Why You Need a Speculative Thriller More than Sunscreen this Summer
By Jeremy Finley
July 12, 2018Read Jeremy Finley's exclusive guest post, then make sure you're signed in and comment below for a chance to win a copy of his debut thriller, The Darkest Time of Night!
Think of the most mind-numbing thing you’ve read lately, and I’ll ask you to hold my beer.
A big win for an investigative reporter is to dig up enough misdeeds on the part of an elected official or an agency that the state launches an audit, so it was with a degree of glee that I received a transportation audit last week. It came after a series of stories I’d done about a deeply troubled agency that serves the poor.
It didn’t take long to find one section that stunned me with its complexity and dullness. The header read: “Perform Reconciliation Techniques to Ensure the Veracity of Farebox Revenue.”
The next time someone asks me why speculative thrillers line my bookshelves, I shall shout to the heavens, “Because I had to read the section about performing reconciliation techniques to ensure the veracity of Farebox revenue, that’s why.”
Read an excerpt from Jeremy Finley’s The Darkest Time of Night!
Seriously, life can throw us some seriously boring roadblocks to joy. Balancing checkbooks (am I the last person on earth still doing this?), making spreadsheets, creating subfolders to folders, filling out expense forms, going to conferences in Des Moines, Iowa.
To me, a good thriller paperback is more essential for a business trip than underwear (TMI, I know. I try to remember both). I mean, if you’re stuck in the Spring Hill Suites, a good Grisham will give you reason to live in the hours before the complimentary pancakes are on the warmer.
But friends, pack along a Stephen King or a Jennifer McMahon or a Robert McCammon and everything—even the stale coffee—disappears. A great speculative thriller takes our world, full of its disappointments and frustrations and boredom, and reveals that there’s still so much more we don’t know. That we couldn’t imagine.
So in the thick of summer, should you have an impending trip to the beach with your wife’s cousin’s husband who can’t stop talking about his job in data entry, then fear not, I’ve got you covered with five of my favorite speculative thrillers.
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
I discovered this book a few years ago, and I still think about it every time the first hint of fall creeps in. Creep, being the figurative word. Set in Vermont, McMahon hooks you from the very sentence, about what a child sees in the woods that is certainly not of the world we know. But it’s what’s hidden in the floorboards that has you tearing through to the end.
So Cold the River by Michael Koryta
What I love about this book is the normalcy of it, set in Indiana in a beautiful hotel. Koryta hooks you by thinking you’ve figured out the true villain, only to realize that there is a greater evil waiting in something as benign as water. You will not take that next drink from the fountain without thinking of this book.
The Keep by F. Paul Wilson
The genius of this book is that everyone is a bad guy. I mean, the people in peril are Nazis. Yet, when they arrive at the keep in the Romanian Mountains and crosses are found on interior walls facing inward, you consider wanting the despicable soldiers to get the hell out of dodge. I’m not ashamed that I took great joy in seeing what waits for them in the dark.
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
When I heard that the master himself had written a sequel to The Shining, I was counting down the days to the release. I mean, how do you top one of the greatest horror thrillers of all time? He does it by introducing us to an all-grown-up Danny Torrance, who finds that the ghosts from The Overlook Hotel have nothing on the evil that is hunting him and a girl who shares his extraordinary powers. Take note: this is how you do a sequel well.
Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon
McCammon’s novel first grabbed me as a college student and has never let me go. Part coming-of-age novel, part murder mystery, what our hero encounters in floodwaters, and later at the circus, is so unexpected and thrilling that it makes me want to stop writing this and go reread the book for the 1000th time.
Now you’re armed—even if it’s only for that overnight trip with the sales staff to debate email strategies. If you forget that sunscreen, just hold up any of these books and hide in their shadows.
Read Weston Ochse’s glowing review of Jeremy Finley’s debut novel, The Darkest Time of Night!
Comment below for a chance to win a copy of The Darkest Time of Night by Jeremy Finley!
To enter, make sure you’re a registered member of the site and simply leave a comment below.
The Darkest Time of Night Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/why-you-need-a-speculative-thriller-more-than-sunscreen-this-summer-comment-sweepstakes beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) July 12, 2018. Sweepstakes ends at 12:59 p.m. ET July 31, 2018. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
Comments
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Looks very interesting!!!!
Read the excerpt–sounds like the novel has sort of a fairy-tale quality to it!
sign me up for a copy
Fascinating and intriguing novel which I would enjoy.
I am always looking for new authors to read. This book sounds like the kind I enjoy reading.
This book looks fantastic! I love a good mystery/thriller.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Count me in, please!
This book sounds intriguing!
Count me in, please!
I really enjoy speculative Fiction and horror. I see a few to add to my list. 🙂 I couldn’t get into The Winter People unfortunately.
My students love murder mysteries. Would love to check it out!
this would be a great book to win – thank you for the opportunity – the review made it sound like something I would truly enjoy
looking forward to reading this book
This book looks scary and mysterious. I’d love to read it.
Intrigue, by an investigative reporter? Wonderful! And an author with a sense of humor! Even better!
I have really enjoyed many debut authors as of late~ will add to my TBR!
Interesting to think of audits as a source for mystery plots.
I would enjoy reading this book.
Looks like a novel I would enjoy!
I love mysteries and thrillers. Sounds like a great book to check out! Thanks!
cool
Would love a chance to win this.
I’ve read a couple of the books but now, including yours, I have more to add to my list!
Sounds fascinating, thanks!
Enjoyable reading.
Very interesting .
I’d like to read this book.
I really liked The Winter People. It actually made me feel cold physically. I would look up and realize I was in my living room in June instead of cold and grim Vermont!
The darkest time of the night is the scariest.
This looks like a very interesting mystery to read. Thanks for the chance to win.
would love to read
I would love the chance to read this and share my thoughts with my very active online book club of over 10K members!
Thank you for the insightful post, review link, excerpt and entry opportunity!
Would love these.
Might be humorous rendition of a investigative
sounds amazing – thanks!
I have read The Keep and I have an unread copy of Dr Sleep in my TBR pile. Send me more books.
I am excited to read The Darkest Time of Night. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks!
Not only are those books good in the daytime, they’re great for a late night read in the cool summer evening. Thanks!
Several of my favorite authors: Stephen King & Robert McCammon.
You should also include Tami Hoag and Patricia Cornwell.
Look forward to reading your book. Thank you.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Looks like a great list for summertime reads – including your new book! Looks good!!!
I love a good summer thriller…or fall thriller…or winter thriller…or spring thriller!
Sounds just creepy enough to make a good read. Count me in.
I have reserved all five of these books at the library! If Jeremy Finley loves them, then I definitely want to read his book!
I read a lot of milder stuff and a good thriller is just what I need to cleanse the palate 😉
Would love to win this…you never can read too many thrillers! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Great!
Yes, please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks —
I’d like to read this even though I don’t have any business trips planned.
This looks very interesting, and I appreciate the chance to win. However, I dare say that if I read it while outside this summer, I’ll still need sunscreen!
I am looking forward to a new read and some chills and thrills – no business trips planned and I live in the sunniest place in the USA anyway – so lots of sunscreen on hand 🙂
All of these books look great.
I’d love to read this one. Thanks for the chance!
What a great selection! I’m dying to read them…
I’d love to win a copy of the book!
These look so good
Expect I’d be reading such as these in the evening, so wouldn’t be needing sunscreen. Thanks for these suggestions.
Yes, there is nothing better than a thriller, and this is a great excerpt of one. On my TBR list for sure. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds sooo good! Can’t wait to win or purchase a copy of this book!
This sounds like a must read! Thank you for this chance!
Sounds like something I would enjoy! Thanks for the chance 🙂
I have to say I agree with all of Mr. Finley’s observations. And, I love the books he recommended. Thus, I can assume that his own book is going to be one heck of a good read. Can’t wait!
Sounds like fun. And, for the record, Boy’s Life is one of the most amazing books about childhood that I’ve ever read.
Would love to read this
The cover gives me the “woolies”. 🙂
The excerpt has a science fiction aspect, sounds intriguing.
Always interesting to read someone’s first novel. Thanks for the chance!
I’ve never read Jeremy Finley – but, wow, what credentials! Would love to read this book.
Going on my TBR list!!!!
Well, the except and review certainly whet the appetite. Another one for The List.
Can hardly wait to get my hands on this book! I have two of the novels he lists as his favorites, so I know we have that in common. (Also on the lookout for the other three!) Thank you, Mr. Finley!
Sounds like a great book to read since the weather is hot and inside it is cool!
I definitely need some summer reading!
I enjoyed the dark feeling of the cover which really enhance the thrilling emotion!!
Would love a new book to read!
I look forward to determining which of these authors have influenced Finley the most.
Sounds like a winner.
I always enjoy a good thriller and it would be great to win this.
Good thrillers are just the best, and yes Doctor Sleep was excellent! Now sitting on my bookcase, would love to add The Darkest Night. It’s been one of my really, really want to read! Thanks for the suggestions.
I love to read a good thriller book
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like his main character is introspective.
Sounds like a winner. I have 3 more books to add to my ‘must be read’ list! Thanks!
Thank you for the chance to win. I cannot wait to see what unfolds!
Your book definitely sounds like a must read. Thank you for the giveaway.
I am going to have to read this book. It sounds like a winner.
I would love to get away with a stack of books–this one included. Thanks for the chance to enter.
sounds like a fun one
Sounds like a great book.
Love mysteries. I just finished reading a fantastic one and now I’m ready to start another!
I love a good thriller!
Sounds a like a fun thriller to read during the summer.
Thank you for sharing. I love a good thriller!
I must read this! I read the excerpt! This would make an awesome movie too!
Both speculative and scary. Sounds like a book I really need to read.
fascinating titles!
Fascinating read!!
Excited to read the books if the titles are any indication.