12 crime, mystery and detective novels in translation to read this summer Erik Pedersen, The Orange County Register Aug 12, 2026 2 hrs ago 0 1 of 4 "The Secret Dinner," by Raphael Montes. (Celadon Books/TNS) Celadon Books/Celadon Books/TNS "My Grandfather, the Master Detective," by Masateru Konishi. (Penguin Publishing Group/TNS) Penguin Publishing Group/Penguin Publishing Group/TNS "Night Train," by Zechen Xu, translated by Jeremy Tiang. (Two Lines Press/TNS) Two Lines Press/Two Lines Press/TNS "Dead Weight," by Hildur Knútsdóttir, translated by Mary Robinette Kowal. (Tor Publishing Group/TNS) Tor Publishing Group/Tor Publishing Group/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Erik Pedersen, The Orange County Register There’s no mystery here: We all love a good detective novel.kAm%96 86?C6[ H9:49 2C8F23=J 3682? H:E9 t582C p==6? !@6’D “%96 |FC56CD :? E96 #F6 |@C8F6[” 92D D:?46 =2F?4965 2 H@C=5H:56 4C:>6 H2G6] p?5 H9:=6 E96C6 2C6 >2?J 8C62E >JDE6C:6D HC:EE6? :? t?8=:D9[ J@F’C6 >:DD:?8 @FE :7 J@F 5@?’E @442D:@?2==J A:4< FA 2 3@@< :? EC2?D=2E:@? 7@C 2 7C6D9 E2<6 @? E96 86?C6]k^AmkAm$@>6 2FE9@CD 2C6 2=C625J H6==\<?@H? :? EC2?D=2E:@?i $E:68 {2CDD@?[ |2; $;öH2== 2?5 !6C (29=öö[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_aa^_b^`g^E96\3@@<\A286D\E9:D\H66<\H6\EFC?\E@\4C:>6^Qmw:56@ *@<@J2>2k^2m[ $:>6?@?[ p?5C62 r2>:==6C: 2?5 y62?\!2EC:4< |2?496EE6[ E@ ?2>6 2 76H] p?5 H9:=6 D@>6 C646?E 3@@<D[ DF49 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ae^_`^b_^H9J\@=:G:6C\?@C6<D\H:?E6C\H2CC:@CD\:D\2\E:>6=J\3@@<\D2JD\:ED\EC2?D=2E@C^Qm~=:G:6C }@C6<k^2m‘D q2?=:6F6D EC:=@8J[ 42? 36 92C5 E@ 7:?5 96C6[ E96C6 :D 2 H62=E9 @7 6I4:E:?8 ?6H 4C:>6 2?5 56E64E:G6 7:4E:@? 86EE:?8 EC2?D=2E65 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 2?5 AF3=:D965 96C6 W?@E E@ >6?E:@?[ 6I46==6?E :?E6C?2E:@?2= ?@G6=D 4@>A@D65 :? t?8=:D9[ DF49 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ac^`a^_e^3=24<\C:G6C\2FE9@C\?:=2?;2?2\D\C@J\C6G62=D\E96\>JDE6C:6D\@7\96C\C625:?8\=:76^Qm}:=2?;2?2 $] #@J’D “q=24< #:G6C]”k^2mXk^Am People are also reading… BREAKING - Bridge to open in Concord Friday Five: Fun, shopping, food and adventures in rental cars A deadly plant might be growing near your NC home. How to get rid of it Sun Drop Murders Suspect Extradited to Cabarrus County, Charged and Being Held Without Bond West Nile found in Cabarrus, precautions urged Concord just gained a new neighborhood coffee shop. Meet the 18-year-old owner. Three ribbon-cuttings leads to opening day for Cabarrus Schools Northwest Cabarrus brings high-powered offense, stout D into 2026 season Cabarrus schools hit with 2nd lawsuit over transgender students in bathrooms NC kills incentives deal for Ball project at The Grounds in Concord Atrium Health Cabarrus ranks among North Carolina's best hospitals in U.S. News report Mary Frances Wall Center at Beverly Hill officially opens Concord urges residents to keep common contaminants out of recycling bins New Opportunity School building opens with ribbon-cutting How many NC high school athletes are getting paid? New report out on NIL deals kAmqFE :7 J@F’C6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6 :?E6C?2E:@?2= :?EC:8F6[ E96C6’D A=6?EJ 8@:?8 @? 2E J@FC =@42= 3@@<DE@C6] #625 @? 7@C 2 C2?86 @7 C646?E=J EC2?D=2E65 H@C<D E92E :?4=F56 4@KJ >JDE6C:6D[ 4C:>6 ?@G6=D[ 9:DE@C:42= E9C:==6CD[ 2?5 4=2DD:4 =@4<65\C@@> 4@?F?5CF>D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 r=@4< w@FD6 |FC56CD” 3J *F<:E@ pJ2EDF;:[ EC2?D=2E65 3J w@\{:?8 (@?8 W!FD9<:? '6CE:8@Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx? E96 =2E6DE DE2?5\2=@?6 ?@G6= 7C@> E96 2FE9@C’D q:K2CC6 w@FD6 |JDE6C:6D D6C:6D[ 2 8C@FA @7 A2C2?@C>2= :?G6DE:82E@CD 2C6 EC2AA65 :?D:56 E96 r=@4< w@FD6[ 2 92F?E65 >2?D:@? @?46 @H?65 3J 2? 6446?EC:4[ 2?5 2C6 36:?8 <:==65 @?6 3J @?6] s6E64E:G6 $9:>252 z:J@D9: >FDE D@=G6 E96 >JDE6CJ 2?5 DE@A E96 >FC56CD – 7C@> @FED:56]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“u6=:I u2FC6 $EC66E” 3J z6? qF8F=[ EC2?D=2E65 3J yF=:6 wF?E:?8E@? W'2?56C3:=E &?:G6CD:EJ !C6DDXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm}2>65 7@C 2 D665J E9@C@F8972C6 :? E96 $6?682=6D6 42A:E2= @7 s2<2C[ E96 ?@G6= @A6?D 2E 2 4C:>6 D46?6 27E6C 2 8CF6D@>6 >FC56C] %96 ?@G6= H2D @C:8:?2==J HC:EE6? :? uC6?49[ 3FE :E’D DE66A65 :? E96 (6DE p7C:42? (@=@7 =2?8F286j E96 2FE9@C[ |2C:èE@F |32J6[ FD65 E96 A6? ?2>6 3642FD6[ 2D E96 ?@G6=’D EC2?D=2E@C 6IA=2:?D :? 2? :?EC@5F4E:@?[ “z6? qF8F=” EC2?D=2E6D E@ “$@>6@?6 &?H2?E65[” 2 AD6F5@?J> FD65 3J 8:C=D 2?5 H@>6? 2D 2 AC@E64E:@? 282:?DE >:D7@CEF?6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“$E:== {:76” |2=:? !6CDD@? v:@=:E@[ EC2?D=2E65 3J #2496= (:==D@?\qC@J=6D W~E96C !C6DDXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm%96 $H65:D9 2FE9@C’D a_`f ?@G6= “"F:4<D2?5” H2D 252AE65 :?E@ 2 }6E7=:I D6C:6D[ 2?5 96C6 D96 56=:G6CD `_ DE@C:6D 23@FE A6@A=6 H9@ 72== 27@F= @7 E96 =2H[ DF49 2D 2 J@F?8 >@E96C H9@ 2EE6>AED E@ 86E 96C 2?8CJ[ 2=4@9@=:4 >@E96C E96 96=A D96 ?665D H9:=6 ECJ:?8 E@ <66A 96C @H? D@? D276]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“}:?2?” 3J |:496= y62?[ EC2?D=2E65 3J $FD2? ~FC:@F Ww@FD6 @7 p?2?D:Xk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmr@?G:4E65 7@C <:==:?8 9:D G:@=6?E 2=4@9@=:4 72E96C[ 2? x??F >2? ?2>65 É=:6 :D C6=62D65 7C@> AC:D@? 27E6C `_ J62CD] qFE 96’D ?@ =@?86C H6=4@>6 :? 9:D ?2E:G6 4@>>F?:EJ :? }FE2D9<F2?] $@ 96 9625D E@ |@?EC62= :? D62C49 @7 2 ?6H 368:??:?8 2?5 EC:6D E@ 6<6 @FE 2 =:76 2>@?8 @E96C 6I:=6D =:G:?8 @? E96 6586]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“|J vC2?572E96C[ E96 |2DE6C s6E64E:G6” 3J |2D2E6CF z@?:D9:[ EC2?D=2E65 3J z2H2: W!FE?2>Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx? E9:D 36DED6==:?8 6I2>A=6 @7 y2A2?6D6 “962=:?8 7:4E:@?[” 2 8C2?572E96C H:E9 {6HJ q@5J s6>6?E:2 E62>D FA H:E9 9:D D49@@=E62496C 8C2?552F89E6C E@ D@=G6 2 D6C:6D @7 >JDE6C:6D E92E D96 3C:?8D E@ 9:>[ 2 7@C>6C >6>36C @7 2 >JDE6CJ 4=F3[ H96?6G6C D96 G:D:ED]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“s625 (6:89E” 3J w:=5FC z?úED5óEE:C[ EC2?D=2E65 3J |2CJ #@3:?6EE6 z@H2= W%@C }:89E7:C6Xk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx? E9:D x46=2?5:4 >JDE6CJ EC2?D=2E65 3J E96 2FE9@C @7 E96 {25J pDEC@?2FE D6C:6D @7 ?@G6=D[ 2 =@?6=J H@C<:?8 H@>2? 4@>6D 9@>6 7C@> E96 >2C<6E E@ 7:?5 2 42E D=66A:?8 @? 96C 4@F49] qFE D96 5@6D?’E 92G6 2 42E] p?5 H96? D96 =62C?D 23@FE 2 H@>2? H9@’D >:DD:?8 96CD[ E96J 4@??64E 2?5 E9:?8D 368:? E@ 92AA6?]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 $64C6E s:??6C” 3J #2A926= |@?E6D[ EC2?D=2E65 3J +@6 !6CCJ Wr6=25@?Xk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm~? E96 7:CDE A286 @7 E9:D 9F86=J A@AF=2C qC2K:=:2? E9C:==6C[ H9:49 :?G@=G6D 7@FC 3C@<6 7C:6?5D H9@ 86E :?G@=G65 :? E96 52C< F?56CH@C=5 D496>6 :?G@=G:?8 5:??6C A2CE:6D 7@C E96 H62=E9J @7 #:@ 56 y2?6:C@[ 2 >2? :? 2 3=@@5\D@2<65 EFI65@ 6?E6CD 2 A@=:46 DE2E:@? E@ 4@?76DD E@ 2? 2D\J6E F?6IA=2:?65 4C:>6] w@H 42? J@F ?@E C625 @?nk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“r6?EC@6FC@A2” 3J ':46?E6 {F:D |@C2[ EC2?D=2E65 3J #29F= q6CJ Wq6==6GF6 {:E6C2CJ !C6DDXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm$6E :? E96 62C=J `hE9 46?EFCJ[ E9:D DA64F=2E:G6 >JDE6CJ :?G@=G6D 2 C646?E=J H:5@H65 >2? H9@ :D 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ DE2CE 2 ?6H =:76 :? 2 G:==286 72C 7C@> 9@>6] qFE H96? 96 368:?D E@ 5:8 :?E@ E96 62CE9[ 96 7:?5D E96 7C@K6? 4@CAD6 @7 2 D@=5:6C] p?5 E96? 2?@E96C] %92E’D H96? E9:?8D DE2CE E@ 86E 6G6? DEC2?86C]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 r2>:?@” 3J p?J2 }:6H:6CC2[ EC2?D=2E65 3J t:=66? $E6G6?D W$:>@? U2>Aj $49FDE6CXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx? E9:D ?@G6= 3J E96 9F86=J A@AF=2C HC:E6C 7C@> E96 }6E96C=2?5D[ 2 H@>2? >@FC?D E96 =@DD @7 96C 9FD32?5[ 2 7@C>6C q@D?:2? C67F866 H9@ 5:65 3J 9:D @H? 92?5 @? E96 r2>:?@ 56 $2?E:28@] #6D@=G:?8 E@ H2=< E96 D2>6 A2E9 2D 96C =2E6 9FD32?5[ D96 D@@? 368:?D E@ C62=:K6 E92E E9:?8D 2C6 ?@E 2D E96J D66>65]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 u:?2= !C@3=6>” 3J pCEFC@ !éC6K\#6G6CE6[ EC2?D=2E65 3J uC2?46D #:55=6 W|F=9@==2?5 q@@<DXk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm%96 $A2?:D9 2FE9@C[ <?@H? 7@C 36DED6==6CD E92E :?4=F56 “%96 r=F3 sF>2D[” “%96 u=2?56CD !2?6=” 2?5 9:D r2AE2:? p=2EC:DE6 D6C:6D[ 56=:G6CD 2 E@E2= DF>>6CE:>6 56=:89E 96C6] $6E :? `he_ @? 2 vC66< :D=2?5 E6>A@C2C:=J 4FE @77 7C@> E96 @FED:56 H@C=5 3J 2 DE@C> 2E D62[ E96 ?@G6= 762EFC6D 2? 28:?8[ q2D:= #2E93@?6\6DBF6 24E@C H9@ @?46 A=2J65 $96C=@4< w@=>6D 36:?8 7@C465 E@ 24E 2D 2 56E64E:G6 E@ D@=G6 2 A@E6?E:2= >FC56C … @C EH@]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“qC@<6? %CFE9D” 3J p=6DD2?5C@ #@36449:[ EC2?D=2E65 3J vC68@CJ r@?E: W~E96C !C6DDXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm$6E :? >@56C?\52J |:=2?[ E9:D E6CC:7:4 ?@G6= :?G@=G6D 2 C6E:C65 >@G:6 5:C64E@C H9@ 368:?D C6D62C49:?8 2 4@>6324< 7:=> 23@FE E96 562E9 @7 C62=\=:76 `hb_D\6C2 xE2=:2? 4C:>6 ?@G6=:DE[ pF8FDE@ s6 p?86=:D] qFE 2D E96 5:C64E@C 368:?D 9:D H@C<[ E96 H:5@H H9@ =:G6D ?6IE 5@@C 6?5D FA >FC56C65]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“}:89E %C2:?” 3J )F +6496?[ EC2?D=2E65 3J y6C6>J %:2?8 W%H@ {:?6D !C6DDXk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmx? E96 q6:;:?8 2FE9@C’D ?@G6=[ 2 8C25F2E6 DEF56?E H2?ED E96 >@?6J 9:D 72E96C AC@>:D65 9:> D@ 96 42? EC2G6= 3J EC2:? 367@C6 C6EFC?:?8 E@ D49@@=] p7E6C 9:D 72E96C C67FD6D[ E96 D@? 3FCDED :?E@ E96 9@FD6 =2E6 2E ?:89E[ D2J:?8 96’D <:==65 2 >2? 2?5 >FDE 6D42A6] (:E9 9:D 72E96C’D 42D9[ 96 E2<6D E92E EC:A] &A@? 9:D C6EFC?[ 9@H6G6C[ 6G6CJ@?6 ?@H 36=:6G6D 96’D 24EF2==J 2 >FC56C6C]k^Am 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular This week's bestsellers from Publishers Weekly Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, Aug. 1, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers …
This week's bestsellers from Publishers Weekly Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, Aug. 1, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers …