3 crime books that cracked the case of the reluctant mystery reader
The Next Chapter columnists Nathan Maharaj chats with Antonio Michael Downing about the mystery and crime book
Nathan Maharaj is consummate reader across genres of fiction and nonfiction. As a career bookseller and the director of content marketing at Rakuten Kobo, he found that a gap on his bookshelf lied in mysteries and crime fiction.
Regardless of genre, Maharaj notes that in order for him to feel compelled by a book he needs, "some kind of emotional stakes," and so he sought to find the mystery novels that draw him in.
Maharaj spoke to The Next Chapter's Antonio Michael Downing about the three novels that finally made him a fan of the mystery genre.
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
In The Whispers, the truth behind a picture perfect neighbourhood is revealed following an incident at a neighbourhood barbeque when the seemingly flawless hostess explodes in fury because her son disobeys her.
When the son falls from his bedside window one night, and the mother stops talking to everyone as she accompanies him at the hospital where he is fighting for his life, the women in the neighbourhood begin to contend with what led to this horrible incident.
Ashley Audrain is the former publicity director of Penguin Canada. Her debut novel The Push was a New York Times bestseller. She currently lives in Toronto.
Nathan Maharaj says: "Along the way, what kept me going was this delving into women's rage, delving into the psychology of the shoe-put-upon woman that is Whitney."
Dead Djinn Universe Series by P. Djèlí Clark
The first book in the Dead Djinn Universe, A Master of Djinn takes place in an alternate-history Cairo and follows Fatma el-Sha'arawi, the youngest female agent at the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities.
When the members of a secret brotherhood are murdered, Agent Fatma and her colleagues have to unravel the mystery behind the magical murderer and bring peace to the city.
P. Djèlí Clark is a speculative fiction writer and historian from Queens, N.Y. His other books include Ring Shout, which won the British Fantasy Award, a Locus Award and a Nebula Award.
Nathan Maharaj says: "It's like that detective story where the junior detective is learning like, 'Listen, kid, it's not going to be like it was at the academy.' But the way in which it's not like the academy is like this type of being cannot in fact be killed, they are immortal, so the crux of this murder is not only who did it, but how."
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
In All the Sinners Bleed Charon Country, Virginia has not seen huge crimes or killings for many decades. Formerly an FBI agent and recently elected sheriff, Titus Crown is the first Black person to take on this role.
Shockingly, when a school teacher is killed by a student, who is then shot by other police officers, Crown must dig deeper into the history of town and a possible serial killer.
S.A. Cosby is an American crime fiction writer currently based in Virginia. His other novels include My Darkest Prayer and Razorblade Tears.
Nathan Maharaj says: "The reason he's so good is he doesn't do series. [Cosby] starts from a blank slate every time and I think I need to find it in my heart to let Titus go and just pick up the next thing that Cosby publishes 'cause it's going to be great. He's got no misses so far."
Nathan Maharaj's comments have been edited for clarity and length.
