From Book Marks, a look at November’s best reviewed new releases.

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Anna Pitoniak, The Helsinki Affair
(Simon and Schuster)

“Atmospheric, well-researched and packed with tradecraft, conspiracies, murder and, best of all, two fascinating women … Pitoniak has something unexpected up her sleeve. For Amanda and Kath, the novel’s conclusion also feels — hopefully — more like a beginning than an end. That’s because of how Pitoniak constructed these endearingly realistic characters. Let’s hope they make an appearance in a sequel.”

–Carol Memmott (Washington Post)

Lindsay Hunter, Hot Springs Drive
(Roxane Gay Books)

“Their story, although one not uncommon in the genre, is uniquely told through a combination of lovely prose, relentless character study, and a twisting combination of lust and tension. Hunter…ensures that the characters and the crime alike are richly explored … She uses a variety of viewpoints to give readers an encompassing look at the circumstances surrounding Theresa’s death. Some readers may find the shifts in viewpoint off-putting at first, but once the tale begins to unfold, the structure feels more natural, even helpful to escalating the mystery at its core … Hunter writes beautifully and masterfully ratchets up the tension. Still, there are instances where the novel’s psychological insight is lacking, particularly with the men … Nonetheless, Hot Springs Drive is filled with memorable prose and fascinating characters…penned by a fearless writer with an enviable eye for detail.”

–E.A. Aymar (Washington Post)

Lydia Millet, Gator Country
(Flatiron Books)

“Every species, and every person who fights for its continued existence, deserves a book like this — a book that explores the complexity of the nexus between humans and animals and the exploitation of the wild, and considers the ambiguities of our fractured relationship to nature, morality and history.”

–Lydia Millet (New York Times Book Review)

Amanda Peters, The Berry Pickers
(Catapult)

“Peters’ debut combines narrative skill and a poignant story for a wonderful novel to which many readers will gravitate … The story is told in braided strands, and it is a testament to Peters’ ability that both strands fascinate. Indigenous stories like this matter, and while little is easy for Peters’ characters, in the end, for all of them—even for those who stole a small child—there is hope.”

–Emily Dziuban (Booklist)

Val McDermid, Past Lying 
(Atlantic Monthly Press)

“While the author’s style drives the story with excellent pacing, she takes the time to insert some arch characterizations … McDermid’s novel is a generously sized, big book with an entertaining puzzle within a puzzle and a great tongue-in-cheek attitude.”

–Laury A. Egan (New York Review of Books)