Indie Crime Fiction of the Month for November 2024


Welcome to the latest edition of “Indie Crime Fiction of the Month”.

So what is “Indie Crime Fiction of the Month”? It’s a round-up of crime fiction by indie authors newly published this month, though some September books I missed the last time around snuck in as well. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. So far, most links only go to Amazon.com, though I may add other retailers for future editions.

Our new releases cover the broad spectrum of crime fiction. We have cozy mysteries, holiday mysteries, historical mysteries, jazz age mysteries, paranormal mysteries, crime thrillers, psychological thrillers, legal thrillers, suspense, noir, police officers, FBI agents, amateur sleuths, lawyers, serial killers, human trafficking, organised crime, drug dealers, the art of murder, crime-busting witches, crime-busting aristocrats, murder and mayhem in Georgia, Florida, Surrey, Amsterdam and much more.

Don’t forget that Indie Crime Fiction of the Month is also crossposted to the Indie Crime Scene, a group blog which features new release spotlights, guest posts, interviews and link round-ups regarding all things crime fiction several times per week.

As always, I know the authors at least vaguely, but I haven’t read all of the books, so Caveat emptor.

And now on to the books without further ado:

The Christmas Candle Murders by Benedict BrownThe Christmas Candle Murders by Benedict Brown:

A snowy English village with a thousand secrets, bad Christmas presents, far too many decorations and a string of inexplicable murders…

Surrey, 1928. When a much unloved miser dies in the village of Kilston Down, no one suspects foul play – except for famed sleuth Lord Edgington, who may just be looking for a way to avoid his awful in-laws over Christmas. But after several unconnected villagers mysteriously die in their beds, the great detective and his young assistant must track down the culprit before the bells ring for Christmas Day and the killer strikes again.

Perfectly festive but with a fiendishly wicked mystery plot, this 1920s whodunit features a cast of eccentric suspects, a witty and warm detective duo and enough twists and turns to see you through to the New Year.

Secrets We Hide by Stacy ClaflinSecrets We Hide by Stacy Claflin:

Uncovering one killer was supposed to bring peace. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The podcast series was my way to honor Caroline’s memory, to find justice. Instead, it’s ripped open a Pandora’s box of secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Now, as I shelter the man I’ve fallen for from those who want him dead, and hunt the killer who destroyed his life, something more sinister is creeping closer. Hexes appear on my doorstep. Objects vanish from behind locked doors. And with my grandmother now living in my home, I have more to protect—and more to lose.

In a town where a mysterious cult holds power and friends harbor deadly secrets, each step toward the truth puts me in greater danger. As the threats mount and the body count rises, I’m racing against time to solve a new murder and protect those I love. But in a web of lies this deep, the truth might be the deadliest threat of all.

In this heart-pounding second book in Stacy Claflin’s Watcher trilogy, the search for truth becomes a fight for survival, and in a town where secrets are currency, the price of knowledge might be too high to pay.

The Sum of All Things by Seb Doubinsky.The Sum of All Things by Seb Doubinsky:

The highly anticipated final installment in Seb Doubinsky’ s City-States Cycle is smart, subtle and unputdownable! In New Samarqand, trouble is brewing: The king is very ill, nobody knows who will succeed him and terrorist groups are plaguing the city-state. In the eye of the storm, the National Museum is opening a new wing displaying the magnificent tomb of two Amazon sisters, who fell in battle together. Following parallel lines in this ominous labyrinth, Hokki, the new museum director, Ali the police commissioner, Kassandra, the poet, Thomas, the used-books seller and Vita, the secret agent from Planet X try to keep the pieces together and fight against the forces of chaos threatening their very existence.

Devil's Defense by Lori B. DuffDevil’s Defense by Lori B. Duff:

A gripping courtroom drama that explores the struggle between morality vs. professional obligation, Devil’s Defense will appeal to fans of female-lead courtroom dramas like The Good Wife.

Jessica Fischer wants nothing more than to build her law practice in small-town Ashton, Georgia. She’s well on her way when the local town hero, football coach Frank “Tripp” Wishingham III, hires her to represent him in a paternity suit. Coach is everything Jessica despises—arrogant, sexist, entitled—but it’s her job to make him look good in public. This is made doubly difficult when her burgeoning relationship with a local reporter gets in the way of telling the truth.

Are things as black and white as Jessica thinks? And can she find a way to succeed without compromising her own personal values—or her personal life?

What Dies Beneath by Lily Harper HartWhat Dies Beneath by Lily Harper Hart:

Hali Waverly is in a good place in her life. She’s feeling better after surgery. Her boyfriend Gray Hunter is moving his office closer to her tiki bar so they can work on their paranormal cases together. Everything is coming up rum-flavored.

Unfortunately for Hali, things are about to blow up again.

A jeweler’s conference should be easy—they have at least one a month after all—but when a magical tsunami hits at the same time the vault is emptied, trouble becomes the name of the game.

There are a number of suspects—a shiver of shark shifters walking naked out of the water the night before doesn’t help matters—but it seems the culprit might have ties to Hali’s grandmother’s coven.

Once upon a time, Hali’s familiar Wayne worked for a witch…and then a warlock. Things didn’t go well with either of them. When it seems one of those individuals is involved—and posing a threat to the entire beach—things explode.

Hali has never been fond of Wayne but she needs him for this particular mission. More importantly, he needs her. That means things are about to get ugly.

Magic is about to take over St. Pete Beach. Who will be left standing…or swimming?

The Usual Witchspects by Amanda M. LeeThe Usual Witchspects by Amanda M. Lee:

Bay Winchester thought having a stalker was the worst thing she had going on in her life. Turns out, she was wrong.

When her stalker turns up dead in a ditch following another family assault on Margaret Little—send in the clowns!—Bay finds herself in trouble. Big, big trouble.

Seems the former warden for an area prison has been murdered, and Bay is the chief suspect.

Since they’re too close to her to be objective, Chief Terry and Bay’s husband Landon have to step back and let another team take over the investigation. That means things are about to get ugly.

This isn’t just any investigation. This is an FBI investigation, and alarmingly Bay isn’t the only one on the hook. The team is looking hard at Landon too.

Bay wants to figure out who the killer is, but her every move is being watched. Since Aunt Tillie’s latest payback scheme involves an army of clown dolls that have “accidentally” gained sentience, Bay is even worse off than she originally believed.

Bay may not have liked the warden, but she feels bad about his death…and not just because it’s sending shockwaves through the small community of Hemlock Cove. She knows if she doesn’t find the culprit she’ll be on the hook for a murder she didn’t commit.

It also means she could lose everything.

It’s all witches present for another Winchester adventure. Just how are they going to get out of this one?

The Heart is a Cruel Hunter by Simon MarloweThe Heart is a Cruel Hunter by Simon Marlowe:

Steven Mason has an axe to grind, he just needs to work out who deserves it!

Falling fully into the darkness of Hell, Steven lives a crude, rude, cruel, and heartless life in the streets of Amsterdam, cutting himself off from his old life to indulge in drug-fuelled debauchery.

In an attempt to reestablish his criminal career during the coronavirus pandemic, he immerses himself into the blood and guts of conspiracy and Far-Right politics, war crimes and war criminals. But nothing is as it seems, as Steven is propelled by covert love into festering darkness.

When faced with an ultimatum, in the form of becoming a member of the ruthless Bloodaxe gang, knee-deep in dealing and drug trafficking, will he pull himself out of the darkness he’s become so accustomed to? Or will he sink even further down?

The Girl in the Garden of Bones by A.J. RiversThe Girl in the Garden of Bones by A.J. Rivers:

Behind the allure of this garden hides a killer’s secrets.

After her mother’s murder Emma joined the FBI to get answers. The search for the truth has led her down some terrifying paths. When Emma is sent to investigate an old mansion and its connection to a criminal entity, she stumbles upon a clue that leads her down a rabbit hole full of despair, mystique, and grave sites. It seems, the Garden of Bones is where nightmares are born.

Sticks and stones can’t break your bones, but this case will be a heartbreaker. This is the most gut-wrenching, twist-filled case of Emma’s career. These bones were buried with a terrifying secret, one so deadly that Emma may never escape.

Art of Murder by A.K. RiversThe Art of Murder by A.J. Rivers:

When the popular artist Lucia Martinez goes missing from her home in Fairhaven, the horror that soon followed sent shockwaves throughout the small community…

FBI agent Ava James has made it her life mission to destroy the disturbing crime network that runs this world. After her best friend, Molly, was taken by traffickers, and her miraculous escape from their clutches, she dedicated her entire life to dismantling their evil wide-reaching web.

Unfortunately, it seems there is no end to this enormous global enterprise, one that extends its claws from the nation’s capital to small villages.

While Ava is wrapping up the Teagan Reese case, she receives surprising news. Lucia Martinez has gone missing from her home. Soon, the case takes a more dramatic turn with the disappearance of Sharelle Kim. The victims have a chilling connection, and when multiple murders occur, one victim is even turned into an “art piece” surrounded by sculptures and paintings. It seems something truly insidious is afoot and no one is safe from the killer’s snare.

There’s no rest for the wicked. To bring them to their knees, Ava might have to pay with her life. Art comes at a price. And this one is in the form of murder.

Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case by A.J. SherwoodJon’s Helter Skelter Cold Case by A.J. Sherwood:

Jonathan Bane and Donovan Havili cordially invite you to their wedding.

They just have to prove a man’s innocence and get him out of prison first.

Not to mention prove Solomon completely inept (not hard), and fired from being a detective.

Oh, and train Jon’s new apprentice.

They can probably get married this year. Probably.

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