Vol. 3 Issue 2
I’m certain as avid readers of crime fiction many of you are familiar with the sub-genre of police procedurals. No one does this genre better than Michael Connelly. His Desert Star, out in 2022, is top-notch. My other two picks deal with ripped from the headlines topics of sexual assault and harassment. Implied Consent takes readers into the courtroom where a Hollywood mogul is on trial, while in Pay Dirt Road the protagonist relives her own experience while investigating the death of a colleague.
Desert Star by Michael Connelly: A Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch novel Connelly pairs his iconic character Detective Harry Bosch with newcomer Renee Ballard, head of a recently re-formed cold case unit within the Los Angeles Police Department. Ballard’s priority is solving a decades-old rape and murder of the sixteen-year-old sister of Councilman Jake Pearlman. Bosch, although retired, agrees to join her unit still determined to find the killer of the four members of the Gallagher family after years of failed searches for his “white whale.” Connelly, a best-selling and award-winning author, combines authentic police procedure with realistic characters and intricate plots. Twenty years after starting the Bosch series, Connelly knows how to keep his work fresh, intriguing, and never routine.
Implied Consent by Keenan Powell The first in a series of legal thrillers introduces attorney Maureen Gould. Gould, a sole practitioner, agrees to represent an aspiring filmmaker who sues a major Hollywood producer accusing him of sexual assault. Complicating an already difficult case to prove, Gould finds herself opposite a defense team from a major firm that includes her father. But Gould knows how to fight for her client even when her office is ransacked, crucial files are stolen and a key witness is found murdered. Gould remains confident that the truth will win the day. Powell creates an authentic, suspenseful, and entertaining courtroom drama.
Pay Dirt Road by Samantha Jayne Allen: Another new series Back home in rural Texas working as a waitress after graduating from college, Annie McIntyre faces an uncertain future. She’s bright enough to go to law school but feels torn between urban life and the rural landscape she loves. At the diner where Annie works, a young waitress disappears and is found murdered. Annie joins forces with her grandfather Leroy, who runs a private investigation firm, to help solve the crime, realizing that she’s found her life’s work. Hard Rain, the second in this series, will be released on April 18.
Contest Winner Congratulations to Michael Shapiro, who was the closest in guessing how many books I read in 2022. Mike guessed 57 books and I read 58. The prize is a fun pair of socks imprinted on the soles with: So many books; So little time. Mike’s debut dystopian novel, Roebuck’s Prize, is being published this year.
Patronize Independent Booksellers
Whenever you buy books, please consider purchasing from independent booksellers who remain passionate about books, love to share their knowledge, and provide a vital link between readers and authors.
Watch your inbox for my next newsletter in May. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and recommendations with me. Please remember to add my email chrisquarembo@gmail.com to your contacts to ensure this newsletter comes to your inbox, not your spam file.
Comments