The Concrete Vineyard by Cam Lang

Capturing the pastoral air of a classic murder mystery, The Concrete Vineyard by Cam Lang is a well-crafted whodunit with a colorful cast of suspects, and just as many red herrings. Boasting colloquial charm and an outlandish plot, this urban planning thriller carves out its own genre niche. The storytelling style is unexpected and engaging, placing a possibly untrustworthy narrator into a buddy cop framework, with Lang weaving the layers exceptionally well, given the story’s complexity. The murderous stakes feel high at times, but this detective story is a rare vintage – cleverly crafted to keep readers guessing, without taking itself too seriously.