Carolina Ciucci is a teacher, writer and reviewer based in the south of Argentina. She hoards books like they’re going out of style. In case of emergency, you can summon her by talking about Ireland, fictional witches, and the Brontë family. Twitter: @carolinabeci
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish comes a gripping, original audiobook set in the intoxicating world of the Parrish universe—The Making of Jackson Parrish. Set against a lush Mediterranean backdrop of glittering seas and decadent indulgence, the Making of Jackson Parrish is a riveting exploration of how charm, cunning, and calculated ambition transformed a young man into a formidable master of power and persuasion, and a seductive glimpse into the high-stakes world he mastered to get there.
Like many people, I love to travel. And like most readers, I often fulfill that desire by way of books. Sure, visiting new places and learning about new cultures is exhilarating, but getting to know them through the evocative words of talented authors is hardly less so. The eight books on this list will take you from New Zealand to several different countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, and each of them will make you feel like you traveled thousands of miles — and in some cases, dozens of years — to get to know a new city or town.
But! Experiencing new places isn’t the only thing you’re getting out of this particular bargain. All of these books offer a masterclass in suspense, be it because they focus on solving a crime, preserving social status, or uncovering long-buried secrets. Whatever the goal of the characters, whatever the goal of the narrative, the suspense in these stories is almost unbearable at times. I’m afraid that you’ll find yourself resenting every real-life responsibility that keeps you from turning pages. Of course, I’m not advocating for calling in sick so you can continue to read… but I’m not discouraging you, either.
Wife of the Gods (Darko Dawson #1) by Kwei Quartey
Setting: Ghana
Detective Inspector Darko Dawson loves living with his wife and son in Accra, Ghana. He’s less than enthused when he’s assigned a murder investigation outside of a small town, especially because the town in question carries the weight of decades-old painful memories.
All Yours by Claudia Piñeiro
Setting: Argentina
Inés knows that her life is almost perfect: she lives in an affluent neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with her perfect husband and her rebellious daughter. She believes this right up until she finds out that her husband is having an affair, and may have killed his lover. What lengths will Inés go to to preserve her picture-perfect life?
Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley
Setting: England, Portugal
Canadian journalist Kate Murray strikes up a conversation with an enigmatic old man on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral while in London on assignment. It’s going well, if a little oddly… until he’s shot dead. Andrew Deacon’s last words, paired with those of her late grandmother, send Kate on a journey across oceans to solve a mystery that has spanned generations.
There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh
Setting: New Zealand
When seven old friends meet up to reminisce over Bea, the lost eighth member of their group, they aren’t expecting to be snowed in at a Gothic-style mansion with no way out. They aren’t expecting to be confronted with old grievances, either… or with the truth about Bea’s death. This thriller will keep you turning pages long into the night.
A Rising Man (Sam Whyndham #1) by Abir Mukherjee
Setting: India
When Captain Sam Wyndham leaves Scotland Yard and arrives in Calcutta, he’s hoping for a fresh start. He isn’t hoping to be immediately swept up in a murder investigation, most particularly one that will lead him to the darkest sides of the British Raj.
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
Setting: United States, Russia
Violinist Ray McMillian thinks he struck gold when he finds out his great-grandfather’s fiddle is a Stradivarius. But his fortune quickly turns when the fiddle is stolen on the eve of the Tchaikovsky Competition. Determined to get it back, Ray must contend with his family and the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray’s great-grandfather, all of whom are claiming that the violin belongs to them.
Death of a Red Heroine (Inspector Chen Cao #1) by Qiu Xiaolong
Setting: China
Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police is tasked with solving the murder of a young woman who was a firm adherent to the Communist Party principles. He’s determined to succeed, even if it means going head-to-head with enormously influential Party cadres.
Five Nights Before the Summit by Mukuka Chipanta
Setting: Zambia
The year is 1979. Zambia brims with anticipation days before hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit. But five days before the event, a British couple is murdered just outside Lusaka. Detective Maxwell Chanda wants to find the real killer – but he’s under heavy political pressure to close the case at all costs.
Can’t get enough of suspense? Try these twisty books about deeply toxic friendships, or these thrilling stories about boarding schools and academia.
English (US) · 