Will you be our Bloody Valentine?

Want something a little different this Valentine’s Day? How about a book that mixes love and death?

The quintessential Key West pick for this is Ben Harrison’s UNDYING LOVE, which tells the story of Count Carl von Cosel, who didn’t allow even death to separate him from his love – literally.

Or by our very own George Cooper, try POISON WIDOWS, which features a magic butter knife, a love potion that works better as a poison, and a number of women who, knowingly or not, solve domestic problems with murder.

If you like your dark romance mythic, try A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair, a steamy, contemporary retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone.

Or LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS by Alicia Thompson which asks the age-old question, can a true crime aficionado trust enough to let romance bloom – or are her suspicions justified?

Store manager Emily believes A CERTAIN HUNGER by Chelsea G. Summers will hit the spot, fulfilling your desire for a dark, fascinating entrée. In her staff pick review last year, Emily wrote, “Dorothy Daniels is a food critic with all the descriptive language skills needed to tell her story of love, lust, murder and a smidgen of cannibalism. You know she did it, you know she gets caught, and yet I still found this to be a page turner.” Read her full review.

WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Alyssa Cole has been described as “Rear Window meets Get Out” and it will have you peering around corners and double-checking your door locks.

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time. Look for Penner’s new book, THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY, out in March.

THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides — What isn’t she saying and why?