I love a mystery!

Sun, 12/03/2023 - 8:15am

Shirley Sirois

Hard to believe now, but It was way back in 2017 when the “I love a mystery column” first started. The response from locals and online readers was positive and encouraging. Thanks to the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and the Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper for their continued support.

Shortly afterwards, in November 2018, the first meeting of the “I love a mystery book club” took place. It’s now been five years and we are still going strong. What has contributed to its success? The books we choose go beyond simple whodunits. Mystery might be at the crux of the story, but it's often the issues that make for the best discussions. We have read book covering topics such as: mental illness, suicide, racism, drugs, human trafficking, spousal or parental abuse, climate change, and other current events.

Last month our selection was “The Silent Patient,” the debut novel by Alex Michaelides. The book debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and has now sold more than 6.5 million copies worldwide. Our group's discussion was spontaneous and enthusiastic. We discussed the complex characters and the many twists and turns. We gave the book a well deserved 4 stars.

The story begins when famous painter Alicia Berenson shoots her successful photographer husband Gabriel and doesn't speak another word. Alicia adored Gabriel and was very happy. What went wrong? It is six years later when Theo Faber, a forensic psychotherapist, intrigued by Alicia's story starts working with her and things begin to unravel. Another “can't put it down” book.

“The Maidens,” is the newest book by Alex Michaelides. This is another spellbinding tale of psychological suspense with a twist that has readers clamoring for more. Edward Fosca is a murderer. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike, particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as ‘The Maidens.’

Michaelides third novel, “The Fury,” will be released in January 2024. A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder. Of the publication, Michaelides says: “I’m immensely proud of ‘The Fury’ and had more fun writing it than anything I have written so far.” We can’t wait!

Happy reading mystery lovers!