Here at Met Radio, we’re celebrating the year 2024 with a series of lists rounding up our favourites of the year! We’ve invited station volunteers and staff to share their top ten of anything that encapsulates their year in pop culture (or otherwise). New lists to surprise and delight will be dropping on the Met Radio website every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this December!
Hi, I am Amanda Shekarchi, the Monday host of Met Radio’s music show Met 30. Usually, you can find me screaming my heart out at concerts, or analyzing the lyrics of my favourite songs, searching for hidden clues about which celebrity they are referencing. However, I am here to solve a different case. What are the best mystery books? Read on for the verdict!
Colter Shaw Series by Jeffrey Deaver:
This book series is the source for the TV show, Tracker, starring Justin Hartley. Streaming on Disney+. Eager to learn more about these intriguing characters I turned to the books. The series centres around Colter Shaw, who is a reward-seeker and expert tracker. As a result, his job is to help locate missing people, sometimes for the police, or for private citizens. If the investigation is successful he receives the reward money for finding them. These mysteries are tangled and twisty, keeping me guessing until the end.
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay:
I recommend listening to this one in audio book format. As it is a multiple prospective novel and the narraters really enhanced my experience, enabling me to gain a deeper connection with the characters emotions and storylines. This book is about two small town murders taking place fifteen years apart. The first being at a Blockbuster video store, and the present at an ice cream shop. The similarities between them is that they both occured in the teens’ workplaces, and in both cases there was only one survivor. My favourite character is FBI agent Sarah Keller as I loved watching her find the connections between the two murders and she doesn’t back down from any challenge. I enjoyed Finlay’s portrayal of a strong woman working in the FBI. While we are on the Topic of The Night Shift, there is an awesome Met Radio Show hosted by Luca Capone with the same name!
Reputation by Sara Shepard:
This book is also told through multiple prospectives, and I would recommend the audiobook. It takes place in a college town where the university email is hacked. As a result, personal information including rumours and affairs are brought to life. Kit, one of the main characters, is the precedence daughter of the school, and her husband Greg works at the University’s hospital. Secrets are revealed about him after he is found dead. Kit’s sister Willa is an investigative reporter who comes home for the funeral, and helps solve Greg’s murder. Each character has a unique storyline, and I love how they all intercept.
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:
This book series is the teen version of the TV show Criminal Minds. The books follow 17-year-old Cassie who is invited to join an FBI classified program called “The Naturals.” Cassie’s gift is reading people enabling her to analyze their motivations and behaviour. In the program, she meets other teenagers with unique abilities, working together to help the FBI solve cases. This series captured my attention as it is full of suspense. The writing style is clever as it incorporates other characters back stories which are told through Cassie’s point of view. There is also a romance adding a touch of drama, without overpowering the mystery. I will confess, I stayed up past 1 AM reading these books!
Little Monsters by Kara Thomas:
This book was a great escape for me during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protagonist, Kasey, moves to Broken Falls with her father where at first she feels welcomed. Eventually her new friends Bailey and Jade become closed off, excluding Kasey from the biggest party. Kasey never gets to confront Bailey about this betrayal because Bailey goes missing. Now it is up to Kasey to uncover the truth. The writing style for this novel is also unique as the author includes Bailey’s diary entries leading up to her disappearance.
All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth:
My guess is you’ll end up reading this one more than once. There is so much foreshadowing even just on the first page. Charlie is haunted by the tragedy of her past, as her mother disappears without a trace. In order to find answers she attends the same high school as her mom did years earlier where she joins an elite club called The A’s where she learns that everything is not what it seems! The novel is gripping, as there are flashback chapters in her mother’s prospective.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston:
Evie Porters’ job is to blackmail the rich. However, when Evie meets Ryan Sumner he is more than just a mark. Although, Evie has feelings for Ryan she has to stick to the mission, because Evie is not her real identity and she can not make a mistake. From page one I knew something felt off. I loved the pacing of this novel as new clues were revealed.
In The Blood By Lisa Unger:
Lana Granger’s life changes when she accepts a job to babysit Luke, a teenager who has been kicked out of many boarding schools. However, things are different between Luke and Lana. Lana has lived a life of secrets and lies, and when her friend Beck disappears Lana is determined to bury the truth. This series is filled with complex characters, unique relationships, and huge plot twists. It focuses on family, friendship, and betrayal.
Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander:
Nine years ago Charlie was a witness to what was called “Scarlet Christmas.” Now, Charlie is rebuilding her life working at a major magazine, and is engaged. Charlie is determined to put the events of that horrific night behind her, however, one of her former classmates decides to produce a film about that night. As a result, Charlie starts to question everything she thought she knew about what really happened nine years ago. I loved Charlie’s character development as she discovers the truth.
A Flicker In The Dark by Stacy Willingham:
Chloe is a psychologist who on the surface is living a comfortable life. However, twenty years ago her dad killed six teenage girls. In the present there is a copycat killer, forcing Chloe to relive the past. The writing for this book is sinister, and compelling. There are flashbacks to the past, which enabled me to understand Chloe’s childhood. I loved how this book portrays that sometimes the truth is not what it seems.