Book picks similar to
Mister Mottley Gets His Man by Ellen Seltz


historical
t-novel
can-recommend
murder-mysteries

Lasser- Beginnings


Robin Roughley - 2017
    Soaked to the skin with the lightning illuminating the tumultuous sky he is determined to get his man. This is only the start to a night that will change him forever. Soon he will find a young girl, a runaway with a terrifying tale to tell, leading Lasser on a race against time as he tries to help her find her way through the terror. Though as the mystery unfolds Lasser realises that there is more at stake and the clock it ticking. The question is can he save the innocent as well as the guilty as the thunder continues to bellow from the unforgiving heavens?

The Feminine Touch


V.J. Chambers - 2017
    for fans of Chelsea Cain and Alexandra Sokoloff Nash Steven Wilt’s true crime podcast targets unsolved crimes. That’s how he ends up trying to unravel the murder of a man who was found buried in the woods, surrounded by bodies of women who’ve gone missing over the years. Then Nash sees a picture of the dead man’s wife, and he recognizes her as Siobhan Thorn, someone he knew in high school. Well, no one knew Siobhan. He tried to know her. She toyed with him for her own amusement. Funny thing, too. In high school, a bunch of girls went missing and no one ever found out what happened to them. Dead women now, missing girls in the past, Siobhan Thorn. Nash finds it’s not a stretch to believe that Siobhan did all of it, even though he knows that’s not typical behavior for a female serial killer. But Siobhan always was different. And now, he’s got to track her down, not only because it’ll make a dynamite podcast, but because, deep down, he still wants to know her.

The Malvern Mystery


Helen Susan Swift - 2017
    After Lorna Buchanan returns from her trip to India, she looks forward to a quiet life as a teacher in St. Ann's College. Instead, she gets tangled in a mystery involving murder and ancient, druidic practices. After Lorna is sacked by the tyrannical head teacher, she is recruited to solve the murder of Mr. Findhorn, a railway conductor. Liaising with Police Sergeant Caswell, their search for the murderer takes them deep into the world of deception, greed and age-old rituals. But is there something supernatural behind the crimes, or are they driven by a completely different motive? Praise for THE MALVERN MYSTERY: "I truly appreciated the author's historical details... An interesting and entertaining novel." - Amazon customer "I sincerely hope that this could be the start of a series." - Amazon customer

9th Circle


Carolyn McCray - 2012
     Overview: A madman terrorizes Seattle, attempting to recreate the nine circles of hell by using the blood and bodies of the innocent. Detective Robi Darcmel, a gifted yet troubled savant, is the only man standing in the path of this pathological killer. As the fate of the Emerald City hangs in the balance, can Darcmel overcome his failings or will Seattle burn to ash?

Hunted


Alison Golden - 2015
    Lydia is a loving mother and wife, who wants nothing more than the best for her family. John is her husband. He is an over-protective homicide detective who loves his wife and teenage daughter with everything he has. Their daughter, Diana, is a genius, with an IQ level far higher than most. This is a family that adores one another. A family, however, that is torn apart by tragedy. When Lydia is found dead at her workplace, John loses the love of his life. His heart breaks for himself and his little girl as Diana spirals out of control. The authorities rule the death a suicide, but when events don’t start to add up, the family that is left behind begins to suspect something isn’t right. Interview with the Author of the Series Q - So, what makes the Diana Hunter series special? A - When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create something that mirrored exactly the kind of books I like to read. My top picks are always mystery novels, especially featuring female protagonists with attitude. Diana is badass and I can’t tell you how many readers tell me she reminds them of themselves. She makes you feel you can do anything! The Diana Hunter books are a great mix of genres. There is nothing graphic or gratuitous in these books. Your Aunt Martha could definitely read them. But they are not “roses around the cottage door” –type mysteries. They are more hard-boiled with some romantic tension, suspense and thriller action to keep things interesting! Overall, the Diana Hunter series is designed to keep you turning the pages - and I've made sure there's never a dull moment. Q - In what order should I read the books? A - The Diana Hunter mysteries can be read and enjoyed in any order, however, Hunted is a prequel to the other books in the series. Unlike the other books, it is not a complete mystery. It relates the events that create the backdrop to the series and fills in some of Diana’s personality and motivations. You don’t have to have read the prequel to make sense of the later books but it helps. I’ve made sure not to include any spoilers for those who are new to the characters and any existing fans of Diana’s adventures will still find plenty of fresh action and mystery as well as perhaps a few answers. All in all, there is something for everyone. The events in this prequel take place a few years before Snatched, the first book in the Diana Hunter series of mysteries. If you do want to read them in order, I'd suggest the following sequence: - Hunted (prequel) - Snatched - Stolen - Chopped Q - So, why should readers give these books a try? A - Because the Diana Hunter series is a fast, fun, thrill-ride that takes no prisoners! Our heroine is kicks butt but has a soft center. We want her to win out even when she’s making poor decisions and alienating those who can, and want, to help her. I think most women will see a little, or a lot, of themselves in Diana Hunter. Ultimately, readers who enjoy lightning-fast pacing with a plot that twists and turns all the way to the end will get a kick out of this series. Thanks for reading! Diana Hunter Book Categories: - Mystery Series - Crime Thrillers - Cozy Mysteries - Women Sleuths - Hard-Boiled Mysteries

Bailey's Law


Meg Lelvis - 2016
    But it doesn't take long for Jack to realize Todd should've thought twice about what he did to several girls he dated. Was his murder justified?Jack Bailey, small town hard-boiled detective, must solve the crime, but his own unrelenting demons rising from his struggle with PTSD and buried family secrets complicate his task. Daily work at the station affords Jack distraction from the inner turmoil that penetrates his nights. Darkness brings unwanted memories, nightmares, and the realization he needs to face what happened ten years ago.Through the searing Texas summer heat, Jack's team of detectives works hard interrogating witnesses in an effort to discover Todd Kaplan's true character. But it's patrol cop, Denise Williams, who rises above her calling to assist in questioning a crucial witness. Smart and sassy, she holds her own with Jack's moody temperament. All the while, a new romantic interest with a woman who is off limits proves problematic for Jack as he tries to make the right decision.Was this small town murder an act of justice or revenge? Only a parent who has tragically lost a child can hold the answer in their hearts. Jack understands. Only too well.

The Towers: DS Connolly - Book One (East End Noir Series)


Natalie Hames - 2015
    Despair. Rebellion. What pushes a teenager from the toughest sink estate in East London to join The Met? Reader Reviews "Cracking read easy to follow full of action couldn't put it down..." "If you haven't read this book then you don't know what your missing, couldn't put it down once I had started it." "Absolutely brilliant lots of twists and turns." "Found all 3 of D.S.Connolly by chance but boy am I glad I did ...read them you won't be sorry" "From the very first page onward I was hooked and could not drag myself away..." "Another cracking read from Natalie Hames" Book Description The Towers is the first book in the East End Noir Series by Natalie Hames and introduces the young DS Matthew Connolly. Set against the dismal backdrop of 90's social housing, The Towers will plunge you into the fight for survival in a community ruled by gangs. Connolly soon discovers even the pure of heart can unwittingly slide into the world of organised crime when a loved one hits crisis point. Will he stay beneath the gang's radar, or fight fire with fire, alone? Lovers of crime fiction and noir will find The Towers will satisfy their hunger for a fast-paced, hard hitting story with unexpected twists and turns. Download The Towers today and absorb yourself into a terrifying world where gangs and corruption rule.

Don't Call Me Baby


Betty Byers - 2013
    Life had to get better surely? When Derek Lewis, rich Australian playboy, is found dead after falling from the roof of his office in salacious circumstances, Lola's opportunity to flex her investigative muscles had begun. But it wasn't only Lola's professional career that was about to take off. Little did she know it, her love life was too. Between her new boss, Julian, who was an uptight Adonis, and Joe the office Romeo, Lola was having a hard time to keep her professional integrity intact and her sassy comments to herself. Still, a job was a job, and if it involved working with two handsome men then who else would be up for the challenge?

Murder Rites: A Johnny Sundance Mystery


Ronald J. Yarosh - 2016
    He is stabbed twenty-seven times. The killer is still on the loose. The police have exhausted all leads. Johnny takes the case and immediately runs into problems. His star witness is dead. The best suspect turns out to be innocent. Time is running out. Will Johnny solve the case before his client meets his own death? Will the assassin strike again? Murder Rites is the first book in The Johnny Sundance Mystery Series.

The Replacement


Jason Pellegrini - 2015
    Yet, not even a year after his resignation, he finds himself back on the job. This time, a detective in the homicide unit.While battling the ghosts of his past, Patrick and his new partner, veteran detective Jonathan Hawkins, find themselves chasing a killer who is constantly one step ahead of them.As the body count increases and no substantial leads are discovered, tension between the two cops threatens to boil over. They attempt to coexist as they hunt down a sadistic serial killer who does more than just take his victims' lives.

Nearly Departed


Max Patrick Schlienger - 2012
    His scheme of masquerading as a paranormal investigator seems foolproof, until he encounters an actual ghost haunting an antique armchair.Now, having unwittingly become a witness to a decades-old murder, Dennis finds himself stumbling headfirst into bizarre and often hilarious situations as he tries to solve a legitimate paranormal mystery.Pursued by an overzealous private detective and driven to befriend a cast of memorable characters - from a perpetually-smoking matron to a charismatic charlatan who masquerades as an African shaman - Dennis works to exorcise the haunted furniture and return his life to a state of moderate normality.Easier said than done.

The Teacher


Emily Organ - 2017
    Enjoy this read in thirty minutes. London 1881. A young teacher dies at a school just weeks after her sister. A tragic coincidence or something more sinister? Fleet Street reporter Penny Green is suspicious but nothing suggests the sisters have been murdered. The police are disinterested and the school wants to move on from the tragedy. How can Penny persuade someone to listen to her? Penny risks taking matters into her own hands. But the risk might be a step too far.

Identity Crisis


Debbi Mack - 2004
    A simple domestic abuse case turns deadly when the alleged abuser is killed and Sam's client disappears. When a friend asks Sam to find Melanie Hayes, the Maryland attorney is drawn into a complex case of murder and identity theft that has her running from the Mob, breaking into a strip club and forming a shaky alliance with an offbeat private investigator to discover the truth about Melanie and her ex-boyfriend. With her career and life on the line, Sam's search takes her from the blue-collar Baltimore suburbs to the mansions of Gibson Island. Along the way, she learns that false identities can hide dark secrets, and those secrets can destroy lives.

The Lift


Andrew Barrett - 2015
     CSI Eddie Collins embarks on another ordinary day. But the people he meets in a lift prove that you should never make assumptions, never let preconceptions sway your judgement. And never let down your guard.

Abduction


Tim Kizer - 2017
    The ransom--16 billion dollars.           On July 21, Jane Shepard's 8-year-old daughter and husband vanish from her car without a trace while she's shopping at a grocery store. Days later, she's shocked to learn that according to state records, her daughter and husband died in a motorcycle crash on July 17. The police believe that her family's abduction is just a figment of her imagination, but Jane knows it's not true.     When she becomes the prime suspect in a murder case, Jane is sure she's been framed by the people behind her family's kidnapping. As she searches for answers, she uncovers a conspiracy masterminded by a top U.S. government official hell-bent on becoming one of the world's richest people.     To save her family, Jane has to find a treasure worth billions of dollars buried somewhere in South America.    The problem is, she has no idea where to look.----------Mania, a bonus novel  Richard Brower has killed a dozen people. Now someone is trying to frame him for the murders committed by another serial killer.Serial killer Richard Brower buried his cheating wife, Mary, in the woods on Saturday.On Monday, Mary calls her brother's girlfriend.A few days later, she calls her mom.Then Mary bumps into her friend at a mall.Are all these people lying or has Mary actually come back from the dead?Richard has no idea, but he will get to the bottom of this. Or at least he'll try.