Lisey's Story by Stephen King (2006) Scribner

Lisey Langdon survived her famous novelist husband, Scott Langdon.  It’s been two years since his death, and the converted barn that he used as his writing office needs to be cleared-out.  There are people who would give anything to get hold of his unfinished manuscripts and his notes.  There are people who would do anything to get them.  One is a thug who comes and hurts Lisey as a threat that she better turn over Scott’s works to him or else.  There is a fantasy aspect to the story known as Boo’ya Moon.  There Scott had special abilities, and a creature there posed ultimate danger.  It seemed an imaginary world to Lisey until Scott took her there.  Now she may have to return to use one predator to defend herself from her another.

Anxious People by Fredrick Backman (2020) Atria Books

The story of a desperate would-be bank robber who unintentionally takes hostages and feels trapped in a play written by someone else.  A local policeman is determined to figure out who the robber is.  He’s conflicted ever since as a child he could not prevent a young lady from jumping to her death from a bridge.  His partner, who is also his father, interferes mostly by questioning everything his son does.  A wealthy lady who was also present at a suicide she could not prevent at the same bridge, goes to apartment showings, and is trapped in the situation.  Another couple also goes to apartment showings on the pretense of looking for an investment.  And another couple, two women, one who is pregnant, also are at the showing.  And an old lady, who seems to know where everything is in the apartment.  All turns out quite unexpected.

Win by Harlen Coben (2021) Penguin

A mystery in a wealthy family.  Twenty years ago, Patricia Lockwood was kidnapped when her family’s home was robbed of valuable art, and held for months, then managed to escape.  None of the artwork was ever recovered, until now.  A piece is found in the home of a recluse who has died and Win Lockwood, Patricia’s brother was called to identify the piece.  Now he wants to know where the other pieces are and will go to great lengths to find out, in spite of being warned off, even by his father.

Book: Beast in View by Margaret Millar (1956) Random House

This is a tightly woven psychological thriller that surprises all the way to the last sentence.

There is a limited cast and limited locations, which lent itself to becoming an episode of the Alfred Hitchcock Hour..  This book got the Edgar Award in 1956 and is considered on of the 100 best mystery novels of all time.

Mrs. Millar is an excellent craftswoman and all of her fiction is worth reading.

Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb (1998) Berkley Press

Eve Dallas, recuperating from a wound suffered in the previous volume, has to go after a killer who is using the Twelve Days of Christmas as a theme for killing people.

Who wouldn't open their door to Santa Claus, bearing gifts?

King's Mountain by Sharyn McCrumb (2013) MacMillan

A historical faction on the events leading up to the battle on King's Mountain where the American Whigs fought British Loyalists under the command of a Major Ferguson.  The narrator of the story is a man who founded Sevierville in what is now Eastern Tennessee and who later became the first governor of the new State.