Time to Stuff the Stockings...with Paperbacks

Today I am blogging over at Buy Books for the Holidays, so I'm going to share that post here as well in lieux of a Monday Mystery Backlist. You've heard about some of these books here on my blog, others are ones I have in my TBR list, but all are great options for paperback stocking stuffers! So, here's my post:



We're closing in on the holidays. Have you finished your shopping? As I write this, I'm hoping I have one more store to visit today and then I'll be done. One of the final things people have for their shopping is those little stocking stuffers. This is a prime place to stick a great paperback! It's an affordable treasure to fill out that stocking. Here are a few great crime fiction paperbacks you can consider for your crime drama fan:

LETHAL LEGACY - by Linda Fairstein takes readers into the bowels of the New York Public Library to investigate the crime with Homocide Detective, Mike Chapman and Special Crimes Assistant Prosecutor, Alex Cooper. You'll never believe the library can be so deadly.

A NAIL THROUGH THE HEART - by Timothy Hallinan is the first of his Bangkok Thriller series. I always recommend people start at the beginning with this series featuring travel writer Poke Rafferty because the character development and the character relationships build throughout the series, and these elements are among the great strengths of this series. A NAIL THROUGH THE HEART is available as a trade paperback and is a must read for any thriller lover!

TRIGGER CITY - by Sean Chercover has been racking up award nominations and award wins. In the follow-up to award-winning BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD (also available in paperback), Ray Dudgeon gets more than he bargained for when he investigates a woman's death on behalf of her father. The victim is not what she appeared and Dudgeon may become the next victim for discovering her true identity.

BLUE HEAVEN - is C.J. Box's Edgar-award-winning thriller about two young children on the run in Idaho from four retired Los Angeles policemen. The children witnessed the policemen commit murder, and the policemen plan to stop at nothing to silence them.

THE BOOK OF LIES - by Brad Meltzer brings the most famous murder, Cain murdering his brother Abel, together with the creation of Superman for a present-day, heart-pounding thriller.

ANGEL'S TIP - is Alafair Burke's second novel in her Ellie Hatcher series. Ellie Hatcher is a police detective in New York City and ANGEL'S TIP is a ripped from the headlines plot. A young woman visiting New York City wants to stay longer at the night club and her friends leave her behind...alone.

GOOD PEOPLE - by Marcus Sakey follows a couple who want nothing more in life than to be able to have a family. Their desperation leads them smack into trouble with a couple of ruthless men who will stop at nothing for revenge. Dennis Lehane calls Marcus Sakey the "electric jolt American crime fiction needs."

THE FURY and THE DARKNESS - were released back to back this year by author Jason Pinter. They share a story arc dealing with a drug cartel as books four and five of Pinter's Henry Parker series.

DOG ON IT - is Spencer Quinn's debut novel featuring P.I. Bernie and his canine partner Chet. Chet narrates the adventure of their search for a missing teen-age girl. Stephen King said DOG ON IT is "Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, and in a few places terrifying...[DOG ON IT is an] enchanting one-of-a-kind novel."

For your readers who prefer something a little more on the cozy side, you might want to check out:

THE MISSING INK - by Karen Olson is the first book in Karen's new series about Brett Kavanaugh and her Painted Lady tattoo shop. Brett is scheduled to do a devotion tat on a woman who never shows. Not unusual, some folks re-consider their tattoo choices. However, when the woman winds up dead, this turn everything unusual, especially the fact that the "devotion" tattoo wasn't supposed to have the name of her very wealthy fiance.

AIR TIME - by Hank Phillippi Ryan brings TV reporter Charlotte McNally undercover into the world of high fashion. In this world of design, no one is who they seem to be and danger is very real. Who knew this world could be so deadly?

WHEN A MAN LOVES A WEAPON - is Toni McGee Causey's most recent installment of her hilarious Bobbie Faye Sumrall series. This time the spunky Louisiana gal is in a mess of trouble because of gems that folks wouldn't have any trouble killing Bobbie for.

Have readers on your list who like things a little darker? You could check out:

MANIA - is Craig Larsen's debut about a newspaper photographer in Seattle who gets caught up in the depravity of a serial killer dubbed Street Butcher only to find his own disturbing past.

CUT TO THE BONE - by Shane Gericke brings back Detective Commander Martin Benedetti and Detective Emily Thompson as they pursue the Executioner who is seeking revenge for a wrongful execution performed over forty years earlier.

THE GATEKEEPER - by Michelle Gagnon is the third book in her series featuring Special Agent Kelly Jones. This time a young girl has been kidnapped, and the kidnapping is connected to a terrorist plot hatched by American hate groups.

This is just a taste to get you started. There are so many great crime fiction books available in paperback. They aren't all ones that you will quickly find at Walmart or Target or even Barnes and Noble, but believe me when I say they are worth the little extra effort to hunt them down. Any of the great mystery independent stores that you've seen featured here on the blog can help you out on finding these books, as can some of my other favorites: Mystery Lover's Bookshop in Pennsylvania, The Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles, Murder by the Book in Houston, and The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and hoping they are filled with crime....fiction! Happy Reading and Happy Shopping!