Mysteries and suspense novels are arguably the most popular genre in fiction. Not all suspense novels are mysteries but all mysteries include suspense. Analyzing the author's use of classic mystery elements, including suspense, can help students understand why mysteries are such page turners. Three of my favorite authors have recently published new mysteries. Jennifer Lynn Barnes' (The Naturals) new mystery series The Inheritance Games introduces a main character who inexplicably has been named the heir to a billionaire's fortune when he has two daughters and four grandsons who expected to inherit his wealth. Karen McManus (One of Us is Lying) explores the inheritance theme as well with The Cousins. A wealthy resort owner disinherits her four children and then invites their children to work at the resort for the summer. In addition to getting to know each other, the cousins must get to the bottom of why they were invited. Finally, Deb Caletti's (The Fortunes of Indigo Sky) Girl Unframed finds a Seattle teen spending the summer with her film star mother when a murder occurs in her own backyard.
The Inheritance Games series opener introduces Avery Grambs, who is living in her car, after her half-sister and legal guardian Libby allows her abusive boyfriend to move into their apartment. When she is summoned to the will reading of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, she and Libby travel to Texas where they are shocked to find out Avery has inherited the bulk of his fortune, but to receive it, she must live at Hawthorne House for a year. His family, including two daughters and four grandsons, is furious. Puzzle obsessed, Tobias leaves letters outlining a riddle that Avery and the grandsons must solve to find out why she is the recipient of the inheritance. The Hawthorne House mansion is filled with hidden chambers that house the clues she and the grandsons must find to unravel the puzzle. Fast paced chapters filled with red herrings, family secrets, attempted murder and a little bit of romance will keep readers enthralled. The satisfying ending sets up another mystery to be solved in the sequel.
The luxurious Gull Cove Island resort off the coast of Massachusetts, which is the setting for The Cousins, contains many Story family secrets. In the 1990s the widow Mildred Story disinherited her four children without explanation, except for a letter send by her lawyer that read "You know what you did." Twenty years later her grandchildren, Milly Aubrey and Jonah, receive letters from her, inviting them to work at the resort. Their parents, hoping to get back into their mother's will, force them to go. However, upon their arrival at Gull Cove Island, they find their grandmother displeased to see them. She obviously had not invited them. They settle into their jobs and getting to know each other, and try to uncover who invited them and why. There are many twists and turns, as family secrets are revealed, making this a fun read for McManus fans.
In Girl Unframed Seattle teen Sydney Reilly is spending the summer in San Francisco with her film star mother, Lila Shore, and Lila's boyfriend Jake in a Pacific Heights mansion. Jake is an art dealer with shady connections and his volatile relationship with Lila is unsettling. Syd not only feels uncomfortable around Jake, a construction worker next door is also giving her unwanted attention. The only bright spot in her summer is her new relationship with Nicco Ricci, a local boy she met on the beach. When a murder occurs on the beach in her own backyard, her summer is derailed. Each chapter begins with a list of exhibits from the murder trial creating suspense as to who was murdered by whom.
