Hello writing and reading communities! It’s time for the next instalment of Indie Recommends Indie and today I have author Tia Ray Dhar with me. Let’s meet her and dive into another round of indie recommendations.
Tia, thank you for joining me for this series! Before we get started and since this is your first time on Armed with A Book, tell me and my readers a bit about yourself. 🙂
Hi. I’m Tia Ray Dhar. I grew up in Canberra, Australia, and Toronto, Canada, and have over 15 years of experience in content creation for biomedical and healthcare communications across India, the US, and New Zealand. The mystery and suspense genre has always enthralled me. I started my fiction reading journey with novels by renowned authors like Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Shari Lapena, Alafair Burke, Ruth Ware, and CL Taylor, to name a few. After years of reading, I decided to embark on a fiction writing journey of my own!
I’m a Goodreads author and have two published books in two different genres: A murder mystery novel titled “Unfurling: A Tale of Friendship, Love, Mystery & Mayhem” and a short self-help book called “Don’t Let Your Break-Up be Your Break-Down.”
My upcoming plans include publishing a romance novella, followed by a few novellas and short stories in the mystery and suspense genre.
Besides being an avid fiction reader, I love public speaking, photography, rock music, films, theatre, and world history.
I love connecting with other authors and readers of all age groups.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
I would say that 90% of the time, the genre I’m reading will be mystery and suspense. I’m a huge fan of suspenseful whodunits, whether it’s a traditional setting, a courtroom drama, a locked room mystery, or a cozy mystery. As long as the plot is catchy and intriguing, I don’t focus on whether the author is indie or traditionally published. However, I haven’t read many mysteries, including murder mysteries by indie authors. I would say that approximately 90% of the mystery and suspense novels I have been reading have mostly been from the traditional big publishers.
However, once I’ve completed my TBR, I plan to read more mysteries by Indie authors.
Tia’s Indie Recommendations
Somebody in the Neighborhood by Judy Moore
Genre: Mystery
Published 2019
Standalone
Dawn Andersen and her parents are horrified when her carefree Aunt Amy is found stabbed to death on the beach, the second woman to be murdered in the small oceanside town of Manatee Beach. The police have arrested a homeless man for the murders, but is he the real killer? Dawn, 25, makes the biggest decision of her life when she decides to leave her routine existence in Ohio to move into her aunt’s cottage a block from the ocean in South Florida.From the first night that Dawn arrives in Florida, the feeling of uneasiness never leaves her. There’s the strange man next door who always seems to be watching her. Married neighbors who were infatuated with her beautiful aunt. The nosy, too friendly mailman. A hooded figure who’s been lurking outside her house at night. As Dawn learns more about her aunt’s life in Florida, she becomes convinced that the murderer is closer than she ever imagined, that her aunt’s killer is actually somebody in the neighborhood.
Why this book is loved:
Twenty-five-year-old Dawn Andersen makes a huge decision when she decides to leave Ohio to move into her aunt Amy’s cottage in the small oceanside town of Manatee Beach, South Florida. This beach was also the site where someone had stabbed her aunt Amy to death. Since her arrival, Dawn feels a sense of unease hover over her owing to strange and intriguing behavioral patterns of people in the neighborhood – the married couples, the next-door neighbor who surreptitiously watches her, the mailman, and a hooded figure who lurks around her home’s proximity. Gradually as Dawn starts piecing together information about her aunt’s life in Florida, she begins to strongly suspect that the murderer is hiding in this close-knit neighborhood.
There are many reasons why I liked the book. The narrative was linear, and focused, which kept my reading momentum maintained until the solution unravels at the end. There was a nice balance between back story, narration, and dialogues. The reader feels like they are actually in Manatee Beach, witnessing the events and scenery right before their eyes. The protagonist, Dawn, is incredibly likable, and you feel like you want to support her and hope for the best for her. She is also someone you would love to have a heart-to-heart friendly conversation with, and if you were ever in a quandary, she would be your go-to person. Along with the mystery, which will keep the reader guessing until the end, there is also quite a bit of suspense permeating the plot, which engages the reader without being too tense or atmospheric.
I would recommend this book to any avid murder mystery lover who enjoys suspenseful whodunits with a simple, straightforward narrative but without the elements of a psychological or action thriller.
A Book Signing to Die For by Judy Moore
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published 2020
Standalone
Beck O’Rourke and her grandmother own Beach Reads bookstore and coffee shop, a gathering place for locals and tourists, a block off the ocean in Manatee Beach, Florida.
They live above the bookstore with Beck’s feisty younger sister, Lizzie, a lifeguard. Beck is excited to host the country’s bestselling cozy mystery writer for a book signing event until a member of the audience turns up dead later that night.
Afterward, Beck decides to pursue her lifelong dream of being a detective to try to catch the killer. The amateur sleuth finds several suspects, but the murderer isn’t happy about her interference.
Neither is the town’s handsome new police detective who has a history with Beck.
Why Tia recommends this book:
Beck O’Rourke is excited to host a bestselling cozy mystery writer for a book signing event at her Manatee Beach oceanside bookstore and coffee shop, Beach Reads. She lives above the bookstore with her grandmother and younger sister, who is a lifeguard. However, the book-signing evening doesn’t go as planned, and Beck discovers the murder of one of the attendees. Beck had always harbored a dream to become a detective and delves into some amateur sleuthing to find suspects and clues about the killer’s identity.
I loved this cozy mystery because it was a hybrid of many elements. The narrative was cohesive and straightforward and didn’t meander. The bond between Beck and her sister Lizzie, Beck and Lizzie, and their grandmother was highly endearing, and the narrative lets you be a part of that. You can feel yourself walking around the oceanfront or browsing books at Beach Reads and sipping coffee while being a silent amicable onlooker to Beck’s rigmarole and conversations with her grandmother and sister. As amateur sleuth Beck gets more insights into the murder, you feel like you want to be a part of the investigation, and you feel deep in your heart that she has the acumen to get to the bottom of the case, and you have her back! The suspense quotient is slightly low towards the beginning and middle but builds up towards the second half and acts as a catalyst to the climax. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to take a break from traditional mysteries and interested in a cozy one.
The Goldilocks Planet by Paula Bernstein
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Published 2015
Book # 4 in Hannah Kline Mysteries Series
Obstetrician Hannah Kline and her brand new fiancé, LAPD Detective Daniel Ross are about to begin house hunting, when Daniel is put in charge of a high profile murder investigation.
Dr. Edwin Larramore was at the top of his game. A full professor of Astronomy at the prestigious Technological Institute, and a leader in the search for extra solar planets, he has just been awarded the Nobel Prize for an extraordinary discovery. Who would want to kill him?
There turns out to be no shortage of suspects. The victim had an unhappy pregnant wife, an angry ex-wife, who is also his chief academic competitor, a jealous department chairman, and several under-appreciated and disgruntled graduate students. Daniel has his work cut out for him.
Hannah has been very helpful in several of Daniel’s previous cases, but this time her hands are tied. Larramore’s pregnant wife is her patient, and medical ethics prevent her from telling all she knows. When Hannah discovers a crucial clue, and her patient’s pregnancy becomes high risk, Hannah has to resolve her conflicting loyalties.
Why Tia recommends this book:
This book is the fourth in a series of mysteries involving obstetrician Hannah Kline and her fiancé, LAPD Detective Daniel Ross. After reading this one, I got motivated to read books two and three.
The plot revolves around a high-profile investigation into the murder of Dr. Edwin Larramore, a top-notch professor of Astronomy at the prestigious Technological Institute and recipient of the Nobel Prize for cutting-edge research on extra-solar planets. The suspect pool includes an unhappy pregnant wife, an academically accomplished albeit angry ex-wife, the department chairman, and a few graduate students. A pivotal clue lies in the murder weapon—a cup of his favorite blend of coffee!
The first thing which immediately attracted me to the plot was the unique combination of a clinician and a detective solving a case together. Along with the palpable emotional quotient between Hannah and Daniel throughout the flow of the story, it does not influence their crime-solving prowess, and it is nice to see the synergistic insights and solutions that stem from their different backgrounds and points of view. Hannah, Hannah’s daughter Zoe and Daniel are very likable, and the simple, cohesive narrative does not let you feel bored. Having been a biomedical graduate student myself, the departmental set-up with Chairman, professors, other faculty, graduate students, and research dissertations felt very nostalgic. Another thing I liked about this whodunit was that the backstories were minimal, and the main plot had the right mix of a description of the characters’ thoughts, actions, and dialogue.
I would recommend this book to any avid mystery lover, who enjoys mystery, but isn’t looking for a heady dose of suspense or a “twists-and-turns”-filled action or psychological thriller.
Behind the Scenes by Sharmishtha Shenoy
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Published 2017
Book # 3 in Vikram Rana Mystery Series
Fading superstar of the Bengali film industry Ryan Gomez is poisoned to death while shooting for a film in the pretty hill town of Darjeeling. Sheila Dhar, the film’s beautiful female lead with whom Ryan had recently broken his engagement is the chief suspect. Sheila attempts suicide and is shifted to a hospital in Kolkata for treatment. The CID, Kolkata, takes over the investigation and the film crew is allowed to move back to the “City of Joy”.
Though revenge for the broken engagement seems the obvious motive for the murder, there are several others who had reason to wish Ryan dead. Powerful film producer Rustom, the love of whose life ended up becoming Ryan’s first wife. Screenplay writer Allan, who was in danger of being fired from the production house thanks to a public tiff with Ryan. Acclaimed film director Paddy, who was in love with Sheila. Sheila’s mother, Jaya, who was strongly opposed to her marrying Ryan. The family of Ryan’s first wife, who bear a deep grudge against him.
There are suspects galore, but the murderer has not reckoned with the tenacity of Vikram Rana.
Why Tia recommends this book:
This book is the third in a series involving Hyderabad-based detective Vikram Rana and his team. The plot revolves around the murder investigation of fading movie superstar Ryan Gomez in the picturesque hills of Darjeeling – the cause of death being poisoning. There is no paucity of suspects. Who was the murderer? Was it the beautiful female lead of the film Shiela with whom Ryan had broken off his engagement? Was it film producer Rustom who lost the woman he loved when she became Ryan’s first wife? Was it screenplay writer Allan who was in danger of losing his job due to Ryan’s public row? Was it the director Paddy who loved Shiela and didn’t want to lose her to Ryan? Was it Ryan’s first wife’s sister Olivia who had a grudge against him? Or was it Shiela’s mother, Jaya, who was not favoring her engagement to Ryan?
This book will hold a special spot in my heart since it was the first mystery from an Indian Indie author that I read on my Kindle. The plot of the story is engaging from the beginning and doesn’t meander. The linear narrative makes you stay grounded in the plot, and even though the author hasn’t been overtly descriptive regarding the locales, it feels like you’re in the setting without even moving an inch! There is a vintage Agatha Christie-Esque aura to the plot, and the narrative does stir up intrigue from time to time. The story’s plot focuses on elements of crime and mystery and does not include foreshadowing, red herrings, and twists (found in suspense novels). The only twist came towards the end of the plot when Vikram Rana unmasked the murder. I liked Vikram Rana’s sleuthing skills, perseverance, and attention to detail. He has humane traits and is also a person you can identify with; for example, like me, he and his assistant are foodies and love biryani!
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, enjoyable whodunit that focuses on mystery only and not on being suspenseful, shocking, or a psychological or action thriller.
A Death at Tippitt Pond by Susan Van Kirk
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Published 2019
Standalone
Secrets long buried surround the murder of teenage Melanie Tippitt. The daughter of a wealthy family in a small town, her lifeless body was found floating in Tippitt Pond in the summer of 1971. Six people were there that day, and one was convicted of her murder. Case closed.
Now, forty-five years later, Beth Russell, a freelance researcher and genealogist, is brought to the town by a lawyer who believes Russell is the daughter of Melanie Tippitt and long-lost heir to the Tippitt fortune. Soon Beth finds herself surrounded by people who want her gone as soon as possible, people with a great deal to lose. The more they push, the more determined Beth is to discover the truth. With the help of a handsome detective, Beth vows to uncover what happened that day at Tippitt Pond.
The ghostly presence of Melanie Tippitt, a stranger watching from the woods, and the discovery of secrets in Tippitt House make for a suspense-filled investigation where Beth discovers … A DEATH AT TIPPITT POND changed everything.
Why Tia recommends this book:
In the summer of 1971, the body of a teenager named Melanie Tippitt was found floating in Tippitt pond. Her boyfriend was convicted of the murder, while the five other people present that fateful day were no longer considered persons of interest. A lawyer following the case believes genealogist Beth Russell is the daughter of Melanie Tippitt and heir to the Tippitt family fortune. Once she moves into the Tippitt house, she realizes that people in the town want her to leave and not uncover the truth. However, their latent threats and pressures to prevent her from unraveling the mystery make her more determined to know the decades-old secret underlying her mother’s death at Tippitt pond. Melanie’s ghostly presence and other clues buried in the house add to the suspenseful aura of this whodunit.
I liked this book because it successfully wove a cold case with intrigue, suspense, and the paranormal. Being a fan of the 60s, 70s, and 80s eras and stories and films focusing on that period, it felt wonderful to delve back into the 60s when the author described Melanie’s life in Tippitt pond. The description of the town, the scenery, and the houses could transport you there. I admired Beth’s empathy and passion for her work and her tenacity and perseverance at trying to get to the bottom of the cold case. The suspense and paranormal phenomena in the plot don’t eclipse the cold case mystery, but on the contrary, aim to provide a sense of guidance and foreboding. The only issue with the story was that the author could have included a few more suspects in the mix, but otherwise, a great, comforting, and relaxing suspenseful cold case. I would recommend the book to anyone who is looking for a decades-old cold case with elements of intrigue and suspense, minus psychological and action thrills and twists.
After all these fabulous recommendations, here is Tia’s book that she wanted to highlight.
Tia Ray’s Book Spotlight
Unfurling : A Tale of Friendship, Love, Mystery & Mayhem by Tia Ray Dhar
Mystery, Contemporary Romance
Published in 2021
Can an unexpected turn of events guide you towards a sense of purpose in life?
Dr. Mandira Sharma (Mandy), a recent medical school graduate from Mumbai, doesn’t feel passionate about her residency in internal medicine and feels devoid of a general sense of purpose in life. Currently, her happiness revolves around making new friends and spending time with them at work or outdoor venues. Her general feeling of isolation and disinterest in her medicine residency accentuates when her two close friends go overseas, and someone she loves and cares deeply about decides to part ways. She navigates through her daily routine devoid of zest or enthusiasm, trying to cope with the current painful scenario.
However, tragedy strikes again when two meeting attendees find Mandy’s friend and graduate student Latika’s body floating in a pool on the premises during a blackout at a psychology workshop venue. An investigative team launches a detailed probe into the crime’s motive and modus operandi, and the cohort of meeting attendees, including Mandy, come under the lens of suspicion.
Can Mandy help solve the case? Will she find a sense of purpose?
Any reader who enjoys a university campus-themed friendship and romance-based novel with a suspenseful mystery will enjoy reading this story. You may even feel nostalgic at some of the campus descriptions. You may identify with some of the characters, and their views might resonate with yours. Find the book on Goodreads (link above) and Amazon. The book is available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited.
Tia
You can connect with Tia on Instagram and Facebook.
Have you read any of these books? Tell us in the comments!
Thank you so much for hanging out with Tia and me today as part of the eleventh Indie Recommends Indie Series. I hope you are enjoying the series so far and are looking forward to future posts. If you are an indie or small press author who is an avid reader and wants to be featured, sign up using the form on the Indie Recommends Indie home page. Looking forward to connecting with you.
Banner Photo of library by Alfons Morales on Unsplash
Be First to Comment