Mystery/Crime/Thriller Books

In a southern Illinois college town where horror is carved in flesh and corruption knows no bounds, a young English professor with a shrouded past is about to learn higher education can be murder.     No one remembers how the body of Josie Fortune was found deep inside Lues Creek Canyon twenty years ago. No one remembers how corrupt police officials framed an innocent man and handed the victim’s daughter into the state’s welfare system. No one remembers, no one but a killer left to carve out a brutal legacy of torture and murder with absolute impunity in this rural southern Illinois college town.     When Josie Darling returns to Lues State to assume a teaching position and come to terms with her mother’s murder, she takes every precaution to hide her tainted past from her colleagues. But someone close remembers, and the shadows of history close in. Threats come, intimate promises of violence written in a desperately psychotic scrawl, invading every aspect of her life. Confronted by personal and professional jeopardy at every turn, Josie must face her terror and expose the identity of her mother’s killer—a killer who is now stalking her.     “If you think you can sleuth this thing, I’m afraid you’re in over your head,” warns a local investigator, but Josie’s stake in this case is all too personal and all the more immediate as she uncovers other murders. Her list of potential suspects includes her deranged ex-husband, her outlaw stepfather and any of his rogue clan, several manipulative Englishprofessors, and a host of corrupt local lawmen.      Struggling against an unseen but ever-present enemy and with few allies to counsel her, Josie embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery. Using her well-honed research skills, the academic becomes the detective and sets out to recover her birthright. Josie transforms herself from tormented victim to relentless avenger as she takes on the intense willfulness of her namesake. But even her renewed strength of character may not help Fortune’s Darling save herself and find the elusive killer’s true identity in time, an identity heard only in the whisper of leaves.

Recommendation: - Slasher Girls & Monster Boys is the perfect read for anyone who loves a good scare. This anthology brings together some of the best thriller and horror writers in YA, creating a collection of terrifying tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What makes this book truly unique is how each author draws inspiration from literature, film, television, and music, resulting in stories that are fresh, unsettling, and filled with clever references. Whether you're a fan of blood horror, the supernatural, or unsettling realism, this collection has something to satisfy your craving for an absolute thrill. So dim the lights, grab a blanket, and prepare to be haunted by these twisted tales.

Children of the Night could be a good read for fans of supernatural fantasy who want an unexpected twist on the vampire romance genre. The book masterfully blends rock 'n' roll culture and a battle between good and evil supernatural beings. The main characters, a witch and a charming vampire, make for an unconventional yet appealing duo that readers will root for until the end.

If you've been following The Enemy series, "The Fallen" ramps up the stakes with the characters you've grown to root for. It's a blend of adventure and horror that's perfect for anyone who loves post-apocalyptic scenarios wrapped in courageous tales of survival. As the kids seek a cure, the tension and the unknown will keep you gripped, making it a chilling, yet thrilling read.

A thrilling page-turner about a centuries-old vampire who must confront an ancient evil that she inadvertently created. Full of action, suspense, and supernatural elements, this book is perfect for fans of the vampire genre who are looking for a unique twist on the classic vampire story.

This book is perfect for fans of horror and the supernatural. The plot follows a museum owner whose life is turned upside down when a little leather book arrives which is stained with vampire blood. The arcane magic brings Bessie, the centrepiece of her museum show, to life and gives her boyfriend unimaginable power. With vampires taking over NYC and threatening to spread to London, Bessie and her new friends must stop them. This book will keep you hooked with its unique blend of horror, dark magic, and museum show thrill.