Kosmos

Crime novels are ideal for reading at the beach. But have you ever ventured beyond authors from Sweden, Britain or the U.S.? For an exciting alternative, check out the booming literary crime scene in Asia.

Suspense in Hong Kong

In The Borrowed, the brilliant Inspector Kwan solves no fewer than six cases. Chan Ho-Kei’s novel is as suspenseful as it is complex – and draws a scintillating portrait of Hong Kong.

Killers in Korea

A contract killer becomes the target himself: This isn’t exactly a new premise, but the narrative has never been more thrilling, poetic or politically explosive than in Korean author Un-su Kim’s novel The Plotters.

Evil in Japan

Dark, sinister, disturbing: Evil and the Mask, the second Fuminori Nakamura book to have been translated into English, is part crime and part classic noir fiction – Japanese style.

Saguaro cactuses (Carnegiea gigantea) can grow 20 meters tall and are found in Arizona, southern California and Mexico’s Sonora Desert. The amateur naturalists of the online community Crested Saguaro Society document the rare species.

crestedsaguarosociety.org

Mexican photographer Christian Vizl spends his life capturing the beauty of the planet’s oceans with his camera and has won dozens of awards for his work. New out: his black-and-white book of plates, Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves (published by Earth Aware Editions).

christianvizl.com

The colorful paintings typically found on the walls of Somalia’s grocer stores, doctor’s offices and electrical stores have a positive dual purpose: Everyone can see at a glance exactly what’s on offer, and the artists earn a living with their street art.

So you think winter’s the only good time to ski and sled? Think again! These summer toboggan runs promise breathtaking descents.