Seven spy novels to take you around the world

Barbara Nickless is the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of At First Light and Dark of Night in the Dr. Evan Wilding series as well as the Sydney Rose Parnell series, which includes Blood on the Tracks, a Suspense Magazine Best of 2016 selection and winner of the Colorado Book Award and the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence; Dead Stop, winner of the Colorado Book Award and nominee for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence; Ambush; and Gone to Darkness.

[The Page 69 Test: At First Light; Q&A with Barbara Nickless; The Page 69 Test: Play of Shadows]

Nickless's newest novel is The Drowning Game.

At Novel Suspects the author tagged "seven novels from cities around the globe to whet your appetite" for "historical espionage or modern-day hijinks." One title on the list:

Ilium by Lea Carpenter

I’m cheating a bit, because while Ilium opens in London, it quickly moves to Mallorca, Croatia, Paris, and Cap Ferret. But our protagonist is thoroughly British. And young. And naïve. And smart. She’s the perfect unwitting asset. The title comes from the Latin name for the city of Troy, while the events of the story—played out as a series of revelations—are loosely based on historical events. I won’t share that history, as doing so would tip readers to the novel’s surprise ending. Suffice to say Ilium is riveting, a cerebral experience—different from more action-packed spy novels but no less rewarding. Bonus: Multiple settings presented in sharp detail.

Read about the other entries on the list.

Ilium is among Flynn Berry's four great novels of subtle espionage.

Q&A with Lea Carpenter.

--Marshal Zeringue

Five notable hostage novels

Gillian McAllister has been writing for as long as she can remember. She graduated with an English degree before working as a lawyer. She lives in Birmingham, England, where she now writes full-time.

Her novels include Wrong Place Wrong Time and Just Another Missing Person.

McAllister's new novel is Famous Last Words.

At the Waterstones blog she tagged five favorite "novels that employ hostage situations as their main source of drama," including:

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

I endorsed this as ‘the most gripping thriller I’ve ever read’ and I meant every word. It’s a closed-set thriller which focusses on a home invasion. A woman is alone in her house with her two young children in bed asleep when she hears a footstep on the stairs. She gathers up the children and hides with them in a nook behind a chimney breast and it is from this location that Sierra plays out much of the novel. As they seek shelter, there follows a breathless cat-and-mouse thriller, with the invader trying to find them, the protagonist hiding with her children, until the moment she realises he isn’t a stranger: she knows exactly who he is, and why he is there. It ought to be too difficult to write a thriller with only one speaking character and one set, but she lands it. The ending absolutely delivers: I almost cheered.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue

Five novels with tantalizing anti-heroes

Taylor Hutton is the pseudonym of a pair of writer friends, one of whom has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award and the other who is a New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award finalist. Between the two of them, they have written over forty books. When they are not passing their latest sexy thriller back and forth on Google Doc, they are browsing bookstores, sending each other ridiculous memes, walking their dogs Trudy and Potato around their Los Angeles neighborhood, and making their children cringe with their TikTok videos.

Their new novel is Strike and Burn.

At CrimeReads the authors tagged five novels in which "readers can’t help but find themselves occasionally rooting for the dark side." One title on the list:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

There are no good people in Gone Girl, only fascinating and surprising characters. If you are one of the few left on the planet who have not yet read this masterpiece or saw its film adaptation, we will not spoil the ending. But man, if we were to teach a class about badass anti-heroes, this book would be required reading.

Read about the other novels on the list.

Gone Girl made Nadia Khomami's list of five top psychological thrillers by women, Kaley Rohlinger's list of fifteen of the best books with unreliable narrators, Katherine A. Olson's list of five books with righteous female rage, Azma Dar's list of five dark novels that explore the sinister side of marriage, Jonas Jonasson's top ten list of books about revenge, Suzanne Redfearn's list of six novels about women trying to outrun their past, Max Manning's top ten list of psychopathic crime & thriller characters, Steven L. Kent and Nicholas Kaufmann's list of six favorite literary human monsters, Elizabeth Macneal's list of five sympathetic fictional psychopaths, Jo Jakeman's top ten list of revenge novels, Amanda Craig's list of favorite books about modern married life, Sarah Pinborough's top ten list of unreliable narrators, C.A. Higgins's top five list of books with plot twists that flip your perception, Ruth Ware's top ten list of psychological thrillers, Jane Alexander's top ten list of treasure hunts in fiction, Fanny Blake's list of five top books about revenge, Monique Alice's list of six great fictional evil geniuses, Jeff Somers's lists of the top five best worst couples in literature, six books that’ll make you glad you’re single and five books with an outstanding standalone scene that can be read on its own, Lucie Whitehouse's ten top list of psychological suspense novels with marriages at their heart and Kathryn Williams's list of eight of fiction’s craziest unreliable narrators.

--Marshal Zeringue

Five novels with houses to die for

Camilla Bruce is a Norwegian writer of speculative and historical fiction. She has a master’s degree in comparative literature and has co-run a small press that published dark fairy tales. Bruce currently lives in Trondheim with her son and cat.

Her new novel is At the Bottom of the Garden.

At The Nerd Daily Bruce tagged five "novels with powerful houses that the characters are willing to fight, live, die – and even kill – for." One title on the list:

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Ana and Reid are reeling from the difficult birth of their daughter, which left Ana in a wheelchair, when they catch an unexpected break: The two of them have won a lottery where the prize is an affordable apartment in the prestigious Deptford building, complete with stunning architecture and a view of Central Park. It almost seems too good to be true. Navigating new parenthood and Ana’s disability is hard, though. So hard that it takes a while for them to notice the strangeness lurking in the corners of their new home. The neighbors are pretty eccentric, true, and the gargoyles adorning the building are creepy – but you are willing to put up with a lot for the apartment of your dreams. There is no explaining away the needle-like marks on baby Charlie, though, or the sudden disappearance of visitors to their home. This house is like a hive, with many individuals living together in a complex structure. It is undoubtedly beautiful; an object of desire and the fulfilment of a dream. But what is truly hiding behind its delectable walls?

Read about the other titles on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue

Eight historical novels that add a little magic

Susie Dumond is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. She is the author of Queerly Beloved, Looking for a Sign, and Bed and Breakup, and she also talks about books as a senior contributor at Book Riot and a bookseller at her local indie bookstore. Dumond lives in Washington, D.C., with her spouse, Mickey, and her cat, Maple. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her baking cupcakes or belting karaoke at the nearest gay bar.

At Book Riot Dumond tagged "eight novels that combine historical fiction with magical realism and fabulism to create something truly special." One title on the list:

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

What list of magical realism historical fiction would be complete without the legendary Isabel Allende? This sweeping epic involves three different protagonists orphaned by political violence who seek a different kind of family together. Samuel lost his parents to the Nazis in 1940s Austria. Leticia suffered great loss during a revolution in 1980s El Salvador. Seven-year-old Anita recently found herself separated from her loved ones at the U.S.-Mexico border. Anita, who is blind but has a gift of seeing much more than others, is placed temporarily with Samuel and Leticia, who work in his home. The three find a meaningful connection that gives them all hope for a better future. Weaving together multiple historical narratives with contemporary lives and touches of magic, Allende tells a powerful story of multiple generations healing from trauma.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue

Five mystery novels with unique settings

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. Her adult debut, She Doesn’t Have A Clue, is a murder-mystery rom-com mash-up for fans of Clue and Knives Out.

At CrimeReads she tagged

five selections that range from haunting thrillers to whip-smart homages to detective novels of a bygone era, [in which] setting plays a critical role in the execution of the story. The stories are worth reading not only to solve the murder, but to lose yourself in their immersive worlds.

One title on the list:

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

An expert blend of mystery, thriller, and horror, Night Film is a meticulous look at the lengths obsessive creatives will go to achieve their visions. When disgraced former journalist Scott McGrath reads about the death of a cult film director’s daughter, he immediately knows foul play was involved. After all, the director, Stanislaus Cordova, was the engineer of Scott’s professional downfall after Scott’s obsession with him went too far. The investigation into the daughter’s death is anything but by the book, as elements of the occult and stories of Cordova’s extreme directing methods begin surfacing. Pessl has written an absolute masterpiece, the culmination of which takes place at Cordova’s remote ranch/filming stage. What follows is a mind-bending chase through film sets, puzzle boxes, and even an abandoned pool that will make you question everything you know and trust. Fans of cult films and underground directors will appreciate Pessl’s detailed dedication to creating Cordova’s world.

Read about the other entries on the list.

Night Film is among Lauren Acampora's nine top novels of art and seduction, Kate Reed Petty's seven thrillers about filmmakers & subversive art, and Jeff Somers's ten creepy Halloween books and four huge books that will hurt your brain—but in a good way.

--Marshal Zeringue

Seven books where real estate drives the plot

Daniel Kenitz is a freelance writer and the author of the thriller The Perfect Home. He has also published several short stories, including the Pushcart Prize-nominated "A Hand to the Plow" (2022, Red Rock Review), "Tickleneck" (2022, Spotlong Review), "The Cycle" (2021, Evening Street Review), "Seen" (2020, Every Day Fiction), "The Parent License" (2020, The Virginia Normal), and "Sunset 9037" (2013, Strangelet Magazine).

At Electric Lit Kenitz tagged seven novels in which "authors have skillfully used unique real estate situations for all sorts of literary purposes: metaphors, side plots, symbols, and entanglements." One title on the list:

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The Last Thing He Told Me begins in a floating home, and the metaphor there is a life about to be swept away in the current. What a great choice, because the effect is instant: Owen’s mysterious “Protect her” letter kicks off a story with riverine momentum. The search unites Hannah and Bailey—not related by blood but through Owen—the same way the floating home forced them into living in close quarters.

Read about the other entries on the list at Electric Lit.

--Marshal Zeringue

Six top thrillers featuring sisters (and murder)

Kate Alice Marshall is the bestselling author of thrillers and horror for kids and adults. Her middle grade books include the Secrets of Eden Eld trilogy and Extra Normal. In YA, she’s written the survival thriller I Am Still Alive, as well as supernatural suspense including Rules for Vanishing and The Narrow. She made her adult thriller debut with What Lies in the Woods, followed by the USA Today bestseller No One Can Know.

She lives outside Seattle with her family, two very friendly (but not very smart) golden retrievers, and a growing collection of fancy pens.

At CrimeReads Marshall tagged six of her "favorite stories featuring sisters—the good, the bad, and the complicated." One title on the list:

The Turnout by Megan Abbott

Not for the faint of heart, this unsettling and at times uncomfortable book takes a long, dark dive into the world of ballet. Sisters Marie and Dara, along with Dara’s husband Charlie, run a ballet studio once owned by their mother. Their claustrophobic world is disrupted when a fire damages the school, necessitating repairs. The contractor the three hire proves a corrosive, dangerous force. This book oozes atmosphere and dread, creating a fascinating portrait of the sisters and their deeply intertwined lives.

Read about the other entries on the list.

The Turnout is among M. M. (Marjorie) DeLuca's six psychological suspense stories that feature young protagonists and Lynn Slaughter's five memorable mysteries for performing arts lovers.

--Marshal Zeringue

Books that teach how to be alone

Rebecca Joines Schinsky is the Chief of Staff for Riot New Media Group and a co-host of the Book Riot Podcast.

At Book Riot she tagged a few "books to help you savor solitude, sink into silence, and be alone with your thoughts in a world filled with noise." One title on the list:

[F]or those who really want to sit in silence and get comfortable with having nothing but their own thoughts for company, there’s Thich Nhat Hanh’s Silence. Some familiarity with basic mindfulness techniques will be helpful here, but it isn’t required, as Hanh explains the importance of silence for our spiritual well-being. The book includes meditation techniques and mantras to anchor the practice of sitting still, making it a particularly good candidate for audiobook listening.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue

Six books on belonging and identity

Charlene Carr has published eleven novels. Her first agented novel, Hold My Girl, was named one of the Best Books of 2023 by CBC, shortlisted for multiple awards, and has been optioned for adaptation to the screen. Carr lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with her husband and young daughters.

Her new novel is We Rip the World Apart.

At The Nerd Daily Carr tagged six books that explore themes of identity and belonging. One title on the list:

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake is a multi-generational story that shifts between the past and the present as two siblings uncover the secrets of their late mother’s life. These revelations bring into question everything the brother and sister thought they knew about not only their mother’s identity, but their own, too.

Expansive and tender, Black Cake is an exploration of the intermixing of cultures and the ways in which the choices we make in an effort to survive and, maybe no less important, to belong, can ripple through the years.

Read about the other entries on the list.

Black Cake is among Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's five top books that wine & dine, Donna Hemans's eight books on love, loss, and betrayal in the Caribbean, and Sally Koslow's five novels about families far worse than yours.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nine titles combining the Gothic & the glamorous

Layne Fargo has a background in theater, women’s studies, and library science, so it’s only fitting that she now writes deliciously dramatic, unapologetically feminist stories for a living. She’s the author of the novels The Favorites, They Never Learn, and Temper, as well as co-author on the bestselling Young Rich Widows series.

[My Book, The Movie: They Never Learn]

At CrimeReads Fargo tagged nine books "that pair the Gothic with the glam." One title on the list:

The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore

David Lynch meets Disney in this thoroughly original dark academia novel, featuring a school for teen stars that’s hiding a mass grave of dark secrets underneath its polished exterior. We follow Ivy, a veteran actress who’s been at the titular academy for 18 years, plus Ramona and Grace, two up-and-coming ingenues eager to follow in Ivy’s footsteps. The Dollhouse Academy’s denizens will do anything for success—including subjecting themselves to constant surveillance and strange experiments. Montimore proves that sometimes the shiny, happy, and perky can be even more disturbing than obvious evil.

Read about the other titles on the list at CrimeReads.

--Marshal Zeringue

Five historical fiction titles about little known history

Rachel Brittain is a writer, Day Dreamer, and Amateur Aerialist. Her short fiction has appeared in Luna Station Quarterly, Andromeda Spaceways, and others. She is a contributing editor for Book Riot, where she screams into the void about her love of books. Brittain lives in Northwest Arkansas with a rambunctious rescue pup, a snake, and a houseful of plants (most of which aren’t carnivorous).

At Book Riot she tagged five "historical fiction books about little-known history [that] bring the more obscure sides of history to light." One entry on the list:

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

More lives were lost in the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff than the Titanic and Lusitania combined, but many people have never even heard of it. I hadn’t before reading this heartbreaking historical fiction novel by Ruta Sepetys. The ship, overcrowded with more than 10,000 wartime personnel and refugees on a craft only meant for 1,800, was hit by a Russian torpedo in the Baltic Sea. To tell its tragic story, Sepetys imagines the people who might’ve found their way to the Wilhelm Gustloff: a young Lithuanian nurse, a Prussian soldier ferreting away Nazi treasures, and a heavily pregnant Polish girl, all fleeing for their lives.

Read about the other books on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue