Fantastic Action & Mystery Books to Read

Lately I've found myself less than entertained by my usual go to genre when it comes to reading. The girly stuff just wasn't cutting it for me anymore, so last month I tried out a new genre of literature and fell in love. Action and mystery novels get your blood pumping. They always give you an element of good guys vs. bad guys, what's really going on here, what am I missing, what are the characters missing, what's going to happen?! Which means you end up reading through these books pretty quickly because you can't put them down.

Check out all the awesomeness I've been reading:


1. Come Home by Lisa Scottoline
This book was so suspenseful. From the very first chapter, you're launched into this exciting world of mystery and murder. I loved that I didn't have to wait for the action to begin. You open the book and boom, you're there. You get to know and fall in love with the characters along the way. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who likes action movies. You'd probably especially love it if you're a step-mom or have been a step-mom. The mother-daughter bonds in this novel were fascinating. Also, seeing how the step-mother-daughter bond affects future relationships for the step-mother was tough. There was always so much going on with these characters and the plot, that I never lost interest. Just when you think you've figured it all out, you realize you haven't. I love novels that keep me guessing until the end.

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth
I can easily say that dystopian fiction is one of my absolute favorite things to read. The idea of a completely different society and world existing in our future because of the bad things we live with today today (war, poverty, discrimination) is engrossing. It gives you this whole new world to consider, one that is easy to imagine because it exists within our current geographical familiarities. This book is obviously kick-ass. Whether or not you've seen the movie yet, I encourage you to get wrapped up in this novel! Can I get three cheers for a novel that has a female lead character who is strong, brave, and kind? The main character, Tris, is awesome... flawed but real. Such a good role model for (young) women- to be strong, able and always fight for the good of others.

3. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The second novel in the Divergent trilogy is amazing. By far my favorite in the series. There's a lot more action in this book than the first one. Beyond the action and great characters, the second book really develops a great story. I can't say much without giving anything away, except to encourage you to read this book because it is SO good. And of course it ends in way that makes you run out and buy the third book the very same day you finish this one.

4. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
The final book in this series has some great action. Conspiracy theories develop and the lines are grayed between who is right and who is wrong. That being said, this was my least favorite book in the trilogy. It takes place in a new setting and some chapters are written from Tris's point of view and others are written from her boyfriend's point of view. Considering the fact that he's been a leading character in the other two novels but the books were never written from his point of view before now, makes this third book harder to read. The point of views are so different that it actually feels as though they were written by two different authors. The reading is a little choppy because the story doesn't flow as smoothly. I also hated the way the book ended. It made me wish I had never read the final book, although I didn't have much of a choice with the way the second one ended!

Have you read any great mysteries, actions or dystopian fictions lately? Which books would you recommend I try next? I definitely want to keep exploring this genre!
Happy reading, lovelies!

xoxo,
Laura