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Finding your next favourite novel should be as easy as one, two, three!
In this post we dive into three page-turning mysteries with numbers in their titles!
From the sinister surveillance vibes of Alyssa Cole’s When No One is Watching to the gritty, action-packed ride of James Lee Burke’s Two for Texas, and the delightfully clever whodunit in Katy Watson’s The Three Dahlias – this trio is anything but paint-by-numbers.
These stories combine intrigue, danger, and a dash of wit, proving that numbers can both add up to some unforgettable mysteries and count down to catch a killer.
Classic book math.
Let’s get to uncovering why these books deserve a prime spot on your TBR shelf!
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Happy Reading, Friends!
Series or Standalone?:
This is a standalone novel.
'When No One is Watching' Back Blurb:
Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighbourhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbours she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbour Theo. But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbours may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalise the community may be more deadly than advertised. When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?
What did we think?: 4 Stars!
This was a quick well-paced read that raised a lot of valid and important issues around the displacement and marginalisation of minority groups. What happens when neighbourhood prices soar and a wealthier demographic moves in? I liked Sydney as a character, however I would have taken Theo out of the story along with the romance thread, and not missed any of the action. This did get kind of crazy at the end, going sideways in the last few chapters – from a fairly standard thriller base, to a dystopian shoot-em-up which felt a little out of left field. I can’t say the supporting characters had a lot of nuance – they were written to dislike – and no one held the high ground at the end, but overall the book kept me entertained and was thought provoking. On a side note, I’m going to start counting all the books that describe people as ‘sucking their teeth’ (p120) – it always weirds me out and takes me out of the story. I’d definitely read another thriller from Cole.
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Series or Standalone?:
This is a standalone novel.
'Two for Texas' Back Blurb:
Son Holland arrived in the Louisiana penal camp determined not to spend the rest of his days suffering in a chain gang – but he didn’t imagine for one minute that in order to escape he would need to kill a man. Terrified for his life, he flees the state across the river to Texas, taking with him a beautiful Indian squaw and a fellow prisoner. And as they make their way towards General Houston’s infamous Texas Rangers they find themselves in the midst of the final tragic battle for the Alamo.
What did we think?: 3 Stars!
I love James Lee Burke and will never tire of reading his books – though this one was just an average story for me. It’s a short 148 pages, running through the gritty and tragic events around the time of the battle of the Alamo. I have pretty much zero historical knowledge of this period, however Burke (as always) manages to convey a sense of place with scenic descriptions and characters that are knee deep in their own trials. We follow Son as he escapes from a chain gang, vowing to escape the squalid conditions as quickly as he can. Teaming up with a fellow prisoner, Hugh – they light out for Texas, hitting a few snags along the way. Both characters are flawed, trying to scratch out a life for themselves amidst a revolution. Recommended for lovers of American historical fiction looking to follow characters with not a lot left to lose.
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Series or Standalone?:
This is Book One in the ‘Three Dahlias’ series.
'The Three Dahlias' Back Blurb:
Three rival actresses team up to solve a murder at the stately home of the author who made them famous – only to discover the solution lies in the stories themselves. In attendance: the VIP fans, staying at Aldermere; the fan club president turned convention organiser; the team behind the newest movie adaptation of Davenport’s books; the Davenport family themselves – and the three actresses famous for portraying Lettice’s 1930s detective, Dahlia Lively. National treasure Rosalind King, from the original movies. TV Dahlia for thirteen seasons, Caro Hooper. And ex-child star Posy Starling, fresh out of the fame wilderness (and rehab) to take on the Dahlia mantle for the new movie. Each actress has her own interpretation of the character – but this English summer weekend they will have to put aside their differences, as the crimes at Aldermere turns anything but cosy.
What did we think?: 5 Stars!
I really enjoyed this! I found myself checking the character list at the start of the book, while I got my head around who’s who – but it doesn’t take long to get a handle on who’s been invited to the Aldermere residence and what role they’re going to play. There are also a few maps of the house to help set the location. A well-paced read, this book alternates between the viewpoints of Rosalind, Caro and Posy – who have all played, or are about to play, the fictional detective Dahlia Lively. Guests have been invited to ‘..an immersive back-to-the-thirties experience for fans of golden age murder mysteries’ (p31). I thought the dynamic between the three ladies was great, and each character was clearly drawn. For those who like to try and beat the detectives to the whodunnit reveal, I feel like there were enough breadcrumbs to follow through to a believable outcome. Personally, I leave the sleuthing up to the Dahlia’s but enjoyed the finale. The ending ties everything up nicely while still leading intriguingly into Book 2 which I’m keen to read. A charming and comforting story that I’d recommend to lovers of classic crime.
“It was good that everyone at Aldermere that weekend was well versed in the way of murder mystery novels. Regardless of how these things were solved in the real world, no one questioned Caro’s – or Dahlia’s – right to conduct her own investigation.” (p335)
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