When I am in a reading slump or need a break from the news, I almost always reach for a mystery or thriller. The stories are usually fast-paced and intriguing, and I enjoy trying to figure out who committed the crime or murder and why. Because the genre is very popular, there are so many titles publishing, and it can be hard to find the standouts. Today, I am offering up some fabulous mysteries/thrillers that I have read and can recommend:
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli – Creatively narrated by three women whose lives were taken by the same man, Ask for Andrea is a fresh take on the serial killer trope. Meghan, Brecia, and Skye all met James on a dating app where he pretended to be charming and available; instead, he murdered each of them. Now these women must work together from beyond the grave to prevent him from preying on another victim. This compelling premise will have readers madly turning the pages cheering on these women as they try to find a way to stop the predator that took their lives. The character development is strong, each woman has a distinct voice, and the manner in which the story is relayed is creative. Ask for Andrea was self-published several years ago, and due to its popularity was picked up by a traditional publishing house, Kensington, for an October 2025 release in hard cover with sprayed edges. Ask for Andrea is a quick and highly engaging read for fans of imaginative plots and fast-paced storytelling.
Blood Relay by Devon Mihesuah – Choctaw Detective Perry Antelope and her partner Sophia Burns are called in to investigate the disappearance of Dels Billy, a beloved women’s Indian Horse Relay rider. Together they uncover connections between Dels’s disappearance and a series of unsolved abductions of Native women from across the state. But as the perpetrator continues to elude the duo, Perry races to solve the cases while also protecting herself and her family. This fabulous mystery grabbed me from page one. I loved learning more about the Choctaw people and their culture, food, and way of life as well as learning about Indian Relay Racing and other tribal Nations in Oklahoma. The female characters are strong and fierce, and the dialogue, plot, and setting are all well-crafted. Blood Relay is for fans of Indigenous stories, strong female characters, and solid mysteries.
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams – When two friends, Tess and Allie, set out on a caving adventure, things quickly take a dark turn. They are followed by a mysterious stranger who will not leave them alone and who eventually traps Tess deep inside a narrow cave. Allie is nowhere to be found when Tess finally escapes 24 hours later, and when the police begin to investigate these horrific events, it is quickly clear that someone from Allie’s past may have targeted the girls. The more the detective investigates, the more questions arise. This heart-pounding thriller kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it; Adams has written the best thriller that I have read in a long while – brilliantly plotted and very claustrophobic. This book will appeal to thriller lovers and those who enjoy well-plotted books.
The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer – On the cliffs of Yorkshire in 1926, an unloved, small girl from a poor farming family turns their fortunes around when she discovers a beautiful rare red egg on the cliffs near her home. A century later, the same egg, part of a collection of red eggs dubbed the Metland Eggs, is stolen from Patrick Fort’s friend Weird Nick, whose joint efforts to get it back reveal the cruel world of egg trafficking. Bauer examines the power of human obsession to obtain and possess, and this theme permeates the book. The Impossible Thing is a fascinating mixture of crime fiction, historical adventure, and intrigue that kept me madly turning the pages. The two timelines weave seamlessly together, and the twists and turns make for a compelling story. I highly recommend this creative and clever read. Those who enjoy unique stories and unforgettable characters will devour this book as well as readers who like genre mashups and/or enjoy stories based on real items like the Metland Eggs.
Imposter by L.J. Ross – Impostor is a gripping page turner from beginning to end. Dr. Alexander Gregory is a forensic psychologist known for helping evaluate and understand even the most violent offenders. So when a young mother is brutally killed in Ballyfinny, Ireland, the small insular community is shocked and certain that the murder was committed by an outsider. The Garda (the Irish police) have no leads, so Dr. Gregory is recruited to profile the murderer and help bring the perpetrator to justice though the townspeople do not welcome the intrusion. The twists and turns are carefully crafted, the characters are well developed, and the sense of place is very strong. I highly recommend this initial foray into a new series and am anxiously awaiting the remaining books. This stellar mystery series was published elsewhere previously, and the publisher is releasing the rest of the series throughout 2026. This one is a great fit for fans of clever mysteries, stories with a strong sense of place, and engaging protagonists.
The Killer Question by Janice Hallett – Told completely in a mixed-media format through news reports, emails, pub trivia quizzes and notes, WhatsApp and text messages, police records, emails, and more, The Killer Question is an entertaining mystery with clever plotting that propels the story along. Set in and around The Case is Altered pub, located on an isolated road outside a small English town, the story follows new owners Sue and Mal who hold weekly trivia nights to draw in more pub customers. One evening, a visitor disrupts the trivia night and is found dead down the road from the pub later that evening. The unspooling of information through various documents allows the story to unfold in a way that keeps the suspense high as well as pulling the reader into the investigation in a unique and fun way. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.
This one is a good fit for fans of the mixed-media format, trivia, humor, and fun mysteries. For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram. Find upcoming Conversations from a Page events here.
