48 books like Cross Justice

By James Patterson,

Here are 48 books that Cross Justice fans have personally recommended if you like Cross Justice. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Counting Crows

Elizabeth Revill Author Of Killing Me Softly

From my list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a child I would invent stories to entertain my cousins but at school I developed a passion for thrillers, devouring every Agatha Christie novel I could get my hands on and delighted in discovering new authors to satisfy my appetite. However, after my encounter with a man on a train, who went on to become a serial killer and after suffering a few other attacks, I crafted a novel using my experiences and melded fact with fiction to create my first psychological thriller, Killing Me Softly. It was extremely cathartic and now is a series of six, with another on the way. I’ve written eighteen books and even my historical novels are thrillers.

Elizabeth's book list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors

Elizabeth Revill Why did Elizabeth love this book?

Its title first attracted me and as I started to read I was hooked! I loved the premise; the touch of the supernatural and the characters are very well drawn; relatable with their human frailties, and dramatically varied characters. I could feel their emotions as if I was there.

The action is cinematic. The whole thing played in my head like a film. It was so plausible. The use of nature in the piece, especially the crows and weather, compliments the mood brilliantly. This is the first in the series and I have read all of them.

By Joe Talon,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Counting Crows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“This is a truly gripping page-turner of a novel that left me seriously looking forward to the next book.” from Occult Detective Magazine

“Readers of Stephen King will find it engaging; a haunting, occult thriller with a twist.” from Number9BlogSpot

“Absolutely fantastic story I couldn’t put it down. You don’t see it coming and it’s totally different reading, I loved it.” from Howiesk

"Until now, I'd searched in vain for another book along the lines of Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series. Thank you for more than meeting my expectations." from Jay.

***

On a fog-bound morning, Lorne Turner stumbles over…


Book cover of Never Forget, Never Forgive

Elizabeth Revill Author Of Killing Me Softly

From my list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a child I would invent stories to entertain my cousins but at school I developed a passion for thrillers, devouring every Agatha Christie novel I could get my hands on and delighted in discovering new authors to satisfy my appetite. However, after my encounter with a man on a train, who went on to become a serial killer and after suffering a few other attacks, I crafted a novel using my experiences and melded fact with fiction to create my first psychological thriller, Killing Me Softly. It was extremely cathartic and now is a series of six, with another on the way. I’ve written eighteen books and even my historical novels are thrillers.

Elizabeth's book list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors

Elizabeth Revill Why did Elizabeth love this book?

Never Forget, Never Forgive really draws the reader in. This is a debut novel by a new writer and the first in a proposed series and I am eager for the next. This well-crafted novel is beautifully written, in an engaging way, almost conversational, and very easy to read. There is just the right amount of description and a believable protagonist, likable, strong, and capable. The novel has plenty of intrigue, twists, and turns. As a murder mystery it is to be commended. It’s thoroughly enjoyable and primes you for the next in the series as there is an ongoing thread to be picked up in the second. Ms. Smith looks to be an excellent author.

By Denise Smith,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Never Forget, Never Forgive as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Patience and planning. That's what Mother taught me. If you have patience, she said, and wait until the timing is perfect, and if you plan carefully, you can get away with anything. Even murder."

The death of her father and disappearance of her mother spurs Beatrice Styles into relocation and a change of career. However, her new venture in Lincoln, as a private investigator, takes an unexpected turn when she finds her first client dead.

The police think he died of natural causes, but his widow is not convinced. Beatrice digs into the life of the dead man, only to…


Book cover of Bloodline

Elizabeth Revill Author Of Killing Me Softly

From my list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a child I would invent stories to entertain my cousins but at school I developed a passion for thrillers, devouring every Agatha Christie novel I could get my hands on and delighted in discovering new authors to satisfy my appetite. However, after my encounter with a man on a train, who went on to become a serial killer and after suffering a few other attacks, I crafted a novel using my experiences and melded fact with fiction to create my first psychological thriller, Killing Me Softly. It was extremely cathartic and now is a series of six, with another on the way. I’ve written eighteen books and even my historical novels are thrillers.

Elizabeth's book list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors

Elizabeth Revill Why did Elizabeth love this book?

Well written and intriguing from the first word. Ms. Francis has created questions to be solved by the protagonist and audience. It is a slow burn that draws you in. Just as I got comfortable with a blossoming romance something happens to upset things and although we can guess at where the plot is going, we are not always right. Like a fish on a hook, we are teased and played with until we discover the truth, which leads us to an action-packed dramatic ending.

By Sharon Francis,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Bloodline as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Tony Viscount is a widower, a father and a restaurateur but has no idea where he came from, so helping his young son, Jamie, complete a family tree could be fun for both of them. But Tony doesn’t expect the tale of terror he uncovers, or that it could have followed him into the present.

What he discovers will change his life forever.

Assuming he gets to live it...


Book cover of Death On Bodmin Moor

Elizabeth Revill Author Of Killing Me Softly

From my list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a child I would invent stories to entertain my cousins but at school I developed a passion for thrillers, devouring every Agatha Christie novel I could get my hands on and delighted in discovering new authors to satisfy my appetite. However, after my encounter with a man on a train, who went on to become a serial killer and after suffering a few other attacks, I crafted a novel using my experiences and melded fact with fiction to create my first psychological thriller, Killing Me Softly. It was extremely cathartic and now is a series of six, with another on the way. I’ve written eighteen books and even my historical novels are thrillers.

Elizabeth's book list on thrillers and mysteries from new and great authors

Elizabeth Revill Why did Elizabeth love this book?

Growing up, my mother got me hooked on books by Victor Gunn, who wrote under a number of pseudonyms, but I loved the Ironside thrillers with Inspector Cromwell and his dapper partner Johnny Lister. Bodmin Moor is a perfect setting for a murder, especially in the fog, and when a nurse working at a private clinic approaches the moor in her old car she hears a scream just as she's stopped at a signpost. She walks onto the moor through the fog to investigate and soon stumbles over a dead man whose face has been smashed in... then a local sheep farmer scares the wits out of her as he appears in the fog. This is a fast-paced read to be recommended to those who love a good old-fashioned thriller from times gone by without the razzamatazz of social media and mobile phones. Accept the period and enjoy the detective…

By Victor Gunn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Death On Bodmin Moor as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The scream out of the mist and darkness of the moor chills the blood of Stella Pemberton, who has stopped her car to look at a remote signpost. But Stella is a plucky girl, as well as being exceedingly pretty, and she hurries on to the moor to give aid - only to find the body of a man who has just been brutally murdered. Suddenly a figure appears out of the mist, and Stella's courage fails her...


Book cover of City of Vengeance

Adele Jordan Author Of The Gentlewoman Spy

From my list on exciting adventure in the Renaissance.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a ghostwriter, I’m asked to turn my hand to many genres. Yet the one I keep returning to is Renaissance Adventure. Having always been a fan of adventure, in films, TV, or books, for my English Degree at Exeter University, I dedicated my dissertation to the genre, and the fascination shows no sign of fading. I love all these books, but there is one difference between these and my series. That is the heroes here are all men. Bring on more adventure in this era with women! I hope you enjoy the books on this list – they are a fantastic way to spend your evenings with your pulse racing.

Adele's book list on exciting adventure in the Renaissance

Adele Jordan Why did Adele love this book?

I recently had the pleasure of meeting D V Bishop at CrimeFest in Bristol, and his passion for his stories truly comes through in person.

After picking it up for a friend whose favorite place in the world is Florence, where the book is set, I couldn’t resist reading it myself, and oh, I am glad I did. Three books into the series, and it’s hard to put down. Cesare Aldo is a hero that is mysterious and resilient – a man trying to hide his sexuality in a world where it’s a crime – as he investigates murders in Renaissance Florence.

Like Samson, Bishop masters drawing the reader into becoming attached to the hero, with the book unputdownable. 

By D. V. Bishop,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked City of Vengeance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Shortlisted for the 2021 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger 2021.

City of Vengeance is an explosive debut novel in an historical thriller series by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Florence.

'An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence' - Antonia Hodgson

'A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop's spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force' - David Baldacci

Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.

Cesare Aldo, a former…


Book cover of Blue Labyrinth

J.M. Adams Author Of Second Term

From my list on fearless female warriors.

Why am I passionate about this?

Female warriors add more depth to the action/thriller genre and make any character infinitely more interesting. I’ve read and watched enough Jacks, Johns, and Jakes to last a lifetime and I want some Janes in my reading life. I’ve been an avid reader for more than 40 years and always felt that there was a blank space when it comes to female protagonists. Many of my favorite female characters were relegated to supporting roles including some on my list, but when I find a great female character I end up reading her again and again. And if you haven’t seen it yet, watch Lioness on Amazon, it will leave you breathless! 

J.M.'s book list on fearless female warriors

J.M. Adams Why did J.M. love this book?

When it comes to Constance Greene, I hardly know where to begin.

She’s certainly the oldest and most deadly character in fiction writing today. I say she’s the oldest because she’s trapped in the body of a thirty-something-year-old woman even though she was born in 1873, long story.

She appears as a supporting character in multiple novels, as the love interest of Detective Aloysius Pendergast, but she is so much more than that. She’s eloquent, brilliant, and does not succumb to emotional distress under any threat of death.

In Blue Labyrinth, eight highly trained mercenaries pursue her and none of them live to tell the tale. At her most ruthless, she can kill with any tool at her disposal and she is loyal to the man she loves.

By Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Blue Labyrinth as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


When a longtime enemy shows up dead on Pendergast's doorstep, the murder investigation leads him into his own dark past as a vengeful killer waits in the shadows.

It begins with murder. One of Pendergast's most implacable, most feared enemies is found on his doorstep, dead. Pendergast has no idea who is responsible for the killing, or why the body was brought to his home. The mystery has all the hallmarks of the perfect crime, save for an enigmatic clue: a piece of turquoise lodged in the stomach of the deceased.

The gem leads Pendergast to an abandoned mine on…


Book cover of The Return of Faraz Ali

Ravinder Randhawa Author Of The Coral Strand

From my list on by writers of colour.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always loved books and reading, so it’s no surprise I’m an author and blogger. However, feeling strongly about justice and truth, I’ve also been active in the feminist and anti-racist movements. Additionally, I founded The Asian Women Writers Workshop (later known as the Asian Women Writers Collective), whose work has been archived by South Asian Diaspora Arts Archive (SADAA). I’ve been a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at several British universities and am a member of PEN International. As a writer of colour (South-Asian heritage), I'm intrigued by the work of diverse writers, their interpretation and focus.  

Ravinder's book list on by writers of colour

Ravinder Randhawa Why did Ravinder love this book?

A brilliant novel with more than one mystery at its heart, with more than one truth about human emotions. Beautifully written, unflinching in its depiction of corruption and cruelty; lyrical in its evocation of loss and longing, love and survival. Faraz Ali, a young Pakistani police officer is sent to Shahi Mohalla, the red-light district of Lahore, where a girl has been murdered: not to solve the crime, but to cover it up. However, Faraz Ali has his own tormented history with the Mohalla. And, unknown to him his dimly remembered sister, the beautiful and fiery Rozina, is facing the stark prospect of her own return. A fantastic read, the characters staying in the mind long after the book has been closed.

By Aamina Ahmad,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Return of Faraz Ali as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AND NPR

“Stunning not only on account of the author’s talent, of which there is clearly plenty, but also in its humanity.” —New York Times Book Review (cover)

Sent back to his birthplace—Lahore’s notorious red-light district—to hush up the murder of a girl, a man finds himself in an unexpected reckoning with his past.

Not since childhood has Faraz returned to the Mohalla, in Lahore’s walled inner city, where women continue to pass down the art of courtesan from mother to daughter. But he still remembers the day…


Book cover of The Cartographers

Audrey Lee Author Of The Mechanics of Memory

From my list on AAPI women with self-saving female protagonists.

Why am I passionate about this?

I used to get in trouble (nightly) for eating with my book propped against my plate. Yet with all the books I devoured, there was never one about a kid that looked like me with a family like mine. The single anomaly was Blubber, which absolutely thrilled me to see a supporting character named Tracy Wu. And while the YA world has thankfully become more diverse, BIPOC authors and protagonists are still the exception in adult literature. I’m excited to share this list of badass female AAPI authors who write equally strong protagonists because, though we’ve come a long way since Tracy Wu, we still have further to go.

Audrey's book list on AAPI women with self-saving female protagonists

Audrey Lee Why did Audrey love this book?

As a child, I used to sit in the shoe closet, waiting for it to open up to Narnia. This book brought me back to this feeling of magical longing; only the irresistible hook is secrets hidden in ordinary maps.

It is expertly plotted, magical, and mysterious, and the characters are dynamic and diverse. My tastes usually tend toward dark thrillers, but this one snuck its way into my heart. Important: when you finish, read all the way through the acknowledgments.

By Peng Shepherd,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Cartographers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Exquisitely written ... Be prepared to be swept away on an incredible journey' Brad Thor, #1 bestselling author of Black Ice

'A story about magical maps that lead to your heart's desire [and] the people who would do anything to find them ... A vastly rich experience' Charles Soule, author of The Oracle Year

There are some maps you can lose yourself in...
Nell Young has lived her life in and around maps. Her father, Dr. David Young, was one of the most respected cartographers in the world. But this morning he was found dead - or murdered? - in…


Book cover of The Inn at Ocean's Edge

Elle E. Kay Author Of Grave Pursuits

From my list on Christian thrillers with heartbeats and hideaways.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm an author of more than twenty Christian fiction books. I write true romantic suspense with equal parts engaging romance and thrilling suspense. My debut novel was a semi-finalist in the Genesis contest, and many of my subsequent titles have reached bestseller status. I engage with readers through my blog, which is recognized as a top 25 Christian fiction blog on Feedspot, and my Facebook group, "Heartbeats and Hideaways."

Elle's book list on Christian thrillers with heartbeats and hideaways

Elle E. Kay Why did Elle love this book?

I loved this book by Colleen Coble for its romance, suspense, and mystery blend. The unique storyline immediately drew me in, with the heroine’s repressed memories unraveling upon her return to the scene of her childhood trauma. 

The twists and turns in this gripping thriller kept me guessing. The female lead is relatable, and the love interest adds something special to the story. The subplot about the injured orca was an endearing addition to the novel.

By Colleen Coble,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Inn at Ocean's Edge as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense, Claire's visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories that undermine all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year-and until now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father,…


Book cover of The Other Americans

Roxana Arama Author Of Extreme Vetting

From my list on voices of immigrants.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a Romanian American author who arrived in the US with a job in software development. In more than twenty years as an immigrant, I’ve struggled with the same problems these novels explore: how to build a home in a new land, away from my family; how to fit in or make my peace with not belonging; how to be the parent of American-born children whose culture is different from my native one. I’m familiar with the US immigration system from my yearslong citizenship application, and I also interviewed an immigration lawyer extensively for my thriller.

Roxana's book list on voices of immigrants

Roxana Arama Why did Roxana love this book?

This riveting whodunit captures the tension between native and naturalized citizens, something I’m familiar with. A Moroccan American man is killed in a hit-and-run in a small desert town in California. His daughter Nora returns home to the Mojave, determined to find the killer. The story is told through multiple voices, some of them immigrants: Nora’s mom, who still dreams of her old life in Casablanca; an undocumented man who witnessed the incident but is afraid to come forward; and the victim himself in the days before dying, when his future looked bright. The secrets Nora discovers about her family and her town, heartbreaking as they are, help her find love and also a sense of home that immigrants like me spend our entire lives trying to reach.

By Laila Lalami,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Other Americans as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Finalist for the National Book Award 2019 An Observer, Literary Review and Time Book of the Year 'One of the most affecting novels I have read. Subtle, wise and full of humanity' The Times Late one spring night, Driss Guerraoui, a Moroccan immigrant in California, is walking across a darkened intersection when he is killed by a speeding car. The repercussions of his death bring together a diverse cast of characters, deeply divided by race, religion and class. As the characters tell their stories and the mystery unfolds, Driss's family is forced to confront its secrets, a town faces its…


Book cover of Counting Crows
Book cover of Never Forget, Never Forgive
Book cover of Bloodline

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