Weary of the weather? And its only January? Try this: turn up your trenchcoat collar against the wind, snap down your fedora to the rain, put some moody jazz on your iPod, and pretend you’re the star of your own film noir. Seattle is a great setting for hardboiled crime. Here are some Northwest crime titles to get you in the mood:
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
Portland detective Archie Sheridan can’t shake his addiction to painkillers nor the hold that killer Gretchen Lowell has on him, until he teams with a spunky young newspaper reporter to track a new monster.
Third and Forever by Lowen Clausen
Grace Stevens investigates a series of rapes involving college athletes, including one dating the daughter of her former partner, in this final chapter of a gripping trilogy by a former Seattle police officer.
Precious Cargo by Clyde Ford
Marine Private Investigator Charlie Noble is back fighting human traffickers and the awesome power of the sea in hopes of saving young women from a cruel fate in the briny deep.
Red Tide by G.M. Ford
In the 4th installment of the Frank Corso series, it’s journalist Corso vs. terrorists armed with a deadly Ebola virus mutation, threatening to unleash doomsday in Seattle’s bus tunnels.
Always by Nicola Griffith
Ex-cop Aud Torvingen walks tall when it comes to dealing with tough guys, but the combination of Seattle real estate, a lethal batch of coffee, and a new woman in her life may just have her on the ropes.
Under Cover of Darkness by James Grippando
After his wife vanishes, Seattle attorney Gus Wheatley discovers something in her past that may link her to a serial killer in more ways than one.
Learning to Fly by April Henry
Nineteen-year-old Free Meeker leaves the scene of a gruesome car accident with a new identity and $700,000 in a gym bag, two decisions that make her a target.
Justice Denied by J.A. Jance
Seattle homicide detective J.P. Beaumont (better known as “Beau” to Jance’s fans) investigates the death of an ex-con who had been in the process of turning his life around. 18th in the series.
The King of Methlehem by Mark Lindquist
Tacoma’s finest are on his trail, but the mystery methamphetamine cook known as Howard Schultz will stop at nothing to avoid getting caught, in this grim, gritty journey inside the haywire world of tweakers.
Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin
While seeking to defend a homeless man, Portland attorney Amanda Jaffe learns that forensic science can serve both as a powerful tool for justice, and a terribly effective force for evil in the wrong hands.
Killing Spree by Kevin O’Brien
A serial killer may be using Seattle thriller writer Gillian McBride’s fictional stories as a blueprint for new crimes, leading Gillian to suspect her fans and her former writing students.
The Body of David Hayes by Ridley Pearson
The psychological pressures intensify when Seattle Police detective Lou Boldt finds that an embezzlement case involves his wife Liz and her ex-lover. Ninth in this series of fast-paced police thrillers.
Over Tumbled Graves by Jess Walter
Spokane detectives struggle to catch a serial killer; but while theories abound, murder is never as simple as in the movies. A complex, compelling debut by the Edgar-award winning author of Citizen Vince.
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