What To Read

This week, the Los Angeles Times announced the finalists for its 43rd annual book prizes, which honor exceptional writing in 12 categories. There's stiff competition in the mystery/thriller category between finalists Peng Shepherd, Alex Segura, Tracey Lien, Laurie R. King and Rachel Howzell. The winner among these five exceptional books will be announced at the awards ceremony on April 21.

Secret Identity by Alex Segura

"Secret Identity is the book Alex Segura was born to write. His passion for the world of comics, in all its complexities and colorfulness, comes through on every page and will fascinate both the fandom and casual readers alike."

—Criminal Element

We Lie Here: A Thriller by Rachel Howzell Hall

"A whopper of a domestic thriller ... What makes We Lie Here so frightening is the suggestion that your own family might not be who they claim to be. Rachel Howzell Hall plots this idea perfectly, and the reveal is quite satisfying with the appropriate surprises and twists in the final act."

— Ray Pallen in The Bookreporter

Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King

"King takes a decidedly contemporary approach in the superb Back to the Garden, a solid police procedural, a story of obsession and a look at how work shapes a personality, all steeped in California lore and history. “Back to the Garden” starts strong and never loses momentum as it accelerates to an intense ending ... Back to the Garden is storytelling at its best."

— Oline H. Cogdill in the Sun Sentinel

All That's Left Unsaid: A Novel by Tracey Lien

"A writer’s duty is to tell the truth and Lien doesn’t shy away from it. Fearless and unflinching when it comes to the immigrant experience, Lien crafts a story that deepens with each page and lands close to the bone.”

— Erin E. Adams in Electric Literature

The Cartographers: A Novel by Peng Shepherd

"It’s brilliant ... Shepherd nails the sense of deep-seated, profound connection and love between a small group of people drawn together by shared experience and interest, creating an intense familial bond ... both beautiful and intellectual, and Shepherd sticks the landing in a deeply satisfying fashion."

— Vivian Shaw in The Washington Post