Crime Writers of Color: New and Upcoming Releases January-March 2025

by Elizabeth Wilkerson

Reading Rut

What's the worst job you ever had? I love asking people that question, and I'm often surprised by their answers. For me, the worst job I ever had was my first 'real' job after high school. At 17, I had a summer job working in the Medical Records department of a hospital. On my first day, I faced three stacks of paper – blue, pink, and white. My sole responsibility was to arrange the stacks in that exact order, one sheet at a time. They gave me rubber fingertip grips to make the collating job easier.

I had to punch a time clock. When I got my first paycheck, I noticed there was money missing. My boss made a point of telling me she'd docked my pay because I'd been three minutes late one morning. I didn't know what docked meant. And what was FICA? A big chunk of my pay had been eaten up by FICA. What happened to all of my money? I felt a bit resentful, like I was being taken advantage of.


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My corner of Medical Records was a small department of six women. The boss was white, but all of the other women were melanated. There were young single mothers, barely older than me, trying to keep it together. A middle-aged woman who was a veteran of Medical Records, our department's mother hen. A woman who was juggling two full-time jobs. And me. My first job was the worst job of my life, but the women I worked with were amazing. Blue, pink, and white.

I'd like to say that I relaxed into a Zen state of flow during the mind-numbing monotony of collating. But instead, I, and the other women of the department, chatted. We shared recipes, life skills, and dreams. But mostly what I remember is that we shared The Book.

When the boss wasn't looking or when she closed the door to her glass-walled office, someone would pull out The Book. Everyone had their turn with The Book, which we would crack open surreptitiously under our desk.

When The Book was passed to me for the first time, I was nervous but excited. Reading on the job felt like a revolutionary act of resistance, but I was down for it. And I rationalized it as a way to get the three minutes back I'd been docked.

The Book was well-worn, its pages bulging with use and hanging loosely from the spine. But I was disappointed when I saw the cover — it was a romance novel. I didn't read romance novels. I wasn't interested in romance novels. Romance novels were for other people. Truth be told, I looked down my nose at romance readers.

But it was my turn with The Book, and the alternative was blue, pink, and white.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Book. It was unlike anything I'd read before. Once I got over my snobbery, I realized I was looking forward to reading the next installment when my turn came and the coast was clear.

The Book was written by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I don't know how I remember the author's name after all these decades, but I do. And I recently learned she pioneered the genre of erotic historical romance.

Now, cozy with my TBR pile of legal thrillers and cyber suspense, I wonder what other crime fiction is out there waiting for me. I know there are so many books I'd enjoy if I just stepped out of my comfort zone.

Blue, pink, and white.

Ready to discover something new? Check out these exciting releases from Crime Writers of Color!

Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow
Release Date: January 21, 2025, Minotaur Books
Felicity Jin is tasked to cater a romantic wedding using a "cake" of tiered egg tarts. Instead of finding love, though, she discovers murder—when a dead body turns up under the cake table.

The Family Lies by Angela Henry
Release Date: January 22, 2025, Storm Publishing
Running from a dark secret, librarian Sabrina Adams lies about her credentials to land a job restoring the library of a local wealthy family, only to uncover their connection to mysterious deaths and disappearances, including the librarian before her.

Lost History Between Us by Barbara Howard
Release Date: January 31, 2025
A history teacher inherits her grandmother's cabin and uncovers a dangerous legacy connected to a decades-old robbery, forcing her to team up with her sexy ex, a park ranger with a secret of his own. As they race to uncover the truth, they must dodge bullets and rekindled feelings, all while a powerful trafficking ring closes in. A steamy romantic suspense where history, danger, and passion collide.

Bend, Don't Break by Julie L. Brown
Release Date: February 4, 2025, JAB Press
Seven generations of Black women across the sweep of American history will do anything to succeed—and will do even more to protect their daughters.

Colton's Deadly Trap: The Colton's of Arizona Book 2 by Patricia Sargeant
Release Date: February 25, 2025, Harlequin Romantic Suspense
An introverted resort concierge’s promotion is jeopardized when someone threatens the life of her extroverted celebrity chef guest, but as she works with authorities to ensure his safety at the resort, they realize she’s the real target.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian
Release Date: March 18, 2025, Minotaur
There’s a body in the library—and everyone is a suspect. Tempest Raj and Secret Staircase Construction are renovating a classic detective fiction library that just got its first real-life mystery. When the library’s new owner hosts a murder mystery dinner, the rehearsal ends with a locked room murder and a vanishing body. Fueled by her grandfather’s Scottish and Indian meals, Tempest and the crew must figure out who is making beloved classic mystery plots come to life in a deadly game.


 

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up next week.

Elizabeth Wilkerson was one of Silicon Valley’s first cyberlawyers and now writes thrillers with a tech edge. A native of Cleveland, her debut novel is Tokyo Firewall. You can learn more on her website.

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