourself wondering what's going to happen next till the climax. The twists and turns are immensely satisfying after being revealed, as you never see them coming. Eden is a compelling protagonist who is easy to sympathize with. Her resolve to discover what happened with Jess, even facing overwhelming odds, makes you root for her until the very end. The narrative flows past without a single hitch. I thoroughly enjoyed Touch the Dead and highly recommend it to anyone itching for an intriguing sleuth murder mystery.