The Plot Thickens
Boo! It’s officially spooky season, ya filthy sleuths — the time of year when no one can judge your inclination to read about the strange, dark and mysterious.
This month offers stories about private school students holding myriad secrets, a possible drowning on the coast of Ireland, out-of-control “mom-fluencers” and the terrifying true story behind a creepy cult film; a variety of titillating thrillers and mysteries to allow you to pick your own poison … if you dare.
First up is a selection for those craving dark academia vibes that scratch just the right itch come fall. “The Four” (William Morrow Paperbacks, $18.99) from Ellie Keel, the Founder and Director of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting in the U.K. and Ireland — a literary prize and campaign for gender equality among writers for the stage — is a private school mystery centering around four scholarship students, Rose, Sami, Marta and Llyod, at the powerful and privileged High Realms.
Told in a confessional style from Rose’s point of view, the probing question that pulls the novel along is: Did Marta push queen bee Genevieve with malaise in hopes of her demise? But Keel’s true mystery slowly reveals itself — the relationships, dynamics and loyalties that fuel each High Realms student and their motivations. More of a character dissection under extreme pressure cooker conditions, “The Four,” albeit a little too lengthy and detailed at times, offers a dark and powerful look at the extreme lengths people will go to protect someone they love.
Booker Prize winner John Banville adds a new installment to his Strafford and Quirke Mystery series with “The Drowned” (Hanover Square Press, $28.99). Set in 1950s Ireland, the slow-burning whodunit begins when Denton Wymes discovers a Mercedes SL running, with no driver, lights on and doors open, in a coastal field.
Richard Armitage suddenly appears, claiming the missing driver is his wife, Dee, who disappeared after an argument the pair had. Armitage fears that Dee has jumped off the cliff into the ocean below. However, something about Armitage’s behavior feels off to Wymes, and Dublin Detective Inspector St. John Strafford echoes this suspicion upon arrival. Actually, every element in the case feels wrong — Armitage is involved in another case Strafford is investigating and Wymes has been convicted of child molestation. With more questions than answers, Strafford turns to pathologist Quirke, an old friend and colleague with whom he has a strained relationship.
Running parallel to the story’s mystery are dynamic characters in an encapsulating atmospheric backdrop attempting to navigate their own personal problems and grief. The rich prose Banville weaves makes for a compelling, vibrant nail-biter that continues an already marvelous series.
Dipping into both the suspense and rom-com genres, the author of “Dial A for Aunties,” Jesse Q. Sutanto, returns with “You Will Never Be Me” (Berkley, $29), another splendid thriller for mystery and non-mystery fans alike. Think MomTok meets reality TV stars you love to hate, with a hefty serving of humor.
After influencers Aspen and Meredith have a falling out, Meredith decides to have some seemingly lighthearted revenge, I mean fun, upon discovering one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads. Aspen soon begins wondering why her online social life is tanking — lost sponsorships, dwindling followers, fellow influencers turning their back — but nothing will stop her climb to the top of the digital world, even after mysterious threats start to arrive and Meredith suddenly disappears.
The disconnect from reality of these two unlikable characters, paired with murder and a twisty plot, makes for a rousing read that will have you gasping at both the gripping suspense and outlandish, uncouth behavior. “Jesse Q. Sutanto not only gives readers a voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of mom-fluencers, she pulls off a twist sure to surprise even veteran thriller readers,” says a starred BookPage review. “You Will Never Be Me” offers an unexpected comedic puzzle for those of us looking for a little drama, without all the horror.
I’d be remiss not to include a creepy, dark tale ahead of Halloween. “Horror Movie” by Paul Tremblay (William Morrow, $30), author of “The Cabin at the End of the World” and “The Pallbearers Club,” blurs the fiction and reality line, telling the haunting story of the creation and aftermath of a cult film, from the perspective of a character on the outs of the production, known only as the Thin Kid.
The less you know going into “Horror Movie,” the better, so I’ll leave you with author Gabino Iglesias’ thoughts on the novel for NPR: “Dark, surprisingly violent, and incredibly multilayered, this narrative is a superb addition to Tremblay’s already impressive oeuvre that shows he can deliver the elements fans love from him — while also constantly pushing the envelope and exploring new ways to tell stories.”
