7 more mysteries to keep you sleuthing

The last few weeks of warm weather call for a thrilling summer read, and who doesn’t enjoy a good mystery to solve? Check out these tales of murder, revenge, espionage and everything in between.

Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon

The great Donna Leon is back with another account in the life of Commisario Guido Brunetti, this time exploring violence against women and poor treatment of the elderly. When a widow in her 60s who ran a safe house for women is found dead of a heart attack, Brunetti has his doubts. His investigation takes him to an old age home where she frequently volunteered. Could one of the abusers be responsible for her death? The novel also provides a vivid description of Venice, from its most treasured to most run down locations.

Bloodmoney by David Ignatius

When members of a new CIA intelligence unit trying to buy peace with America’s enemies are found dead, Sophie Marx, a young CIA officer, must figure out who’s doing the killing and why. She starts at Alphabet Capital, the London hedge fund providing cover for this secret operation, but soon moves on to capitals of the Middle East and the hills of South Waziristan. The closer she comes to solving the case, the more she realizes nothing and no one is as it seems. Bloodmoney is a story of violence and retribution with a closing act that not even Sophie could have predicted.

Murder at the Villa Byzantine by R.T. Raichev

Aging actress Melisande Chevret is celebrating her birthday when the party turns deadly. When Antonia Darcy and Major Hugh Payne are called in to investigate the case, they pin Melisande as an early suspect as the victim was her love rival. But after a second murder takes place at the Villa, the owner of the house also becomes a prime suspect — swearing he is innocent — along with his elderly assistant. The biggest lead yet, a dainty silk handkerchief bearing the monogram of the victim’s daughter, is found next to the body and points to her. As the suspect list grows, Antonia and Major Payne do everything they can to crack the case. If you’re a fan of the game Clue, this is the perfect whodunit read to end the summer.

Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carre

This Russian mafia spy thriller tells the story of former Oxford tutor Perry Makepiece and his lawyer girlfriend, Gail Perkins. While on vacation in Antigua they meet an avuncular Russian businessman who challenges Perry to a tennis match, and the three soon become great friends. After conveying a message for him to MI6 in England at his request, the couple arrives home from holiday receiving a summons to a debriefing. It turns out their new friend is not who he claims to be. John le Carre builds up the tension perfectly throughout the novel until the inevitable ending, writing what has been called his most accessible work in years.

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Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva

Silva reunites us with Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and assassin, in this bestselling novel. After a visit to an art gallery in St. James’s to authenticate a newly discovered painting by Titian, Gabriel and his gorgeous wife Chiara hear the news of a pair of deadly bombings in Paris and Hamburg. Always on the ball, Gabriel notices a man he believes is about to carry out a third attack after watching him exhibit many signs common to suicide bombers. Armed with a Beretta, he follows the man into the Covent Garden market, determined to prevent another massacre. But before Gabriel can draw his weapon, he is knocked down by two undercover cops. When he looks up, he witnesses a scene from his worst nightmare.

The Taint of Midas by Anne Zouroudi

Bee keeper Gabrilis Kaloyeros lives on the Greek island of Arcadia, taking care of the ruined Temple of Apollo. After crooked developers take over the island and the value of the land soars, he is persuaded through unscrupulous means to sign away his interest, and only a few short hours later he is found dead. When his battered body is discovered on the side of the road by his friend, detective Hermes Diaktoros, Hermes is quickly named as the prime suspect. Through unorthodox methods Hermes decides to avenge his friend’s death and find the person who so violently killed him.

No Rest for the Dead by Sandra Brown et al.

When a ruthless curator at San Francisco’s McFall Art Museum is murdered and his decaying body found in a Berlin museum, his wife, Rosemary, is the prime suspect. After being put on trial she is found guilty and executed. Ten years later, the detective who cracked the case is sure the wrong person paid for the crime. With help from the dead woman’s friend, he plans to gather everyone who was there the night Christopher died and finally uncover what really happened. This innovative novel was written by 26 different authors, all contributing their own chapter to create one of the greatest collaborative mysteries of all time.

For more great thrillers check out 7 great mysteries, and be sure to tell us some of your favourite mystery novels in the comments!

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