As the summer draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to indulge in suspense fiction. Three noteworthy novels offer thrilling escapades.
The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia, known for her mastery in genre fiction, introduces a captivating noir novel set in 1940s Mexico. The Intrigue tells the story of Ulises, a con artist placing ads in lonely hearts sections to lure wealthy widows and spinsters. When Perla, owner of a mansion-turned-boarding-house in Veracruz, invites him over, he expects an easy score. Yet, he faces unexpected complications from Perla’s niece, Inés. Her suspicion grows as she questions what a man resembling movie star Tyrone Power wants with her grim aunt. Inés longs to escape her aunt’s control.
“I will escort her,” [Perla] said firmly. “My father always told us ladies from good families are like delicate flowers, which must be carefully pressed inside a good book, and I agree with him.”
Inés’s hand wrapped around a fork, her fingers squeezing it tight. She wished she could stab her aunt with it. …A carefully pressed flower, she thought. A dead thing.
The novel features a classic tale of deception and cunning, with a body count that challenges predictions of who will survive.
Under the Falls by Richard Russo
Richard Russo releases his first crime thriller in Under the Falls, originally written as a TV script. Set in upstate New York’s Stone Mountain, the story weaves a noir theme of a past that never fully fades. Country-rock singer Tyler Sinclair returns home after 18 years for a fundraiser for a paralyzed friend, Doc. Questions about his success and local resentment arise:
“It’s not just that you made all that money,” Doc explains. “It’s that you made it writing songs about us. About our lives. Where’s our cut? is how they look at it.”
The concert leads to multiple deaths, forcing Tyler and others to uncover hidden secrets in Stone Mountain. Russo excels in depicting working-class America and limited opportunities in such communities.
The Blue Flame by George Pelecanos
George Pelecanos revives African American private investigator Derek Strange in The Blue Flame. Fourteen years post his last adventure, Strange investigates two murders within a once-closely-knit group. Known for his portrayal of Washington, D.C., Pelecanos takes readers through areas unfamiliar to tourists and politicians, from rowhouses to detention facilities. The title highlights Strange’s enduring curiosity and passion for solving mysteries.
These novels provide captivating suspense, enriching the end-of-summer reading experience.