Seven crime novels that engage with reality TV

Molly Odintz is the Senior Editor for CrimeReads and the editor of Austin Noir, forthcoming from Akashic Books. She grew up in Austin and worked as a bookseller at BookPeople, and recently returned to Central Texas after five years in NYC. She likes cats, crime novels, and coffee.

At CrimeReads Odintz tagged seven "great thrillers and mysteries coming out over the past few years that engage with reality TV, its artifice, its struggles, and its discontents." One title on the list:

Alexandra Oliva, The Last One

I really enjoyed this one when it first came out. A contestant on a reality survival show emerges from the forest to find that the world itself has irrevocably changed, and has become, well, one big survival show. As she tries to make her way home to her family, she’ll test all her new skills and more in the struggle.

Read about another entry on the list.

The Last One is among Heather Chavez's seven novels where fun & games threaten to turn fatal.

The Page 69 Test: The Last One.

--Marshal Zeringue