Psychic Cats, Dead Matrons and Lake Cottage Secrets: Your Free Mystery Picks This Week

by Betta Ferrendelli

Samantha Church is a reporter who starts digging after her sister, a district attorney, dies under suspicious circumstances. The case pulls in drug smuggling, corruption and addiction. One reviewer called it a classic whodunit with rich characters. At 4.07 with nearly 1,900 ratings, it's the sturdiest pick for readers who want a traditional, family-driven mystery.

“I received a copy of "The Friday Edition" by Betta Ferrendelli in exchange for an honest review. This is a classic whodunit mystery murder with rich characters that keep the reader engaged in the story right to the end. I especially like even though we are given short glimpses of the killer activity”

by Rosa Lee

Let's be honest, this one is a dark stepbrother romance with a fairytale twist, and the blurb doesn't promise a whodunit. It's about three identical, cruel triplet stepbrothers with emerald eyes. It sits at 3.78 across more than 3,000 ratings, so plenty of people are reading it, but it's only for fans of that very specific flavor. If you came here for a detective, skip it.

by Michelle Cox

Chicago, 1935. Henrietta Von Harmon is supporting her difficult mother and seven younger siblings after the Crash and her father's suicide, and then a matron turns up dead. Michelle Cox blends mystery and romance, and the reviews are split in an interesting way. One reader wasn't entirely in love with it but was invested enough to want the answer. It's 3.73 with almost 2,000 ratings, a good fit if you want period atmosphere more than a tight puzzle.

“This was one category in the Challenge I took on in January (a challenge that I am enjoying immensely)! And another “first” for me as I have never experienced a reading challenge before: A book on your TBR shelf by a debut author whose book you are both excited and nervous to read. And this was what”

by N. S. Wikarski

This one has a buried artifact, a coded truth, a murderous extremist cult and a secret society sworn to protect the secret. That's a lot of Indiana Jones energy. Reviewers are lukewarm, though. One called it fairly entertaining but not amazing and another warned their review wouldn't be glowing. At 3.89 with just over 1,000 ratings, it's a decent free read for archaeology puzzle fans who forgive a shaky premise.

“I received a free copy of this book in exchange for doing a review. Unfortunately, the review will not be very glowing. This is a hunt for ancient treasures - the granite key being a stone with etchings that is supposed to unlock the mysteries to finding some major artifacts having to do with the...”

by Annie McEwen

Emmy Cooper leaves her upended Chicago life as an interior designer for her family's lake cottage resort in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and a murder follows. Readers say they felt like they were there and one is already calling it a favorite series. It's at 4.02 with nearly 400 ratings. This is the pick if you want a cozy, easy read with a strong sense of place.

“I enjoyed this first of the Northwoods Mysteries series set in Wisconsin in an area of lakes and resorts. Emmy returned home to her family's resort after losing her job in Chicago. Just to regroup. But she only thought things were bad. A large development group wants to buy up small resorts, like...”

by Seren Star Goode

Amanda Warren arrives in Ocean Wood to reconnect with her twin, finds her sister missing and a body in the house, and teams up with Grok, an opinionated psychic Maine Coon. It's silly in the best way, and cat lovers will be happy. It has the highest rating on the list at 4.41, though only 126 people have rated it so far. It's a small sample, but a promising one.