Nothing can be more disheartening in the spring to have plans to be outside, only for stormy clouds to wash those plans away. Now it is easy enough to drudge through the rest of those types of days but when I am halted by the rain, I tend to default into using that day to make hot tea, find some comfy clothes, and see how far I can get through a book on my shelf that I have been putting off reading. More often than not, the book is a mystery/thriller and it becomes a day of adrenaline-filled page turning. Several come to mind that I would recommend again and again for people to use on a spring day when Mother Nature forces you to stay inside.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The works of Anthony Horowitz have been in my reading life for as long as I can remember. Growing up it was his Stormbreaker series about a young boy who turns into an international spy and goes on some crazy adventures. Luckily for me, as I grew up, Horowitz began to write books for adults too. He turned his literary eye onto famous characters such as Ian Fleming’s James Bond and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, writing new thrilling novels that mirrored the tales of the original authors.
This mystery is the first in the Susan Ryeland series and is one that I recommend regularly to people wanting to try out a new mystery thriller. Told as a story within a story, Horowitz’s tale follows Susan Ryeland as she settles in to read a recently dropped off manuscript from fictional author Alan Conway but realizes that it is incomplete and searches out to find the rest of the manuscript. Suspenseful and full of twists and turns, for those that like the writings of Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I think you’ll enjoy this detective story too.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
One of my favorite writing styles is one that gives multiple perspectives and in Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn delivers in a suspenseful did he, didn’t he mystery. I initially strayed away from reading Flynn’s highly popular book because I am always concerned about a book being overhyped. Having been disappointed on more than one occasion after reading a highly popular book, I have become really hesitant about any book that gets so much attention. In the case of Gone Girl, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Gone Girl more than lives up to the hype and keeps the reader guessing at every turn. One narrator is Nick who comes home to find that his wife, Amy, is missing and it looks like a struggle took place. The other narrator is from Amy’s diary entries from when Nick and she initially met. This thrilling mystery is one that will keep you guessing with every turn of the page and will have you not wanting to put it down until you know the truth. And sometimes, the truth is not always what it seems.
The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
Another that got a lot of attention, but one that I took a chance on when it first came out was A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window. And it did not disappoint as a gripping read for any rainy day. This novel was one that I started and finished in a day and as I set it down at the end of the day, I felt like I could finally take a breath of relief.
Told from the perspective of the single, reclusive, and panic ridden Anna as she observes her new neighbors move in across from her. Not spending too much time with others due to frequent panic attacks, Ann spends most of her time doing things online or spying on her neighbors. One night, as she is spying she sees a heinous crime but when the police are called, the supposed crime scene is clear of any wrong-doing. Not knowing what to do, Ann tries to piece together, but as she searches for answers, the more questions arise. Thrilling until the back cover is closed, I can’t think of many other books that I would recommend more than The Woman in the Window.
If you are looking for a few more options for some mysteries that you could use to supplement ruined plans try some of these: https://herrickdl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/1992238089/2076638239
