SHARP, SATIRICAL DYSTOPIAN near-future adventure skewers privatized government, social censorship, and unrestrained avarice—and it’s a high-energy thriller as well! B PLUS
INTRIGUING YORKSHIRE MYSTERY set in 1964 stars a retired Newcastle police inspector, his loyal dog, and a young woman who dreams of being a detective. Substantial, clever plot with a strong sense of place and character. B PLUS
“MEKONG DELTA BLUESMAN” Son Vo tells the story of his life both offstage and on. From an early childhood in Saigon to a hardscrabble life in Maine to discovering his gift for music, Vo relates some wild adventures in a voice full of warmth and hope. B PLUS
STYLISH CALIFORNIA THRILLER keeps the energy high with action and hot romance. Vivid details and strong characterizations make this a glossy rollercoaster of a read. B PLUS
A RELUCTANT HITWOMAN’S COMPLICATED life gets a bit more difficult when her imperious aunt orders her to run a charity race and her mobster boss commissions her to assassinate a dictator. Cozy thriller combines action and fun. SOLID B
AN ASPIRING THIEF OF MAGICAL jewels falls into a series of predicaments that leave her responsible for stopping a murder before it happens. Charming fantasy mystery with plenty of wit and action. B PLUS
AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF EARTH and most of its colonies, a post-human crew and its sentient space fleet traverse the universe in search of other life. Fascinating interstellar adventure blends action and complexity. B PLUS
WITNESS PROTECTION IN A RETIREMENT community isn’t most 31-year-olds’ idea of fun, and with a murder on the grounds and $2 million missing from community accounts, it’s not very protected. Fun Florida cozy has lots of pizzazz. B PLUS
HIGH-INTENSITY FANTASY THRILLER recasts werewolf myths through a lens of female empowerment, and the result is a heist adventure led by two unforgettable young women/wolves. Sharp writing and evocations of hardscrabble backwoods life. A MINUS
TWO MAGICAL OUTCASTS join forces on a quest to discover a lake of mystical power. Vividly drawn fantasy set in a fascinating world offers memorable characters. B PLUS
ACTION-PACKED SPACE OPERA draws on astrophysics and the mythology of Ancient Egypt to create a memorable tale. Fresh, original, well crafted science fiction! B PLUS
INVESTIGATING A SHADY CONGRESSWOMAN leads two journalists into an investigation with life-or-death stakes. Romantic thriller captures both suspense and love within Houston’s Black elite. B PLUS
A BARISTA TURNS PODCASTER to re-examine the decades-old cold case of her grandfather’s murder, then finds herself at the center of a modern-day homicide investigation. Charming cozy mystery has a lot of heart. B PLUS
A HIGH-POWERED BLACK EXECUTIVE quits her Fortune 500 corporate job and takes on the challenge of turning a struggling hair salon back into the neighborhood icon it once was. Entertaining urban fiction with a positive spin. SOLID B
AS INTERSTELLAR PLAGUE RAGES, a small spaceship and its tightly knit crew find an infected stowaway—and that’s the least of their problems. Fast paced, elegantly crafted far-future science fiction adventure with great characters, world building. A MINUS
A DEFT, SHARP FABLE that could not be more timely. In a world where everything is decided by vote, what does democracy mean? Clever riff on Borges and Jackson stands on its own merits as well. B PLUS
A QUAINT, CHARMING FABLE inspired by the art of Vincent van Gogh and by great 19th-century fantasy writers like Andersen, Carroll, MacDonald and Wilde. Sweet, but with a witty bite. B PLUS
A SURREAL POST-APOCALYPTIC SETTING lends power to this dreamlike retelling of Macbeth. Hallucinatory, atmospheric prose captures the point of view of a man pushed to his limits with no options but to fight. B PLUS
THE GREATEST ELIZABETHAN MYSTERY—who killed Amy Robsart, wife of the Queen’s favorite, Robert Dudley?—explored in this intriguingly framed novel that breathes new life into a much-told story. Richly envisioned. B PLUS
MYSTERIES IN A MAGICAL VILLAGE and a confusing love…quadrangle? pentangle? have a cheery spirit medium seeing double. Cozy paranormal mystery is loaded with charm. SOLID B
HOMETOWN HAUNTINGS, BOTH of past relationships and in a newly purchased house, challenge a woman trying to come to terms with her past and future. Well-written, spicy romantic suspense. B PLUS
HIGH-ENERGY SPACE COMBAT thriller has lots of action and engaging worldbuilding. Fast pace and convincing characterization help make this an exciting ride. B PLUS