Mystery / Political
Books in the “mystery” category typically are considered “crime” fiction, but sometimes there may be supernatural elements involved. In general, stories in this category involve some unexplained event occurred. The protagonist or some major characters try to figure out what caused it to happen.
A book in the “political” category deals with political events in some way. It could be a political crime, event, or commentary. Often it includes some aspects of satire or criticism of the political systems of the day.
Click on the link of a book to read its description.
In Before After (Ford) there is a group of close-knit guys who hang out together and try to keep to themselves. However, events occur that force these friends to get involved in matters they would much rather ignore. A series of very public and similar-type murders occur . . .Read sample chapter here.
In Chicago Stories: West of Western (Hamer) one wounded ex-Marine starting a new life as an architect in Chicago. An abandoned workshop west of Western Avenue. Smashed windows, death threats, a dead body on the doorstep and a crazed ex-nun next door . . .Read a sample chapter here.
Children of the Plantation (Mortimer) After discovering the truth surrounding the bloody murders in, The Assassins’ Village, our sexy, feisty sleuth and heroine, Diana Rivers and her partner Steve, decide they deserve a holiday. Trying to relax at their luxurious palm fringed plantation hotel in lush, tropical Malaysia; things . . .Read a sample chapter here.
Diary of a Small Fish (Morin) When Paul Forte is indicted by a federal grand jury, everyone suspects prosecutor Bernard (don’t call him “Bernie”) Kilroy has more on his mind than justice. Then the FBI agent in charge of Paul’s case gives him a clue to the mystery . . .Read a sample chapter here.
In Foxy Lady (Daniels) Lady Carolyne Dryden is a brilliant and gifted young woman operating a policy auction house in London for her father. Late one evening she is brutally beaten, robbed and left to die. A few days later two bodies are found . . .
In Game 7: Dead Ball (Schatz) an umpire finds himself in the middle of more than the game on the field. Secrets, lies, and revenge spark . . .
If Errands Could Kill (Bronyaur) Up at sunrise to enjoy the quiet of a sleeping household, Eve Bailey gets her coffee, prepares breakfast for her three children, and has a spare tie ready knowing that her husband, Ben . . .
Into the Desolate Night (Darling) is comprised of ten gripping tales of murder, mayhem, and mystery! Follow the exploits of Detective Anderson and his friends as they tackle some of the toughest cases in . . .Read a sample story here.
Miranda Warning (Norrod) Why is someone killing the band geeks of Richland, Texas? Miranda Beeling would like to know, since she is one of them . . .Read sample chapter here.
In Mystery at the Autumn House Inn (Bush) a young woman and her friend take a much needed vacation to the Vermont countryside since her, nor her friend could really remember the last time she actually took a few days off …
In On the Road to Death’s Door (Williams) a retired small town police officer and a retired history professor find themselves at the center of a murder investigation involving a politician, a corporate executive, and a hippie priest . . .
Parallel Roads (Higgins) When the spring of 1946 comes, Katherine Callahan decides to leave her loving husband and newborn baby so that she may embark upon an unknowingly tragic journey across the famous American highway from Chicago to her sister’s home in Burbank. She never does arrive . . .
In Reverse Metamorphosis (Schobernd) find out what could possibly cause an average and apparently normal young man to suddenly transform himself into a hired assassin . . .
7th Inning Death (Schatz) Sometimes, bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, good people do bad things. And sometimes, people are just plain bad . . .
In Switched in Death (Foley) detective Seth Banning searches for one of the most heinous serial killers of all time. Seth is desperate to find the sadistic murderer who takes his female victims two at a time, and switches their heads . . .
The Ambivalent Corpse (Last) Parts of a dismembered corpse are found on a rocky stretch of beach in Montevideo, Uruguay, apportioned equally between the Memorial to a German cruiser sunk in World War II and the Memorial to Jews killed in the Holocaust . . .Read a sample chapter here.
In The Assassin Evolves (Schobernd) Clayton Albrecht has lost his best friend, mentor, and the only man he could trust. Having avenged that murder he must learn to deal with the friend’s wife, who will be his new handler. He knows her well; he has slept with her . . .
The Assassin’s Village (Mortimer) When an expatriate theatrical group gather to discuss their next play there will be murder. A blackmailer stalks their picturesque Cypriot village . . .Read a sample chapter here.
The Blue Hour (Hulse) Take one decidedly anti-social alcoholic female British ex-cop with an attitude. Add a tough, no-nonsense enigmatic American Private Eye who isn’t quite all he appears. Enmesh them is a dark and deadly web of international intrigue . . .
The Disappearance of Mavis Woodstock (Burgess and Neuman) This first book in a murder-mystery series introduces Realtor Valerie Pankowski and her best friend since childhood, Kit James. Val, who has just signed her divorce papers and a lease on a new apartment, receives a call from a prospective client . . .
The Empanada Affair (Last and Last) features Private Detective Roger Bowman, and the action takes place in Los Angeles and in Northwest Argentina. Bowman is hired to solve the murder of Robert Foster by Foster’s beautiful daughter . . .
In The Lonesome Isle (Groszek) Elizabeth Milton accepted her mother’s death years ago. As a writer investigating her first feature length assignment, she is faced with the knowledge that not only is her mother alive, but she’s been held captive . . .Read a sample chapter here.
In The Sunset Witness (Hayes) four strangers with four motives converge on Sunset, Oregon and find their lives entangled during two tumultuous weeks as they are propelled to an unexpected conclusion . . .Read a sample chapter here.
The Undertaker (Brown) is a fast-paced suspense thriller with a slug of humor, romance, and stark terror. Pete Talbott is a harried Boston computer wonk still grieving over the death of his wife when he finds himself at the wrong end of Gino Parini’s .45 reading his own obituary torn from . . .Read a sample chapter here.
