Tag: The Murder Inn

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Sequels of 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List8 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday required participants to list their most anticipated books for Summer (Winter for the Northern Hemisphere).  However, as I have already done this list a few weeks ago, I decided to continue with my annual end-of-year lists that I have been working on the last few weeks.  I have already covered my favourite new-to-me authors I read in 2024, as well as the best pre-2024 novels I read this year, but in this week’s list I am going to highlight the best sequels I read in 2024.  This is a relatively new topic that I only started exploring in 2023, however I had fun doing it last year so decided to replicate it again now.

Everyone loves a good sequel, and nearly every novelist and author has written some form of sequel in their career.  I’m sure we can all name some awesome books that requires some form of continuation and each year the talented authors we follow produce interesting sequel novels that cleverly expand from outstanding first novels.  I read a ton of sequels every year and I felt that it was about time that I highlighted the very best sequels of the year in a specific post.

To complete this list, I pulled together the best sequels released in 2024 that I had the pleasure of reading.  I primarily focused on second novels in a series that were released this year, especially those that I felt were outstanding follow ups to an impressive first novel and which followed the same characters or storylines.  For my top ten list, I prioritised those books I considered to be the best sequel, so while I might have enjoyed a specific novel more overall, if a book was a better sequel, it made the cut instead.  I think the resulting top ten list turned out pretty well as a result, and definitely highlights my favourite sequels released in 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The superstar team of James Patterson and Australian author Candice Fox had a great time returning to the unusual group of protagonists living at The Inn by the Sea, with their entertaining thriller, The Murder Inn.  The sequel to their previous novel, The Inn, The Murder Inn is a highly entertaining read and a great novel for fans of both these authors.

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The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman

A fast-paced and emotionally charged young adult fantasy novel from Australian author Amie Kaufman that finishes the story started in The Isles of the Gods.

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The Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham

The highly entertaining novel, The Wrong Hands, was a very fun book that followed on from Billingham’s first DS Declan Miller book, The Last Dance.

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Top Ten Tuesday:

Warhammer 40,000: Above and Beyond by Denny Flowers

The first book on this list is one of my favourite sequels of 2024, Above and Beyond by Denny Flowers.  The follow-up to Flowers’ previous awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel, Outgunned, Above and Beyond reunites two of Flower’s complex and traumatised protagonists, a newly cynical propaganda expert and a broken war hero, and throws them into hell.  Taking them into another adventure laden with intrigue, lies and manipulation, Above and Beyond was Flowers’ best novel yet, and I loved how effectively it continued the epic story from Outgunned.

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Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven

M. W. Craven had a brilliant year in 2024, as not only did he release the exceptional and dark murder mystery, The Mercy Chair, but he also presented the fantastic novel, Nobody’s Hero. A sequel to his 2023 novel, Fearless, Nobody’s Hero is a beautifully over-the-top thriller loaded with brutal action and so much fun. Providing a very interesting continuation to several storylines started in Fearless while also standing on its on with its excessive plot, Nobody’s Hero is a great book and a wonderful sequel.

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War Cry by Ian Ross

Ian Ross continued his exciting historical adventures this year with War Cry, the fantastic follow-up to his captivating read, Battle Song.  Battle Song, one of my favourite books of 2023, introduced readers to a young squire who participated into one of England’s more intriguing historical civil wars, and featured an exceptionally addictive story.  Ross continued the series in a big way with his sequel, War Cry, that dragged his protagonist, now a knight, into the next stage of war, and all the tragedy that contains.  I had a great time with this sequel, and it really moved the overarching story along in a big way.  Special mention also needs to go to the third book in the series King’s Enemy, that also came out this year, and which ended the series in an excellent manner.

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The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe

Back in 2021 I had the very great pleasure of reading the particularly intense and clever young adult thriller, The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe, that followed a teenage former con artist caught up in a bank robbery.  I really loved The Girls I’ve Been, and I was very happy that Sharpe released a sequel this year in The Girl in Question.  Another captivating and exciting read that I really got hooked on, especially with its distinctive style and damaged teenage protagonists, The Girl in Question was an outstanding sequel that comes highly recommended.

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Deep Black by Miles Cameron

The most recent sequel I have picked up was Deep Black by Miles Cameron, which contains a massive and complex science fiction adventure.  The sequel to his previous novel, Artifact Space, Deep Black continues the great narrative of exploration and interstellar mystery, as the crew of a massive human trading vessel attempts to learn more about a series attacks trying to destroy it.  Cameron’s inventiveness and great character work is on full display in Deep Black, and I loved how he continued the outstanding story started in Artifact Space.

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Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell

I’m slightly cheating with the next entry on this list, Play of Shadows, as it is technically the first book in de Castell’s new Court of Shadows series.  However, at the same time Play of Shadows is also a loosely connected sequel to de Castell’s previous novel, Crucible of Chaos, which was released in advance of Play of Shadows as a prequel.  As such, I am counting Play of Shadows as a sequel, and frankly the book was so good I want to highlight it as many times as I can in the coming weeks.  An entertaining, compelling and unique fantasy novel, Play of Shadows saw a young actor unravel an ancient conspiracy infecting his city when he gains the ability to manifest the spirt of a notorious historical villain while on the stage.  A brilliant, witty and highly addictive read, Play of Shadows really impressed me, and I am so very eager to see how this series continues in the future.

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Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont

Another outstanding sequel I was happy to read this year was the intricate spy thriller Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont.  A particularly authentic spy novel set in Paris, Dark Arena serves as a sequel the Beaumont’s debut, The Frenchman (one of my favourite debut novels of 2021), and follows members of France’s intelligence community as they attempt to unravel a deadly plot impacting all of Europe.  A gripping read that served as a great continuation to The Frenchman, Dark Arena is an amazing sequel that is worth checking out.

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Warhammer 40,000: Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks

I had a lot of fun with Warhammer fiction in 2024, and that includes the outstanding Da Big Dakka by Mike Brooks.  The direct sequel to Brooks’ hilarious Warhammer 40,000 novel, Brutal Kunnin, Da Big Dakka showcases the continued adventure of Brooks’ ork protagonist as he brings war, fighting and brutal fun to all corners of the galaxy.  This second book pits the orks against a tricky new foe in the most dangerous city in the universe, and the result is as hectic and bloody as you would expect.  Pure chaotic fun that any fan of Warhammer 40,000 fiction can enjoy.

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The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

Another highly complex and powerful fantasy novel from the always impressive Mark Lawrence, The Book That Broke the World is a great follow-up to the 2023 novel, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.  Continuing the elaborate narrative from the first book, while also expanding out the twists, turns and intricate details, The Book That Broke the World was a very smart novel that serves as a very satisfying sequel to The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and is very much worth checking out.

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Sentinel by Mark Greaney

The final sequel I want to highlight on this list is the action-packed novel, Sentinel.  The follow-up to the action-thriller, Armored, Sentinel throws the protagonist of the first book into an elaborate coup in Africa, with his family’s safety also at risk.  A highly exciting and compelling novel, loaded with impressive action and an elaborate narrative, Sentinel was an awesome sequel and I look forward to seeing how Greaney will continue this series in the future.

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Well, that’s it for this list.  As you can see, I have read several outstanding sequels this year and had a wonderful time doing so.  Every entry above was an epic novel, and I loved how they each successfully continued impressive story threads started in the previous novel.  All these books come highly recommended, and I cannot wait to see how these talented authors add to their already awesome series in the future.

The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Thriller15 Comments

The Murder Inn Cover

Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 13 February 2024)

Series: The Inn – Book Two

Length: 307 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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The superstar writing team of James Patterson and Candice Fox produce another wildly entertaining and captivating read with the impressive and over-the-top thriller, The Murder Inn.

As one of the world’s best-known authors, James Patterson needs very little introduction, especially with a huge range of exciting thrillers and gripping murder mysteries to his name.  Patterson has been particularly prolific in recent years, as he has been writing collaboratively with talented authors to create a range of unique reads.  I have had a wonderful time reading some of the more recent Patterson collaborative books, including Blow Back with Brendan DuBoise, The Perfect Assassin with Brian Sitts, Lost with James O. Born, Death of the Black Widow with J. D. Barker (one of my favourite books of 2022) and the short story collection 3 Days to Live (featuring three additional authors).

One of my favourite authors that Patterson regularly collaborates with is Australian writer Candice Fox.  Fox is one of Australia’s best thriller authors with some great books to her name, including the excellent Crimson Lake series, and impressive standalone thrillers like Fire With Fire, Gathering Dark and The Chase.  Patterson and Fox have written several books together in the past, including the highly addictive read, 2 Sisters Detective Agency, which saw two mismatched women forced to investigate a brutal crime after finding out they’re sisters.  I really enjoyed the intriguing story this fantastic writing team cooked up and I have been keen to read more from this pairing for a while.  I finally got my chance this week as I just got my hands on an early copy of the upcoming thriller by Patterson and Fox, The Murder Inn.  The sequel to their previous novel, The Inn, The Murder Inn was a particularly fun and enjoyable book that I powered through in no time at all.

Former Boston police officer Bill Robinson has found his life getting increasingly complicated ever since he set up his little coast-side guesthouse.  Known as The Inn by the Sea, the picturesque dwelling in Gloucester, Massachusetts, has become something of a safe house for several unusual long-term boarders, including his former FBI agent girlfriend, the town’s sheriff, disturbed veteran Nick Jones, an elderly former gangster, and other mysterious or outrageous residents.  However, trouble always seems to find the occupants of the Inn, especially when secrets from their complex pasts resurface.

Bill Robinson once again finds himself on the receiving end of this trouble after attending a funeral for former police colleague Mark Bulger.  While Robison has fond memories of his dead friend, Bulger was a particularly crooked cop, whose secret stash of stolen evidence could put many dangerous people away, including notorious drug lord Norman Driver.  When Driver’s thugs come looking for it, the Bulger widow, Shauna, finds herself caught in the crossfire, but she quickly proves that she isn’t the frail old lady everyone thinks she is.

As Shauna embarks on a one-woman crusade against Norman Driver, Robinson tries to help, but his actions only put him and the Inn in the crosshairs of the crime lord.  At the same time, he also finds himself trying to uncover the secrets surrounding his best friend, Nick Jones.  Nick has been receiving threatening messages regarding his former squad in Afghanistan, whose dark deeds might soon come to light.  Caught between criminals, dangerous vigilantes, and a dark killer stalking Nick, the Inn soon finds itself under siege, and not everyone will survive the night.

This was an extremely awesome and compelling read from Patterson and Fox that had me hooked the entire way through.  Featuring a great story, loaded with action, intrigue and fun characters, The Murder Inn was an outstanding novel and one that proves near impossible to put down.

The wonderful team of Patterson and Fox came up with an excellent narrative for The Murder Inn that really draws you in quickly.  Initially starting with background on side-character Nick Jones, The Murder Inn soon introduces several intriguing storylines as protagonist Bill Robinson finds himself drawn into the various troubles of his residents and friends.  What starts as a funeral for a friend soon sees Robinson drawn into a war against a crime lord, as his friend’s widow, the wildly entertaining Shauna Bulger, finds a stash of evidence and then goes to war in the name of justice.  At the same time, Robinson finds himself drawn into Jones’s military past, as the consequences of a deadly massacre come to light.  Throw in a mysterious guest, personal dramas surrounding the various characters, and other dark secrets emerging, and this proves to be a full and compelling story.  This explosive mixture of storylines comes together extremely well as the book continues, and I loved how each of the major characters are expertly explored, especially Shauna and Nick, which allows you to get really drawn into their personal histories and demons.  Thanks to a series of betrayals and dark secrets, you are never quite sure who is going to survive this dangerous story, and the constant threat and brushes with death upped the ante in a huge way.  I loved some of the great twists and turns that emerged, and Patterson and Fox ensured that parts of the story got wonderfully over-the-top in all the right ways, especially when it comes to key character deaths.  This was such a fun and exciting story to read, and I managed to blow through it so damn quickly.

Unsurprisingly, The Murder Inn utilised Patterson’s typical writing style, which I think worked extremely well for this impressive and enjoyable story.  The use of a huge number of short, sharp chapters really draws the reader in and sets an incredibly fast pace for the story.  Due to how quick these chapters are, and the exciting and constantly evolving story that accompanies it, you honestly have a hard time putting this book down; especially as it is so tempting to read a couple more pages just to see what is going to happen next.  This frenetic pace really increases the impact of the story in places, and I loved how well the authors continued to transition between multiple point-of-view characters.  The intriguing range of perspectives increased the complexity of the plot, especially as you get to see events through the eyes of all the affected characters, including the villains, and I loved the amazing storylines that emerged as a result.  Thanks to this, it proves very hard to stop reading The Murder Inn once you start, and the authors reward you with a ton of great action and some joyfully over-the-top moments.  Despite being a sequel, The Murder Inn is essentially a standalone novel, and no knowledge of the previous book is needed to enjoy it.  This was such a great story, and the team of Patterson and Fox made sure to display in the best way possible.

Patterson and Fox came up with some great characters for The Murder Inn, and there are some amazingly likeable protagonists showcased throughout the plot.  A lot of this focus revolves around protagonist Bill Robinson, the proprietor of The Inn by the Sea and a former cop who is trying to find redemption after a questionable police career.  Bill is a great straight man for much of the chaos going on in this book, and his dedication to helping his friends no matter what, made him a very likeable figure.  I liked how Robinson’s chapters were the only ones told from the first-person perspective, especially as it gave those chapters some additional importance, and the change of pacing surrounding that was quite fun.  It also allowed the reader to get a better look at the nice romance arc surrounding the protagonist, and it was great to see him finally get some happiness, if only temporarily.  Robinson’s friend, Nick Jones, also gets a lot of focus in The Murder Inn, as one of the primary storylines revolves around him.  Jones, an army veteran, is deeply traumatised by his time in Afghanistan, especially after a dark mission made him question everything.  Already damaged by his time in the war and the paranoia that followed, Nick finds himself coming to terms with his past in a big way here, and his battle for redemption is a powerful part of the book.

Probably my favourite character in The Murder Inn was new character Shauna Bulger.  The widow of a dirty cop, Shauna finds herself in a dark situation when criminals break into her house, searching for her husband’s secrets.  Rather than lying down for them, Shauna fights back and this awakens something primal in her that sees her wage war on the local criminals.  Shauna proves to be a hilariously badass vigilante, and it was interesting to see how she finally processed years of trauma into such a violent and over-the-top response.  Her counterpart, the crime lord Norman Driver, proves to be an outstanding villain for the story, and I loved how despite being a dangerous man with a dark history, even he was overwhelmed by the unusual inhabitants of the Inn and the other deadly people coming for him.  Throw in the other great residence of the Inn, many of whom have interesting history and stories that will no doubt get explored in future books in the series, and you have an amazing cast you can’t help but fall in love with.

Overall, The Murder Inn was an exciting, awesome and captivating read that was everything I hoped it would be and more.  James Patterson and Candice Fox once again from to be an effective writing team, and I loved the impressively insane and compelling story they came up with here that I absolutely absorbed.  A wonderfully entertaining novel that any thriller fan will have an amazing time with, The Murder Inn is really worth reading.

The Murder Inn Cover 2

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WWW Wednesday – 31 January 2024

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WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Three-Inch Teeth by C. J. Box (ebook)

Three-Inch Teeth Cover

I have started reading an early copy of the new novel from C. J. Box, Three-Inch Teeth, this week.  Three-Inch Teeth is the latest novel in Box’s long-running Joe Pickett thriller series, and this new entry sees the series’ game warden protagonist go up against a killer bear and old-enemies from the past bent on revenge.  This is my first time reading one of Box’s books, and I am really enjoying its intense and exciting story.  I should finish Three-Inch Teeth off in the next day or so and I cannot wait to see how Box brings his awesome scenario together.

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Warhammer 40,000: Brutal Kunnin by Mike Brooks (Audiobook)

Brutal Kunnin Cover

I just started listening to another Warhammer 40,000 audiobook with Brutal Kunnin.  Written by Mike Brooks, whose Warhammer 40,000 novels Warboss and The Lion: Son the Forest, were pretty damn fun, Brutal Kunnin is an entertaining novel about rival ork warbands invading a planet.  I haven’t made a lot of progress on Brutal Kunnin yet, but it is so far proving to be a funny and compelling read, as the fractious orks start their hilarious and brutal invasion.

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What did you recently finish reading?

The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Trade Paperback)

The Murder Inn Cover

I absolutely powered through the excellent crime fiction book, The Murder Inn by the team of James Patterson and Candice Fox this week.  An outstanding novel with a wildly exciting plot, The Murder Inn was a great read that I cannot recommend enough.

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Warhammer 40,000: Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer (Audiobook)

Warhammer 40,000 - Witchbringer Cover

I finally managed to finish off the fantastic Warhammer 40,000 audiobook Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer this week.  An elaborate and wonderful addition to this cool franchise, Witchbringer was a pretty epic read that comes highly recommended.

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The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman (Trade Paperback)

The Ghost Orchid Cover (2)

I managed to also quickly read the new Jonathan Kellerman book, The Ghost Orchid over the weekend.  Following Kellerman’s long-running protagonists as they investigate another complex murder, The Ghost Orchid was very awesome and proved to be an excellent addition to an already great series.

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The Holy Terrors by Simon R. Green (ebook)

The Holy Terrors Cover

A fantastic and quick horror-tinged thriller book about reality tv stars being killed off in a haunted town hall.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Tainted Cup Cover

Once I get through my current books, I am going to jump onto one of my most anticipated fantasy novels of 2024, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett.  Featuring two unique investigators as they dive into a unique magical crime, The Tainted Cup sounds pretty damn exceptional and it sets up a great new series from one of fantasy’s most compelling authors.

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Warhammer: The Old World: Lords of the Lance by Graham McNeill

Lords of the Lance Cover

I am still in a major Warhammer mood, so once I get through Brutal Kunnin, I am hoping to start listening to Lords of the Lance by Graham McNeill.  The first book set back in the Old World in years, Lords of the Lance will be a great fantasy novel that focuses on the chivalrous knights of Bretonnia.  I love the Old World setting, and I am so happy to see the Warhammer franchise return there again.  Lords of the Lance sounds particularly cool, and I cannot wait to see what great story McNeill, who has previously impressed me with novels like Storm of Iron, will come up with.

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That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 24 January 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox (Trade Paperback)

The Murder Inn Cover

I just started reading the excellent crime fiction book, The Murder Inn by the team of James Patterson and Candice Fox.  An outstanding novel, The Murder Inn follows the inhabitants of an unusual sea-side inn, filled with misfits and outcasts, who are forced to deal with two dangerous killers.  I haven’t made a lot of progress on The Murder Inn yet, but I am already having a lot of fun with it.

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Warhammer 40,000: Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer (Audiobook)

Warhammer 40,000 - Witchbringer Cover

I am currently in the middle of the fantastic Warhammer 40,000 audiobook Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer next.  Following a psyker, one of the most reviled beings in the Warhammer 40,000 setting, who is forced to return to assist the regiment she used to lead, Witchbringer is an awesome piece of Warhammer fiction, that I am really enjoying. I am hoping to knock off Witchbringer in the next couple of days and I cannot wait to see how it ends.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom (ebook)

Hollywood Hustle Cover

I managed to finish off the debut thriller from actor Jon Lindstrom, Hollywood Hustle.  Following a washed-up actor as he tries to recover his kidnapped daughter, Hollywood Hustle was a great book with an exciting plot. Review to follow soon.

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Cold Days by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

Cold Days Cover

I managed to also finish off the outstanding Dresden Files novel Cold Days by Jim Butcher.  Cold Days was another excellent addition this fantastic series and comes highly recommended.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman

The Ghost Orchid Cover (2)

I have several amazing books to read at the moment, but I think I’ll try the new Jonathan Kellerman book, The Ghost Orchid next.  Following Kellerman’s long-running protagonists as they investigate another complex murder, The Ghost Orchid sounds really awesome and I always have a ton of fun with this great series.

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Warhammer 40,000: Brutal Kunnin by Mike Brooks

Brutal Kunnin Cover

If I manage to finish off Witchbringer this week I’m hoping to dive into another Warhammer 40,000 novel from a few years ago with Brutal Kunnin.  Written by Mike Brooks, whose Warhammer 40,000 novels Warboss and The Lion: Son the Forest, were pretty damn fun, Brutal Kunnin is an entertaining sounding novel about rival ork warbands.  I am quite keen to knock off Brutal Kunnin, especially as Brooks has a sequel novel for it coming out later this year.

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That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Book Haul – 22 January 2024

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As we have been getting into 2024, I have been having an excellent couple of weeks for book, and I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from some of my local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including several of my most anticipated novels of 2024.  I truly believe that some of these books have to potential to be some of my top reads of the year and I cannot wait to dive into them. 

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman

The Ghost Orchid Cover (2)

Let us start this Book Haul post off strong with the fantastic murder mystery, The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman.  The latest book in Kellerman’s long-running Alex Delaware series, The Ghost Orchid will see the author’s entertaining protagonists investigate a chilling double homicide with many potential suspects.  I am a major fan of Kellerman’s at the moment, especially after amazing recent reads like The Wedding Guest, The Museum of Desire, Serpentine, City of the Dead and Unnatural History, and I have no doubt that The Ghost Orchid will be just as awesome.

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Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz

Lone Wolf Cover 2

Another amazing book I was very happy to get a copy of was Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz.  The latest book in Hurwitz’s excellent Orphan X series, Lone Wolf will see the author’s rogue spy/vigilante protagonist go up against his most dangerous opponents yet.  This series is another favourite of mine (see my reviews for  Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Prodigal Son, Dark Horse and The Last Orphan), and I am extremely keen to see what happens to the complex protagonist next.

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The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The Murder Inn Cover

The outstanding team of James Patterson and Candice Fox return with the intriguing crime fiction novel, The Murder Inn, which serves as a sequel to their previous novel, The Inn.  The Murder Inn will see two murderers head towards the titular troubled inn, but which one of them is there for help, and which one is looking to kill again?  I love the sound of this book and I am hoping to read The Murder Inn very soon.

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Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox

Devil's Kitchen Cover

Australian thriller author Candice Fox is on a roll in 2024 as in addition to her above joint book with James Patterson, she is also releasing the epic standalone thriller, Devil’s Kitchen.  Set around an elite group of firefighters who are also secretly a notorious crew of bank robbers, Devil’s Kitchen has an incredible story behind it, and I cannot wait to dive into this awesome novel.  Likely to be one of the best books by an Australian author in 2024.

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The Silverblood Promise by James Logan

The Silverblood Promise Cover

I was particularly happy to receive an early copy of The Silverblood Promise by James Logan.  Logan’s debut novel The Silverblood Promise is an outstanding sounding fantasy book, that will force the disgraced heir of a noble house to go up against a city of criminals after his father is murdered.  I really love the sound of this epic novel and it is one of my most anticipated fantasy releases of 2024.

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Past Crimes by Jason Pinter

Past Crimes Cover

A cool and unique sounding science fiction novel, Past Crimes by Jason Pinter was one of the more interesting novels that I came across in recent days and I am hoping to check it out soon.

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Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom

Hollywood Hustle Cover

One of the more compelling novels I recently received was Hollywood Hustle, an excellent debut crime fiction read from actor Jon Lindstrom.  Hollywood Hustle tells the story of a washed-up actor who finds himself caught up in a dangerous situation when his daughter is kidnapped.  I’m actually reading Hollywood Hustle right now, and it is proving to be a fantastic book.

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Rebellion by Simon Scarrow

Rebellion Cover

The last two books on this list are some fantastic historical fiction novels I bought in the wake of Christmas.  The first of these is Rebellion, the latest book in Simon Scarrow’s Eagles of the Empire series, which is one of my favourite historical fiction series.  Rebellion was a pretty epic book, and I actually just reviewed it last night here.  Highly recommended, especially if you are the mood for some historical action.

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Wolves of Winter by Dan Jones

Wolves of Winter Cover

The other historical fiction book I bought was the intriguing Wolves of Winter by Dan Jones.  The sequel to Jones’ excellent debut, Essex Dogs, Wolves of Winter will continue to follow the author’s damaged group of mercenaries as they continue to fight the French in the Hundred Years War.  This cool sequel will see them caught them caught up in the siege of Calais, while their own dark demons from the past threaten to consume them.  I love the sound of this book and if it’s as good as Essex Dogs, I’m going to really love reading it.

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Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

WWW Wednesday – 17 January 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday2 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom (ebook)

Hollywood Hustle Cover

I just started reading the fun debut thriller from actor Jon Lindstrom, Hollywood Hustle.  Following a washed-up actor as he tries to recover his kidnapped daughter, Hollywood Hustle is an interesting book, and I loved the sound of its cool plot.  I’ve only made a little progress on Hollywood Hustle so far, but I am enjoying its compelling story.  I will probably knock Hollywood Hustle off fairly quickly and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

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Cold Days by Jim Butcher (Audiobook)

Cold Days Cover

I am still going with the extremely awesome Dresden Files novel Cold Days by Jim Butcher, and I should knock it off in the next day or so.  Cold Days is the 14th book in the series and sets a recently resurrected Harry Dresden against all the manipulations and intrigue of the Winter Court.  A deeply addictive read, I am loving Cold Days and I am hoping to feature it in a post later this week.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Rebellion by Simon Scarrow (Trade Paperback)

Rebellion Cover

I managed to finish off the new Eagles of the Empire book by Simon Scarrow, Rebellion this week and boy was it awesome. The latest book in one of my favourite historical fiction series, Rebellion was clever, dark and moving, and I cannot recommend it enough.  Review to follow in the next day or so.

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Saevus Corax Captures the Castle by K. J. Parker (Trade Paperback)

Saevus Corax Captures the Castle Cover

I had a lot of fun over the weekend reading the second of three Saevus Corax books that entertaining author K. J. Parker released last year, Saevus Corax Captures the Castle.  An outstanding sequel to Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead (one of my favourite books of 2023), Saevus Corax Captures the Castle was another hilarious read that thrusts Parker’s smart, but unlucky, protagonist into the middle of an elaborate and complex conspiracy.  Highly recommended.

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Extinction by Douglas Preston (ebook)

Extinction Cover

The allure of Extinction’s fantastic plot proved to be too much for me, and I dove into the early copy I received of this awesome book by veteran author Douglas Preston.  Following a murder investigation in an elite resort full of genetically resurrected mega-fauna, Extinction was a captivating and over-the-top read that had me hooked the entire way through.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Warhammer 40,000: Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer

Warhammer 40,000 - Witchbringer Cover

I am still planning to listen to the Warhammer 40,000 audiobook Witchbringer by Steven B. Fischer next.  Witchbringer has been on my radar for a while, but I couldn’t get a copy of it until recently.  As such, I am hoping to make up for lost time by finally getting through this amazing sounding book that will follow a psyker, one of the most reviled beings in the Warhammer 40,000 setting, who is forced to return to assist the regiment she used to lead.  Witchbringer sounds like a very awesome piece of Warhammer fiction, and I cannot wait to experience its fantastic story.

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The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The Murder Inn Cover

I have a few books I wouldn’t mind reading in the next week, but I will probably start with the excellent crime fiction book, The Murder Inn by the team of James Patterson and Candice Fox.  An outstanding sounding novel, The Murder Inn should be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to checking it out.

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That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Thrillers, Crime Fiction and Historical Fiction releasing in the First Half of 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, List, Murder Mystery, Thriller5 Comments

Welcome to my second Top Ten Tuesday list of the week, were I look at my most anticipated thrillers, crime fiction and historical fiction novels coming out in the first half of 2024.  Traditionally I usually only do one list to represent the top upcoming books for the year, however, I was inspired to separate out the fantasy and science fiction novels into my previous list, while this list will feature epic reads from the other major genres that I am interested in.

Despite only just starting, 2024 is already shaping up to be an epic and exciting year for books with a huge range of impressive and highly anticipated novels due for release in the next 12 months.  This includes exciting debuts, anticipated sequels and the latest entries in beloved bestselling series.  The first half of the year is looking particularly awesome, with a substantial number of incredible upcoming releases that I am deeply looking forward to. 

Even though I excluded fantasy and science fiction books, this ended up being a rather difficult list to pull together due to all the awesome releases coming out in Australia or on Netgalley between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024.  There were way too many extraordinary upcoming books that I could have included, and I ended up having to make some very tough calls and cutting several novels that have an immense amount of potential.  Despite this, I am rather happy with the eventual choices that I made, and I think that this list reflects the upcoming novels and comics I am going to have the most fun reading. However, there are also some interesting new books that I am discussing for the first time here, so that should give this list a bit of variety.  So let us get to my selections and find out which upcoming novels are my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2024.

Honourable Mentions:

Goodbye Girl by James Grippando – 9 January 2024

Goodbye Girl Cover

A compelling legal thriller with a ton of potential.

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The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox – 13 February 2024

The Murder Inn Cover

A great crime fiction read about killers heading towards an unusual inn, introduced in a prior novel by Patterson and Fox.

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Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven – 1 June 2024

Nobody's Hero Cover

The exciting sequel to Craven’s 2023 novel, Fearless, I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

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Sentinel by Mark Greaney – 25 June 2024

Sentinel Cover

The fantastic sounding sequel to Greaney’s amazing action-packed Armored, Sentinel sounds very exciting and I look forward to checking it out.

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Top Ten List:

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman – 6 February 2024

The Ghost Orchid Cover

First on this list is the exciting new murder mystery from Jonathan Kellerman.  I have become a real fan of Kellerman’s long-running Alex Delaware series, especially after reading such excellent books as The Wedding Guest, The Museum of Desire, Serpentine, City of the Dead and Unnatural History, and I am very excited to get my hands on The Ghost Orchid.  Set to follow the series’ great protagonists as they investigate a sensational double-homicide, The Ghost Orchid should prove to be very twisty, especially as both victims have secrets that could have made them the intended target of the attack.  I have a lot of love for this series, and reading the new Alex Delaware book has become a fun start-of-year tradition for me.

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Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz – 13 February 2024

Lone Wolf Cover

An excellent spy thriller to start of 2024 is Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz.  Part of Hurwitz’s fantastic Orphan X series (Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Prodigal Son, Dark Horse and The Last Orphan), this book follows a former government assassin turned vigilante of last resort, who specialises in helping people with no-one else to turn to.  This new book will set the protagonist against his deadliest enemies yet, a visionary tech billionaire and a skilled serial killer who may prove to be just as lethal as the legendary Orphan X.  I look forward to diving into this awesome book and it should prove to be a great addition to a particularly cool series.

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The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney – 20 February 2024

The Chaos Agent Cover

Probably the book I’m most looking forward to in early 2024 is the new Gray Man novel by Mark Greaney, The Chaos Agent.  The Gray Man books are one of my favourite series at the moment, especially as all the books in the series, including The Gray Man, Mission Critical, One Minute Out (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020), Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), Sierra Six (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and Burner (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), have been so very strong.  This latest entry will pit the titular Gray Man against a massive conspiracy surrounding AI and force him to face off against one of his oldest friends.  Sure to be one of the best books I read this year, I am so very excited to dive into The Chaos Agent.

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The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry – 20 February 2024

The Atlas Maneuver Cover

Another awesome spy thriller that I am particularly excited to read in 2024 is The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry.  Part of Berry’s awesome long-running Cotton Malone series, The Atlas Maneuver will force the series titular protagonist to unravel another world-shattering conspiracy with its origins hidden in historical secrets, including lost World War II gold, and the world’s oldest bank.  I have had such a brilliant time with this series in recent years, including with books like The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol, The Kaiser’s Web and The Last Kingdom, and I cannot wait to dive into this new elaborate and captivating read.

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War Cry by Ian Ross – 12 March 2024

War Cry Cover

In 2023 I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the awesome historical fiction novel, Battle Song by Ian Ross, which followed a brutal knight and his naïve squire as they get caught up in one of England’s many civil wars.  A fantastic and powerful historical adventure, Battle Song was a particularly impressive read that made me a huge fan of Ross.  As such, I am very eager to grab a copy of the upcoming sequel, War Cry, when it comes out here in Australia.  Set to provide a follow-up to the brutal and character-forming events of Battle Song, War Cry should be another exceptional read and I cannot wait to see how Ross follows-up his previous epic novel.

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White Ash Ridge by S. R. White – 14 March 2024

White Ash Ridge Cover

One of the most promising authors of Australian crime fiction, S. R. White, returns with another enticing outback mystery, White Ash Ridge.  White has really impressed me in recent years with his prior novels, Prisoner and Red Dirt Road, and I am looking forward to seeing another one of his unique mysteries.  His new book, White Ash Ridge, will see his unconventional detective try to solve a complex murder in an isolated hotel, where only a handful of guests of a charity dedicated to police reform were present.  This will probably be one of the best Australian mysteries of 2024 and I look forward to unwinding White’s elaborate mystery.

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The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill – 19 March 2024

The Mystery Writer Cover

Another great novel from an Australian author I am looking forward to in the next few months is The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill.  An elaborate and personal murder mystery about a complex family and the death of a famous author, The Mystery Writer sounds so damn awesome and I cannot wait to dive into this excellent novel.

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The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe – 9 April 2024

The Girl in Question Cover

Tess Sharpe follows up her outstanding young adult thriller, The Girls I’ve Been, with a new awesome adventure in The Girl in Question.  Once again following her intriguing teenage con-women protagonist as she attempts to outwit a deadly group of criminals, The Girl in Question sounds extremely awesome, and I am really excited to read this book.  The Girls I’ve Been was extremely impressive and I have been waiting for a sequel for ages.

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Behind a Closed Door by J. D. Barker – 13 May 2024

Behind A Closed Door Cover

A gritty and dark psychological thriller that sees a couple get caught up in an elaborate online game where the stakes keep getting higher and higher.  This is one of the most intriguing books that has caught me eye in early 2024 and I am very keen to unravel the entire sordid tale.

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Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox – 4 June 2024

Devil's Kitchen Cover

The final book I want to highlight on this list is the awesome thriller from one of Australia’s best crime fiction authors, Devil’s Kitchen by Candice Fox.  Set to follow an elite unit of firefighters who moonlight as a dangerous heist gang, Devil’s Kitchen sounds that an extremely cool read with a great plot behind it.  I have had a lot of fun with Fox’s last few books, and this should prove to be another amazing novel.

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That is the end of this list.  I am extremely happy with how my latest Top Ten Tuesday article turned out and this list contains an intriguing collection of upcoming books that should prove to be incredible reads.  I think that nearly every one of these books has the potential to get a full five-star rating from me and I cannot wait to see what amazing and exciting stories they contain.  While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you, as well as what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below.  Also, make sure to check out my other Top Ten List with the top upcoming fantasy and science fiction books of 2024.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Summer 2023-24 To-Be-Read (TBR) List

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List4 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week looked at books set in specific location or period of the blogger’s choice.  However, as I’m mucking around with my Top Ten List schedule, I actually did this list last week when I covered my favourite books set in the Roman Empire.  As a result, I have a topic free this week and as we are just about to enter Summer (Winter for those up in the Norther Hemisphere) I decided to move up my quarterly post about the best upcoming books to-be-read (TBR) for the following three months.  This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I honestly should have pulled this together a couple of weeks ago.

For this list, I have come up with 10 of the most anticipated novels that are coming out between 1 December 2023 and 29 February 2024.  There are quite a few very cool novels set for release in the next few months that I am extremely excited for, including some of the top books from each respective year.  Due to how impressive some of these upcoming books are, it took me a little while to finalise my list but I was eventually able to whittle it down into a Top Ten list (with a few honourable mentions).  I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Top Ten Tuesdays and Waiting on Wednesday articles and I think all of them will turn out to be pretty incredible reads.  I have extremely excited for the next three months as quite a few up these upcoming reads are easily going to be amongst the best reads of their respective years.

Honourable Mentions:

Midnight by Amy McCulloch – 2 January 2024

Midnight Cover

A cool science fiction mystery that I’m keen to sink my teeth into.

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The Burning Land by David Hair – 1 February 2024

The Burning Land Cover

The compelling start to a new fantasy series.

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The Holy Terrors by Simon R. Green – 6 February 2024

The Holy Terrors Cover

A fun sounding horror book that parodies reality television.

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Top Ten List (by release date):

House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 7 December 2023

House of Open Wounds Cover

Let us start this list off with a book I actually started reading today, House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky.  A dark and complex fantasy novel that follows the deranged inhabitants of an experimental magical healing unit in a hostile army, House of Open Wounds is the sequel to Tchaikovsky’s City of Last Chances, which is one of the best books and audiobooks I enjoyed in the first half of 2023.  I’m currently around 150 pages into House of Open Wounds and I am loving the complex, multi-character narrative that sees a huge cast of distinctive and troubled figures attempt to survive in a cruel world.  Featuring a brilliant story and Tchaikovsky’s trademark inventive setting, House of Open Wounds is an amazing read and one I look forward to reviewing in the coming weeks.

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The Ascent by Adam Plantinga – 2 January 2024

The Ascent Cover

A fun and action-packed debut thriller that will see a former cop attempt to survive a rioting prison filled with deadly convicts.  The Ascent is going to be a very entertaining book and I am sure I will have a blast getting through it.

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Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont – 3 January 2024

Dark Arena Cover

An awesome book coming out very early in 2024 is Dark Arena by Jack Beaumont.  The sequel to one of my favourite debuts from 2021, The Frenchman, Dark Arena looks set to continue Beaumont’s compelling and detailed depiction of French espionage, this time hunting down a mysterious group of operators seeking to destabilise Europe.

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Goodbye Girl by James Grippando – 9 January 2024

Goodbye Girl Cover

A fun upcoming legal thriller from a new-to-me author that will see a lawyer get dragged into a contentious case involving internet piracy, music contracts and bad romances.  However, the case gets even more complicated when both the protagonist’s client, and the ex-husband suing her, are charged with the same murder.  I love the sound of the amazing plot for the next upcoming book by James Grippando and Goodbye Girl should prove to be an excellent read.

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The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman – 6 February 2024

The Ghost Orchid Cover

A series I have really grown to love reading at the start of each year is the amazing long-running Alex Delaware murder mystery series by Jonathan Kellerman.  Following a psychiatrist and a detective who team up to solve unusual murders in L.A., the Alex Delaware books are really impressive pieces of crime fiction and I always get drawn into Kellerman’s amazing narratives such as those of The Wedding Guest, The Museum of Desire, Serpentine, City of the Dead and Unnatural History.  The next book in the series, The Ghost Orchid, will see the protagonists investigate a double homicide of two wealthy lovers with troubled pasts.  Sure to be a complicated mystery with loads of compelling suspects, I cannot wait to dive into The Ghost Orchid and it should be something special.

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Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz – 13 February 2024

Lone Wolf Cover

Gregg Hurwitz look set to continue his outstanding Orphan X series in early 2024 with the excellent sounding Lone Wolf.  This series, which has featured awesome books like Out of the Dark, Into the Fire, Prodigal Son, Dark Horse and The Last Orphan, follows a fugitive government assassin codenamed Orphan X, who attempts to save people as a secretive vigilante.  This latest book will see an emotionally compromised Orphan X go up against a mysterious billionaire and a deadly serial killer, which is sure to result in an outstanding story.  I am very excited for this novel and it should turn out to be pretty awesome.

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The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox – 13 February 2024

The Murder Inn Cover

An intriguing new thriller from the winning team of the legendary James Patterson and Australian author Candice Fox.  The sequel to one of their previous collaborations, The Murder Inn looks set to be an intense and quick paced book, loaded with intrigue and murder.

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett – 13 February 2024

The Tainted Cup Cover

I had to feature the awesome upcoming fantasy novel The Tainted Cup by the always impressive Robert Jackson Bennett.  The start of an intriguing new series from Bennett, The Tainted Cup will see an intriguing duo investigate a mysterious magical death, one that could change everything and doom their entire nation.  The Tainted Cup sounds like a wonderful character driven fantasy book with a great murder mystery element to it, and Bennett has proven to be an exceptional author in the past.  As such, I am very keen for The Tainted Cup, and I feel it has the potential to be one of the top fantasy books of 2024.

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The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney – 20 February 2024

The Chaos Agent Cover

Perhaps the book I’m most excited for at the start of 2024 is The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney, which will serve as the 13th novel in his epic Gray Man series.  I have had a blast with this series over the years, and previous novels like The Gray Man, Mission Critical, One Minute Out, Relentless, Sierra Six and Burner have all been exceptional reads, loaded with action, clever narratives and damaged characters.  The Chaos Agent looks set to continue this trend with an intriguing new adventure which will force the protagonist to go up against old friends and new enemies as he tries to stop a plot involving artificial intelligence.

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The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry – 20 February 2024

The Atlas Maneuver Cover

The final entry I want to highlight on this list is the fantastic upcoming thriller The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry.  The latest book in Berry’s long-running Cotton Malone series (make sure to check out my reviews for previous entries like The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol, The Kaiser’s Web and The Last Kingdom), The Atlas Maneuver will see the protagonist become involved in an insidious financial attack linked to looted Japanese war gold and a long-simmering war between the CIA and the world’s oldest bank.  Sure to feature Berry’s trademark blend of an exciting and suspenseful modern thriller and fascinating historical secrets, I already know I am going to love The Atlas Maneuver and it is going to be so much fun.

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Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list.  I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months.  Each of the above should be extremely epic, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon.  Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months.  In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a few books to get through soon and they should all be pretty awesome.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Murder Inn and Devil’s Kitchen

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday12 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight two upcoming books from a very talented Australian author, Candice Fox.

Over the last few years, I have been having a wonderful time getting into the novels of Australian crime fiction author Candice Fox, who has been a staple inclusion in my yearly reading schedule.  Fox has produced some amazing and compelling thrillers throughout her career, and I’ve deeply enjoyed several of her recent books, including Gathering Dark, The Chase and Fire With Fire.  Fox is also quite well known for her collaborations with legendary crime fiction author James Patterson, having written several novels together.  This includes their very entertaining novel from a couple of years ago, 2 Sisters Detective Agency, which proved to be a particularly exciting read.  As such, I am always quite excited when I find out details about some of Fox’s upcoming books and 2024 is shaping up to be a pretty major year for Fox with two awesome sounding books coming out.

The first of these is The Murder Inn, which Fox is once again co-authoring with James Patterson.  The sequel to their previous collaboration, The Inn, which follows the unusual inhabitants of a seaside in, including its former police officer owner, as they get caught up in a dangerous series of events.  The Murder Inn is set for release in February 2024 and looks like it will feature another great story, this time featuring two killers coming to the titular inn and raising hell.  The Murder Inn sounds like a pretty awesome read and I look forward to seeing what fantastic fun these two great authors come up with next.

The Murder Inn Cover

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Plot Synopsis:

In this thrilling follow-up to the international bestseller THE INN, past mistakes come back to haunt the friends and residents of The Inn by the Sea.

It’s the perfect getaway. But the past will always find you . . .

Since leaving the Boston Police Department, Bill Robinson has run The Inn by the Sea in Gloucester, Massachusetts. There he offers a safe and supportive home for his long-term guests.

That tranquil life, however, is about to be shattered.

Two murderers are heading to Bill’s door.

One needs his help to evade the cops. The other plans to kill again to silence the truth.

Standing in their way are the residents of the Inn. And not everyone will get out alive.

In addition to her collaboration with Patterson, Fox also has a standalone novel coming out in 2024 with Devil’s Kitchen.  Set for release shortly after The Murder Inn, Devil’s Kitchen has a brilliant sounding plot behind it about a heist crew made up of firefighters and the women who joins them trying to bring them down.  Fox has always been good at coming up with elaborate or unique thriller concepts for her books and Devil’s Kitchen sounds like a particularly cool one that I’m very keen to check out.

Devil's Kitchen Cover

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Plot Synopsis:

Candice Fox’s latest thriller is the definition of nailbiter, as a female agent goes undercover in a New York firefighting crew that is far more dangerous than the fires they fight.

When a city’s heroes become its boldest criminals . . .

For years the firefighters of New York’s Engine 99 have rushed fearlessly into hot zones, saving countless lives and stopping devastating blazes in their tracks.

They’ve also stolen millions from banks, jewellery stores and art galleries. With their inside knowledge and specialist equipment they’ve become the most successful heist crew on the East Coast.

Their newest member, Andrea ‘Andy’ Nearland, is not what she seems either. She’s an undercover operative, hunting the men of Engine 99 for a host of crimes – including the murder of an off-duty cop and the disappearance of a mother and child.

As the clock counts down to the gang’s most daring heist yet, loyalties begin to fray and mistrust boils over. Andy’s career is all smoke and mirrors, but infiltrating this crew of ‘heroes’ might prove her most dangerous job of all . . .

As you can see, Candice Fox fans have a pretty big year coming up in 2024 as this amazing Australian author has two great offerings for us, including one with the always impressive James Patterson.  Both The Murder Inn and Devil’s Kitchen sound extremely epic and it looks like I’m going to get a major crime fiction fix early next year.