Hello book lovers! Welcome back to Bookstr’s Three to Read. It’s getting a little colder outside (which sadly hasn’t scared COVID away just yet) but the weather is perfect for picking up some new reads. So whether you are looking for a fresh, Hot Pick, a last-minute Beach Read, or a tantalising Dark Horse, boy have I got the recommendations for you. Be sure to check out the video, in full, below. Let’s get into it!
Hot Pick
Wayward Witch
by Zoraida Córdova
Synopsis:
Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she’s been feeling lost. She has brand new powers that she doesn’t understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father’s return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father’s memory loss has been a lie.
As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters. But if Rose wants to return home so that she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first.
Why?
While there is already a legion of Brooklyn Brujas fans, Wayward Witch will be a conversion point for many, as the story is exciting and the stakes are high. The world-building is fresh and unique, and the LGBTQ and Latinx aspects breathe new life into what can often be a somewhat stale genre. You can jump right in with this installment, or go all the way and take it from the start. Either way, you won’t be disappointed!
Beach Read
The Deadly Hours
by Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, and Christine Trent
Synopsis:
A stellar line-up of historical mystery novelists weaves the tale of a priceless and cursed gold watch as it passes through time, wreaking havoc from one owner to another. As the hours and years pass, the characters are irrevocably linked by fate, each playing a key role in breaking the curse and destroying the watch once and for all.
From 1733 Italy to Edinburgh in 1831 to a series of chilling murders in 1870 London, and a lethal game of revenge decades later, the watch touches lives with misfortune, until it comes into the reach of one young woman who might be able to stop it for good.
As much a book of curses as a book of destinies, The Deadly Hours is a breathtaking anthology rich with atmosphere and intrigue that encapsulates the exquisite destruction, heartbreak, and redemption wrought by fate.
Why?
There is nothing better than a put-down-and-pick-back-up anthology for the beach, that is, if you can bring yourself to put such an intriguing story down. The idea is fresh and it is executed brilliantly across the board, with such a varied set of writers at the helm. The Deadly Hours is a great mix of historical fiction and mystery, with a thrilling pace and a unique story.
Dark Horse
Case Pending
by Dell Shannon
Synopsis:
Hers was the kind of casual homicide that occurred every week in a city like Los Angeles in the sixties. Beaten, robbed, and left in an abandoned lot, Elena Ramirez’s death was like many others… in fact, nearly identical to a murder that happened six months earlier―a case that Detective Luis Mendoza was never able to solve.
The detective isn’t a fan of puzzles but knows one when he sees it. He puts two and two together―these vicious murders must have been committed by the same deranged individual―and leads the charge into a case that is astounding in its complexity. Along with the begrudging help of Detective-Sergeant Hackett, Mendoza must separate the many twisted threads of this crime―from murder to black-market adoption and extortion.
Considered the “queen of the police procedural,” Dell Shannon offers a glimpse into the world of police-work before the aid of forensics or technology.
Why?
Case Pending is a novel from the last century, totally brought back to life by the Library of Congress Crime Classics. The story of Luis Menzoda and his police work is a fascinating insight into how it all worked in the time before forensics and moves in technology. The story itself is a very digestible thrilling mystery, with plenty of black market shenanigans – some of which deadly. The reader will enjoy reading along and guessing with Mendoza and his partner as they piece all of the puzzle together.
Happy reading!
Feature image via Bookstr