best mystery books of 2020 Audiobooks

At first, horse trainer and Carson Stables owner Annie Carson blames the random losses of local livestock on feral animals stalking Olympic Peninsula county’s farms and ranches. But when one of her own flock is found savagely slaughtered, it gets personal. Then it turns dangerous, when Annie discovers the body of a young woman hanging in her new hay barn. Suddenly, she’s up to her neck in complicated mysteries—one involving her private life. But her sleuthing skills aren’t exactly welcome by the sheriff. And as she uncovers a clue to the killer’s identity, Annie fears she’s leading a deadly trail straight to her door. Praise for Leigh Hearon: "Here's a new heroine after my own heart. Plan to stay up all night with this one because this mystery is a winner right out of the gate!" —Fern Michaels, #1 New York Times bestselling author on Reining in Murder "This strikingly polished first mystery is, quite simply, remarkable. Reining in Murder has it all: rounded characters, likeable protagonist, thrilling, perfectly paced plot and impeccable narrative style . . . Leigh Hearon masterfully maintains the suspense to the very finish line." —Mystery Scene Magazine on Reining in Murder “Leigh Hearon seems destined for high marks with what is shaping up to be a delightful new series in the mystery genre.” —Colorado Daily News on Reining in Murder “This murder mystery will be enjoyed by anyone who likes chewing hay and wearing riding boots.” —Fresh Fiction on Reining in Murder “The action-packed scenes are stellar, as well as the descriptions of the gorgeous and dangerous Washington wilderness. This third in the series presents a unique heroine, one whose devotion to horses is as admirable as her wit and intelligence.” —Kings River Life Magazine on Unbridled Murder

My name is Zoe and I have committed Sins of the Flesh. But it’s not my fault—none of it would have happened if they hadn’t kidnapped me that fateful day... They took me and my mother and forced us to become part of their Pack. I didn’t even know I had Were blood until they took us. But then my body started changing—developing in ways it never had before. I started having cravings…longings. But I wasn’t allowed to look at any of the Alphas. My cruel new stepfather had plans for me—I would marry another Pack Master—a ugly, evil man, old enough to be my grandfather. And until then, my stepbrothers, Christopher and Gabriel were supposed to watch over me. I felt a tingle when they held me between them, but my stepbrothers weren’t supposed to touch me—their whole job was to keep me innocent and pure. I was supposed to be a virgin on my wedding night. They were sent to deliver me to my new husband—but we were forced off the road and taken as prisoners. The cartel leader who took us holds a grudge against my stepfather. At first he wanted to execute us all…but when he saw the three of us together, he got other ideas. He wanted to us to put on a private show, just for him and to do things…things a girl should never do with her stepbrothers. Can the three of us escape the clutches of the cartel and the vengeance of the Pack to find true love together? You’ll have to read our story in this Dark Ménage Romance, Sins of the Flesh, to find out. *Author's Note--please see trigger warnings in my Author's note inside the book. This is a DARK Romance so please read responsibly.

Summer 1781. Passy, France. Rebecca Parcell is eager to reach Paris to marry Daniel Alloway, who's gone ahead to take up a new post there. But their idyllic prenuptial life unravels when they accept an invitation to reside with Dr. Benjamin Franklin, America's brilliant, enigmatic ambassador to France. A murdered man is found on the roof of Dr. Franklin's home outside of Paris, and he calls upon his two new houseguests–former spies for George Washington–to investigate. Becca and Daniel find themselves searching for the murderer through the labyrinth of 18th-century Paris, a city brimming with danger, secrets, and the ever-present whispers of revolution. With time running out, Becca and Daniel must determine whether the killer is a member of Dr. Franklin's inner circle or a cunning outsider. And as the couple race from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the gilded halls of Versailles, they discover that their own lives are in grave danger and that the stakes for Dr. Franklin and America are even higher than they could have imagined. Will Becca and Daniel find the killer before the murderer strikes again, and will they ever manage to marry?

Love is in the air when Hollywood arrives in Mermaid Bay, and the town may never be the same. Fans will do almost anything to get a glimpse of the actors or a chance to be an extra in the Love Channel's "My Coastal Valentine." Crowds flock to the cozy beach town from all over and business is booming for Christmas shop owner, Jade Hicks until the body of a testy reporter is found in one of the actors rooms. And if murder isn't bad enough, someone tries to kill the show's star, hunky Raphael Allard. The cozy little beach town feels cursed, as the Love Channel threatens to pull out of the project. Jade and the gang, Lorelei, Peppermint Patti, Bernie, Chloe, and Neville the Devil Cat, have to solve the crimes before it ruins the town's reputation and breaks the hearts of fans across the country.

I've decided to have a baby. The only problem? I'm as single as they come. I jokingly make a list of possible baby daddies. The problem? My best friend White finds the list … and his name is at the top. My incredibly hot, best buddy, never-going-to-settle-down best friend. He's telling me he won't let anyone else near me. He's out to prove he's the only man for the job. I should say no. But I’m not going to…

Friends to lovers never looked so dang good! Williams and Windy have been best friends since grade school. But now that they are all grown up, things are changing. For one, their invention has a shot at being more than a pipedream. If they get an investor, they could make their dream a reality. As they work toward their joint goal, William starts to realize he doesn’t just want to run a business with Windy. He wants a whole life with her. But telling the truth might mean losing the one girl he has always put first. It’s about to get Rowdy! Burly is one town over from Home, WA where the Rough family lives. The Rowdy boys are their cowboy cousins. Get ready for them to lasso your heart!

All work and no play is not how this cowboy intends to spend his day… Former special forces soldier Ryder Lea has dedicated his life to serving others. Now honorably discharged, he’s looking to return to his cowboy roots to work as a rodeo stock contractor and travel the country he’s spent years protecting. But first, he has an obligation in Marietta, Montana to his fallen commanding officer. Surely completing a few hours of community service won’t be that challenging? Physical therapist Edison Martin is short-staffed and underwhelmed when the tall, broad-shouldered cowboy with the ‘awe shucks’ smile swaggers into her clinic as her latest community-service volunteer. She needs trained help, not eye-candy. And Ryder reminds Edi of everything she’s lost and every man who’s done her wrong. Bound by duty and compassionate by nature, Ryder dives into his temporary role with humor and enthusiasm. His motto: make a difference. But what will it take to get statuesque, super serious Edi to smile and remember that each day is a gift?

THE CLUE is the first book in the Fleming Stone Mystery series by famed New Jersey mystery writer Carolyn Wells (1862-1942). Librarian, author, poet, journalist Wells wrote a total of 170 books, including poetry, humor, and children’s books, but she is best remembered for her mystery novels, the most successful being her Fleming Stone series. Madeleine Van Norman is found stabbed to death on the night before her wedding. The heiress is found in the library of her sprawling country mansion stabbed with her own Venetian letter-opener. Though a suicide note is found, the list of potential suspects grows. Who would benefit from the rich woman’s death? There is her groom who was having an affair. There are family members who might not want her to marry to save their inheritance. There is the groom’s secret lover. Or could it have been the secretary? Rediscover one of the great American mystery writers and her finest work. THE CLUE is a closed-environment traditional mystery that will remind you of the other greats, including Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen.

The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells is the first biography of one of the “lost ladies” of detective fiction who wrote more than eighty mysteries and hundreds of other works between the 1890s and the 1940s. Carolyn Wells (1862–1942) excelled at writing country house and locked-room mysteries for a decade before Agatha Christie entered the scene. In the 1920s, when she was churning out three or more books annually, she was dubbed “about the biggest thing in mystery novels in the US.” On top of that, Wells wielded her pen in just about every literary genre, producing several immensely popular children’s books and young adult novels; beloved anthologies; and countless stories, prose, and poetry for magazines such as Thrilling Detective, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Harper’s, and The New Yorker. All told, Wells wrote over 180 books. Some were adapted into silent films, and some became bestsellers. Yet a hundred years later, she has been all but erased from literary history. Why? How? This investigation takes us on a journey to Rahway, New Jersey, where Wells was born and is buried; to New York City’s Upper West Side, where she spent her final twenty-five years; to the Library of Congress, where Carolyn’s world-class collection of rare books now resides; and to many other public and private collections where exciting discoveries unfolded. Part biography and part sleuthing narrative, The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells recovers the life and work of a brilliant writer who was considered one of the funniest, most talented women of her time.

After an accident, she found herself pregnant. After identifying the man most likely to be the child’s father, she got married to him. This was supposed to be a loveless marriage, but in the end, they got mixed up in their own feelings.At the end of her pregnancy, he sent her a divorce letter, and finally it all made sense. However, he would one day come running and screaming, “Please come back my love, I’ve always loved you!”