#5Books: book recs you need to read

This week’s book recs include a Brit crime novel already whose film rights have already been snapped up and is being compared to Luther and The Wire. AKA the one I REALLY WANT. And I’ve asked for it on Netgalley and am crossing everything I get approved for it. There’s another that has me appreciating a complicated female character leading an investigation into a missing person’s case in Alabama. There’s also an investigative series set in Paris with a female lead — which is already up to book 16! How’d I miss this? Look, it’s a mystery series set in Paris. I’m sold. There’s another that reminds me a lot of a show called The Family, only the imposter in question is the main character. And last is a book about consent, a topic that is more and more relevant these days. What caught my attention is that it is written by a Iranian born British comedian, and the promise of dark humour is what convinced me about this one.

Streets of Darkness: The comparisons to Luther and The Wire won me over. The author Amit Dhand was raised in Bradford, and is still a pharmacist there, from what I can tell. His site describes the history and diversity of the city as some of the inspirations behind the novel, so I am hopeful for a diverse cast of characters.

Bury me when I’m dead: A Charlie Mack Motown Mystery: Charlie is a successful PI in Detroit, who goes to Alabama with her team searching for a missing person. There, it seems everyone has secrets to hide — which yes, secrets, who doesn’t want those uncovered? But also promising is the focus on Charlie, who is dealing with her sexuality and a mother who has Alzheimer’s. I am hopeful for a mystery that focuses on a complicated female main character beyond the mystery she is trying to solve.

Aimée Leduc Investigations: Aimee is a hacker turned investigator, running around in vintage Chanel and Dior and Louboutin heels. What I love about the reviews for this is how they mention the atmosphere of Paris, and how the books and characters are so French… I need to go on holiday, I think. 

Only Daughter: This is the story of Rebecca Blake disappears and returns 11 years later. Or rather is replaced 11 years later. And the imposter begins to unravel Rebecca’s life and her family’s secrets. This reminds me of a new show I read about — The Family, only it’s a son that returned in that one. Here though, the POV is of the imposter — who is she? What is she there for?

Nina is Not Ok:  Nina is a 17-year-old who tends to wake up with no memory of the night before because she has a drinking problem, or doesn’t have one as she keeps insisting. But, one morning she wakes up with no memory of the night before, but her friends can’t help her piece together what happened, and she can’t help feeling that something bad happened to her. Goodreads describes it as dark and funny, which is pretty much what sold me on this.

What recs strike your fancy this week?