McKenna Jordan, Store Owner at Murder By The Book since 2003
Having read crime fiction almost exclusively for the last fifteen years at MBTB, this “staff stack” was incredibly challenging to narrow down. I decided to go with an approach of which books represent both my reading taste as well as my history - to this point - with the bookstore. Every one of this holds a special place in my heart and has a story to go along with it.
I have a real respect for the genre and its icons, and I love unique characters. That’s basically all I can find as a thread of similarity throughout my reading taste. I’m happy to read across the genre as long as it’s well-written, and there’s nothing that beats a fresh new voice that grabs you from the first line.
McKenna's 2019 Top 10:
1. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
2. The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld
3. The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
4. Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard
5. City of Windows by Robert Pobi
6. Stick Together by Sophie Henaff
7. The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone
8. Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
9. A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty
10. Death in Provence by Serena Kent
Check out McKenna's Recommendation Playlist on the MBTB YouTube Channel.
One of my all-time favorite series! - McKenna
A New York Times Best Mystery Novel of the Year
In the second installment of the Nanette Hayes Mystery series, Nan is on her way to Paris in search of a missing relative. . . but will she lose more than just her heart in the city of love?
A New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year
In the third book in the Nanette Hayes Mystery series, Nan finds a voodoo doll is bringing her some much needed luck...until the doll's maker is murdered and Nan is dragged into the investigation.
In the delectable debut that earned her instant acclaim, award-winning author Dorothy Cannell serves up a murder mystery to be savored. . .
NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BOOKS WE RECOMMEND THIS WEEK--The New York Times
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CRIME FICTION OF 2020 BY OPEN, THE MAGAZINE
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CRIME NOVELS OF NOVEMBER BY THE TIMES UK
Selected as a Most Anticipated title by People, Parade, Bustle, CrimeReads, She Reads, and more!
An electrifying work of literary suspense from internationally bestselling author Katrine Engberg, The Tenant—heralded as a “stunning debut” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs—follows two Copenh
A new suspense-themed housing tract on the edge of the Mojave Desert is about to open, and who better to help promote the Cotswold-cozy development than mystery biographer extraordinaire Cece Caruso? For the grand opening weekend, Cece is staging a play featuring the beloved sleuth Miss Marple. Of course, everything goes wrong, including a leading lady who ends up dead.
In the 1950s, nearly all of the residents of the Swedish mining town of Silvertjarn vanished without a trace. The only remaining people were a newborn baby and the body of a woman found in the town center. Now, documentary filmmaker Alice and her crew have returned to the lost village to investigate the incident and more specifically the disappearance of Alice’s grandmother that fateful night.
As the crew and Alice settle in, strange things start happening, making them wonder how vacant the town actually is. This creepy, atmospheric horror-tinged crime story is superbly done, and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. - McKenna
"Getting the job done" for one single mom takes on a whole new meaning in Finlay Donovan is Killing It.
One of Suspense Magazine's "Best Thrillers of 2021"
One of New York Public Library's Best Books of 2021
Nominated for the Left Coast Crime 2022 Lefty Award for the Best Humorous Mystery
"City of Windows is moving, breathtaking—a great entertainment." —The Wall Street Journal
“A tough, wise, knowing narrative voice, a great plot, a great setting, and even better characters — I loved this.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author