Embark on an enriching journey through the literary realm of Perumal Murugan, where each page reveals the intricacies of rural Tamil Nadu. From the poignant tale of Poonachi to the searing social commentary of Pyre and the meaning of family in Fire Bird, immerse yourself in a world of profound storytelling.
In this instalment, we explore the thrilling world of mystery and crime novels from North America.
North American authors have significantly impacted the mystery genre, with many of the most popular and iconic detectives hailing from these countries.
So grab a cup of coffee, settle into your favourite reading spot, and let’s explore the world of North American mystery together!
This year, for my reading challenge, I wanted to read mystery and suspense books from around the world. What started with just a handful of books snowballed into a more extensive collection of different story-telling techniques and subject matter within the same genre.
As the pages turned and plot twists unfolded, each mystery and thriller book became a gripping escape into a fast-paced world of suspense and intrigue. In this post, I reflect on the captivating worlds I’ve explored this year.
Fiction is such a wide ranging genre that it encompasses almost every reader’s preference. Here, stories can be based on reality, or your imagination can take flight, offering fantastical landscapes and intricate characters. Non-fiction, however, unveils the treasures of reality, providing a kaleidoscope of knowledge and perspectives.
Below are some of the books I read this year as part of my reading challenge.
This is just one of three posts on my 2023 Reading Challenge. My other posts list out Biographies and Mystery/Thriller books I read in 2023.
Dive into the rich tapestry of human experience through the biographies I’ve explored in 2023. Each narrative is a unique window into remarkable lives, resonating deeply. As the year concludes, I recommend these captivating stories that span the globe, offering intimate glimpses into the extraordinary journeys of remarkable individuals.
Recognizing the need to broaden my literary horizons, I’ve embarked on a global reading journey. The world’s books offer a tapestry of diverse ideas and narratives, a realm I’ve only recently begun to explore. This year, my focus has been on international suspense and thriller novels, from the unhurried, bone-chilling mysteries of Scandinavian noir to the intricate Japanese intrigues and the fast-paced American thrillers. Join me in this enthralling odyssey, where we’ll delve into the intricacies of plotlines, the allure of characters, and the spellbinding settings that have captured readers worldwide. Whether you’re a devotee of classic detective tales or crave heart-pounding modern suspense, prepare for an exhilarating adventure into the world of mysteries and thrills. Sit back, relax, and let’s journey into the captivating realm of suspense and mystery together!
Tomb of Sand won the International Booker Prize in 2022—the first translated South Asian novel to win it.
There are books that tell you a story, and then there are books that take you on a journey. The latter might not be for everyone. It needs to be read at the right time and frame of mind. Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree is one such journey.
This is my 10th year of the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I’ve been challenging myself to read more books for the last ten years. After getting interested in the Wheel of Time series, I decided to spend the year reading the entire series mixed with a bunch of random books I come across.
Usually, I would have a separate post for each category, but this year was dominated by Fantasy Fiction interspersed with some short stories and suspense thrillers. So here goes!
Having watched the first season of the Wheel of Time series on Amazon Prime, my interest was piqued enough to read the books. So, at the beginning of this year, I dove right in.
I read the whole series on Audible. The series contains a prequel and 14 books. I will not review each book separately but here’s an overall review of the series.
The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra is one of those soft mystery books that take you on a journey while investigating a crime. It is the first instalment of the Kaveri and Ramu mysteries set in pre-independence India. The reader gets an inkling of the socio-political situation around the time, providing an interesting background for the story to evolve.
Harini Nagendra is a professor of ecology at Azim Premji University. She writes on issues of nature and sustainability and has published works of non-fiction on the topic of sustainability in urban areas. The Bangalore Detectives Club is her first work of fiction.
Love, Life, & Beyond 