Author:  Minka Kent
Psychological suspense.

Stolen identity, stolen life, stolen assets... it could all happen if you were convinced you were crazy.  There are a few things to recommend this book. The plot doesn't lag, there are twists every few chapters. You know the characters, you get into their heads through their internal dialogue. And for most, you'll say it has a satisfying ending.  Could it really happen? I hope not! And probably not, but it is entertaining, keeps your interest, and is wrapped up in 280 pages.  

​Read this one for a little escape.
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Author:  Alex Michaelides
Bestseller; psychological thriller, Cambridge England

Current day Cambridge: female students are being murdered in an almost cult-like setting. Clues? Few. Suspects? High on the list, a charismatic professor with a rock star following. The characters are multilayered, the plot has unexpected turns, and the writing has the feel of being in a collegiate setting. 

This isn't an edge of your seat page turner.  It is a slow burn that draws in the reader compelling you to read on.  And the reward is there-- a plot well developed and an ending that will have most readers saying, "I didn't see that one coming."

Author: Mia P. Manansala
Light mystery, Asian-American culture, fun read

After a rough break up, Lila moves back home to help with the family restaurant. "Home" is packed with amusing Filipino "aunties" and a culture built around food and family.  Add in a couple murders and you have a delightful cozy mystery. 

Are there better mysteries out there? Yes, but this one is worth your time for the bonuses it give: the language and dialogue are fun and amusing, the glimpse into Asian-American culture is worthwhile, and the story line is entertaining. A perfect summer read!

Author: Laura Dave
Mystery; strength of love, and commitment.

Have you ever savored an exceptional chocolate? In that moment it is your total experience, you know you'll pop a Hershey's kiss tomorrow, but this has set the standard for chocolate.  The Last Thing He Told Me sets the standard for what mysteries should be, you'll go back to reading other mysteries but you will remember this one. 

Hannah's husband of one year leaves her a note saying, "protect her," then vanishes. "Her" is Bailey, a 16 year old step daughter. The plot of course thickens. Hannah and Bailey set out to discover what is behind the disappearance, unweaving a mystery neither knew.  The main characters are well developed, those on the edges are a little vague and unsettling, the right amount to create a suspenseful plot.  The plot evolves one step in front of unknown danger as Hannah determines who she can trust. 

Like that exceptional chocolate, you'll want to devour this in one sitting so don't start it unless you have the time to set sleep, work, and family aside.

Author:  Suzanne Redfearn
Psychological suspense

In an instant the lives of 11 people are changed when their van tumbles down the side of a mountain during a blizzard.  Sixteen year old Finn dies on impact but hangs around, watching as her family and friends struggle with each other and to stay alive. 

The psychological angst develops after their rescue as characters come to terms with their own actions and actions of others-- what choices are acceptable when facing death or the death of your child?

This isn't a 'feel good' novel. It will make you feel, and think, and leave you with hope in the resilience of family, love, and the human spirit. 

Author- Nicola Yoon
Young Adult, mystery, mother-daughter relationship

If you haven't read a YA (young adult) novel, you really should. It will grab you in the first 10 pages and there will be no slow points in the plot. If this wasn't the case in a YA novel, it would lose the teen attention span... and frankly mine, there are times when I don't have the patience for 500 pages and action that doesn't start until you've read for hours. 

Everything, Everything is about a "bubble girl" exerting adolescent independence and her mother's determination to keep her safe.  At different times you will cheer for each to win, and the ending will give you something to think about.  Best way to read this one-- with a teen so you can talk about it together.  

Author: Ellen Marie Wiseman
​Historical mystery, 1930s and 1960s

The novel follows two stories-- an albino girl, hidden in her family's attic, who is sold to the circus, and a young woman years later who inherits the family estate.  The circus is brutal, the girl is alone. Over the course of the next 20 years, her story develops into one of resilience with hope always being almost within her reach. The young woman who inherits the estate has her own struggles.  Each story is compelling alone, together they create a separate mystery. 

The story saddened me by the cruelness of people and parents. It also gave more incidences of support, comradery, love, and hope.  Ellen Marie Wiseman knows how to weave a plot that makes the reader feel while being absorbed in the story.  Other books equally as good to check out by this author-- What She Left Behind, and The Orphan Collector.