Mysterious Reviews: The Best Mysteries of 2010

As 2010 draws to a close, it's time to again review (as it were) my list of the best mysteries, suspense novels, and thrillers that I read and reviewed during the year. Titles are listed alphabetically by author.

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Haunt Me Still by Jennifer Lee Carrell
Dutton Hardcover (April 2010)

This literary mystery has it all: a terrific link to a real literary figure (William Shakespeare), an atmospheric setting (a remote Scottish castle), an occult-themed plot, and a captivating lead character (Kate Stanley, her second appearance marred only by a mildly annoying on-again, off-again romantic relationship with a somewhat unlikeable security consultant). "[T]hose readers who shunned Shakespeare in school" will delight in this fast-paced, enjoyable mystery.

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Haunt Me Still by Jennifer Lee Carrell. Purchase options are shown below:

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One Man's Paradise by Douglas Corleone
Minotaur Books Hardcover (April 2010)

Long time readers of my reviews probably know that I infrequently rate first novels very highly. To me, new authors typically try to accomplish too much with their debut: introduce a memorable lead character, develop an interesting supporting cast that aren't caricatures, come up with an unusual crime to solve, and create a credible plot to connect everything together. But this winner of the 2009 St. Martin's Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel contest succeeds on all levels. My only quibble with it is that it is written in first person present tense, a style I really don't like.

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: One Man's Paradise by Douglas Corleone. Purchase options are shown below:

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Faithful Place by Tana French
Viking Hardcover (July 2010)

This unusual, literary-style novel offers a unique spin on the standard police procedural. There aren't many elements to the plot, yet I was constantly intrigued by how the various pieces came together, often in ways that surprised me. I concluded by review by saying, "With a cast of memorable characters and an intriguing plotline, Faithful Place will certainly be remembered as among the best suspense novels to be published this year." And indeed it has, appearing on many other "Best of 2010" lists.

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Faithful Place by Tana French. Purchase options are shown below:

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Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen
Ballantine Hardcover (July 2010)

I generally appreciate when an author takes a temporary detour with their series characters, this thriller being an exceptional example of such. I was enthralled with the storyline, how it developed and how it ended: "The last few chapters offer an incredible -- and completely unexpected -- explanation as to what really happened to Maura Isles while she was missing." As there is little in the way of character introduction, this is not the best book for new readers of the series, though it can certainly be read as a stand-alone.

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen. Purchase options are shown below:

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The Silent Places by James Patrick Hunt
Minotaur Books Hardcover (May 2010)

This "exceptionally well-crafted suspense novel" is more character-driven than plot-driven, but both contribute to its success as a hunter and prey story, related from both perspectives. "A mutual respect ultimately develops between [homicide detective] Hastings and [escaped prisoner] Reese, one that adds depth to the story; when they finally meet face to face, the moment is rather bittersweet." I'm not usually a fan of omniscient narratives, but did say that "[t]hough the reader is cognizant to all the proceedings, the cat-and-mouse aspect is nicely played out, the author maintaining a high level of tension throughout."

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: The Silent Places by James Patrick Hunt. Purchase options are shown below:

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Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson
Viking Hardcover (May 2010)

I was rather unprepared for how much I enjoyed this novel. In my review, I said the book "is quite deceptive in its pacing. What at first may appear to be a leisurely whodunit-style mystery with more than its fair share of quirky characters, rapidly (and somewhat unexpectedly) evolves into a first-rate thriller." I also found series character Walt Longmire to be both original and familiar at the same time, quite an accomplishment for my first read in the series. (On a separate note, A&E is developing a cast-contingent pilot based on Sheriff Walt Longmire for a potential crime drama.)

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson. Purchase options are shown below:

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Vermilion Drift by William Kent Krueger
Atria Hardcover (September 2010)

This multi-faceted thriller works on many levels. What probably surprised me most was that much of what I believed to be the "mystery" was revealed early in the book -- too early I thought while reading -- and yet the plot continued to develop in unexpected and surprising ways. I concluded my review by saying, "With its intricate plot and richly drawn characters, this is truly a superior novel of suspense, and not one to be missed."

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Vermilion Drift by William Kent Krueger. Purchase options are shown below:

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Freeze Frame by Peter May
Poisoned Pen Press Hardcover (March 2010)

Forensic scientist Enzo Macleod is now more than half-way through his seven unsolved, cold case crimes in this outstanding "little island mystery" set off the coast of France. I was thoroughly entertained, saying in my review, "The puzzle is intricate, the investigation and observational deductive reasoning by Enzo flawless." I rated the first book in the series, Extraordinary People among the best I read in 2006, but I think this entry may be better.

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Freeze Frame by Peter May. Purchase options are shown below:

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Blood Count by Reggie Nadelson
Walker Hardcover (October 2010)

This ninth mystery in the Artie Cohen series "is a superb example of an intricately crafted, multi-layered novel," one that generates suspense from many directions. A whodunit to be sure, but the thrill for me was in following Cohen as he determines the whydunit. The atmospheric setting adds to the mystery: "Much of the action takes place in the once graceful, now somewhat decrepit and often dimly lit Harlem apartment building, adding a claustrophobic feel to the story. That Cohen is acting in a gray area of the law -- he's not officially authorized to be where he is -- also heightens the suspense."

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Blood Count by Reggie Nadelson. Purchase options are shown below:

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Eye of the Raven by Eliot Pattison
Counterpoint Hardcover (December 2009)

I'm generally not a big fan of historical mysteries, but since Pattison's Shan Tao Yun novels are among my favorites in any given year, I wanted to give this second series of his a chance. And I'm glad I did, calling this book "a tautly plotted, beautifully written mystery set in Colonial America. Those with some knowledge of this historical period will no doubt appreciate the meticulous detail with which the author interweaves fact and fiction." I also enjoyed the puzzle being solved, that the answer to whodunit was in the whydunit: "Why this particular Virginian, why this particular day, ... why this particular tree?" Simply put -- outstanding. (This book was published in December 2009 but I didn't read/review it until January of this year.)

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: Eye of the Raven by Eliot Pattison. Purchase options are shown below:

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The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
Harper Hardcover (March 2010)

I greatly enjoy the Maisie Dobbs mysteries, and this seventh entry is not only typical of the series, but one of its best. I said in my review, "Winspear's narrative has a mesmerizing, almost lyrical, tone to it. Though the plot moves along swiftly, [this] is not a fast-reading novel; the expressive descriptions of people and places and the intricately detailed plot almost demand close attention. But it is Maisie herself that commands center stage, with her intuitive, yet perceptive, approach to her investigation."

Read the complete text of my review at Mysterious Reviews: The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear. Purchase options are shown below:

BFG's Customer Favorites Award Winners Now Only $4.99 (for a limited time)

Big Fish Games recently announced its Customer Favorites Awards for 2010, and now you can get any of these 27 winning games for only $4.99 for a limited time!

Just use the coupon code GAMEOFTHEYEAR during checkout for any standard version game. (Collector's Editions are excluded from this promotion, which ends Sunday, January 2nd, 2011.)

We're pleased to see that many mystery and suspense games are winners and runners-up, including Redemption Cemetery: Curse of the Raven (Best Hidden Object Game), Drawn: Dark Flight (Best Adventure Game), Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles (Best Story), Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose (Best Artwork), and Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat (Best Sequel, which we also reviewed).

Vampire Slayer: Part One by Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney (Book Review)

Vampire Slayer: Part One by Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney. A Nancy Drew "The New Case Files" Mystery. Papercutz Hardcover, September 2010.

This short graphic novel for tweens, the first in a new series, does a fine job setting up a "Twilight"-inspired case for the amateur sleuth to solve, but its artwork is somewhat disappointing, lacking depth and interest.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Vampire Slayer: Part One by Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

An East End Murder by Charles Finch is Today's Featured Free Kindle Mystery

Kindle Mysteries is pleased to feature a mystery title that is currently available in Kindle eBook format for free from Amazon.com. We don't know how long it will be offered at this special price (typically only until a certain number of downloads have been completed), so download it today!

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An East End Murder by Charles Finch
A Charles Lenox Short Story
Minotaur Books (Kindle eBook)
Download Link

About An East End Murder (from the publisher): It’s the end of winter 1865 when Lenox agrees to investigate the death of Phil Jigg, a beloved neighborhood regular, found strangled on Great St. Andrews Street. In a case that takes him through the noisy vendors and pickpockets, the rough-and-tumble back alleys and local pubs of the Seven Dials, Lenox looks for answers in a place that couldn’t feel more foreign from his West End home—and where his presence is anything but welcome. The answer comes in the person of someone so ruthless and brutal that those who could help Lenox are terrified into silence.

OMN Welcomes Mystery Author James LePore

Omnimystery News is delighted to welcome James LePore as our guest blogger. James's second novel, published today, is Blood of My Brother (The Story Plant, December 2010 Trade Paperback, 978-0-9819568-8-6).

Today, James writes about why he chose southern Mexico as the setting for his new book.

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Photo provided courtesy of
James LePore

In 1997 I spent four weeks in southern Mexico, in the city of Oaxaca and on the Pacific Coast between Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel. I had just read Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry, and wanted to see, and photograph, the country where Lowry (in real life) and the American Consul Firmin (in the novel) had tried so hard, but failed, to commit suicide by mezcal. The coast road from Puerto Escondido deteriorated with a jolting suddeness as I approached Zippolite. Earlier I had picked up a hitchkiker, a middle-aged Brit with bad teeth and a scruffy beard, wearing a bandana like a sixties hippie, who told me, as I was dropping him off at a godforsaken roadside cantina, that he had heard that a busload of American tourists had been hijacked earlier in the day north of Puerto Angel and all were killed. I immediately regretted leaving Puerto Escondido so late—night had fallen as suddenly as the road had turned to rutted hardpan—but pushed on. There were two or three large bonfires on Zippolite’s beach, their light reflecting wildly off of the huge waves crashing behind them, the waves that had for years, according to my guide book, attracted the world’s most insane surfers.

Ten minutes later, I was in Puerto Angel and twenty minutes after that ordering dinner on the veranda of a small but clean and not un-charming inn on a hillside overlooking Puerto Angel Bay, lit to perfection by the moon and stars shining down through a clear night sky. The inn’s owner, a graying ex-hippie herself from San Francisco, had heard nothing of any massacre of Americans. Rumors, she said, it’s what the ex-pats and the paranoid surf bums live on along this coast. The time to worry will be when the rumors stop. She had been running her inn for twenty years, so, relieved, I was happy to take her at her word. So happy that after dinner I had three or four shots of the local mezcal, strong and smoky.

There was a couple that I took to be American—in their late twenties, both blond, both good looking—at a table not too far away. The place was otherwise empty. I thought to ask them to join me but there was something about the way they were talking, looking at each other and then not looking at each other, that decided me against it.

I was asleep within seconds of getting into bed.

At three AM I was wide awake. My room was among a half dozen or so situated along a wide terrace facing the bay. I took my cigarettes out to this terrace, found a comfortable chair next to a thick potted palm tree of some kind, and sat, to smoke and look down at the bay and the dark Pacific beyond until I felt I could fall back to sleep. Before I could light up, however, I heard the crash of glass on tile floor quite nearby, followed immediately by the voices, at first constrained and then getting louder, of a man and a woman arguing. A moment later, the young blonde woman from the restaurant came out of the room two doors down, stepped quickly to the terrace’s sturdy wooden railing and began vomiting over it. Her husband, or boyfriend, or whatever he was, came out and put his hand on her shoulder, but she shook it off violently. She was wearing a thin cotton robe or wrap, knee length, which she had been holding closed while she retched. It came loose when she shook off the man’s hand, and I could see a breast exposed, and a portion of soft, beautifully rounded abdomen, before she pulled it tight again.

Leave me alone, she said. I’m leaving tomorrow.

What about your share? the man asked. He was wearing jeans and no shirt, his hairless, sculpted arms and chest bathed in moonlight.

The woman did not answer. She pulled her wrap even closer, then she turned and looked my way. I was in deep shadow and had not lit my cigarette, so I was pretty sure she couldn’t see me. I could see her face full on now. She was very beautiful. I stared at her. Your share of what, I said to myself?

Fuck you, she said, then turned and stepped past the man and into their room. He followed and pulled the door shut behind him.

Mexico, I thought, Mexico.

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James LePore practiced law for twenty-five years before retiring in 1999 to write and take pictures. He lives in South Salem, NY with his wife, Karen Chandler. Visit his website at JamesLePoreFiction.com.

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About Blood of My Brother: When Jay Cassio's best friend is murdered in a job clearly done by professionals, the walls that he has built to protect himself from the world of others begin to shatter.

Dan Del Colliano had been his confidante and protector since the men were children on the savage streets of Newark, New Jersey. When Dan supports and revives Jay after Jay's parents die in a plane crash, their bond deepens to something beyond brotherhood, beyond blood. Now Jay, a successful lawyer, must find out why Dan died and find a way to seek justice for his murder.

Isabel Perez has lived a life both tainted and charmed since she was a teenager in Mexico. She holds powerful sway over men and has even more powerful alliances with people no one should ever try to cross. She desperately wants her freedom from the chains these people have placed on her. When Jay catapults into her world, their connection is electric, their alliance is lethal, and their future is anything but certain.

Also available: Blood of My Brother (Kindle edition).

The Athena Project by Brad Thor (Book Review)

The Athena Project by Brad Thor. An Athena Project Thriller. Atria Hardcover, November 2010.

Replete with action sequences, close calls, and narrow escapes that are typical of a fast-paced international thriller, what will have readers returning for a sequel is the camaraderie exhibited by this group of talented and gifted women.

Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: The Athena Project by Brad Thor.

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Mysterious Reviews is your source for the latest mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime novel reviews, edited by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

Mystery and Suspense Films, New This Week on DVD (101228)

Checking through our list of films currently scheduled for release this week on DVD and/or Blu-ray disc, shown below are those that fall into the mystery, suspense, and thriller categories.

 Available on DVD
 Available on Blu-ray Disc
 Available on Video on Demand (via Amazon.com)

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The American (2010) 

As an assassin, Jack (George Clooney) is constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian countryside. He relishes being away from death for a spell as he holes up in a small medieval town. While there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a weapon for a mysterious contact, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten).

Savoring the peaceful quietude he finds in the mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues a torrid liaison with a beautiful woman, Clara (Violante Placido). Jack and Clara’s time together evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate. (1:46)

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Resident Evil (2010) 

In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend: a new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead. But when they arrive in Los Angeles, the city is overrun by thousands of Undead -- and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. (1:38)

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And Soon the Darkness (2010) 

Stephanie (Amber Heard) and Ellie's (Odette Yustman) vacation to an exotic village in Argentina is a perfect "girl's getaway" to bask in the sun, shop and flirt with the handsome locals. After a long night of bar-hopping, the girls get into an argument, and Stephanie heads out alone in the morning to cool off. But when she returns, Ellie has disappeared. Finding signs of a struggle, Stephanie fears the worst, and turns to the police for help. But the local authorities have their hands full already -- with a string of unsolved kidnappings targeting young female tourists.

Skeptical of the sheriff’s competency, she enlists help from Michael (Karl Urban), an American ex-pat staying at their hotel. Together they go on a frantic search for Ellie, but Stephanie soon realizes that trusting his seemingly good intentions may drag her farther from the truth. With danger mounting, and time running out, Stephanie must find her friend before darkness falls. (0:91)

New Hardcover Mysteries for January 2011

The Hidden Staircase Mystery Books has updated its list of new hardcover mysteries with books scheduled for publication in January 2011. Please note that some titles may publish early (and may already be available) and some may be delayed, published at a later date.

Below we're listing those authors with returning series characters, new series characters, and non-series or stand-alone mysteries in separate sections. All titles are available on our January new mystery books page (which will become the default home page for the site on January 1st).

• Authors with mysteries featuring returning series characters (in italics) this month:

Madelyn Alt, Maggie O'Neill, Bewitching (7th); Blaize Clement, Dixie Hemingway (6th); Wendy Clinch, Stacey Curtis, Ski Diva (2nd); Susan Rogers Cooper, E. J. Pugh (9th); Robert Crais, Joe Pike (3rd); David Stuart Davies, Johnny Hawke (5th); Andy Diggle and Victor Ibanez, Graphic Non-series; Peggy Ehrhart, Maxx Maxwell (2nd); Diane Fanning, Lucinda Pierce (4th); Sharon Fiffer, Jane Wheel (7th); Lee Goldberg, Mr. Monk (11th); Barry Grant, Sherlock Holmes (2nd); J. M. Gregson, Inspector Peach (13th); Elly Griffiths, Ruth Galloway (2nd); Parnell Hall, Puzzle Lady (12th); Steven F Havill, Posadas County (17th); Jack Higgins, Sean Dillon (18th); Steve Hockensmith, Holmes on the Range (5th); John Lescroart, Abe Glitsky (4th); Fern Michaels, Sisterhood (20th); Helen Mulgray, D. J. Smith (3rd); Amy Myers, Peter and Georgia Marsh (7th); Joyce Carol Oates, Short Story Collection; T. Jefferson Parker, Charlie Hood (4th); James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, Michael Bennett (4th); Robert J. Randisi, Rat Pack (5th); Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom, Sundkvist and Grens (5th); Jed Rubenfeld, Stratham Younger (2nd); C. J. Sansom, Matthew Shardlake (5th); Ferdinand von Schirach, Short Story Collection; Jeffrey Siger, Andreas Kaldis (3rd); Ronald Tierney, Deets Shanahan (10th); Charles Todd, Ian Rutledge (13th); Jill Paton Walsh, Lord Peter Wimsey (3rd).

• Authors with mysteries introducing characters (in italics) in a new series this month:

Quentin Bates, Gunnhildur Gisladottir; Mary Jane Clark, Piper Donovan; Wessel Ebersohn, Abigail Bukula; Susan Goldstein, Samantha Crowley; Peter Helton, Liam McLusky; Karen McCullough, Heather McNeil.

• Authors with non-series or stand-alone mysteries this month:

Herbert J. Cooke, Jr., Barbara D'Amato, Kim Edwards, Howard Gordon, Charlaine Harris, Joanna Higgins, Erin Kelly, Michael Koryta, F. J. Lennon, Jane McLoughlin, Brad Meltzer, Bradford Morrow, Jean Moynahan, J. A. O'Brien, Wallace Stroby, William G. Tapply, Andrew Taylor, Richard A. Thompson.

For more information on any of these titles, please visit the January new mysteries page on our website. If you're interested in new paperbacks, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where you can discover a library of new mysteries; due to the holidays, this page will be updated with new titles in early January.

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.