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Heroes Are Lonely Hunters
Heroes Are Lonely Hunters, by Lloyd R. Free, is a historical mystery that follows an audacious setup: the Marquis de Sade, imprisoned and compromised, is pulled into a covert investigation after a series of brutal murders of young women rocks Paris. The police want his knowledge of the city’s hidden rooms, secret appetites, and dangerous social circles, so the book turns him into a deeply uneasy detective moving through salons, prisons, brothels, theaters, and court intrigue in late eighteenth-century France. It is part murder mystery, part historical fantasia, and part character study of a man the novel never lets us see as simple.
I was pulled in by the writing’s appetite for atmosphere. Free clearly loves this world, and that love shows up in the detail. The streets feel crowded, damp, and watchful. The interiors glitter, then sour. Paris often comes across like a stage set built of velvet, mud, perfume, and rot. I liked that the book does not give us a clean hero. Making Sade the center of a mystery is risky, and that risk is the point. Sometimes I admired the boldness of that choice, and sometimes I felt the discomfort of it pressing back on me. That tension is where the novel has its pulse. It asks me to follow a man who is clever, damaged, self-justifying, observant, and morally unstable, and that makes the reading experience more jagged than cozy, which feels right for this kind of story.
I also found myself drawn to the book’s ideas, even when I was not fully persuaded by them. The novel keeps circling the gap between enlightenment and appetite, public virtue and private vice, reason and superstition. You can feel that in the way Sade moves through philosophical talk, occult rumor, erotic spectacle, and state power, all while the mystery keeps widening instead of neatly shrinking. That gave the book a restless energy I appreciated. I do believe that, at times, the dialogue and exposition can feel a little overflowing, as if the novel wants to pour every fascinating name, scandal, and theory from the era onto the page at once. But even then, I never felt the book was empty. It is too curious for that. Too committed to the mess. And I think the ending leans into that same refusal to tidy everything up, which felt truer to the world the book had built than a slick, over-polished finish would have.
I’d recommend Heroes Are Lonely Hunters most strongly to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a dark edge, especially people who like their mystery novels tangled up with politics, sexuality, philosophy, and real historical figures. For readers who are open to a historical mystery that is intellectually curious, morally thorny, and willing to get its shoes dirty in the back alleys of history, I think there is a lot here to appreciate.
Pages: 247 | ISBN : 978-1948664059
Dive Into the Past
The Man in the Dam follows a journalist hosting a dinner for members of the local amateur theatre society at her family’s country home, who wakes to find a body in her family’s paddock dam, leading to a tangled investigation full of secrets and lies. Why place the story in Victoria’s High Country?
A key feature of the Jade Riley Mysteries is that each book is set in a place where I’ve lived. We have a property in Mansfield in Victoria’s High Country, so I couldn’t wait to write a book inspired by that location.
The small town gives a cosy mystery vibe that suits the story, enabling a situation where everybody knows everybody else, leading to secrets and lies. The surrounding countryside is typically Australian with gum trees, kangaroos, and kookaburras, as well as the menace of snakes and spiders.
Further, the local Lake Eildon offers the opportunity for a dive into the past. It was formed by a dam constructed in the 1950s, flooding houses, roads, and bridges. This lost history is integral to the story.
What parts of Jade are most personal to you as a writer?
Jade shares several of my characteristics. She’s driven and determined, like me. She’s also an over-thinker, which isn’t a stretch for me either. But the most personal of her traits are the ones I wish I had, like incredible courage. Sometimes she takes this to the point of foolhardiness, but she always stands up for what is right. Whereas me? Don’t tell me state secrets because I’d spill all at the mere sight of a thumbscrew.
Jade also faces a major life choice in this book: should she marry Brett and give up her career to move to Malaysia for his job? I faced a similar decision when my husband was offered a job in Nigeria, which involved me relinquishing my beloved job as a career coach. In the end, I agreed to go, instead of turning my hand to becoming a writer. Before my novels were picked up for publication, I wondered whether I’d made a mistake, but now I have no regrets.
Performance is a strong thread in the book. How does theatre mirror the mystery itself?
I used theatre imagery throughout the story in developing the characters, setting, and plot. Everyone in the novel is playing a role, choosing what to reveal and what to keep hidden. The settings are theatrical, from the local bookshop and pub to the murky waters beneath the lake. History comes back to haunt people like a theatre ghost.
I also chose Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest as the play the characters are working on for a specific reason, but I can’t explain why without giving spoilers.
Weird coincidence: I was working on this book when I went on a writer’s retreat to Varuna, The National Writers’ House, in NSW, Australia. While there, I found The Collected Works of Oscar Wilde in my room, and that serendipity confirmed The Importance of Being Earnest as the right choice of play.
What do you enjoy most about writing mysteries?
Mysteries are all about creating a puzzle for readers, and I love puzzles. I enjoy intricate plotting, red herrings, misdirections, and creating characters who all have something to hide.
Before I start, I usually have a big picture plan, but the details only emerge as I’m writing. I love the aha moments when I can add something I hadn’t anticipated because I figure if I couldn’t predict it at the start, readers are more likely to be surprised.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Journalist Jade Riley hosts a dinner at her parents’ idyllic country property with members of the local amateur theatre society. The next morning, she finds one of her guests dead in a dam.
As Jade investigates, the players tighten their grip on long-held secrets. Grudges and tangled motives emerge, and the past refuses to stay buried.
At the same time, a proposal from her boyfriend forces Jade to consider how much she’s willing to give up for love.
An atmospheric, fast-paced mystery, THE MAN IN THE DAM is the third book in Andrea Barton’s Jade Riley Mysteries series.
Death of a Dream Seller
Death of a Dream Seller is a cozy murder mystery set in a sham New York acting school that is taking its last bow. Former staffer Paloma Pennington comes back to the Gramercy Theatrical Arts Academy for a bittersweet “grand finale” party after the school declares bankruptcy, even though the building is nowhere near Gramercy Park and the whole operation has always felt a bit fake. She once sold spots in the pricey program and knows the place charges eye-watering tuition for cramped dorm rooms in Chinatown and dream-of-stardom promises that rarely come true. During the party, she and co-worker Sterling discover the body of their boss, Edwin Everett Asher, stabbed on the empty fifth-floor stage with what looks like a theatrical dagger, his corpse propped under a Florentine mask. A blizzard keeps everyone trapped while the police lock down the building and question a lively group of teachers, board members, and ex-students, many tangled up in a Broadway show called Monte Carlo Autumn that made huge profits yet never paid back its investors and hid behind an anonymous company called Fair Day Partners. As Paloma pieces together that fishy show, a nearby art-gallery robbery, and Edwin’s phony bankruptcy, the story moves toward a shocking reveal.
I enjoyed the narrative voice a lot. Paloma tells the story in a dry, funny first person, and I liked how she mixes straight talk with little flashes of drama. She is the granddaughter of a cop and the daughter of two criminal justice professors, and she thinks like it, so her running commentary on how people should behave around a crime scene feels sharp and oddly believable. I smiled at the way she reacts to the school’s fake glamour, the tacky Wizard of Oz decorations in the hallway, and the students who still think Edwin can “make them stars” even though he is just a small-time acting teacher. The supporting cast leans big and broad, and that worked for me as a cozy. Clementine is loud and unfiltered. Levi cracks jokes at all the wrong times. Goldie is pure theater queen. Their voices bounce off each other and give the party scenes a lot of movement. Sometimes the humor leans a bit cartoonish, and a few side characters feel more like types than people, yet I still had fun watching them crowd into the room and snipe about lawsuits and flop shows while a dead man lies two floors below.
On the mystery side, I liked the bones of the plot. The idea of a “dream seller” who milks both students and investors, then pretends his school is broke while he quietly hoards millions, hits hard and feels sadly believable. I also liked the way the story keeps looping back to money and empty promises. The art gallery robbery next door to the school, the missing Tibetan-style paintings, the secret link between those paintings and Edwin, and the later discovery that some of the stolen art sits in an accomplice’s apartment all give the murder a bigger web and make the title feel earned. A lot of the solution comes to Paloma in texts and recaps, and the reveal is almost too clean. I still liked the logic of it, yet I wanted more time in the room when the truth finally blows up, more heat between suspect and sleuth.
What stayed with me most were the ideas under the whodunit. The book takes real aim at people who package dreams as products, whether that is bogus acting programs with glossy brochures and terrible dorms, or big Broadway shows that treat their backers as prey. The author’s note at the end spells out that she drew on real experiences in show-business offices that went bust, and I could feel that lived-in detail in the empty corridors, the half-cleared props, the sad little “grand finale” spread complete with caviar at a bankruptcy party. The book does not excuse the killer. It just points out that when you build a life on lying to desperate people, you stack the powder, and someone will eventually light the match.
All in all I had a good time with Death of a Dream Seller. The voice is warm, the setting feels lived in, and the mystery ties money, art, and ambition together in a way that kept me turning pages. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozy or light mysteries, who like theater or art-world gossip, and who appreciate a heroine who is smart, slightly jaded, yet still kind. If you want a fast, entertaining read with a bit of bite about the cost of chasing fame, this one fits the bill.
Pages: 146 | ASIN : B0GJYYX4FK
Hazelnuts and Homicide: A Bonne Année Mystery
The novel opens in the quiet coastal town of Hazelton, Oregon. Life there revolves around small rituals, none more beloved than the supper clubs where residents debate literature and impress one another with ambitious home cooking. At the heart of these gatherings stands Bonne Annee, a bookstore owner whose devotion to fiction is matched only by her enthusiasm for food. One convivial evening takes a sharp turn when a guest appears to have been murdered. Bonne soon finds herself at the center of the investigation and at the top of the suspect list. With the town’s first Christmas market fast approaching, she teams up with her Bernedoodle, Oscar, to uncover the truth before the holiday season is derailed.
Hazelnuts and Homicide by N.E. Carlyle fits comfortably within the cozy mystery tradition. It is also a story rooted in friendship. Bonne’s circle plays a prominent role throughout, lending warmth and texture to the unfolding mystery. The novel is a lively and confident outing, distinguished by strong character work. Carlyle populates Hazelton with an eccentric and appealing ensemble, rendered vividly through brisk, energetic prose. The holiday backdrop evokes the familiarity of seasonal television romances, yet the tone remains lighthearted rather than saccharine. The atmosphere feels inviting without tipping into excess.
Bonne Annee emerges as an effective and engaging protagonist. She is deeply loyal, socially embedded, and clearly invested in her community. Hazelton itself carries similar narrative weight. The town feels tangible and lived-in, defined by cheerful settings and a palpable sense of place. Most appealing is Bonne’s grounded nature. She is capable and persistent, but not infallible. Her missteps lend credibility and make her easier to root for than the genre’s more preternaturally gifted detectives.
Carlyle’s attention to food adds another layer of charm, enriching the story without slowing its pace. Still, the undeniable scene stealer is Oscar. Few sidekicks suit a cozy mystery better than an exuberant Bernedoodle. His presence provides both levity and heart, serving as the final flourish on a thoroughly enjoyable, holiday-themed mystery.
Pages: 350 | ASIN: B0FX517RB9
Better Off Dead
Better Off Dead drops us straight into the foggy, moneyed world of Marin County and follows Trisha Carson, an amateur sleuth with sharp instincts and a stubborn streak, as she tries to untangle the suspicious death of Andrew Barlow. What looks like a tragic open water swimming accident begins to feel like something darker, especially once Andrew’s son Harrison insists his uncle murdered his father. From there the book expands into a layered mystery involving family secrets, financial ruin, and a Shakespeare-inspired sense of emotional chaos. It’s a contemporary mystery, but it leans into the psychological side of the genre, especially as parallels to Hamlet surface in clever ways.
What struck me first was the tone of the book. Trisha’s voice feels grounded and natural. She’s observant in a way that made me feel like I was riding shotgun with her, listening to her mutter under her breath about everything from funeral etiquette to suspicious boat owners. The writing is clean and steady. When it settles into a moment, it stays just long enough to let me feel the tension before moving on. Carroll lets the humor breathe, too. Trisha gets itchy rashes at funerals, complains about open water temperatures, and has a talent for stumbling into awkward situations. Those small quirks soften the edges of a story built around death and betrayal, and they made the darker turns hit harder.
I liked how the mystery is shaped by relationships instead of just clues. Harrison’s shifting behavior, the uneasy dynamic between the Barlow brothers, and Justine’s brittle elegance give the story texture. I found myself leaning in whenever Trisha pushed past her own nerves to ask the uncomfortable questions. Some scenes felt almost cinematic to me, like peeking through the Barlow family’s glass walls at night and catching the flicker of something you’re not meant to see. The Shakespeare thread could have felt gimmicky, but instead it adds a quiet echo beneath the plot. Not overwhelming. Just a subtle reminder that families have been falling apart in dramatic fashion for centuries.
If you enjoy contemporary mysteries with an approachable narrator, tangled family dynamics, and a backdrop of Northern California that feels lived in rather than postcard pretty, this one will hit the mark. Fans of character-driven mysteries or anyone who likes their crime fiction with emotional undercurrents will especially appreciate Better Off Dead.
Pages: 317 | ASIN : B0DVZQW36T
An Unsuitable Job
An Unsuitable Job drops readers straight into Josie MacFarland’s world and wastes no time showing the grit behind the glamour. The story follows Josie as she returns to the Harvey Company to serve as their first woman detective. A dead salesman, a scandal brewing in the Castañeda Hotel, and a tangle of secrets push her into danger and discovery. The pages move fast. The scenes glow with the heat of New Mexico. The world of Harvey Girls, rail travelers, cowboys, and local families feels alive and loud. The book reads like a window into 1930. The mystery unfolds piece by piece as Josie digs through gossip, grudges, and old wounds.
The style hit a sweet spot. Simple. Direct. No fluff. I liked how the dialogue carried the weight of the story. It felt crisp and quick. The emotions ran close to the surface. Josie’s tall presence, sharp eyes, and constant tug between courage and doubt made her easy to root for. I found myself grinning when she pushed back against people who underestimated her. I felt a pinch of sympathy when old mistakes nipped at her heels. The author paints these moments with an ease that makes the scenes sink in deep. The setting did a lot of lifting, too. The dusty roads. The clatter of the dining room. The smell of rain on sage.
Some moments caught me off guard. The tension between Josie and the sheriff had this spark that made me sit up straighter. The small flickers of jealousy or nerves or pride made the characters feel relatable. I also liked the way the story let the gossip swirl. Secrets traveled in whispers. People watched over their shoulders. The book didn’t shout its themes. It let them simmer. Women are boxed in by rules. Power running quietly through a small town. What people hide to keep the peace. The mystery itself moved with a steady beat. No rush. No drag. Just enough clues to keep me leaning forward.
This was a satisfying read. The story wrapped up in a way that felt clean but still left room for more. I could picture Josie walking off in her trench coat, not done with danger yet. I would recommend An Unsuitable Job to readers who like cozy mysteries with a little grit. Anyone who enjoys historical settings. Anyone who likes strong women who push back when they are told to stay quiet. It is a book for people who want quick pacing paired with warm character work. I enjoyed it, and I think many others will too.
Pages: 280 | ASIN : B0FQYRCBNH
Tremor in the Hills
Cristina Matta’s Tremor in the Hills is a gripping young adult mystery set in post-earthquake Peru. The story follows Tamara, a teenage girl struggling with trauma after surviving a devastating quake. When she returns to Manchay to visit her family, her best friend K’antu’s husband is found murdered, and K’antu vanishes. Torn between fear and guilt, Tamara sets out to find her friend and uncover the truth. What unfolds is part mystery, part emotional reckoning, and part cultural portrait, full of vivid landscapes, buried secrets, and human fragility.
The writing is intimate and immediate. I could feel the grit of the Peruvian desert, the tremor beneath the earth, and the weight of Tamara’s panic as if it were my own. Matta writes trauma the way it exists — not in neat scenes, but in waves, sudden and unstoppable. Her sentences don’t just tell a story; they echo the disjointed rhythm of someone haunted. I loved how she wove the cultural and historical context naturally into the dialogue and environment. It didn’t feel like a history lesson. It felt lived-in. Real. Still, sometimes the prose tripped over itself, moving too quickly when I wanted it to breathe. I found myself rereading passages not because I didn’t understand them, but because I didn’t want to miss a single heartbeat of emotion.
The characters felt raw, even when they frustrated me. Tamara’s self-absorption made sense, and K’antu’s silence spoke louder than most people’s screams. What stayed with me most, though, wasn’t the murder mystery. It was the quiet undercurrent of guilt, survivor’s guilt, social guilt, the guilt of privilege. Matta doesn’t lecture; she just shows what happens when the world falls apart unevenly and who gets to rebuild. The dialogue felt real and unpolished in the best way, and the tension between classes and families simmered beneath every conversation. There were moments where the pacing slowed or where I wished a secondary character had been fleshed out more, but those dips didn’t shake my connection to the story.
This isn’t just a story about murder or earthquakes. It’s about what happens afterward, when you’re left standing on uneven ground. Tremor in the Hills will stay with readers who crave emotion more than perfection. It’s ideal for anyone who loves coming-of-age stories with a dark edge, mystery readers who like their puzzles tangled with human pain, or anyone who’s ever tried to rebuild themselves after everything cracked open.
Pages: 282 | ASIN : B0FQ26XKFB
Deep Freeze
Anne Louise O’Connell’s Deep Freeze is a suspenseful mystery set against the unlikely backdrop of Dubai’s indoor ski slopes, posh neighborhoods, and glossy hospitals. At the heart of the story is Susan Morris, an American ex-pat nurse whose curiosity and compassion pull her into the chaos following a tragic ski lift accident that nearly kills her friend’s husband, Dr. Barry Thornton. What begins as a personal favor to comfort a friend quickly spirals into a dangerous investigation involving hospital coverups, cryogenic experiments, and the exploitation of domestic workers. The book moves briskly, balancing cultural detail with medical intrigue, and it doesn’t take long before Susan realizes she’s in over her head.
I was hooked from the start. The writing has a straightforward flow that makes it easy to slip into Susan’s world. What really grabbed me was the way O’Connell built tension through ordinary settings. A shopping mall ski slope or a hospital hallway doesn’t sound like a thriller, but the unease creeps in, and before you know it, you’re bracing yourself for the next turn. I found myself both frustrated and impressed with Susan. She’s stubborn, she pushes too far, but she’s also brave in a way that feels relatable rather than superhero-like. At times, the dialogue felt a little stiff, but the energy of the plot kept me flipping pages late into the night.
Emotionally, the book hit me harder than I expected. The parts dealing with exploited domestic workers left a knot in my stomach. It’s not just about crime or corruption, it’s about people living in the shadows of luxury and power. That gave the story real weight. I also felt for Susan as her marriage slowly unraveled in the background. Those quieter moments balanced out the faster-paced mystery, and I found myself caring as much about her personal struggles as the central investigation. The suspense had my pulse up, but the human side of it tugged at me even more.
Deep Freeze is a gripping read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries with both heart and grit. If you like thrillers that blend cultural insight with medical drama, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s especially for readers who want a strong but imperfect female lead, someone who feels like a real person caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Pages: 244 | ASIN : B0DTLY26YZ
