Poisoned Tea, Psychic Scents, and a Prison Chaplain: Free Mysteries Where Everyone Has Something to Hide

by Paul Austin Ardoin

Fenway Stevenson comes home to a coastal town where her estranged father is basically royalty, and a murder pulls her into a conspiracy she'd rather avoid. The family tension is the hook here, and a 4.25 from more than 5,300 readers says plenty of people agree. A solid pick if you want a series starter with some weight to it.

by H.Y. Hanna

Gemma Rose overhears something sinister in an Oxford gallery, and minutes later an art student is poisoned. The nosy village 'Old Biddies' who help her investigate are the main draw, and the 4.21 from nearly 4,800 readers tells me the formula works. This is book two, so if you're picky about reading order, you may want to hunt down the first one too.

by Renee George

Nora Black, a salon owner in Garden Cove, comes back from a near-death experience with psychic abilities triggered by scents, then has to clear a friend accused of murder. It sits at 4.24 with over 2,200 ratings, though reviews are split. One reader loved the premise and the mystery but hovered around 2.5 to 3 stars because of something they really disliked, so go in knowing it may not click for everyone.

“Sense and Scent Ability by Renee George Paranormal women’s fiction. After dying on the operating table, Nora Black has a new ability to see memories that are not hers, based on a triggered scent. When her BFF’s abusive boyfriend is found dead, Nora finds herself in the middle of the investigation...”

by Nancy Skopin

Nikki Hunter is a PI who specializes in covert surveillance of bar and restaurant employees, which is a refreshingly specific job for a sleuth. Add a former flame and what the blurb calls an inspired assassin, and you've got a fun setup. This is the third in the series, but it has the highest rating on the list at 4.44 across about 900 readers, so fans clearly stick around.

by Michael Lister

This is the grim one this week. Ex-cop turned prison chaplain John Jordan looks into an inmate's bloody death and a mother's disappearance, and the two cases turn out to be connected. It has the lowest rating here at 3.81 with over 2,500 readers, which tells me it's more of a slow, atmospheric read than a crowd-pleaser. The Michael Connelly blurb suggests it's worth a shot if you like authenticity over cozy charm.

by Jennifer Youngblood

Let's be honest, this is a romance with suspense layered on top. Chef Tess falls for brooding ex-Navy SEAL Caden in Hawaii, then gets caught in a ruthless man's web of deceit. It's rated 4.48 by more than 700 readers, so if you want your thrills with a lot of heart and a dark-past hero, this is your pick. Hardcore thriller fans may find it a bit soft.