The Avid eReader (Archived)

Domestic Noir, basically suspense novels featuring "normal" people who are confronted by crime either directly or indirectly, is one of the hottest genres lately. As their world is rocked by a horrifying event the characters are shattered by the sudden realization that home may not be the safe haven'that they had assumed.  

Some of the most popular recent examples are:

Defending Jacob by William Landay
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• eBook
Living in the perfect suburb with a beautiful family, district attorney Andy Barber is shattered when his 14-year-old son is accused of murdering a classmate.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
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A commuter recovering from a break up fantasizes about the people she sees from the train. When one of the women on the route disappears, she inserts herself into the investigation with unfortunate consequences.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
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When Amy Dunne disappears on her wedding anniversary, her husband Nick becomes a murder suspect. Nick presents his side of the story, while Amy's diary gives hers.

The Widow by Fiona Barton
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A recently deceased man is suspected in the disappearance of a child and attention turns to his wife. What does she know about his activities?

Although the genre might seem new, these novels has been around for many years. If you enjoy domestic noir, there are some classic examples on Overdrive:

An Air that Kills by Margaret Millar
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A group of friends is invited on a fishing trip but the host fails to show up. As they investigate his disappearance secrets are revealed raising questions about how well they know each other. This 1957 novel is set in the GTA.

The Blue Room by Georges Simenon
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Originally published in 1960, this book tells the story of an affair and its terrible consequences.

Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald
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While serving in the armed forces, Sam Bowden witnessed an assault and became a key witness against its perpetrator, Max Cady. Now released from prison, Cady is out for revenge. How far will Sam go to protect his family?

Holiday with Violence by Ellis Peters
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Four students on holiday in Italy are horrified when a fellow train passenger is assaulted and robbed. As they continue their journey, they begin to sense that they are being followed. What could they have that someone wants? Published originally in 1952.

The Man who Loved His Wife by Vera Caspary
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A man stricken with cancer becomes convinced that his beautiful young wife is unfaithful and sets out to destroy her life. Published in 1966.

Suspension of Mercy by Patricia Highsmith
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An unsuccessful screenwriter with a wealthy wife and an unhappy marriage becomes a chief suspect when she disappears. She's just taken a trip to London–or has she? Why can't anyone find her?

Whenever I browse through the library's eBook collection, I find a book I loved many years ago and it's always a pleasure to rediscover favourite authors like Kitchener native, Margaret Millar.

Some of these books may be a little dated, but that's all part of the fun.