Hi! I have a bit of a cross-genre request. I’m looking for recommendation for a book for my MIL. She reads thrillers and crime/mystery. For Christmas I plan to buy her a new release from this genre, but I thought it’d be cool to also get her something from the fantasy genre which is what I enjoy. So my question is, can you think of a fantasy (or related genre, even sci fi etc) book that would be a great gateway for someone who mainly reads crime and mystery thrillers? Thank you.
by BirdEyrir
9 Comments
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. It’s a fantasy novel about a group of skilled con artists in the city of Camorr.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. A fast-paced cyberpunk novel with virtual reality, linguistic theory, and a high-tech thriller plot involving a computer virus that affects the virtual and real worlds.
China Mieville: the City and the City
Isaac Asimov: the Elijah Bailey books
possibly Claire North: the First 15 Lives of Harry August
Maybe the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde, the Toby Daye books by Seanan McGuire, or Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey.
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
It’s a murder mystery set at an academy for young mages.
The Dresden Files is a series about a wizard who works as a private eye in Chicago
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch (fantasy/crime/mystery)
Fantasy: The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
Sci-Fi: Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
_D’Shai_ and _The Hour of the Octopus_ by Joel Rosenberg. A juggler on a fantasyesque planet with a strict caste system invents a new occupation – “Seeker-of-Truth” – to investigate murders.
If you enjoy stories with strong female leads, ‘Sabriel’ by Garth Nix is a book I often suggest. It’s a dark and captivating tale of a young necromancer’s quest to find her father and stop the Dead from overrunning her world, all while learning about her own powers.