The Madonnas of Echo Park is an extraordinary debut. He brings the neighborhood of Echo Park in Los Angeles alive: from busboys to day laborers and housekeepers, the reader gets an incredible inside view of the Mexican American community in Echo Park. Interwoven stories could stand alone, but create a powerful novel.

Ok, so I usually can figure out what's happened about halfway through a mystery. Not with this one. Sophie Hannah has woven such a complex and mystifying novel, it will keep you not only guessing, but literally trying to wrap your head around what could possibly be going on. Ruth Bussey is a woman with a secret past. Her boyfriend, Aidan Seed, also has a secret that he shares with her: that he killed a woman named Mary Trelease years ago. The catch? Ruth knows Mary Trelease and she is alive. And so begins a tale that will keep you reading late into the night...

For those who've already gobbled up the dragon tattoo series and are looking for more Scandinavian mystery, The Ice Princess is an excellent choice.