Dear readers,
It’s Halloween season, and I’m so excited to dive deep into some spooky reads. If you’re a fan of mysteries like me (I love Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Caroline Kepnes—author behind the Netflix series You), Beaufort Books has a collection of fascinating thrillers that I’m excited to pick up this October.
True Crime
___
If I Did It by The Goldman Family
“The Juice” is not a nickname you would ascribe to a killer. Yet O.J. Simpson’s trial was one of the most televised court cases of all time. In 1994, O.J.’s former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were found dead at her home in California. O.J. Simpson was tried for the crime, but he was eventually acquitted even though he wrote this book, originally published by HarperCollins, which basically serves as his murder confession. Soon after, the victims’ families brought a civil suit against him, and decades later, Simpson is still fighting orders to pay over $33 million to the Goldman Family.
Its first publication was solely authored by O.J. Simpson. After public outcry against Simpson’s ability to profit off the book, HarperCollins cancelled the publication. This new edition of If I Did It is approved by the Goldman Family, featuring commentary which points fingers directly at Simpson for the wrongful deaths of Ron and Nicole, proclaiming to the American public, “He definitely did it.”
Geopolitical Espionage
___
Red Deception by Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller
After terrorists set off bombs around the world, they threaten to destroy the Hoover Dam, and the American government realizes they have a major security crisis on their hands. Dan Reilly, a former Army intelligence officer, predicted these attacks years ago, writing them down in a report that someone leaked to foreign nations.
The Russian president soon sends military troops headed to Ukraine and Latvia in an imperialist attempt to claim their “rightful” land. At the same time, the American president can barely handle troubles on home turf, let alone the threat to human lives worldwide. Reilly is the only one who can save the world from the most detrimental terrorist attack yet.
Red Deception is the second book of the Red Hotel series. I definitely get Mission Impossible vibes from these books, so if you’re a big Tom Cruise fan, you’ll really fall for Reilly.
Mystery
___
Ladies of the Lake by Ken Corday
Avalon, a neighborhood of rich men and gorgeous women, may not be as picture-perfect as it seems.
In a drunken accident, Hudson gets decapitated. The LAPD move on without question. While, secretly, his wife gleefully collects his riches, finally free from her marriage.
Soon, more husbands die in strange circumstances. The LAPD grows suspicious, and the ever-dashing Detective Daniels hops on the case. Will the “Ladies of the Lake” find a way to keep their secrets in the dark or will their motives eventually come to light?
My favorite genre of thriller features empowered women who get their revenge on terrible men, and I am very excited to see what crazy plans these ladies plot.
Speculative Fiction
___
Occam’s Razor by T.R. Ryden
Speculative fiction is one of the most fascinating genres, and this book grabbed my attention right away.
The discovery of ancient Egyptian artifacts unlocks important new facts about a DNA pattern. James Anderson, a venture capitalist, follows this path of scientific exploration to soon realize he’s seeking information that people desperately want to keep private.
Occam’s Razor is a speculative fiction thriller, featuring contemporary theories about alien invasion, human evolution, and the untapped potential of the cosmos. With the threat of inevitable doom, Anderson needs to figure out his role in the biggest cover-up in the history of humanity.
Historical Thriller
___
Seeking Hyde by Thomas Reed
Seeking Hyde tells the tale behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic horror, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stevenson goes against his father, comes to blows with his wife, and fights against the toll of fatal lung disease in order to write one more novel before his death.
Seeking Hyde not only describes the conception of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but the real life murders committed in London which were inspired by Stevenson’s story. Author Thomas Reed transitions from the life story of Stevenson to exploring European city life, exploring the threats of police corruption, prostitution, and one of the most famous serial killers of all time: Jack the Ripper.
I am already wrapped up in the thrill of the Halloween season. I’ve got decorations up, and I plan to read with some mood lighting—maybe I’ll set my LED lights to a creepy red and get the spooky vibes going. Whether you’re celebrating Halloween by going trick or treating or curling up with a thrilling read, have fun and make sure to check under your bed at night. You never know. You might be the main character of one of these books…
Happy Halloween,
Edgar Allan Beau