Book picks similar to
The Good Life Crisis by E.M. Smith


crime
detective
funny
mystery-and-suspense

The 13th Victim


Sherry Scarpaci - 2015
    The press dubs the killer the Butcher, and the crimes are eerily similar to those committed by Christopher Long in Florida. When his grisly souvenirs show up at crime scenes fourteen hundred miles away, it appears Long’s on the hunt again—except he’s been dead nearly twenty years. Kate’s done her homework—she knows Long worked alone. So who could possibly have his gruesome keepsakes?The case hits close to home for Kate—too close. Now she’s on a hunt of her own, determined to catch the Butcher if it’s the last thing she does…and that’s just what the depraved killer has in mind.

Twisted Intentions


B.M. Hardin - 2020
    Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get it? Ms. Merci Miller is. And after surviving her worst nightmare, finally, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. She sees something she isn't supposed to see; a crime. But she finds a way to use pain to her advantage this time. Her intentions are pure. And just a little bit twisted. And for a while, things are just as sweet as forehead kisses. And then, suddenly, Merci is reminded of her past, and forced to face her biggest fear. "He's back, Merci. Your worst nightmare is here." But the man who hurt her is supposed to be dead. Or is it all in Merci's head?

Starvation Lake


John Carson - 2020
    Every year on the anniversary of her incarceration, she taunts him with a phone call, giving him one message; when I get out, I'll kill you.Now, Bracken has transferred back to Edinburgh from Fife and is thrown into the deep end on his first day back on duty.There's a killer who is emulating Ailsa, threatening to surpass her body count.Bracken knows he needs her on board to help him track the killer down, but she's reluctant to get involved.Then the case takes an unexpected twist, and she agrees to help. But this new killer is taking them down a dark, twisted path, where nobody sees the outcome.Until it's too late.

Fire in Bone (Jake Pettman #2)


Wes Markin - 2021
    A suspected child killer from a bygone era. And a schoolgirl washed up on the banks of the River Skweda.A storm is coming to Blue Falls, Maine.An unprecedented storm. And in the eye of the storm stands ex-detective Jake Pettman. A man desperate for sanctuary and desperate for the truth. But in a place of undying and heinous secrets, such desperations become dangerous.Both to yourself, and the people that you love. Fire in Bone is an adrenaline-pumping crime thriller novel from the Amazon bestselling author of One Last Prayer for the Rays, and the DCI Yorke series. Perfect for fans of Chris Carter, James Patterson, Chris Brookmyre, and Stuart Macbride.

Unlucky Day


J.R. McLeay - 2018
    With citizens fearing to venture outside, the streets of Manhattan have become nearly deserted.When the sniper begins escalating the profile of his targets, higher level government agencies are pulled in. But the shooter always seems to be one step ahead of the law and slips away whenever the authorities get close.As copycat killings begin spreading to other cities across the U.S., the President hatches a dangerous plan to trap the killer. Can Joe and Hannah catch the assassin before he executes the most closely guarded man in history? Catch the excitement — read the reader reviews: "The best thriller I've read in the last 12 months.” "Gripping page turner.” "Nonstop scary thrill ride.” "Couldn't put it down.” "The best of the best.” "McLeay: A star is born.” "A remarkable work.” "You need to read this one.” Get your pulse pounding today with this unputdownable thriller!

The Blowback Protocol: A Sam Jameson Thriller


Lars Emmerich - 2017
    Is it Special Agent Sam Jameson’s fault? Homeland, Justice, and a powerful US Senator think so. And Sam is afraid they might be right. She’s been suspended, and she even faces an indictment. With her beau stuck on an overseas deployment, she’s left alone with her guilt, remorse and heartache - until a cryptic and terrifying message propels her out of her darkness and into a morass of international intrigue. Along the way, the clues start to add up, and Sam begins to wonder: was the little girl’s tragic death an accident, or something much worse? And what does the CIA have to do with the horrible tragedy? Halfway across the globe, Sam runs into someone from her past. But something’s different about him, and it quickly becomes clear he’s in a desperate struggle of his own. Three important people in his life have been kidnapped and face a brutal death — that he himself has set in motion. Are all of their fates intertwined? Are Sam and the man from her past fighting the same battle, against the same adversary? Can they unravel a vast and deadly conspiracy in time to save their own lives? Blowback is a classic spy thriller in the tradition of the best espionage novels from Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Daniel Silva, Mark Greaney, and Frederick Forsyth, told with the entertaining style and flair that have made #1 Bestselling Author Lars Emmerich one of the thriller genre’s most promising stars. For fans of these great spy thriller authors: Mark Greaney (the Gray Man) Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum (Jason Bourne), Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon), Frederick Forsyth, Barry Eisler, Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, and Brad Thor. Interview with #1 Bestselling Author Lars Emmerich

 Q: Who are your influences?
 A: Too many to list! I started out years ago as a Tom Clancy addict, and I thoroughly enjoy many of Nelson DeMille’s novels. I regularly read David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, Barry Eisler, Michael Connelly, and John Grisham. James Patterson has redefined what it means to be a working author, and I read his stuff as well. My top picks are usually espionage and private detective novels, any of the thousands of thrillers and mysteries best sellers, and, of course, books featuring classic pulp heroes. And I’m greatly influenced by all sorts of nonfiction, as well. I read all the time, and I’m a bit of a magpie about the topics — science, economics, finance, politics, history, mathematics, engineering, biomechanics, medicine… It’s a big world out there, and I love learning more about it. Many of those topics find their way into my fiction, so I can justify it all as “research.” 

 Q: The Sam Jameson series has become quite a phenomenon. What do you think has been the driving force behind the books’ success?
 A: I think Sam has something of a unique voice. She says the things we all wish we could say, and she gets away with it about half of the time. The other half of the time, not so much. I think she’s also a very human heroine. She has plenty of flaws and weaknesses, yet she accomplishes some amazing things. She’s kind of like every one of us in that regard, which resonates.

 Q: You have developed personal relationships with your readers over the years, which is a little unusual in the publishing business. Was that a conscious choice?
A: Absolutely. Books are intimate things. They occupy a person’s mind and thoughts for hours at a time. Good books leave a lasting impression, and great books might even change the way we think about things, but all books are a relationship. I always wanted a conversation.

She Had To Kill Him


Aviva Gat - 2021
    The first, an expensive lawyer. The second, suicide. Robert Derby used the first one. I’m using the second."Mara was celebrating her 21st birthday when her family was killed by a drunk driver. Two years later, Mara wants justice. She wants the drunk driver to understand how it feels to lose everything. She has a plan and a gun and she knows how to use it. But is she capable of murder?Garrett can’t help the family he was born into. His name puts a target on his back. Maybe that’s why he always dates women who need help. But can helping the wrong person lead to disaster?She Had to Kill Him is a gripping story about the things people do for their loved ones. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Colleen Hoover, and Paula Hawkins.

Stolen Lives: A Detective Mystery Series SuperBoxset


James Hunt - 2016
     A child predator known as the Snatcher is presumed at-large throughout South Florida. To some, he’s a ghost. To others, he’s evil incarnate. To Sergeant Miriam Castillo, he’s the monster who kidnapped her daughter, Ana, leaving behind a horrifying crime scene. With Ana’s life hanging in the balance, Miriam enters a nightmarish world to face a remorseless villain who has terrorized her community for far too long. But the Snatcher will also have to contend with the wrath of a woman with nothing to lose. Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned. Death Notes The body count in Baltimore is rising, and the weight of those lives rest on Homicide Detective Adila Cooper’s shoulders. It’s only a matter of time before the killer strikes again, and the sands of the hour glass have already started sifting away.

The Bone Jar


S.W. Kane - 2020
    An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected?Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. There are rumours about underground bunkers and secret rooms, unspeakable psychological experimentation, and a dark force that haunts the ruins, trying to pull back in all those who attempt to escape. Urban explorer Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, is determined to help Lew expose its grisly past. Meanwhile Lew discovers a devastating family secret that threatens to turn his life upside down.As his world crumbles around him, Lew must put the pieces of the puzzle together to keep the killer from striking again. Only an eccentric former patient really knows the truth—but will he reveal it to Lew before it’s too late?

A Poison Tree


J.E. Mayhew - 2020
    A coincidence or a connection?Will Blake is determined to find out, but as he unearths the past, questions are raised about the original investigations and it becomes clear that The Wirral has a killer on the loose once again.Victor Hunt, the father of the last dead girl from the original case, lies in a hospice with weeks to live. The truth lies hidden in Hunt’s tangled family tree, and the actions of his wayward daughter. Time is against Blake and his fractious team. If they don’t get to the root of past crimes, then innocent blood will flow again.A Poison Tree is the first thrilling mystery in the Will Blake crime series. A great read for fans of Luca Veste's and JD Kirk’s Jack Logan series.

Retribution / Calypso / Without Remorse


Blair Howard - 2017
    Books 7, 8 and 9. Now you can continue the ride: almost 900 pages of murder, mystery, sex, corruption and revenge, all the ingredients for three mind blowing whodunits. From murder and revenge in RETRIBUTION, to murder and corruption in the Caribbean in CALYPSO, to the ultimate whodunit: the 15-year-old cold case of the murder of Peter Nicholson in WITHOUT REMORSE, they will keep you turning the pages late into the night - you won't be able to put them down! Anyone who is a fan of Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, or Tami Hoag will love Harry Starke. Who is Harry Starke? Dark, Dangerous, Driven. Scroll Up. Grab a Copy, and Find Out.

Dark Retributions


Jemimah Jonah - 2020
    A paranormal investigator who doubles as a primary suspect…”Among the naked trees whose branches faced heavenwards in despair at the desolation surrounding them lies a woman whose death is violent every bit unnatural.Victoria Brooks - a leading homicide investigator is called for. As she races against time to solve the murders, the body count is on the rise and supernatural elements are at play. Her ability to see the dead causes her to unravel clues that point to her past. Accompanying her in this investigation is Paranormal Investigator Jonathan Steel.

When time almost runs out,Victoria's dark past might be the only way to survive this ordeal.With not-so-human entities at play, will they uncover the secrets behind these mysterious deaths?

Murder in Amaravati


Sharath Komarraju - 2012
    Men wanted her; women hated her; while some men wanted to keep their liaisons hidden.But who had the motive, the means and opportunity to kill her?Padmavati charged by the hour - her laughs, her understanding, her empathy, her advice - everything was available only in return for payment, which made her,in the Sarpanch's eyes, a little more than a trader. 'Look,' the priest Krishna Shastri said, pointing to the letters around him . 'Satyam, Shekhar, Seetaramaiah - how many men did she have in her grasp? How many? 'The onus of solving the case puts head constable Venkat reddy in a quandary. He has never even solved petty crimes and here he is faced with murder!If this were a novel, the constable thought vacantly, would the reader think of him as a worthy detective? Would anyone bother reading about a bungling, confused constable pretending to be a detective? The equation before him is simple; seven suspects,seven motives, one murder.

The Letter Promised


Kevin Wignall - 2013
    Returning to the Paris hotel where he spent his honeymoon six years earlier, he decides to take what seems like the only way out - suicide. But a chance encounter with a Russian in a similar predicament leaves Nick with an unlikely obligation to fulfil, one that will take him to Italy, and offer him a chance at something like redemption. www.kevinwignall.com

The Judge


Farin Powell - 2016
    The story is impressive in the way it shifts readers’ sympathies … a gem of a legal thriller, full of plot twists and juicy secrets.” —Kirkus Reviews “Powell’s third novel, a legal thriller, reveals the complexities and tragedies of our criminal justice system. It shows how a series of unexpected events can force a law abiding individual to choose a criminal path. The story in this fast-paced novel will stay with the reader forever.” —Focus On Women Magazine From the courtroom to the kidnappers’ lair, Powell keeps the excitement in tune with a pitch-perfect delivery of realistically motivated characters and a nonstop series of powerfully tense situations. There is no lag in the book, from the opening pages depicting the kidnapping to the thrilling conclusion. ROSE GARRETT —Clarion Reviews As Judge Walter McNeil heads home from Washington, DC’s Superior Court, he is preoccupied with the triple-murder case assigned to him. But everything changes when a car pulls up next to him and a man asks for directions. Seconds later, McNeil is pushed into the backseat of the car, knocked unconscious, and whisked away into uncertainty. McNeil’s kidnappers are three ex-convicts whose lives have been ruined by the judge’s harsh sentences. Out for revenge, they feed the judge drugs, repeatedly threaten his life, and then imply they have his teenage daughter, Daphne, who disappeared four years earlier. After they tell him at gunpoint that he must rule favorably on a defense attorney’s motions in the triplemurder case, McNeil has no idea his ordeal is just beginning. Before it is over, the judge’s life will be turned upside down. Now it is up to criminal defense attorney Amanda Perkins and detective Aristo Manfredi to partner together in a race against time to unravel the clues and hopefully save the judge from a fate he never could have imagined. In this legal thriller, a judge is kidnapped and thrust into the midst of a twisted web that intertwines him with the lives of three ex-convicts and the mystery surrounding his missing daughter.