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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
The Yellow Dog – Georges Simenon (translated by Linda Asher)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Originally published in 1931, in English in 1939, and now re-released in English, The Yellow Dog offers readers a taste of Georges Simenon’s signature crime storytelling. Set in the small seaside town of Concarneau, France, a … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, French Literature, Lost and almost forgotten
Tagged cozy mystery, crime fiction, France
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The Obsessions of Harvey Usher – David Putnam
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “ Eighty-three-year-old Harvey Usher is a recluse who still, after two years, mourns the death of his wife. When he finds a young woman inside his house who claims to be his wife, he’s sure that … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged Crime, crime thriller, psychological thriller
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Wordsworth in Bogotá – Scott E. Sundby
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Colombian drug lord Diego Velasquez is facing financial ruin. It’s right after 9/11, and the U.S. borders are tightening, and corrupt officials are now refusing bribes. His two sons represent the family’s split identity: Carlos, … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged drug cartels, English literature, poetry, Wordsworth
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So Happy Together – Olivia Worley
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Twenty-four-year-old aspiring playwright Jane Williams thinks she’s met her soul mate, Colin Hillgrove. The problem is that Colin doesn’t feel the same way. In fact, he broke up with her after six dates in less than … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged crime thriller, fatal attraction, New York City
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Marguerite by the Lake – Mary Dixie Carter
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Phoenix Sullivan loves her work as a gardener. She has the experience of a landscape architect, but not the degree. She especially enjoys working on the gorgeous grounds of Rosecliff, the home and property of Marguerite … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged gardening, infidelity, love, Psychosis
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Red Lily – Janice Graham
(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you’re a fan of novels where nothing is as it seems—where every character harbors a secret and the truth lies buried beneath layers of deception, then Red Lily is for you. What begins as an … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged communism, cozy mystery, espionage, Paris, Soviet Union
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The Both of Us: A Psychological Thriller – Dan Lawton
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Mark thought that he and his wife, Rachel, enjoyed a happy marriage. Then one day while channel surfing on his car radio, he hears a caller on a therapist’s show, and he recognizes the voice. Though … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged marriage, suspense
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Invisible Helix – Keigo Higashino (Author), Giles Murray (Translator)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “ If you’re searching for a crime thriller that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go, Invisible Helix is the novel for you. When homicide detectives investigate a plausible murder: a man floating … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Far Eastern Literature
Tagged crime thriller, family, homicide, murder, Tokyo
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Second Pocket First – Gregory Grosvenor
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Issey had always been a thief, but not a particularly good one. The thrill of lifting someone’s property was overwhelming since he was a boy stealing mail. Lockpicking was his specialty, but as an adult working … Continue reading
Tenth Commandment: A Cat Caliban Mystery (The Cat Caliban Mysteries) – D. B. Borton
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) “I’m too tired. I just want to go to bed with a book.” In Chapter 1, sixty- one -year-old Cat was asked what she was good at. She thinks: “Certainly not marriage or motherhood or … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged book reviews. fiction, murder
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